Around the world, people associate Central America with the once powerful Mayan empire, magnificent temples, and natural wonders. It is therefore not surprising that even in the year of an active pandemic, there were 1 million tourists in Costa Rica. With an area size of 51,000 square kilometers, the country is smaller than the US state of West Virginia. Indeed, it is easy to make false assumptions about this country. Unfortunately, that can be costly to a tourist. Below is a list of things to have in mind as you become a smart traveler.