Costa Rica, situated in Central America and bordered by Nicaragua, Panama, the Pacific Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea, is renowned for its stunning geography and biodiversity, attracting wildlife enthusiasts and leading in sustainable tourism. The country successfully combines progressive environmental policies with a reliance on traditional agricultural sectors like coffee, bananas, and pineapples. Costa Rica came under Spanish rule in the 16th century but regained independence by the mid-19th century. After a brief civil war in 1948, Costa Rica abolished its army in 1949, becoming one of the few nations without a standing military, a testament to its strong record of democracy and human development. Costa Rica's climate varies across regions but is predominantly tropical, with distinct dry and wet seasons. Cocoa has a rich history in Costa Rica, revered by indigenous peoples as the "food of the gods" and used in sacred rituals. Commercial cultivation began in the 1800s and was a leading export until the 1970s when disease affected it and coffee and bananas surpassed it. But cocoa remains significant, supported by over 40 organizations and government services across the supply chain, from coastal lowlands to mountainous regions, involving both smallholder and commercial operations.