Costa Rica
General Information
From I.C.T. - The Costa Rica Tourist Board
Costa Rica is small in size and has an area of roughly 51,100
square kilometers (31,682 square miles). Even so, it is internationally
famous and recognized for the diversity and density of its natural
resources and for the fabled kindness of its inhabitants. For
example, approximately 96% of Costa Ricans read and write; a high
percentage of their taxes go to conservation; and the government
has said 'no way' to the petrol entrepreneurs and open pit mining,
What's more, ex-President, Oscar Arias (1986 –— 1990)
won the Nobel Peace Prize, and on May 8th, 2002, on the occasion
of his ascension to the Presidency of Costa Rica, the newly elected
President of the country, Dr. Abel Pacheco de la Espriella, has
declared (de facto) Costa Rica as a country free of oil exploration
and exploitation and free of open pit mining!! These facts set
Costa Rica as a model global country! Thus, it is an especially
attractive destination for foreign travelers who, not incidentally,
make for more than a million visits a year.
Entry Documents
Anyone who wants to visit Costa Rica should contact the Costa Rican
embassy or consulate in their country to determine the necessary
documents they need to enter the country.
Climate
Costa Rica really has two seasons: a “green” or rainy
season that runs from May through October, and a dry season that
beings in November and ends in April. The average temperature in
the Central Valley is 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 Centigrade), while
on the coast and at the beaches it ranges from 70 to 90 degrees
Fahrenheit (21 to 32 Centigrade).
Business Hours
In general, businesses open at 9 a.m. and close at 6 p.m., although
shopping centers are usually open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. State banks
usually operate between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. while private banks are
open from 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Offices are generally open from 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
Credit Cards
The credit cards most commonly accepted by businesses and in tourist
areas are Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Diners Club.
Airports
The country possesses three major airports. The Juan Santamaria
International Airport is located in Alajuela 10 minutes from the
capital, and the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport
in Liberia, in the Province of Guanacaste. In Pavas, just outside
San José, there is the Tobias Bolanos Airport, which handles
domestic flights. In addition, there are numerous landing strips
that serve the various tourist destinations.
Ports Visitors who want to enter the country by sea
can do so at the ports of Limón and Moín on the
Caribbean, Puerto Caldera and Puntarenas on the Pacific, and Central
Pacific, Golfito, and Quepos on the Southern Pacific side.
Rivers
River transport is possible on the Reventazón in the center
of the country, the San Carlos, Río Frío, San Juan,
and Sarapiquí on the northern plains, and the Grande de Térraba
and the Sierpe on the Southern Pacific side.
Roadways
Costa Rica has an extensive network of roadways, mostly paved, that
provide access to most parts of the country.
Bus Service
The national bus system provides comfortable, economic, and fast
service to most parts of the country, especially to points of interest
to tourists.
Rental Cars
There is a broad offering of rental vehicles, due to the existence
of many agencies that provide service to the international market.
Taxis
Taxi service to different points in the country is modern, efficient,
and safe, although it is advisable that you only use the more well-known
companies.
Political System
Costa Rica enjoys one of the oldest and most stable democracies
in Latin America. This stance lead to its abolishing the army in
1948 and to earning a Nobel Peace Prize for ex-president Oscar Arias
for his ongoing struggle to approve the Central American Peace Plan
during the turbulent eighties. The Costa Rican political system
is a representative system with three branches: the Executive, the
Legislative, and the Judicial. The president is elected by popular
vote every four years.
Education
Thanks to its free, yet mandatory public education system established
in 1017, Costa Ricans enjoy a high level of education and one of
the highest literacy rates in the world: 96.2%
Technology
This high level of education, along with the development of telecommunications,
has contributed to Costa Rica being considered as a place suitable
for foreign multi-national high-technology investment by companies.
Intel Corporation, Laser Sight Technology, Siemens, Proctor and
Gamble and others all have a presence in Costa Rica.
Telecommunications
Telecommunication services are provided by the Instituto Costaricense
de Electricidad (ICE – the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity),
a state-owned body. The modern telecommunications network includes:
direct communications with the outside world by the self-dial MIDA
international telephone system. There are also telex, telegram,
fax, cellular, and Internet services, along with data transmission
via the use of satellites and microwaves.
Water
The majority of cities in the country have drinkable water, although
in the more remote areas it is recommended that you drink bottled
water.
Gastronomy
Costa Rican cuisine offers a wide variety of choices to the tourist,
ranging from the freshest tropical fruits and vegetables to exquisite
seafood and indigenous foods such as "gallo pinto" (spotted rooster")
consisting of rice lightly sauteed with bean and served with a steak
or eggs. Costa Rican dishes also include tamales, arroz con pollo
(rice with chicken), minced arracache root, potato and meat hash,
and "casado," a "marriage" of portions of rice, beans, ripe plantains,
fresh vegetable salad, and some sort of meat. The list goes on to
include grilled corn on the cob, "chorreadas" (a thick johnny cake
made from tender corn), and different types of empanadas (turnovers)
filled with cheese, beans, or meat. In addition, if a visitor so
desires, s/he may try other cuisines, such as French, Italian, German,
Korean, Chinese, Spanish, Mexican, U.S., and vegetarian, all of
which are well represented in the country.
Travelers' Attractions
Just as travelers' tastes are varied, so are the attractions that
Costa Rica offers in the form of natural beauty, sun and sea, hospitality,
history, adventure, and fun. All these attractions are concentrated
in a small area where distance does not present a problem
Traveler's Health
Although taking a vacation in a beautiful country in and of itself
contributes to good health, there are other options available as
well. The country offers high-quality professional services in plastic
and reconstructive surgery, opthalmology, and dentistry at very
good prices compared to other countries. In the same area as tourist
health, we should mention that Costa Rica has natural hot spring
bathing. There are also therapeutic treatment destinations with
volcanic muds and other natural components that have earned the
special interest of many visitors.
| Population |
4,000,000 inhabitants |
| National Territory |
51.100 km3/31,682 square miles) |
| Capital |
San José |
| Official Language |
Spanish |
| Money |
Colon (named after Christopher Columbus) |
| Official Religion |
Catholic (with freedom of expression of other beliefs) |
| Political System |
Democracy |
| Bordering Countries |
Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south |
| Bordering Waters |
Caribbean to the east, Pacific to the west |
| Electricity |
110 volts |
| National Bird |
Yigüirro (Turdus grayi) |
| National Flower |
Purple Guaria Orchid (Cattleya skinneri) |
| National Tree |
Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) |
A Piece on San José
by Alexander del Sol,
author of The Southern Costa Rica Guide, 2000
This country's capital is actually no larger than a medium sized
city in the developed world (I.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, etc.),
if that. It has all the usual attractions of the city, including
lost of theaters, restaurants, bars, clubs, live music, discos,
etc. In the central district, at least, it also has a major helping
of all the 'negative' aspects of the city: traffic, noise, pollution,
etc. Generally speaking, if you like the city, this one is ok.
Us locals visit only when we have to, though, for unavoidable
business, or when we leave or enter the country by plane. As a
tourist, you'll pretty much have to pass through here one way
or another. For this reason, I have added this short section to
the book. I hope it helps you out.
Despite the fact that San José and its environs are the
areas with the highest rates of violent crime in Costa Rica (with
the Limón area coming in as a close second), the chances
of you or me being assaulted, even downtown at midnight, are very
slim. It does happen, of course, but with much less frequency
than it does in, say, London, New York, or Berlin.
If you're going to stay in San José for any length of
time, I recommend a decent hotel. Good food is easy to come by,
though it can be a bit pricey compared to the rest of the country.
Communications is best here, though more and more Internet cafés
are sprouting up around the country, and most of the post offices
have it now too. In any case, enjoy.
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