About Costa Rica

Overview 

The words that best describe Costa Rica are perhaps "pura vida". It means "pure life" and that is what visitors to this Central American country will find. From exotic animal life to exotic scenery, travelers will find themselves inexorably drawn to Costa Rica and its residents.

The abundance of activities available will have travelers checking and re - checking their lists to make sure they haven't passed anything up. Itineraries can include witnessing a spectacular volcano eruption from the luxurious warmth of a hot spring or a rushing trip through a cloud forest canopy. Of course, there are those who will do both!

Costa Rica means "rich coast" in Spanish and the words are not lost of this country. Named by Christopher Columbus, the country was colonized in the mid 1500s with Spanish settlers heading for the fertile central highlands.

Capital 

San José is the capital and is the most cosmopolitan area in the country. Visitors like to spend a few days here visiting city sights and enjoying shopping and dining. While the shopping and other attractions are worthwhile, take a few hours to visit the city;s many interesting museums and colorful markets. The best of the museums are the Museo Nacional, which has displays of Costa Rica archaeology, colonial furniture, costumes and religious art; and the Museo del Oro Precolombino, which houses a dazzling collection of pre - Colombian gold pieces.

One of the most impressive city buildings is the Teatro Nacional or National Theater. Built in the 1890s, it hosts plays, operas, symphonic orchestra concerts and ballets.

People 

One of the country's most important assets is its people. Gregarious and hospitable, the "Ticos" set themselves apart when it comes to welcoming visitors. Whether helping you out with some complicated road directions or finding a good place to eat, Costa Ricans will go out of their way to help out a puzzled visitor. 

Tour operators

Tour operators have honed their skills to a fine art. They cater to visitors in a way that will leave you with more than a passing desire to spend more time here. For nature lovers, the country does not lack for an extensive variety of sights. With over 15 different ecosystems, the traveler is exposed to a wide variety of flora and fauna, landscapes and ever-changing climate. You can enjoy a trek through the pristine cloud forest environment of Monteverde or drive up to the rim of a crater and enjoy the spectacular view. The choice is yours!

Speaking of choices, the beaches are plentiful and postcard perfect. Whether you're in the area of Guanacaste. Puntarenas or the Caribbean, the fine sand beaches with easy accessibility are a treat to visit and a pleasure to behold.

Standard of Living Indicators

• Life expectancy: 76.1 years
• Literacy rate: 95.5%
• Educational Institutions: 6147 primary and secondary schools and 50 universities
• Education expenditures: 5% of GDP (2002)
• Youth literacy: 98.3%
• Population served with piped water: 99%
• Public health services coverage: 90.4% of population
• Health expenditures: 27.8% of government budget
• Access to telephone service: 92% of population

 

Political Environment

• Traditional and stable democracy, army abolished in 1949.
• 2nd highest per capita US foreign aid after Israel
• Lowest risk rating in Latin America.
• Business environment and legal framework open to foreign investment.
• No limitation on foreign control of corporations and ownership of property.

Proximity

Costa Rica is located only 2-4 hours by air from most urban points in the U.S.

Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaría (SJO) is Costa Rica's main airport. It's about 30 minutes north of downtown San José, in Alajuela.

Weather

Costa Rica is a tropical country situated between 8 and 11 degrees above the equator. It has only two seasons: dry and green. The dry season with very little rain is generally between late December and April and the green or wet season lasts the rest of the year - May through November and still offers an average of about 5 hours of daily sunshine.

Temperatures

Temperatures vary little between seasons. The main influence on temperature is altitude. Average temperature ranges in San José are from 14 to 24 degrees Celsius (57 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit) in December to 17 to 27 degrees Celsius (63 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit) in May. The coasts are much hotter, with the Caribbean averaging 21°C (70°F) at night and over 30°C (86°F) during the day. The Pacific side is a few degrees warmer still, but the humidity is generally less, so it tends to be more comfortable.

Health

Standards of health and hygiene in Costa Rica are among the best in Latin America. Reliable medical services are widely available and costs are considerably lower than in the U.S.