Costa Rica Location –
Costa Rica borders with Nicaragua to the North, with Panama to the Southests, with the Caribbean Sea to the East and with the Pacific Ocean to the West. Its territorial extension is approximately 51.100 square kilometers and about 589.682 km2 are of sea surface, although is small in size, 25% of its territory is protected by National Parks and Reserved Areas.
Costa Rica Climate
The climate is pleasantly stable and there are only two distinguishable seasons, the dry season and the rainy season. The green season starts in May until October and the dry season starts in November and ends in April. The average temperature is 22.5 ºC during the dry season, and 21 ºC during the green season.
Language in Costa Rica
The official language is Spanish, however English is taught as a second language in primary and high schools. In tourist areas and establishments English is almost and official language.
Currency in Costa Rica
The official currency is known as the Colon and it can be found in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 and 500, in coins, and in denominations of 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10.000 in paper bills. The exchange rate regarding the dollar is variable and can be transacted at the Juan Santamaria International Airport, in any of the state or private banks, exchanges houses, Hotel and even in some commercial establishments. Credit cards such as American Express, Visa or Master Card are widely accepted in most establishments.
Taxes in Costa Rica
In the majority of establishments, there is a 13% sales taxes charge and a service tax charge that is 10%. Hotels charge an additional 3% tax.
Population in Costa Rica
The population is slightly over 4 million habitants and life expectancy is around 77 years of age. The average age is 23.2 years.
Government and political situation
Since the year 1948, Costa Rica abolished the army as a permanent institution, differing itself from the rest of the countries in the area and sustaining its social and economic growth in a democratic tradition. The current Constitution was established in 1949 and the states that Costa Rica is a democratic, free and independent Republic. Its Government is based on the division of powers, the Executive Power, lead by the President, two Vice-presidents and its team of Ministers, the Legislative Power composed of 57 representatives elected by popular election through a universal vote, and the Judicial Power, formed by the Supreme Court of Justice, its four Courts and Ordinary Tribunals.
Costa Rica’s Public Holidays – Costa Rica Spanish Language School January 1st (New Years Day), Holy Thursday and Good Friday, April 11th (Day of our Hero-Juan Santamaria), May 1st (Labor’s Day), July 25th (Annexation of Nicoya), August 2nd (Virgin of the Angels Day), August 15th (Mother’s Day), September 15th (Independence Day), and December 25th (Christmas Day)
Non statute holidays in Costa Rica
Other festivities that are celebrated throughout the year are: October 12th (Arrival of Christopher Columbus to America, Cultural Encounter Day)
Electric Power
In Costa Rica the electric power is 110 volts, however in some areas you can find power sockets of 220 volts.
Water
In Costa Rica practically all the water is drinkable, however if you are traveling to isolated places it is advisable to carry bottled water.
Costa Rica National Symbols
The national symbols of Costa Rica are recognized by the Flag, blue represents the sky and the sea, white represents peace, and red stands for the blood shed by the Costa Ricans in defense of their country, the National Insignia, which does carry any warlike elements; the Guanacaste Tree (Enterolobiun cyclocarpun) which in Nahualt means ear, the name originates from the shape of its fruit; the Yiguirro (Turdus grayi) or Robin which is the national bird since 1975 upon request of a citizen named Eliseo Gamboa; the Guaria Morada (Cattleya skinneri) or Purple Orchid is the national flower that grows in rain forests at low altitudes reaching altitudes of 2000 meters. The National Anthem is the work of two distinguished Costa Ricans: Manuel Maria Gutierrez composed the music in 1852; José Maria Zeledon composed the lyrics back in 1903.
General Information of Costa Rica
Costa Rica is especially interesting as a tourist destination due to its natural beauties, friendly people, its climate and geographic location. The country has a coastline of 1.228 km, of which 212 km are on the Caribbean Coast and 1.016 on the Pacific Coast. Because of its geo-morphological features, there is a wide variety of micro climates that offer an extraordinary diversity; you can travel from altitudes at sea level up to altitudes of 3.820 meter above sea level; you can find volcanoes, caves, primary forests, rivers, rapid currents, lakes, mangrove tress, plains, channels, coral reefs, waterfalls, white sand beaches, peninsulas, islands, crystal clear water, and infinite sceneries that guarantee an unforgettable stay. “Ticos” are very friendly and warm people by nature; they are cultured and educated through tradition.
In addition to its natural and humane richness, Costa Rica shows pride with its advanced technology in the feels of communication, industry, infrastructure and transportation, this allows you to combine tourism with business and vice versa.
Interesting Facts about Costa Rica
– San Jose was the third city in the world to have electric lighting.
– Costa Rica declared war against Germany, Italy and Japan, even before the United Sates did, when the Second World War began.
– Scientist, Clodomiro Picado, discovered penicillin before Fleming did.
– It is one of the countries with the most protected environmental area in the entire world; National Parks, Biological Reserves or Uncultivated Areas form 25% of its territory.
– It has approximately 850 species of birds, of which 600 are indigenous and the rest are non-native.
– The crater of the Poas volcano is one of the largest in the world, and it was once the largest geyser in the world.
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