Washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Sea, the Republic of Costa Rica lies wholly within the tropics, between 8 and 11 degrees north of the Equator. Bordered by Nicaragua to the north and tapering gradually southward to Panama, it covers 50.900 sq km (19.650 sq miles). Much of this extremely mountainous country is uninhabited and overlaid with several types of tropical forest; almost one-third of the land area is protected within reserves.

Administratively, the country is divided into seven provinces and 81 cantones (counties). It has a population of 4 million, heavily concentrated in the Central Highlands, with some 350.000 people living in the capital, San José.

To find Bahía Rica on the map, use this link to Google maps.