Costa Rica, the Central American country whose name literally means “rich coast”, is bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. One theory is that its name comes from Christopher Columbus’s impressions upon landing there in 1502. The natives were all wearing gold. Therefore, he (erroneously) assumed that Costa Rica was rich with gold. In fact, the natives had acquired this gold through trading with neighbors. Therefore, the Spanish soon lost interest in this colony compared to others in the region. For example, the value it places on peace (no military), the environment (25% of the country is set aside as nature reserves), and education (98% adult literacy) are all hallmarks of this nation. So, do you want to know more about this country? Then try your hand at our short Costa Rica quiz below!