United Nations University of Peace
The University for Peace, in German: Friedensuniversität, has its headquarters in Costa Rica.
UPEACE was founded by the United Nations in 1980. UPEACE University is not subject to UN regulations and is autonomous.
The university's larger mission lies in world peace and the security ideals of the UN, with an emphasis on peace and aggression education, discussion and research, respectively.
Further UPEACE universities are to be founded worldwide.
Over 250 students from over 90 countries are enrolled in the university and live in the buildings surrounding the University of Peace.
Oscar Arias, ex-President of Costa Rica is one of the founders of UPEACE.
"The Costa Rican mothers can count themselves lucky, because their children will never be soldiers. "
The UPEACE is located in the “El Rodeo” nature reserve and is easy to reach from Santa Ana. Next to the university campus there is a large public park, which also contains the Peace Monument. You pay a minimal entrance fee to the park. There you have beautiful hiking trails through the nature park (approx. 60 minutes through secondary cloud forests), viewing areas, barbecue areas and sanitary facilities.
