Geography & environment — Costa Rica
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Costa Rica: Central America
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Central America
- Geographic Coordinates
10 00 N, 84 00 W
- Total Area
19,730 Square Miles 51,100 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
19,714 Square Miles 51,060 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
15 Square Miles 40 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
397 Miles 639 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
- Coastline
802 Miles 1,290 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
- Highest Point
3,810 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
- Lowest Point Location
Pacific Ocean 0 m
- Natural Resources
hydropower
- Irrigated Land
398 Square Miles 1,031 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
Altitude determines the climate throughout Costa Rica. Areas below 3,000 feet have average annual temperatures of around 80°, with little variation from month to month. The temperature drops from around 74° at 3,000 feet to 59 degrees at 5,000 feet. Above 5,000 feet, the average annual temperatures can range as low as 40 degrees to the mid-50s, with occasional frost during the coolest months. The temperature in San Jose is generally pleasant, with two seasons distinguished mainly by the rainfall. The dry season runs from December through April and the wet season extends from May through November. Even during the wet season the mornings generally are clear, with the afternoons and evenings dominated by heavy rains nearly every day. Relatively high winds often are present during the dry season. The average temperature in San Jose is 70 to 75° Fahrenheit. In December, the coolest month, the average temperature drops to around 65°. Temperatures drop into the 50s at night throughout the year. Humidity in San Jose averages 80 percent annually.
- Terrain
coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
- Location
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
- Total Area
19,730 Square Miles 51,100 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture
soil erosion
coastal marine pollution
fisheries protection
solid waste management
air pollution
- Environment - International Agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation