Costa Rica, a small country roughly
the size of west Virginia is wonderful to explore, offering
the visitor two coasts with miles of beautiful beaches,
and extensive national parks system covering approximately
25% of the land, and an incredible biodiversity, including
tropical rain forest, dense cloud forest, and active volcanoes.
There is a wide choice of hotel accommodations
throughout the country, ranging from five star hotels to
quaint lodges, something to suit everybody’s taste
and budget. Costa Rica is easily reached from most important
cities in United States, Canada, and Europe with daily flights
on major Airlines. All these factors as well as Costa Rica’s
friendly people and peaceful democratic life style make
it a favorite vacation destination.
The diversity of the tourist attractions
within the country including the white sand beaches of Guanacaste,
famous for its pristine waters, and a world Mecca for sportfishing.
In addition to it’s splendid beach resorts; then the
Central Pacific Area with the popular Jaco Beach (the closest
Beach to San Jose) a complete Beach resort area and the
nearby Manuel Antonio National Park, also renowned for it’s
beautiful beaches.
The most popular destinations for
nature lovers include the jungles and canals of Tortuguero
National Park. Costa Rica’s nine active volcanoes
offer visitors a chance to see the awesome power of nature
such as the Arenal Volcano; the unspoiled mountainous areas
have a lot to explore as in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
Reserve. All these will give a perfect opportunity to have
a close up look at nature’s masterpiece... Costa Rica!
Sports and adventure enthusiasts will
discovers Costa Rica’s mighty rivers for white water
rafting and river kayaking; the marine life in the warm
Pacific waters will astonish scuba divers; the mountains
offer extraordinary challenges to mountain bikers, and a
wide diversity of scenery for horse back riding.
Language: Spanish is the official language.
English is spoken in tourist areas throughout the country.
Electricity: 110-volt
AC is found nationwide. A few outlying areas use their own
power source so check ahead before traveling.
Water: The water
is safe to drink in all areas of the country.
Currency Exchange: The official currency
is the Colon and is easier to use than dollars. The currency
rate fluctuates every day without notice. US dollars are
accepted throughout the country, except in small villages,
where local currency is required. You can exchange money
at the International Airport, banks and hotels receptions.
Credit Cards and Travelers
Checks: Most major credit cards are accepted throughout
the country, but some smaller businesses will only accept
local currency.
Time Zone: Costa
Rica is the same as US Central Standard Time (GMT –6),
but does not observe daylight savings time.
Business Hours: Government
offices are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Commercial
offices are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Stores and
other businesses from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Banks are open
from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and do not close for lunch.
Churches: Like all
Latin American countries, Costa Rica is predominantly Catholic,
but other denominations are found throughout the country.
Clothing: Pack light
for your travels. The highland areas can be very cold, so
pack a sweater if you are going there. For the lowland area
light, loose-fitting shirts and pants are essential. A wide-brimmed
hat and sunglasses are recommended for the beach.
Communications: Direct-dial
service is efficient and there are more telephones per capita
than in any other Latin American country. Facsimiles, telex,
radio Internet access and cable television is all-available
throughout the country. Bilingual operator assistance for
international calls is -116, Local information -113, Long
distance information -124.
Hospitals: Health
care in Costa Rica is very good and sanitary standards are
high. First class hospitals are found throughout San Jose
and some of the other largely populated areas.
Entry Requirements:
Citizens from Canada, the U.S. and Panama can enter with
just a tourist card and one other piece of identification,
such as passport, driver's license or birth certificate.
No passport is required. Citizens of all other countries
require a valid passport to enter Visas are needed by certain
nationalities so check ahead before traveling.
Customs: Arrivals
are allowed 500 cigarettes plus three liters of wine or
spirits duty free in addition to personal goods and sporting
equipment.
Departure Tax: The
average rate is US $ 26.00 to depart by air. Land and sea exits
are not charged.
Taxes: There is a
13% sales tax at hotels, restaurants and most service industries,
and an additional 3% tourist tax at hotels.
Tipping: A 10% tip
is appropriate. Most restaurants will add the tip to your
bill so read your bill before paying a tip. Other services
does not include tip, as is voluntary according to services
received. Taxi drivers generally do not receive a tip.
Population: Costa
Rica has a population of 4 million people. Over fifty percent
live in the Central Valley which comprises only 4% of the
entire country.
Topography: Panama
borders Costa Rica to the north by Nicaragua and to the
south. It has both a Caribbean and a Pacific coast. A series
of volcanic mountain chains runs from the Nicaraguan border
in the northwest to the Panama border in the south east,
splitting the country in two, In the center of these ranges
is a high-altitude plain, with coastal lowlands on either
side. Over half the population lives on this plain, which
has fertile volcanic soils. The Caribbean coast is 132 miles
long and Pacific coast is 635 miles long.
Through constant attention to education, Costa Rica has
achieved the highest literacy rate in Central America. Its
literacy rate rivals that of many larger and more industrialized
nations. Since the 1970’s Costa Rica has consistently
invested twenty-eight percent of the national budget in
education-something which would not have been possible while
maintaining armed forces.
The educational system is divided into three major sections.
Elementary schooling is free and obligatory. Seventy percent
of high schools are public, while accredited private institutions
provide the other thirty percent. University education began
last century, but it wasn’t until 1940 that the University
of Costa Rica, the country’s largest public university,
was founded. Thirty years later, several more public universities
had been created, including a correspondence school. The
first of numerous private universities was established in
1977.
Costa Rica is one of the oldest democracies in the Americas;
its first election was held in 1889. Actually we’re
governed according to the Constitution of November 7, 1949.
An improvement of previous constitutions, this version made
one change that has had specially far reaching effects:
it eliminated the country’s armed forces.
The Constitution gives the president executive power. The
President of the Republic is elected by free elections for
a four year term and is not eligible for reelection. Two
vice-presidents are elected through this same process. The
president has the authority to choose a cabinet of ministers.
Congress, the legislative branch, is an unicameral parliament.
Fifty-seven congressmen are elected to four-year terms,
chosen from political party candidates.
The General Court is the highest judicial body. It is composed
of twenty-two magistrates, elected by Congress to a minimum
of eight years. The General Court manages judicial power
and is responsible for naming judges and tribunals.
The different chambers of the Supreme Court are formed by
members of the General Court. Of the chambers, the Constitutional
Chamber is the most powerful. It rules on any matters related
to the constitutionality of laws and, in general, is charged
with the protection of citizens from any possible improprieties
or waste on the part of the government. Better known as
"La Sala IV", this chamber was created within
the Supreme Court a few years ago, and has been generally
well received by citizens. On several occasions, "La
Sala IV" has overturned major, long standing laws,
challenged by ordinary citizens on constitutional grounds.
Another important tribunal is the Supreme Tribunal of Elections,
which is in charge of guaranteeing fair elections, in accordance
with electoral law.
The climate is idyllic. In the lowlands -which are dry in
the Pacific Northwest and humid elsewhere- daytime temperatures
range in the eighties to nineties F° (high twenties
to mid-thirties C°). Usually in the seventies F°
(low to mid-twenties C°) at middle elevations, the mercury
can fall as low as the forties and fifties F° (five
to mid-tens C°) at the top of the mountains. Costa Rica
can be broadly categorized into four major climatic zones:
| The
wet lowlands: |
Lowlands with a
dry season: |
Temperate
climate: |
Mountain climate: |
| The Caribbean and the Southern
Pacific lowlands have short dry seasons and high temperatures.
Rainfall is usually lighter along the coast, increasing
proportionally as it moves further inland and altitude
increases. |
Most of the Guanacaste
province and some of Puntarenas have high temperatures
and a long dry season. |
Areas located between 3,000
- 5,000 feet above the sea level, such as the Central
Valley, have defined dry seasons and the most comfortable
of the climates. |
Any area
at an altitude higher than 5,000 feet has cooler temperatures.
At altitudes over 10,000 feet, even reaches the freezing
point. The weather is usually humid, with occasional
fog or frost. |
Annual Rainfall for Major Areas:
| Central Valley:
|
Northern Pacific:
|
Central
Pacific: |
Southern Pacific: |
Atlantic Region: |
| 1.100-2.500 mm 43-98 inches |
1.400-4.300 mm 55-98 inches |
2.300-4.300 mm 91-169 inches |
2.300-4.000 mm 91-157
inches |
2.000-4.500 mm 79-177
inches |
The Northwest has a fairly well-defined dry season ("verano"
or summer) December to April. The dry season is a month or
two shorter along the southern Pacific coast. July also tends
to be a dry month on the Pacific slope.
Welcome rains during the rest of the year bring about a general
greening and freshen the countryside. Rains usually come in
afternoon thunder-storms, leaving; the mornings sunny and
the night sky filled with stars.
This period is called "invierno" (winter or rainy
season) or "temporada verde" (green season). Rainfall
on the Caribbean slope is more evenly distributed throughout
the year, with marked dry periods from May through June and
again from September through October.
January
1st
New Year & end of festivities in San Jose
|
March 19th
St. Joseph Day |
March or April
Holy Thursday & Friday: Religious activities and
processions in most towns and cities. |
April 11th
Our National Hero Juan Santamaría (Rivas Battle) |
May 1st
Labour Day |
June 29th
Saint Peter and Saint Paul Day |
July 25th
Annexation of the province of Guanacaste to Costa
Rica |
August 2nd
Virgin of our Lady of Los Angeles, Patroness of Costa
Rica |
August 15th
Mother’s Day |
September 15th
Independence of Costa Rica and Central America (except
Panama & Belize) |
October 12th
Christopher Columbus Day and Limon Province's Carnival |
November 2nd
All Soul’s Day |
2nd Saturday of December
Lights Festival in the city of San Jose (Commence
of Christmas time) |
December 25th
Christmas Day |
December 26th
Horse parade in downtown San Jose |
December
27th
Carnival in downtown San Jose |
|
|
According to the World Health Organization,
Costa Rica has one of the best health care systems in the
world. The country’s infant mortality rate is dropping
while life expectancy increases.
There are several hospitals in the country operated by the
National Social Security System. The System, established to
provide universal medical services, is close to reaching its
goal. This same institution also provides worker’s disability,
maternity and senior citizen benefits.
Costa Rica is a mountainous country on the narrow Central
American isthmus, with Nicaragua to the North and Panamá
to the South. To the East and West are the Caribbean Sea and
Pacific Ocean, respectively.
