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COUNTRY INFORMATION |
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INTRODUCTION
Costa Rica is a country located in Central America that has unlimited tourist potential and is ranked as one of the most visited international destinations. One of Costa Rica’s main sources of income is tourism. Costa Rica is a democratic and peaceful country, and it has not had an army since the year 1949. Although the country is small and it covers only 0.03 % of the surface of the globe, it proudly shelters a 6% of the existing biodiversity in the entire world. 25.58 % of the country is composed of conservation and natural protected territory.
Area: 51,100 sq km.
Population: 4,509,290 (official estimate 2008).
Population Density: 89.6 per sq km.
Capital: San José
Population: 1,611,616 (2008).
Costa Rica is the Central American state forming the land-bridge between North and South America and it has a surprising diversity of terrain. In the cities and towns, the country’s Spanish heritage provides the main features of interest. Elsewhere, Costa Rica’s national parks are its greatest glory.
SAN JOSÉ: The capital was founded in 1737 and is a pleasant mixture of traditional and modern Spanish architecture. Places of interest include the Teatro Nacional, the Palacio Nacional (where the legislative assembly meets), and the Parque Central, east of which is the Cathedral. The National Museum and the Museum of Gold are also worth a visit. There are a number of other parks in the city, including the Parque Nacional, the Parque Bolivar and the Parque Morazán. San José is a good centre for excursions into the beautiful Meseta Central region. The nearby town of Cartago was founded in 1563, but there are no old buildings as earthquakes destroyed the town in 1841 and 1910. However, some of the reconstruction was in the colonial style.
CARIBBEAN COAST: There are numerous beaches, ports and towns worth visiting. The highlights of the Caribbean are the Tortuguero National Park, Cahuita and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca with its blue cristaline waters.
PACIFIC COAST: Costa Rica’s principal Pacific port for freight is Puntarenas. The beaches around it are rather poor. An island worth a visit is Isla Del Coco where a great hoard of treasure is supposed to have been buried by pirates. The island is a World Heritage. Cocos Island National Park, located 550 km off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, is the only island in the tropical eastern Pacific with a tropical rainforest. Its position as the first point of contact with the northern equatorial counter-current, and the myriad interactions between the island and the surrounding marine ecosystem, make the area an ideal laboratory for the study of biological processes. The underwater world of the national park has become famous due to the attraction it holds for divers, who rate it as one of the best places in the world to view large pelagic species such as sharks, rays, tuna and dolphins. Puerto Caldera, a few miles south of Puntarenas, has recently become the country’s premier port of call for cruise liners. Quepos, Nicoya, Liberia and Sámara are the region’s other major towns. There are beautiful beaches in the Guanacaste area, near Quepos in the Central Pacific and near Golfito in the South.
NATIONAL PARKS
Well-kept and well-guarded national parks and nature reserves cover nearly 26 per cent of the country’s territory. In addition to the parks below, the Manuel Antonio National Park and the Arenal Volcano National Park are worth a visit, and many of the tiny islands in the Gulf of Nicoya, near Puntarenas, are ‘biological protection areas’.
Poás Volcano: As the name suggests, this park contains the smouldering Poás Volcano. It contains the only dwarf cloud forest in Costa Rica. The crater of the volcano is 1.5km (1-mile) wide and contains a hot-water lake which changes colour from turquoise to green to grey.
Tortuguero: This park protects the Atlantic green turtle egg-laying grounds. The turtles season usually goes from July to October. Tortuguero is an area of great ecological diversity. Its network of canals and lagoons serves as waterways for transportation and exploration. There are good tourist class lodges.
Santa Rosa National Park: The last large stand of tropical dry forest in Central America can be found here. There are ten habitats including extensive savannahs and deciduous and non-deciduous forests. In addition to its abundant wildlife, recreational facilities are provided on some of the beaches.
Corcovado National Park: The virgin rainforest in this park contains many endangered species. It has the largest tree in Costa Rica, a ceibo which is 70m (230ft) high. Additionally there is Cano Island Biological Reserve, a bird sanctuary.
Cahuita National Park: This park protects the only coral reef on Costa Rica’s Carribbean coastline. Its other attractions include howler and white-faced monkeys, racoons and 500 species of fish.
Chirripó National Park: The centrepiece here is Costa Rica’s highest mountain. Most notably the park is home to the quetzal, said to be Latin America’s most beautiful bird.
GEOGRAPHY
Costa Rica, lying between Nicaragua and Panama, is a complete coast-to-coast segment of the Central American isthmus. Its width ranges from 119km to 282km (74 to 176 miles). A low thin line of hills, that rises between Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean in Nicaragua, broadens and rises as it enters northern Costa Rica, eventually forming the high, rugged, mountains of volcanic origin in the centre and south. The highest peak is Chirripó Grande which reaches 3820m (12,530ft). More than half of the population lives on the Meseta Central, a plateau with an equitable climate. It is rimmed to the southwest by the Cordillera range, and provides the setting for the country’s capital, San José.
There are lowlands on both coastlines, mainly swampy on the Caribbean coast, with grassland savannah on the Pacific side merging into mangrove towards the south. Rivers cut through the mountains, flowing down to both the Caribbean and the Pacific.
GOVERNMENT
Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1821. Head of State and Government: President Laura Chinchilla Miranda since 2010.
LANGUAGE
Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken. Some French, German and Italian are also spoken.
RELIGION
Roman Catholic. Protestants are increasing.
TIME
GMT - 6.
ELECTRICITY
110/220 volts AC, 60Hz. Two-pin plugs are standard.
TELEPHONE
IDD is available. Country code: 506. Phone booths are available all over the country.
MOBILE TELEPHONE
3G and GSM networks are operated by Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE).
FAX
Facilities are available in San José at the Radiografica Costarricense S.A. (opening hours: 07:00-22:00).
INTERNET
There are Internet cafes and most hotels also provide facilities.
POST
Airmail letters to Europe and to the United States of America usually take between six and ten days.
PRESS
Daily newspapers printed in Spanish include La Nación, La República, La Prensa Libre, El Heraldo and Diario Extra. Three weekly papers are printed in English: The Tico Times, Costa Rica Today and Central America Weekly.
PASSPORTS
Passport valid for at least six months at date of entry required by all, except Canadian and US citizens with proof of identity, e.g. a certified birth certificate and official ID containing a photograph.
VISA
Required by all except the following:
- Nationals of the UK and its dependencies for stays of up to 90 days;
- Nationals of Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, USA and Uruguay for a stay of up to 90 days;
- Nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, Czech Republic, Dominica, El Salvador, Estonia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, South Africa*, Surinam, Taiwan (China), Turkey, Vatican City and Venezuela for a period of 30 days.
- Transit passengers continuing their journey to a third country by the same or first connecting flight within 48 hours, provided holding confirmed onward tickets and not leaving the airport (except nationals of China (PR) who do need a transit visa authorized by the Immigration Department in San José).
MONEY
Currency: Costa Rican Colón (c) = 100 céntimos. Bills are in denominations of c10,000, c5000, c2000 and c1000. Coins are in denominations of c500 c100, c50, c25, and c10.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE
Visitors should consult their banks for the current rate of exchange. The cross rate with the US Dollar is used. ATMs are available in main urban areas.
CREDIT & DEBIT CARDS
MasterCard and Visa are all accepted; American Express and Diners Clubs lightly less so, but check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
TRAVELLERS CHEQUES
To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars.
CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS
There are no restrictions on the import and export of either local or foreign currency. US Dollars is the most recommended. For other currencies a higher commission has to be paid.
BANKING HOURS
Mon-Fri 09:00-15:00/17:00.
DUTY FREE
The following goods may be imported into Costa Rica without incurring customs duty: 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 500g tobacco; 3l of alcoholic beverages (people aged over 18 only); a reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Jan 1st New Year’s Day, Holy week, April 11th Anniversary of the Battle of Rivas, May 1st Labour Day, July 25th Guanacaste Annexation, August 15th Mothers’ Day and Assumption, September 15th Independence Day, December 25th Christmas Day. Most businesses close for the whole Holy Week and between Christmas and New Year.
HEALTH
A cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry into Costa Rica. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination.
FOOD & DRINK
Mains water is normally heavily chlorinated, and whilst relatively safe may cause mild abdominal upsets. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.
HEALTH CARE
Health insurance is recommended. Reliable medical services are available in Costa Rica. Standards of health and hygiene are among the best in Latin America.
TRAVEL - INTERNATIONAL
AIR: The Costa Rican national airline is Taca International Airlines (TA), an amalgamation of the airlines Lacsa, Taca, Aviateca and Nica. Taca International flies direct to Costa Rica from Miami, New Orleans, Los Angeles, New York, Mexico and other destinations in Central and South America. Other airlines include Delta, American Airlines and Continental. Approximate flight times: From San José to Europe is 12 hours (including stopover time), to the United States of America between 7 and 11 hours. International airports: Juan Santamaría (SJO) is 17km (11 miles) northwest of the city. Coaches depart every 20 minutes (05:00-24:00); return pickups stop at various hotels. Buses depart to the city every 15 minutes (06:00-22:00). Taxis are also available to the city. The airport in Liberia (second most important Costa Rica's airport) has been upgraded and can be used for some international flights. SEA: Cruise lines calling at Costa Rican ports include Costa, Holland America, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Wind Star, Carnival, Sun, NCL, Crystal, Silversea, Royal Olympic, Regal, Seabourn, Cunard, Radisson, Hapag, Delphin and Mediterranean Shipping. The port of Puntarenas has been redeveloped recently. ROAD: The Inter-American Highway runs through Costa Rica from La Cruz on the Nicaraguan border through San José to Progreso on the Panamanian border.
TRAVEL - INTERNAL
AIR: SANSA, a national airline, operates services between San José and provincial towns and villages. A number of smaller airlines also provide internal flights, such as Nature Air.
ROAD: The standard of the roads is generally good. There are 35,583km (22,110 miles) of all-weather highways including 663km (412 miles) of the Inter-American Highway and highways linking San José with the other principal towns.
Bus: Regular services to most towns, but buses are often crowded so pre-booking is advisable.
Taxi: Numerous and inexpensive in San José. The taxis are coloured red (except those serving the Juan Santamaría International Airport which are orange). Taxis are metered.
Car hire: Major car hire companies as well as local firms have offices in San José. Distances are measured in kilometres. A speed limit of 88kph (55mph) is enforced on most highways. Documentation: Drivers must have a national licence or International Driving Permit.
ACCOMMODATION
There is a good range of reasonably priced hotel accommodation. Most proprietors speak English. San José has many hotels, from the extravagant to the smaller, family-run hotels in the less fashionable districts. There are several good hotels out of town near the airport. Larger hotels have swimming pools and other sports facilities. The majority have their own restaurants which are generally good and reasonably priced.
SPORT & ACTIVITIES
Ecotourism: Partly in order to continue to encourage ecotourism, the Costa Rican authorities have set aside a large proportion of the country (around 26 per cent of the total land area) as national parks and protected areas. There is good road access to most of these areas, and public transport is available. Nature trails and tracks are well developed. The country has a stunning variety of landscapes, micro-climates, flora and fauna, and nature lovers will not be disappointed. The highland area in the centre consists of four mountain ranges. Some of the country’s great attractions are its 8 volcanoes. The sight of Arenal, in the Sierra Volcánica Guancaste in the northwest, erupting at night is truly spectacular. In the foothills of Rincon de la Vieja, the mud pools bubble permanently. It is possible to bathe in the hot springs in this area. The central highlands are the most accessible for the visitor, and feature Poás, whose crater contains a boiling sulphurous lake, and Irazú, its desolate landscape resembling the surface of the moon. The country’s tallest peaks are in the non-volcanic Cordillera de Talamanca near Panama, and include the impressive Chirripó (12,533ft/3828m). The upper slopes of the mountains are often covered by cloud forest, characterised by the algae, mosses and lichens on the permanently wet surfaces. Numerous orchids and ferns grow here, but the forests’ most notable inhabitant is the Resplendent Quetzal (a bird).
Lower down is the rainforest. Best visited in the company of an experienced guide (in part, because it is so easy to get lost), these forests are filled with elusive wildlife. Among the creatures, monkeys, armadillos, sloths, crocodiles, and birds such as toucans, parrots and macaws can be observed. Sea turtles can be observed in the Tortuguero region at certain times of the year. Depending on what the visitor wants to see, it is best to visit in the dry season (from December to April).
Watersports: The most popular adventure sport is white-water rafting. The Reventazón River (class III) is suitable for beginners, while more experienced rafters can tackle the Pacuare (class IV) and the Pascua (class V) rivers. The best times to go are from May to November. Lake Arenal was recently voted one of the world’s top windsurfing spots. Situated at 5580ft (1700m) above sea level, the lake offers its best windsurfing between April and December. Puerto Soley on the northern Pacific coast offers good ocean windsurfing. Kayaking and ocean kayaking are gaining in popularity. Surfing is possible at many beaches, being especially popular at Pavones on the Pacific coast and at Playa Naranjo in the northwest. This part of the country also offers excellent diving, with more than 20 local dive sites. Tuition and equipment hire are widely available. Cocos Island, praised by Jacques Cousteau, and Caño Island off the southwest coast, are also good diving areas. Fishing: The Pacific coast, from the Gulf of Papagayo to Golfito offers excellent sport fishing. Sailfish, marlin, tuna and wahoo are among the catches. The Tortuguero Canals and the area around Barra del Colorado offer good freshwater game fishing, while trout can be caught in the country’s mountain streams.
Other activities: Mountain biking can be done on the trails in the forests and national parks. Horseriding is also easily arranged. Because a different type of saddle and stirrups are used, even experienced riders may need to take some time to get used to their mounts. Bungee jumping and ballooning are also available.
SOCIAL PROFILE
Food & Drink: Restaurants in towns and cities serve a variety of foods including French, Italian, Mexican, North American and Chinese. Food is good, from the most expensive to the cheapest eating places (which are generally found west of the city centre). Food sodas (small restaurants) serve local food. Common dishes include “casado” (rice, beans, stewed beef, fried plantain, salad and cabbage), “olla de carne” (soup of beef, plantain, corn, yuca, nampi and chayote), “sopa negra” (black beans with a poached egg) and “picadillo” (meat and vegetable stew). Snacks are popular and include “gallos” (filled tortillas), “empanadas” (containing meat, cheese or beans), “arreglados” (bread filled with same) and “pan de yucca” (speciality from stalls in San José). There are many types of cold drink made from fresh fruit, milk or cereal flour, for example, “cebada” (barley flour), “pinolillo” (roasted corn) and “horchata” (corn meal with cinnamon). Imported alcoholic and soft drinks are widely available. Coffee is good value and has an excellent flavour. Restaurants add a ten per cent service charge and a thirteen per cent taxes.
Nightlife: San José especially has many nightclubs, venues with folk music and dance, theatres and cinemas.
Shopping: Special purchases include wood and leather rocking chairs (which dismantle for export) as well as a range of local crafts available in major cities and towns. Local markets are also well worth visiting. Prices are slightly higher than in other Latin American countries. Best buys are wooden items, ceramics, jewellery and leather handicrafts. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 09:00-18:00/19:00.
Special Events: The following is a selection of the major annual festivals and special events: Dec-Jan Fiestas del Fin del Año (week-long festivities). Feb-Mar Orchid Show, Cartago. Mar (middle) Día del Boyero (Day of the Oxcart Driver), Escazú; National Craft Fair, San José. Jun (end) Feast of St Peter and St Paul. Aug Arrival of Pilgrims, Cartago. Oct Carnival Week, Puerto Limón.
Social Conventions: Handshaking is common and forms of address are important. Christian names are preceded by “Don” for a man and “Doña” for a woman. Normal courtesies should be observed when visiting someone’s home and gifts are appreciated as a token of thanks, especially if invited for a meal. For most occasions casual wear is acceptable, but beachwear should be confined to the beach. Tipping is expected by hotel staff, porters and waiters.
BUSINESS PROFILE
Economy: About half of Costa Rica’s export earnings are derived from agriculture (coffee, pineapple, bananas, meat, sugar and cocoa). Staple crops are also grown for domestic consumption. Manufacturing industry consists of food-processing, textiles, chemicals and plastics and is steadily expanding with government encouragement. New industries include aluminium production, following the discovery of a large bauxite deposit; and a rapid move into the computer industry, as a result of which microprocessors have become a valuable export. Oil and hydroelectricity meet the bulk of the country’s energy needs. Tourism dominates the service sector and is the most important source of foreign exchange earnings. Costa Rica receives some international aid through international bodies such as the IMF, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and from the USA, which is Costa Rica’s main trading partner. Costa Rica is also a member of the Central American Common Market.
Business: Customs tend to be conservative. Advance appointments, courtesy and punctuality are appreciated. It is preferable to have some knowledge of Spanish, although many locals speak English. Best months for business visits are November and December; avoid the last week of September, which is the end of the financial year. Office hours: Mon-Fri 08:00-17:00.
CLIMATE
In the Central Valley, where the main centres of population are located, the average temperature is 22°C (72°F). In the coastal areas the temperature is hotter. The rainy season starts in May and finishes in November. The ‘warm’ dry season is December to May. Temperature differences between summer and winter are slight. So, you can also visit the country during the rainy season with very high chances of good weather.
REQUIRED CLOTHING
Lightweight cottons and linens most of the year, warmer clothes for cooler evenings. Waterproofing is necessary during the rainy season. HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT
Columbus landed in what is now Costa Rica in 1501. Although it was never heavily colonised, the region came under the captaincy-general of Guatemala. The country declared independence from Spain in 1821 but became part of Mexico. Two years later, it was a founding member of the United Provinces of Central America, a short-lived confederation whose capital was Guatemala City. Costa Rica’s liberal political and economic structures developed in an entirely different manner from those of the other members of the confederation. Costa Rica thus found little community of interest with them, especially Guatemala, then the dominant power in the region. It was the first to pull out of the federation in 1838, and declared its self a full-independent state: two years later the United Provinces folded. Under the rule of General Tomas Guardia between 1870 and 1882, Costa Rica developed many of its principal modern characteristics, notably the minimal role of the Catholic Church in secular matters and a relatively isolationist foreign policy. The democratic elections of 1890 are acknowledged to have been the first in the region. Throughout the 20th century, Costa Rica has enjoyed peace and a steady growth in prosperity, with the notable exception of a civil war in 1948 which followed a disputed presidential election. After the victory of José Figueres Ferrer in the conflict, the army was abolished in a unique political decision which entrusted the defence of the country to a Civil Guard, and this decision was enshrined in a new constitution (which still prevails today). The country enjoys good relations with its neighbours: a minor outstanding territorial dispute with Nicaragua over navigation along the San Juan River (which serves as their mutual border) was settled in 2000. In recent times, one of the most prominent political figures has been Oscar Arias Sánchez of the Partido de Liberación Nacional who was elected president in February 1986 and reelected on 2006. Oscar Arias was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on 1987 for his efforts in bringing warring parties elsewhere in Central America to the negotiating table. Arias stood down prior to the 1990 national elections, which were won by Rafael Angel Calderón, candidate of the rival Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC). Angel was soon confronted with a national emergency as an earthquake hit the country in April 1991, causing widespread loss of life and damage. The PLN regained power in 1994 but at both polls since then – in 1998 and 2002 – the electorate has returned a PUSC majority in both presidential and National Assembly elections.
GOVERNMENT
Under the constitution of 1949, executive power is vested in the President, supported by two Vice-Presidents and an appointed Cabinet of Ministers. The President is elected for a four-year term by universal adult suffrage (voting is obligatory), conditional on one candidate receiving more than 40 per cent of the vote. Legislation is the responsibility of the 57-member National Assembly, which is also elected for a four-year term of office.
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