National symbols of Costa Rica

The national symbols of Costa Rica are the emblems that represent Costa Rica and its people. Currently, Costa Rica has 16 of them.

The oldest national symbols of Costa Rica are its national flag and coat of arms, which date back to 1848, with the founding of the Republic. Of them, the flag has remained unchanged, while the shield has experienced various variations, the last current version dating back to 1998. The music of the national anthem was written and performed for the first time in 1852, but its definitive lyrics, which remain to this day, date back to 1903, with a small change in the lyrics in 1949, and its definitive declaration as official in 1979.

These three national symbols remained the only ones in the country until 1939, when the guaria morada was chosen as the national flower. Subsequently, during the second half of the 20th century, a new series of national emblems emerged, beginning in 1959 with the Guanacaste tree as the national tree, as a tribute to the Guanacaste people, followed in 1977 by the yigüirro, which became the national bird thanks to an initiative for its conservation.

In 1988, the typical oxcart, of historical and cultural importance for the country, became a national symbol of work. In 1995, to encourage its conservation, the white-tailed deer was chosen as a symbol of national fauna, and the following year, the marimba became a symbol of culture and tradition as a way to promote the rescue of national folklore.

The torch of Central American independence was the first national symbol declared in the 21st century, in 2002, while Los Crestones hill was the first site in the national geography to be declared as a symbol. In 2014, the Caribbean manatee, in danger of extinction, was the first national symbol to emerge from a popular initiative, thanks to the promotion of a school in the province of Limón, and once again, as a way to preserve the species. The pre-Columbian stone spheres of the Diquís region were declared in 2014 to encourage the rescue of the heritage of indigenous peoples. In 2018, the National Theater of Costa Rica is chosen as a National Symbol of Historical Architectural Heritage and Cultural Freedom.

Four of the national symbols of Costa Rica are World Heritage: as intangible cultural heritage, the typical oxcart, the stone spheres and the marimba, the latter shared with Guatemala, Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador; and Los Crestones hill as part of the Talamanca Mountain Range Reserve/La Amistad International Park, shared with Panama, as one of the three sites in the country declared as World Heritage in the category of natural assets.

During the government of Carlos Alvarado Quesada, 4 national symbols were declared, the coffee (January 27, 2020), the sloth (July 14, 2021), the morpho butterfly and the traditional Costa Rican masquerade, the first for its historical and economic importance in the economic, social and cultural development of Costa Rica, the second for being, for years, an animal with which Costa Rica is identified in the world imagination, in addition to promoting its conservation and its habitat, and with the objective of using its image to promote tourist visitation to the country, the third for its great presence in Costa Rica representing the great variety of insects, and the fourth for its presence in Costa Rican culture.

On July 14, 2021, the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica declared the two sloth species of Costa Rica, Bradypus variegatus and Choloepus hoffmanni, as the 16th national symbol of the country, which makes it the most recent symbol, with the aim of ensuring the conservation of these animals and protecting their natural habitat

The National Flag of Costa Rica

It was created on September 29, 1848 together with the National Shield, after the declaration of the Republic on August 31, 1848. The conception and design of the current flag, in force since that year, corresponded to Pacifica Fernández Oreamuno, wife of the first president and founder of the Republic, José María Castro Madriz.

The design is inspired by the flag of France. The flag is tricolor by means of five stripes placed horizontally, a red one in the center between two white ones, each of which is followed by a blue one. The width of each stripe is one-sixth of the flag, except for the red one, which is two-sixths. The stripes are in a 1:1:2:1:1 ratio.

The National Pavilion is different because in the center of the red band it has the National Shield embroidered on a white background.

The colors represent:

• Blue: represents the sky that covers Costa Rica and the ideals for forging a democratic nation.
• White: represents purity, goodness and peace.
• Red: represents the blood shed by the Costa Ricans in the struggle towards freedom, work and daily work, as it is written in the National Anthem and in the Greeting to the Flag.

National coat of arms

It was decreed on September 29, 1848. It consists of a golden frame that represents the golden bean (coffee). Within the frame there are three smoking volcanoes, blue-green in color, which symbolize the volcanoes and the three mountain ranges that cross the country and an extensive light green valley between two blue oceans (the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, which bathe the coasts of the west and the east of the country, respectively, as well as those of Central America). In each of these there is a merchant ship representing the maritime history of the country. On the horizon, to the left of the shield, a rising sun of old gold can be seen.

Two dark green myrtle palms close the shield joined by a ribbon with the legend "REPUBLIC OF COSTA RICA" in gold letters. The finish is formed by a light blue ribbon that serves as a crown with the legend Central America 1906, by Law number 18 of November 27 of the same year, the first two elements mentioned were suppressed and in 1964 two more stars were added which All together they represent the seven provinces of Costa Rica; The shield appears in the red stripe of the flag for state and maritime use (on a white background) and does not appear in the flag for civil use.

National Anthem

The music of the National Anthem of Costa Rica was composed in 1852 by Manuel María Gutiérrez Flores, while the current lyrics are written by José María Zeledón Brenes in 1903. The music, a march, was performed for the first time on December 11 June 1852 by the Costa Rican military band, led by Gutiérrez, to receive foreign diplomats from the United States and the United Kingdom during the government of Juan Rafael Mora Porras. The music of the anthem was official for more than 100 years, but the decree that made it official was not issued until 1979 during the government of Rodrigo Carazo Odio.

National Anthem of Costa Rica

Noble homeland, your beautiful flag
expression of your life gives us:
under the blue lipid of your sky
pure and white peace rests.

In the struggle of tenacious, fruitful work,
that reddens the face of man;
conquered your children - simple coatings -
eternal prestige, esteem and honor,

Hail, O gentle land!
Hail, O mother of love!
When any man intends thy glory to stain,
You will see your people, brave and virile,
the coarse tool in trocar weapon.

Hail, O homeland, your prodigal ground
sweet coat and sustenance gives us;
under the blue lipid of your sky,

Always live work and peace!

The purple guaria, national flower

The purple orchid popularly known as the purple guaria whose scientific name is Cattleya Skineri blooms in the months of February and March. The guaria morada was decreed as the national flower in the government of León Cortés Castro by the Secretary of State in the Office of Development and Agriculture, by agreement no. 24 of June 15, 1939. Subsequently, by executive agreement no. November 24, 1972, under the presidency of José Figueres Ferrer, the second week of March was established as Costa Rican Orchid Week. In 1934, a song dedicated to this flower was composed, which is currently one of the national anthems of Costa Rica.

In 1939, a botanical garden was founded in Argentina, called the Garden of Peace and they asked the Costa Rican State to send its national flower so that it could shine with the other flowers of the different countries. Because at that time, the country did not have a so-called national flower, the Garden Club and the Rotary Club held a contest to choose the one that would represent the country. from there on. In the contest, very Costa Rican characteristics would be valued, such as the fact that it was originally from America and was very incorporated and rooted in national customs. The winner turned out to be an orchid popularly known as guaria morada. It is called "guaria morada" due to the reddish purple color of its flowers, similar to that of blackberries. The appearance of its flowers during the month of March, in addition to the appreciation that Costa Ricans have for it, means that this flower is used to decorate altars during Lent and Holy Week celebrations.

In Costa Rica, the guaria morada is one of the 1,400 to 1,500 species of orchids in the country. It grows almost throughout the national territory, although it is most abundant in the Central Valley, where it is frequently cultivated. However, in its natural state, the largest wild population of guaria morada in the country is found in the Rincón de la Vieja national park. It grows between 800 and 1400 m s. n. m. Its flowering stage in the country occurs between February and April. It is an epiphytic flower of certain trees. The national flower of Costa Rica is the Purple Guaria Orchid (Guarianthe skinneri). This orchid is highly appreciated for its beauty and is endemic to Central America.

Meaning: The Guaria Morada is an orchid that has been part of Costa Rican culture since pre-Columbian times. It represents the natural wealth of the country and its fragility. Furthermore, its presence in multiple regions of the country reflects the diversity of ecosystems in Costa Rica. The flower is traditionally used in decorations and arrangements during Holy Week and other festivities.

Declaration as national flower: The Guaria Morada was declared the national flower of Costa Rica on June 15, 1939, under the government of President León Cortés Castro.

The fact that this orchid is the national flower of Costa Rica reflects the country's love and respect for its biodiversity and its commitment to the protection and conservation of its natural heritage. Costa Rica is known internationally for its conservation efforts and vast biodiversity, and the choice of an orchid as a national symbol reinforces that identity.

The Guanacaste tree, national tree

The Guanacaste tree was declared the national tree of Costa Rica on August 31, 1959, during the government of Mario Echandi Jiménez. It was chosen as a tribute to the Guanacasteans, for their Annexation of the Nicoya Party to the country in 1824.

In its natural state, the Guanacaste tree is distributed on both coastlines, both the Pacific and the Atlantic, but it is more common in the Pacific, at altitudes between 0 and 1300 m s. n. m. Specimens have been found in Mexico, Central America, northern South America and the Antilles.

It reaches fifteen meters high and the diameter of its trunk can be up to four meters. It is a deciduous type tree. It is considered a lively tree, due to its power and long life, which ranges from 60 to 70 years.

Its most notable characteristic is the extensive leafiness of its branches, and the permanent greenness of the crown. The flowers are small, borne in small groups on short petioles, very inconspicuous, similar to those of the sleeper (Mimosa pudica). The seeds are used to make crafts, as are the fruits, from which the tree takes its name: Guanacaste comes from the Nahuatl language quauh, tree; and nacaztli, ear, which means ear tree, because the fruits, hard pods of a bright brown color, are shaped like an ear. The fruits are used as raw material for soap production due to their high saponin content, and they constitute an important source of food for some animals, both domestic and wild. In Costa Rica it generally flowers between November and March and produces fruit between January and May.

The yigüirro, national bird

The yigüirro was declared a national bird on January 3, 1977, under the presidency of Daniel Oduber Quirós, at the initiative of the poet from Ramón Eliseo Gamboa and the deputy Deseado Barboza, who were lovers and defenders of birds. It was declared as such as a tribute to its powerful and melodious song that accompanies the entrance of the rainy season, in addition to being considered an important character in Costa Rican folklore, literature and music, in poetry, stories and national songs..

The yigüirro is a species of brown blackbird that measures between 22 and 24 cm. Both the male and the female have light olive-brown plumage on the upper part, lighter on the throat and abdomen. The beak is yellowish and the legs are brownish. It can be found in rural and urban areas, in cultivation sites, coffee plantations, gardens, grasslands with scattered birds and secondary forests. It feeds on fruits, worms, snails, maggots and insects. Nests between March and June.

The word yigüirro comes from the Huetar language, once the largest indigenous people in Costa Rica, before the arrival of the Spanish, and means "water pigeons". The original word seems to have been ti quirru or chi quirru, where the prefix ti or chi means "agua", and quirru refers to the chicks of this bird. The word refers to the sound of these birds as the rainy season approaches, which marks the beginning of the reproductive stage, and which for the indigenous people, and later, the peasants, indicated the beginning of the rains and therefore, the season of sowing. In the rural regions of the Central Valley it is considered that its song "announces" the arrival of the rainy season.

The typical cart, symbol of work

The cart was declared a National Symbol on March 22, 1988, by Decree No. 18197-C, published in La Gaceta No. 131 on July 11, 1988 during the presidency of Óscar Arias Sánchez. It is distinguished by its unique designs with which they are painted, with geometric figures, flowers and animals. In fact, although the decorations have obvious similarities, no two wagons are painted exactly the same, as there are changes in the details and the arrangement of the drawings. It is considered a symbol of national identity, and for this reason, the typical oxcart was declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO on November 24, 2005.

The choice of the typical oxcart as a national symbol is based on the fact that it is considered to represent the culture of peace and work of the Costa Rican, humility, patience, sacrifice, and perseverance in the desire to achieve the goals. set objectives.

Its history dates back to the middle of the 19th century, when coffee crops spread, with land full of mud and on rugged slopes, during the hauling and harvesting months. At this time, a wide preference began to be given to carts with solid wheels, to avoid the accumulation of mud between the spokes. Its inspiration, according to several writers of the time, was born in a device that was used to mount the artillery cannon brought by the Spanish, which they called cureña. The cart was a vital instrument to carry coffee from the Central Valley to the port of Puntarenas, from where it was exported to Europe. The export of coffee was, for many years, the main engine of national development.

Currently, very few families use them to transport materials and plant; It has become an artisanal object, so much so that in Costa Rica, there are workshops located in the canton of Sarchí, in the province of Alajuela, that are dedicated to the construction and sale of artisanal carts.

The white-tailed deer, symbol of the national fauna

The white-tailed deer was declared a National Heritage Symbol of Costa Rican Natural Fauna, during the presidency of José María Figueres Olsen, on May 2, 1995, by law number 7497. Like the yigüirro and other animals that have been declared national symbols, their declaration is based on promoting their conservation.

The Odocoileus virginianus is a medium-sized, thin deer with long legs. Its color is brown and the inside is white. Its name comes from its short white tail.

In Costa Rica it is difficult to see it, as it is a species in danger of extinction due to illegal hunting due to its meat or its ornamentation that is exhibited as a trophy, or because, for reasons of urban development, it has been losing its habitat. natural.

It can live from sea level to at least 1300 m s. n. m., in the mountains of the Pacific Ocean slope, and in the foothills of the Caribbean slope mountains, where most of the forests have been destroyed. The savannas of Guanacaste have been their preferred home, especially the Santa Rosa National Park. It has also been introduced to Cocos Island. One reason for its ability to adapt to different forest habitats is precisely the diversity of plant materials on which it can feed.

The marimba, symbol of national culture and tradition

The marimba was declared a national instrument of Costa Rica by decree no. 25114-C published in La Gaceta no. 167, on September 3, 1996, during the government of José María Figueres Olsen, as a symbol of culture and tradition. His declaration was made in the midst of the celebrations for the 172nd anniversary of the Annexation of the Nicoya Party and to begin the Cultural Week for the celebration of the Mayan New Year, for which the Ministry of Culture of Costa Rica and the Mayan League of Guatemala organized a National Marimba Festival that took place at the Melico Salazar Popular Theater. Its objective was also to revalue popular music performed on marimbas, in an effort for new generations to know their music and the way of making this instrument. In 2017, during the government of Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera, it was declared to be celebrated every November 30 as National Marimba Day.

The marimba is considered to originate from Africa, brought to America by black slaves during the conquest of America. However, similar instruments also existed among the Central American indigenous people. This instrument came to the country from Guatemala and found its greatest roots in Guanacaste and the Central Valley. The oldest record of a marimba in Costa Rica dates back to 1785, in the inventory of the Orosi church, where it is mentioned as one of the instruments used in the choir. Originally it was a small instrument, without legs, with a bejuco bow, which was tied to the frame that holds the headstock, with sweet gourd resonance boxes (jícaro de bejuco), under the keyboard and web of spider nests as a vibrator, adhered with beeswax.

The use of this musical instrument is associated with its characteristic use in national folklore, particularly in Guanacaste music. Many aspects of the country's culture and artistic activity revolve around marimba music, such as dances, retahílas,bombas, etc. Its interpretation accompanies folk, civic, religious and popular dances and festivals.

The Torch of Independence, symbol of freedom

It was declared a national symbol, as a representation of the ideal of freedom and independence that unites Costa Rica with its sister countries in Central America. On September 14, 2005, according to MEP decree No. 32647-C, under the administration of President Abel Pacheco de la Espriella. Its declaration as a national symbol is based on the fact that it is considered an icon representative of Costa Rican freedom and idiosyncrasy. The bill that sought the declaration of the Torch as a National Symbol, intended that with this, tribute would be paid to Professor Alfredo Cruz Bolaños, the main manager of this act.

As background, since 1821, the year of independence of the Central American countries, this important event has been celebrated, particularly in each of the countries of the area. Given this circumstance, in 1964, the then Costa Rican Minister of Public Education, Samuel A. Vargas, took advantage of a meeting of Ministers of Public Education held in Managua, Nicaragua, to present to his colleagues a project aimed at carrying out a joint celebration of all the sister Central American peoples to commemorate the momentous historical event.

This project, devised by Professor Alfredo Cruz Bolaños, who then served as general director of Sports in Costa Rica, consisted of the so-called Independence Torch Race, which would travel through all the Central American countries in order to emulate the route of that extraordinary mail that left Guatemala in 1821, ended in Costa Rica, and brought the news of Independence.

At said meeting, the initiative was welcomed and the ministers entrusted the Costa Rican leader with coordinating the celebration and, to carry it out immediately, they offered to provide all the necessary collaboration. The minister delegated Professor Cruz Bolaños, who worked for a week in each of the Central American countries, met with collaborators, carried out feasibility tests, verified the measurements of the terrain to be covered, the number of schools and the number of students. they would participate; In addition, he determined the type of torch that would be used and the protocol ceremonies at each border.

This important effort resulted in a tradition, where year after year, since 1964, as in September 1821, the torch relay has been carried out. It has become rooted in the patriotic fervor of the Central American people and has become a significant civic event and has allowed us to observe the tenacious work of thousands of Costa Rican students who participate in it every year.

Los Crestones, symbol of natural wealth

The Commission with Full Legislative Power II approved, on April 14, 2011, in second debate, bill No. 17,437, which had been discussed in the legislative stream since 2009, and which was to declare to the Los Crestones hills as a National Symbol. It was sanctioned by President Laura Chinchilla Miranda, on April 28, 2011. On September 5, 2011, it was published in the official newspaper La Gaceta under law No. 8943, which declares them as such.

In order to raise awareness of the natural and economic value that the promotion of natural beauties can generate for the country, this initiative was presented to the legislative stream in July 2009, by the then liberationist deputy Edine von Herold, and later promoted by the deputy of the Citizen Action Party (PAC), Gustavo Arias Navarro.

The Los Crestones hills are located in the Talamanca mountain range, one of the longest in the country with 190 kilometers in length, in the Chirripó National Park, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and in addition, this protected area forms part of the La Amistad-Pacific International Biosphere Reserve Conservation Area, which Costa Rica shares with Panama.

Los Crestones are located at 3,720 meters high. They were formed by a process of folding of the Earth's crust, resembling gigantic and impressive "fingers" of rock up to 60 meters high, made of igneous material. One of the most outstanding formations is the “needle”, which is more than 60 meters high. From that point, you can see the magnitude of the landscape that surrounds the southern part of the country, particularly Caño Island, the hills of the mountain range such as Cerro Chirripó, Cerro Ventisqueros, as well as the Sabana de Los Leones, the Valle de El General and a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.

The designation is a recognition of the potential contribution of Los Crestones to the national economy, as well as its scenic and natural value, as it recognizes the geomorphological, physical, abiotic and biotic particularities of Los Crestones, since they imply great natural wealth not only for neighboring communities, but for science and tourism. They are part of the nation's identity and represent the wealth and conservation efforts that have been achieved as a country. This designation also empowers public institutions to promote this tourist destination as a “country brand.” For its part, the Ministry of Public Education is authorized to incorporate in its educational programs the linking of this symbol as a transversal axis of civic education, as a means of transmitting knowledge, values, customs, cultural, moral, and behavioral awareness of the student.

The manatee, national symbol of the country's marine fauna

It was declared On July 15, 2014, the Caribbean manatee (Trichechus manatus) was declared a national symbol of Costa Rican marine fauna in order to encourage its conservation. This declaration was the initiative of a group of students from the Barrio Limoncito school, in the province of Limón.

Manatees can reach a length of three meters and weigh almost a ton. The trichechids (Trichechidae) are a family of placental mammals of the order Sirenia commonly known as manatees or sea cows. Only one genus, Trichechus, survives, with four species.

They are gentle herbivores that spend most of their time searching for and ingesting riparian and seafloor plants in shallow waters. Manatees live in both fresh and salt waters, near the coasts of America and Africa. Its only predator is man; and although there are no records, it is presumed that orcas could infrequently attack trichechids, since these, being large, slow and fat, seem to be an ideal prey for these predators; However, due to the distribution of trichechids, which mainly occurs in coastal and relatively shallow waters (and frequently in fresh waters) of the tropics, where killer whales appear rarely, it is believed that trichechids escape from its frequent predation.

In Costa Rica, these animals live in the brackish waters of Barra del Colorado and the mixed waters of Tortuguero, where they feed on plants that grow on the banks.

Although their habitat is located in protected areas, manatees are not exempt from threats. In fact, this species is in danger of extinction due to the agrochemicals carried by the rivers and the high traffic of boats through the canals, which hit them, causing injuries that make their mobility and, therefore, their ability to search for food impossible.

Stone spheres, symbol of pre-Columbian culture

In 2014, UNESCO chose the set of pre-Columbian chief settlements with stone spheres of Diquis as a World Heritage Site. As a consequence, on July 16, 2014, the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica declared them the national symbol of the country.

The stone spheres of Costa Rica are a set of around 500 petrospheres of gabbro and other minerals, which have been found throughout the country, but mainly in the region of the valley of the Río Grande de Térraba (called Diquís, water large, in brunca language), in the south of the country. They are considered unique in the world for their abundance, size, geometric perfection and organized formations. Made with abrasion techniques and stone instruments, although it is still not entirely clear how they were made.

Different meanings have been attributed to them over time: rank symbols, territorial markers, astronomical gardens, memory aids, without missing esoteric, supernatural theories and attribution to extraterrestrials. The most recent hypothesis, developed through ethnohistorical reconstruction, points to a mythical religious meaning, associated with the god of thunder Tlachque and the gods of wind and hurricanes (serkes) of Talamancan mythology. The stone spheres are considered a milestone of the Costa Rican pre-Hispanic past in general, and of pre-Columbian sculpture in particular. Its formal synthesis, the conception of the sphere as an artistic motif, denotes a degree of plastic maturity unique on the continent.

The National Theater, national symbol of historical architectural heritage and cultural freedom

The National Theater of Costa Rica, located in the city of San José, was declared in April 2018 as a National Symbol of Historical Architectural Heritage and Cultural Freedom, the law was signed by President Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera on December 5 April 2018, said law was approved on February 5 of the same year in the second debate by 40 deputies.

The National Theater was built at the end of the 19th century. It is considered one of the most important buildings in national history, and the main architectural jewel of the city of San José. Its construction has a deep meaning since it represents the decision of the Costa Rican to take action and the economic stability (brought by the coffee harvest1) and politics of the time in which it was built.

It has Renaissance architecture in a neoclassical style, with marbles brought from Italy. It houses invaluable works of art made by Italian masters, such as the sculptures of Fame, Music, Dance, Comedy and Tragedy, as well as the first marble sculpture carved by a Costa Rican, 'The Heroes of Misery' 34;, by Juan Ramón Bonilla. The walls and ceiling are decorated with paintings made by European artists, highlighting the 'Allegory of Coffee and Banana', by the Italian Aleardo Villa.

In addition to serving as a theater, and its scheduled performances, the theater itself is a tourist attraction. The presentations performed in the theater are selected in advance to maintain the highest possible quality. There are also performances by the National Symphony Orchestra and other renowned foreign composers.

Coffee, symbol of economic, social and cultural development

Costa Rican coffee was declared a national symbol on July 28, 2020 due to the importance of this crop in the economic, social and cultural development of Costa Rica throughout its history. Almost from the birth of the country as an independent nation, coffee was the basis of the economy and the main engine of national development. The cultivation of coffee from the middle of the XIX century had differentiated social and cultural consequences that functioned as part of the construction of the National identity. Coffee farming has lent itself to the creation of symbols, emblems and stereotypes. Currently, the coffee theme is one of the most represented motifs in arts, crafts, folklore and popular culture. Its presence is present in many of the symbols that seek to express national identity: the painted wagon, the adobe house, the rural landscape of the Central Valley, etc. Costa Rica, recognized worldwide for the quality of its coffee, has some 84,000 cultivated hectares and some 50,000 producers. Currently, coffee is the third export product of the agricultural sector after bananas and pineapples. Coffee exports are around 300 million dollars annually, according to official data.

The sloth, symbol of wildlife

Lazy from Costa Rica. Left: lazy two fingers (Choloepus hoffmanni). Right: lazy three fingers (Bradypus variegatus.).

On July 14, 2021, the law was approved by Congress, which establishes the sloth as a new national symbol and whose purpose is to collaborate with the protection of the populations of this animal that lives almost in all the country.

The signing took place in the Biological Reserve of the Bicentennial of the Pájaro Campana Republic, in the south of the country, within the framework of National Parks Day, and was attended by President Alvarado, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Andrea Meza, and the deputy who promoted the initiative, Yorleny León.

The law instructs the Ministry of Environment and Energy to coordinate with the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation the regulation of the speed limits of the different means of transportation in the vicinity of sites duly identified as sensitive for the free movement of sloths; both in the surroundings of protected areas and outside them.

In addition, the Ministry of Public Education will include the protection of the sloth and its natural habitat in its educational and awareness programs. Other government institutions, non-governmental organizations, public and private companies may also develop initiatives that promote the conservation of sloths and their habitat.

The law also establishes that the Costa Rican Tourism Institute may use the image of the sloth for its advertising campaigns, locally and internationally.

Two species of sloth live in Costa Rica: the two-toed Choloepus hoffmanni and the three-toed Bradypus variegatus, and their name comes from their slow movements that are also reflected in their metabolism. For example, the sloth takes days to process food in its four-chambered stomach and defecates only once a week.

The adorable appearance of this animal has gained the sympathy of thousands of people in Costa Rica and also abroad, which has motivated the Costa Rican Tourism Institute to include it as one of the stars of commercials promoting the destination Costa Rica and for awareness campaigns on the protection of biodiversity.