©
Flickr@ArmandoMaynez
Costa Rica Travel Guide
©
Flickr@ArmandoMaynez
Unless you are a real specialist on the destination, or are really interested in it, its unlikely that you will be able to name a single local celebrity before your trip to Costa Rica
During your trip to Costa Rica you'll find out that the country is cutting edge in matters of ecology and environment. Costa Rica is also the only country in the world that doesn't have an army. All its soldiers were demobilised and have become guardians of its irreplaceable natural heritage.
Randall Arauz is the major figure in this struggle to protect the environment. He has struggled to protect the oceans and is also very much against shark fishing. He is the founder of a programme to protect sea turtles and has won numerous prizes for his efforts.
Oscar Arias Sánchez was elected President of the Republic twice, in 1986 and then twenty years later in 2006. In 1987 he was given the Nobel Peace prize. In the future he will be looked on as the man who managed to bring the social and economic change needed in Costa Rica.
In 2010 Laura Chinchilla became the first woman to be elected president of the Republic. Since then she has instituted important reforms designed to improve safety, fight unemployment and create a proper universal medical protection system.
Franklin Chang Díaz is Costa Rica's only astronaut. He went into space 7 times aboard NASA's ships. After working so long with his head in the stars, nowadays his feet are firmly on the ground as he plans future missions.
One of Costa Rica's most popular figures is undoubtedlythe swimer, Claudia Poll Ahrens. She holds numerous records and has also won 3 Olympic medals, 2 bronze in Sydney in 2000, and a gold in Atlanta in 1996.. In 1999 the country recognised her as Sportswoman of the Century.
