Costa Rica
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96 free Costa Rica trivia questions with answers — geography quiz, new questions added Aug 2026.
50 free Costa Rica trivia questions with answers. Challenge yourself with our comprehensive Costa Rica trivia quiz featuring 50 engaging questions covering the country's rich culture, stunning biodiversity, fascinating history, and geography. Whether you're planning a trip, studying for a class, or simply curious about this Central American gem, this quiz will test your knowledge across various topics. Can you answer all 96 questions correctly?
30 of 96 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01What is the capital city of Costa Rica?
San José
San José is the largest city in Costa Rica and serves as its political and economic center.
Q 02In what year did Costa Rica and its neighbours declare independence from Spain?
1821
Costa Rica became independent in 1821: the Act of Independence of Central America was signed in Guatemala in September 1821, and word reached the province a month later without a shot being fired.
Q 03What greeting-and-farewell phrase embodies the relaxed, positive outlook of Costa Ricans?
Pura Vida
'Pura Vida,' meaning 'pure life' or 'simple life,' is a common saying and philosophy in Costa Rica, reflecting a cheerful, optimistic, and laid-back approach to life.
Q 04Which conical Costa Rican stratovolcano was very active until 2010?
Arenal Volcano
Arenal Volcano erupted without warning on 29 July 1968 after centuries of quiet, burying the village of Tabacón, and stayed in near-constant eruption until 2010, one of the longest eruptions recorded since 1750.
Q 05What bird, often found in gardens and forests, is considered the national bird of Costa Rica?
Clay-colored Thrush
The Clay-colored Thrush, known locally as the yigüirro, was declared Costa Rica's national bird in 1977; its song at the start of the rainy season is said to 'call the rains'.
Q 06What is the official currency of Costa Rica?
Colón
The colón is Costa Rica's currency, issued by the Banco Central de Costa Rica and divided into 100 céntimos; the banknote series issued from 2010 carries native wildlife such as the sloth and the morpho butterfly.
Q 07Which two countries share a land border with Costa Rica?
Nicaragua and Panama
Costa Rica borders Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the southeast; the 313-kilometre Nicaraguan frontier follows a river for much of its length, and navigation rights on it have long been disputed.
Q 08What is the official language of Costa Rica?
Spanish
Spanish is the official language under Article 76 of the constitution, which also commits the state to preserving indigenous languages; an English-based creole, Mekatelyu, survives on the Caribbean coast.
Q 09How many provinces make up Costa Rica?
7
Below the provinces sit 84 cantons and 489 districts, the three-tier structure laid down in the constitution.
Q 10Which European explorer is credited with the first documented arrival in what is now Costa Rica in 1502?
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus reached the eastern coast on his final voyage in 1502 and reported natives wearing gold jewellery, one account of how la costa rica, the rich coast, got its name.
Q 11What is the highest point in Costa Rica?
Cerro Chirripó
Cerro Chirripó is the highest mountain in Costa Rica, with an elevation of 3,819 meters (12,530 feet).
Q 12In what year did Costa Rica abolish its army?
1948
Costa Rica abolished its army on 1 December 1948 by decree of junta leader José Figueres Ferrer, and Article 12 of the 1949 constitution made the ban permanent; the military budget was redirected to education and health.
Q 13Which Costa Rican territory, 500 km out in the Pacific, gives it a maritime border with Ecuador?
Cocos
Cocos Island lies some 500 km out in the Pacific; for administrative purposes it belongs to the province that covers most of the Pacific coast.
Q 21Costa Rica's dry season, which locals call verano, runs from December until which month?
April
The rainy 'invierno' from May to November lines up almost exactly with the Atlantic hurricane season; March and April are the hottest months of the year.
Q 22Which Costa Rican province was the country's capital until 1823, before it was moved to San José?
Cartago
Cartago was the colonial capital from the 1560s until the Battle of Ochomogo in April 1823, after which the victorious republicans of San José moved the capital to their city.
Q 23Roughly what share of Costa Rica's electricity came from renewable sources in 2023?
About 95%
About 95% of Costa Rica's electricity came from renewables in 2023, mostly hydro topped up by geothermal, wind, solar and biomass; drought then forced rationing in May 2024.
Q 14What traditional Costa Rican dish of rice and beans fried together is often served for breakfast?
Gallo Pinto
Gallo Pinto literally means 'spotted rooster'; the rice and beans are stir-fried together, and it is the national dish of Costa Rica and a breakfast staple in Nicaragua too.
Q 15Which crop was Costa Rica's main export for most of the 19th century?
Coffee
Coffee, planted in the Central Valley around 1800 and shipped directly to Britain from 1843, dominated Costa Rica's exports through the 19th century; bananas joined it from the 1880s and pineapples much later.
Q 16Which Costa Rican won the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating Central American peace agreements in the 1980s?
Oscar Arias Sánchez
Oscar Arias Sánchez, a former president of Costa Rica, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his work on the Esquipulas II Peace Accord, which aimed to end civil wars in Central America.
Q 17What is the average annual temperature in Costa Rica's coastal areas?
75°-85° F (24°-29° C)
The coastal lowlands average about 27 °C (81 °F), the populated highlands about 20 °C (68 °F), and the highest summits stay below 10 °C (50 °F).
Q 18Which Costa Rican province covers most of the country's Pacific coastline?
Puntarenas
Puntarenas, the largest province by area, stretches along most of Costa Rica's Pacific coast, from its namesake port city south to the frontier with Panama.
Q 19Which musical instrument is one of Costa Rica's official national symbols?
Marimba
The marimba was declared Costa Rica's national instrument in 1996; its wooden keys, struck with mallets, blend African and Mesoamerican traditions, and it is most popular in the country's northwest.
Q 20Which of these pre-Columbian cultures in Costa Rica was known for its intricate stone spheres?
Diquís
The Diquís culture, which flourished in southern Costa Rica, is renowned for the mysterious and perfectly spherical stone balls they created.
Q 24Which Costa Rican goalkeeper, regarded among the world's best, has played for top European clubs?
Keylor Navas
Keylor Navas is a highly acclaimed Costa Rican professional footballer, famous for his role as a goalkeeper for prominent European clubs like Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
Q 25What is the largest river lying entirely within Costa Rica, draining about a tenth of the country?
Térraba
The Térraba (Grande de Térraba) drains about 5,000 km², roughly a tenth of Costa Rica, and reaches the Pacific through a delta whose mangroves form the Térraba-Sierpe National Wetland, a Ramsar site.
Q 26What significant event is celebrated on September 15th in Costa Rica?
Independence Day
Independence Day marks 15 September 1821, when the Act of Independence of Central America was signed in Guatemala; Costa Rica celebrates with lantern parades on the evening of 14 September.
Q 27Which province is known for its Pacific coastline, including surfing destinations like Tamarindo?
Guanacaste
It is the most sparsely populated province, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, and its dry sunny season falls in the northern-hemisphere winter, which drives its tourism.
Q 28What percentage of Costa Rica's land area is protected in national parks and reserves?
Over 25%
Costa Rica is highly committed to conservation, with over 25% of its land protected in national parks, wildlife refuges, and biological reserves.
Q 29Into which gulf does Guanacaste's Tempisque River empty?
Gulf of Nicoya
The Tempisque flows south past Palo Verde National Park into the Gulf of Nicoya, the inlet that separates the Nicoya Peninsula from the mainland and is crossed by ferries from Puntarenas.
Q 30Which indigenous people of southern Costa Rica stage the masked Juego de los Diablitos?
Boruca
The Boruca stage the Juego de los Diablitos from 30 December to 2 January: villagers in carved balsa masks play 'little devils' who battle a bull representing the Spanish conquistadors.