Geography
Costa Rica Deep Dive Quiz
Pura vida, no army, quetzals and Arenal — 50 questions on Costa Rica's geography, history, and culture.
Pura vida, no army, quetzals and Arenal — 50 questions on Costa Rica's geography, history, and culture.
Costa Rica is a Central American country of just 5.2 million people, but it punches far above its weight on the world stage. Costa Rica abolished its military in 1948 — and redirected the savings into education, healthcare, and conservation, becoming the only country with no army to win a Nobel Peace Prize. This 50-question deep-dive quiz covers volcanoes, biodiversity, presidents, eco-tourism, and the cuisine of pura vida.
Each round presents 10 randomized questions from a pool of 50, with four multiple-choice options and instant feedback after every answer. Your final score comes with a performance tier and shareable results.
You'll explore the abolition of the army, Óscar Arias's Nobel Peace Prize, the volcanoes Arenal and Poás, Manuel Antonio and Corcovado national parks, the resplendent quetzal and pink dolphins, coffee and gallo pinto, the Tico identity, Caribbean Limón culture, and Costa Rica's leadership in renewable energy and eco-tourism.
President José Figueres Ferrer ('Don Pepe') abolished Costa Rica's army on December 1, 1948, after the country's brief civil war. The constitution adopted in 1949 prohibits a standing army, and the savings have flowed into education, healthcare, and conservation.
'Pura vida' literally means 'pure life,' but in Costa Rica it works as a greeting, an answer to 'how are you,' a thank-you, and a general expression of contentment. It captures the country's relaxed national mood.
Costa Rica contains an estimated 5% of the world's species on just 0.03% of its land area, including more bird species than the US and Canada combined. The country protects about 28% of its land in national parks and reserves.
Last updated: May 2026