Living in Costa Rica
Why Costa Rica Chose A Different Path
Explore the national choices that helped shape modern Costa Rica—from abolishing the army to conservation and renewable electricity.
3 min read
A COUNTRY CAN BE DEFINED BY ITS LANDSCAPE.
IT CAN ALSO BE DEFINED BY ITS CHOICES.
Costa Rica is famous for volcanoes, beaches and rainforest. Yet some of the most consequential parts of its modern identity cannot be photographed from a viewpoint.
They are institutional choices made over decades.
PEACE AS PART OF THE NATIONAL STORY
Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948. The Presidency of Costa Rica describes that decision as part of a civilian tradition that allowed national effort to focus more heavily on areas such as education and health.
That does not mean the country is without challenges. No serious description of Costa Rica should pretend otherwise. But the absence of a standing army has become one of the most distinctive elements of the country’s international identity.
NATURE AS NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Costa Rica also changed direction environmentally.
After severe deforestation during the twentieth century, forest policy tightened, protected areas expanded and mechanisms such as payments for environmental services helped encourage conservation and restoration. World Bank data show forest area reached 60.4% of land area in 2023. SINAC reports that roughly one quarter of the national territory is protected through its system of wild protected areas.
National Geographic’s 2026 Costa Rica coverage emphasized exactly this point: what makes the country remarkable is not only what nature gave it, but what it chose to protect.
RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY AT NATIONAL SCALE
In 2025, Grupo ICE reported that 98.6% of electricity generated in Costa Rica’s national electric system came from renewable sources.
This figure should not be confused with the entire energy economy—transport and other sectors still use fossil fuels. But it remains a striking characteristic of the country’s electricity system.
HEALTH, EDUCATION AND LONGEVITY
OECD data place Costa Rica’s life expectancy at about 81 years and core health-service coverage at 93% of the population.
Viewed together, peace, education, health, renewable electricity and conservation are not isolated trivia. They form a national story that helps explain why Costa Rica feels different to many people considering a longer relationship with the country.
PEACE. EDUCATION. HEALTH. NATURE.
NOT SEPARATE IDEA, BUT PART OF THE SAME NATIONAL STORY.
In 2025, 98.6% of Costa Rica’s electricity generation came from renewable sources, according to Grupo ICE. Hydropower, geothermal, wind, biomass and solar all contribute to the national mix.
THE SUEÑOS DEL MAR CONNECTION
For Sueños del Mar, “Costa Rica” is more than an address in the footer.
It is one of the project’s guiding principles.
The community’s idea of luxury is deliberately tied to the country around it: tropical landscape, biophilic architecture, outdoor movement, privacy, wellness and a social life that does not require leaving nature behind.
Sueños del Mar cannot—and should not—claim Costa Rica’s national achievements as its own. What it can do is respond to them thoughtfully: create a residential environment that feels appropriate to a country whose strongest global identity is increasingly connected to nature and quality of life.
Questions & answers
When did Costa Rica abolish its army?
Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948. The decision became a defining element of its civilian democratic identity.
Is all energy in Costa Rica renewable?
No. Grupo ICE reported 98.6% renewable electricity generation in 2025, but electricity generation is not the same as the entire energy economy; transportation, for example, still relies significantly on fossil fuels.
How much of Costa Rica is protected?
SINAC currently describes roughly 25% of the national territory as protected through the country’s system of wild protected areas.