Happy Planet Index Rates Costa Rica as Happiest, Greenest Nation

The Happy Planet Index ranks 143 nations of the world annually based upon a combination of environmental policy and overall human well being. This year, Costa Rica topped the chart.

The goal of the ratings is to measure what the Index calls overall “environmental efficiency”, and it is the most comprehensive such listing which takes into consideration social issues along with the environment. The listings look at the well being and environmental impact of about 99% of the world’s population. Impressive!

According to the Guardian:

The HPI is a much better way of looking the success of countries than through standard measures of economic growth. The HPI shows, for example, that fast-growing economies such as the US, China and India were all greener and happier 20 years ago than they are today…Costa Ricans top the list because they report the highest life satisfaction in the world, they live slightly longer than Americans, yet have an ecological footprint that is less than a quarter the size.

The United States ranked at a dismal 114th place out of the 143. Meanwhile, Latin American countries dominated the top 10 and African nations bottomed out on the list.

All in all, the idea is to promote a different way of looking at well being. While nations like the U.S. may appear to have it all and, likewise, consume it all, happiness and satisfaction, as well as overall positive impact on the happiness and satisfaction of others, is measured in broader terms.

We think the measurements are pretty dead on, and their point is poignant. Expats, especially those living in Costa Rica, and aspiring expats have known for a long time: by broadening your horizons, traveling abroad and doing so with a lighter footprint, the good life may be best found elsewhere.

But wherever you happen to be, it’s an important lesson to remember that smaller ecological footprints go hand-in-hand with well-being and longevity.

The Wildlife of Costa Rica

Many people think of Costa Rica as an ideal place to relocate, one of the reasons being the natural surroundings and diversity of native species.

Though it is a small country, its biodiversity is actually greater than that of all of Europe or North America. One of the reasons is that it is situated between North and South America, as well as the Antilles, so it has such an average of their different environments to support such ecosystems. Another reason is that Costa Rica has a tropical climate, and has a great number of different natural environments, from jungle to river to swamp to cloud forest. Furthermore, its government promotes the protection of natural territory.

Plants

There are over 9,000 identified species of plants in Costa Rica, and of course there are many more that have not been discovered or identified.

Monteverde Cloud Forest

Costa Rica has a few cloud forests, one of which is the Monteverde. This means that the plants receive water by directed absorbing it through the mist in the air.

Orchids

Orchids are very abundant in Costa Rica, having over 1,500 species. The orchids are all epiphytes, meaning that they live on trees to reach the sunlight, but do not act as parasites.

Animals

Resplendent Quetzal

Many people move to or visit Costa Rica for birdwatching. It is insanely rich in beautiful species, 850 of which have been identified. One famous bird is the resplendent quetzal, which is a green tropical bird that has a very long tail. There are also 50 species of hummingbirds, 6 species of toucans and 15 parrots.

In terms of mammals, about 200 species have been identified in Costa Rican territory. There are four types of monkeys: squirrel monkeys, spider monkeys, howlers and white-faced capuchin. There are also sloths and anteaters. There are endangered species like jaguars and tapirs, but these are hardly seen by humans.

Blue Morpho Butterfly

Costa Rica has no shortage of insects, as there have been approximately 35,000 identified, and of course thousands more. About 10% of species in butterflies live in Costa Rica! They range in all shapes and sizes, and many of them have very special camouflage and hide in the tree bark.

Tree Frog

Also present are many species of reptiles and amphibians. The country is known for having tree frogs, who never touch the forest floor, and poison arrow frogs that are very colorful but omit toxins on their skin. Most of the reptiles are snakes that disguise themselves, but humans end up seeing a lot of different lizards. Turtles and alligators are also present, and there are many beautiful species for snorkelers who care to check out the coral reefs.

Exploring the Volcanoes of Costa Rica

The country of Costa Rica has a total of 112 volcanoes, which are all part of the Pacific Rim of Fire. Of these 112, only 7 are considered active.

The eruptions from the volcanoes have contributed to the very fertile soil around the country. However, when these natural disasters do happen, they can be quite destructive and have wiped towns off the map. The volcanoes’ magma is thick and viscous, and this causes an immense amount of gas to come out while the magma explodes. They are definitely something to take into consideration for people who are looking to move to Costa Rica, whether they love geology or are afraid of natural disasters.

Poas

Poas is located in central Costa Rica, and there have been 39 eruptions since 1828. Its height is 2,708 meters (8,885 feet). It is most famous for its crater lakes, Laguna Caliente and Lake Botos. Laguna Caliente is one of the most acidic lakes on earth, and hardly anything can live in its water. This volcano last erupted in 2009. Its eruptions cause landslides, as well as geyser-like explosions from the lake water.

Arenal

Arenal is the most active volcano in Costa Rica, located in the north west of the country. It is at least 1,633 meters (5,358 feet) in height, and is a relatively young volcano. It used to be dormant for hundreds of years, until it started again in 1968. Since then, it has been continually active, and people can watch a light show from the eruptions almost every night. It is an important watershed for the Arenal Lake Resovoir, where the water is used for hydroelectric power.

Irazu

Irazu is the highest volcano of Costa Rica, standing at 3,432 meters (11,260 feet). It is situated close to the city of Cartago, in the Cordillera Central. Its eruptions have been very serious in the past. The summit of Irazu consists of several craters, such as Diego de la Hiya, which is green in color. Because of the geology, the area around the volcano is typically very cloudy. On clear days, it is possible for people to see both oceans while standing at Irazu’s peak. Its last eruption was in 1994.

Turrialba

Turrialba is located in the eastern part of the Cordiella Central, and stands at 3,328 meters (10,919 feet). It has three craters in its premises. It was responsible for several catastrophic eruptions in the 18th and 19th centuries, and scientists are expecting another huge eruption sometime in the future.

Navigating the Rivers and Lakes of Costa Rica

Lake Arenal

Lake Arenal is the largest lake of Costa Rica, and it is situated under the Volcano Arenal, and surrounded by rolling hills of farmland and forests. When Volcano Arenal erupted in 1968, it increased Lake Arenal to be three times its previous size. Its water is used to power a hydroelectric project that fuels some of the electricity in Costa Rica. People go to this lake year round to go fishing, kayacking and windsurfing.

Lake Caño Negro

Lake Caño Negro is a protected area in a greater wildlife refuge that is located close to the border of Nicaragua. It is a shallow, seasonal lake. It is very hard to travel to this lake alone, without some sort of guide. People go here to see all sorts of different birds and monkeys, as well as plants on the surrounding virgin land.

San Juan River

The San Juan River flows out of Lake Nicaragua, and part of it forms the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Lots of freshwater bull sharks and sawfish swim in this river.

Sarapiquí River

The Sarapiquí River runs for 84 miles, and is famous for its natural surroundings. It is located in lowlands tropical rainforest, which are rich in species of birds, monkeys, turtles and other creatures. There are also some coffee and sugar cane plantations located around this body of water.

Tempisque River

The Tempisque River is 144 kilometers long, all of which is in Costa Rica. It begins in Guanacaste Cordillera, and flows to the Gulf of Nicoya. It is a very biologically diverse river that flows through the Palo Verde National Park, where it hosts many crocodiles, birds, lizards and monkeys. Many farmers use this river’s water for irrigation.

Reventazon River

The Reventazon River stretches for 145 kilometers in Costa Rica. It is an adventurous river where people can go canoeing, fishing or rafting. Its waters provide some of the drinking water for the San Jose metropolitan area.

Pacuare River

The Pacuare River originates in the Cordillera de Talamanca, and flows for about 108 kilometers before terminating in the Caribbean. Lots of people go to these waters for white water kayacking, white water rafting and riverboarding. It is a very scenic river that goes through the rainforests, which are home to animals like birds, monkeys, jaguars and ocelots.

Exploring the Cities of Costa Rica

San Jose

San Jose is Costa Rica’s capital and largest city. It has about 365,000 inhabitants, as well as an extensive metropolitan area where most of the country’s citizens reside. San Jose is located in the middle of the country, in the Central Valley. Though it is situated in a tropical rain forest area, it does not get as hot as many other tropical areas because of its high elevation. This place is a major transportation hub for Central America, and also a modern, rather young city for the area, having been founded in 1738.

Thousands of tourists come into San Jose to go explore the rest of the country, so it is a major commerce center with lots of industries set up for visitors. There are a few museums in San Jose, like the Gold Museum, as well as areas that are packed with bars and cafes to explore. There is also an abundance of restaurants serving national dishes and local specialty coffee.

Puerto Limon

Puerto Limon is usually just called “Limon,” and the city is the capital of the greater Limon region located on the eastern Caribbean coast. It was founded in 1870, but Christopher Columbus had docked here in the 1500s. About 60,000 people live in Limon, and a good part of the community is Afro-Carribbean. It is an important port city for Costa Rica, with two main ports where cruise ships dock and cargo ships export bananas. Limon hosts a cultural carnaval festival every fall, which has days of live music, parades, dancing, food and other fun celebration. Though earthquakes have damaged some of the city’s buildings, there are still some interesting antique structures standing, as well as open air markets.

Heredia

Heredia is the capital of the Heredia province, and is located slightly north of San Jose. This surrounding area is very lush and full of mountains, volcanic ash and rainforests. About 40,000 people live in the city of Heredia. Although it is small, it is becoming very industrialized. The National University of Costa Rica is located in this city, which has a large enrollment of international students. This area is also famous for its local coffee.