History and government of Costa Rica

Columbus, Cartago and independence

Columbus arrived in 1502, on his fourth and last voyage, at Isla Uvita in front of today’s Puerto Limón. The date depends on the source. The tourism board’s own article says 25 September 1502; other sources, including the Limón municipal band, say 18 September. Britannica says he stayed 18 days, and that the name “Rich Coast” possibly came from that visit, though the origin is disputed.

Spain’s first lasting settlement and capital was Cartago, founded by Juan Vázquez de Coronado. The city of Cartago says 1563; Britannica says 1564.

Independence came in 1821. Guatemala signed its act on 15 September 1821, and Cartago signed Costa Rica’s own on 29 October 1821. Costa Rica joined the short-lived Mexican Empire, then helped create the United Provinces of Central America in 1823, and left them in 1838. In 1823 the capital moved from Cartago to San José, after a battle at Ochomogo on 5 April. On 31 August 1848, under José María Castro Madriz, Costa Rica declared itself a sovereign republic. The flag dates from the same year: see Costa Rica at a glance.

The 1869 Constitution made primary school compulsory for girls and boys, at no cost to families, paid for by the nation.

1948 and a country without an army

In 1917 General Federico Tinoco took power in one of the country’s few coups. Revolts and the threat of US intervention made him resign in 1919.

The big break came in 1948. A civil war began on 12 March. Wikipedia dates its end to 24 April; a US Defense Department study dates the peace to 19 April, when the Pact of the Mexican Embassy was signed. You will often read “44 days”, which matches neither. Britannica says about 2,000 people were killed.

On 1 December 1948, José Figueres, head of the founding junta, abolished the army in a ceremony at the Bellavista barracks in San José, and the building became the National Museum. You can visit it today. Article 12 of the 1949 Constitution, dated 7 November 1949, bans a permanent army and keeps only the police needed for public order. Instead of soldiers, you will see the Fuerza Pública, the coast guard, the air surveillance service and the border police.

1 December is now the Day of the Abolition of the Army, a public holiday since Ley 9803. It is one of the holidays where pay is not obligatory, unlike 11 April. The same constitution gave women the vote, and they first voted on 30 July 1950.

The economy, as a visitor meets it

You will pay in colones or in US dollars, which the tourism board says are widely accepted. Our money guide covers cards, cash and tipping.

Coffee built the country. From the 1840s, Britannica says, a constant stream of oxcarts carried coffee from the Central Valley to Pacific ports. Then came the railway: the first direct train from Puerto Limón to San José ran on 7 December 1890, and the American Minor Keith, who made a fortune on the line, helped form the United Fruit Company in 1899. Coffee is a national symbol today, and a coffee farm visit is one of the easiest half days to add to a trip. See our tours.

The export that leads now is one most visitors never guess: precision and medical equipment. The export agency PROCOMER puts it at 48% of goods exports in 2025, and at 31% of everything exported in its same yearly report, which appears to count services too. Pineapple was 4% of goods and banana 3%. Goods exports grew 14% in 2025, and the central bank says the economy grew 4.6%. Costa Rica joined the OECD on 25 May 2021.

And tourism: the tourism board counted 2,943,991 international arrivals in 2025, 2,689,278 of them by air. 1,783,761 came through San José airport and 904,762 through Liberia, so about one flying visitor in three now lands in Guanacaste.

Costa Rican history: common questions