Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
History
Like that of many Central American countries, Costa Rica's history remains a
loose sketch during the reign of its pre-Columbian tribes, and it has traced a
similar path to that of its neighbors since the European 'discovery' of the
New World. But it's in the mid-20th century that Costa Rica radically departed
from the standard Central American playbook by abolishing its army, diversi-
fying its economy and brokering peace in the region, thus paving the way for
the stable and environmentally friendly nation we know today.
TIMELINE
11,000 BC
The first humans occupy Costa Rica and populations quickly flourish due to the rich land and mar-
ine resources found along both coastlines.
1000 BC
The Huetar power base in the Central Valley is solidified following the construction and habitation
of the ancient city of Guayabo, continuously inhabited until its mysterious abandonment in AD
1400.
100 BC
Costa Rica becomes part of an extensive trade network that moves gold and other goods and ex-
tends from present-day Mexico down though to the Andean empires.
1522
Spanish settlement develops in Costa Rica, though it will be several decades before the colonists
can get a sturdy foothold on the land.
1540
