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Costa Rica is a small country bordered by Nicaragua on the North, Panama on the South, the Caribbean on the East, and the Pacific Ocean on the West.
San José is the capital, and is located in a beautiful valley in the center of the country.
Costa Rica is a peaceful and democratic country that has no standing army. One of its Presidents, Oscar Arias, was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987.
The tropical climate and the diversity of altitudes that its geography presents permit a wide variety of microclimates and landscapes, which range from placid and heavenly beaches to humid green mountains.
Costa Rica is best known worldwide for it’s natural resources and political stability. Being only two-thirds the size of Scotland, the country contains 5% of the world’s biodiversity and 25% of its territory consists of protected forests and reserves. With the greatest density of species in the world, together with a grand variety of landscapes, Costa Rica has become a natural paradise with much to offer its visitors.
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Costa Rica is in Central America, between Nicaragua and Panama. It’s a little more than 50,000 square kilometers in size, just a little larger than Switzerland. 10% of its four million inhabitants live in the capital, San José.
Costa Rica is 500 kilometers long and 150 kilometers wide. The coastline which contains the three peninsulas; Osa, Nicoya, and Papagayo, has a length of 1800 kilometers.
80% of the population is of Spanish origin. The majority of the black and mulatto population (7% of the total) live in Puerto Limón or it’s surroundings on the Caribbean.
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Official Language: Spanish
Political System: Democratic
Official Religion: Catholic
Potable Water: Supplied to 98% of the population
Life Expectancy: Average of 76 years
Electricity: National Service 110 volts
Telephones: One of the most efficient services in Latin America. International calls can be made directly from any phone in the country. There are public phones throughout the entire country and when these aren’t available, an operator will assist.
Postal System: National network of offices. Correo Central and Telegraph Office
Roads: The country has a good network of paved roads and highways, which facilitate travel throughout the country. There are connections between this network and those of other Central American countries. There are also ample secondary routes.
Public Transport: The country has a large fleet of taxis, easily identified by their red color. In rural areas, the taxis are 4-wheel drive for traveling over rough roads. Collective taxis are available in and between provinces.
Banks and Money: Local and international banking services are available as well as private financial institutions. Banking hours are from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm (continuous service). Night banking service is also available from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The official money is the "Colón" and the exchange rate against the Dollar can vary. Dollars can be exchanged at any of the national banks. International credit cards are accepted in almost all businesses throughout the country.
Office Hours: These can vary according to the company or institution. The majority of government offices are open to the public from8:00 am until 4:00 pm. Private companies open from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. Businesses and stores open from 9:00am until 7:00 pm in the majority of cases. Others maintain their workday from 8:00 am until 6:00pm. In the capital there are supermarkets that are open all day.
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Costa Rica