When thinking of the happiest place on the planet, a few things come to mind. I personally imagine sunshine, ideal weather, kind people, beautiful scenery, and health. Incredibly, this one country seems to have it all. Can you guess which place was just named the happiest country in Latin America?
What Is The Happiest Country In Latin America?
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Travel + Leisure is at it again, finding you the best of the best when it comes to your travel plans. Now, they have found the happiest country in Latin America. Any guesses? If you guessed Costa Rica, then congratulations, you know your stuff. But what makes this tropical paradise so wonderful? Let's go over my list from before, shall we? Sunshine and ideal weather, Costa Rica has those in abundance. With average coastal temperatures of between 77 and 80 degrees and great sunshine, the weather is desirable. Granted, there is a rainy season, but it is still a decent climate.
Additionally, Costa Rica is not lacking in beautiful scenery. This country has it all. When visiting, you can see volcanoes, forests, waterfalls, and hot springs. Not to mention its stunning white sand beaches and diverse wildlife such as sloths, monkeys, and colorful birds. Perhaps it has such beauty because of its focus on environmental protection. Travel + Leisure shared that "Nearly a quarter of Costa Rica's land is protected in national parks and reserves."
Furthermore, "the Nicoya Peninsula in northwestern Costa Rica is recognized as one of the world's five original 'Blue Zones.'" A Blue Zone is an area where people live healthier lives, and on average longer lives, than the global average. So they have the health, climate, and landscape aspects, but that is not the only thing that people love.
The outlet shared that Costa Rica was found to be the happiest country in Latin America, "from the 14th edition of the World Happiness Report." Residents were asked to rank their life satisfaction. The results reflected several strong aspects of the country that contributed to the high life satisfaction ratings. Some of those factors included "a stable democracy, a strong sense of community, and a commitment to environmental protection." With all of that, it truly is no mystery how Costa Rica ranked as the happiest country in Latin America.
Best Times To Visit Costa Rica
If you want to visit the happiest country in Latin America for yourself, then you should definitely plan a visit. I know it has been on my bucket list for quite some time. However, as is the case with most travel, there are optimal and non-optimal times to visit. Costa Rica hosts two seasons, the wet and the dry seasons. Naturally, people tend to prefer the dry season.
The dry season spans from December to April and offers plenty of sunshine and warm days. Due to the ideal weather, the dry season is the most popular and expensive time to visit the country. However, it is perfect for those who have a lot of outdoor plans, such as enjoying a nice beach day or exploring rainforests. On the contrary, the wet season runs from May through November. While the days may offer more rain, the prices and the crowds will both be dramatically less. July and August offer some rain but not as much as the rainy season, and US News shares that the green forest foliage is bursting at that time.
Despite the crowds and cost, most people argue that the best time to visit Costa Rica is during the dry season. It has the nicest weather, the highest chance of seeing wildlife, and a good amount of festivities.
