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Costa Rica is an oasis of calm among its turbulent neighbors with a natural beauty and friendly people, and an eco-tourism heaven, making it one of the best places to experience the tropics with minimal impact. The overwhelming European influence erased almost all indigenous culture, and because Costa Rica was a country of subsistence agriculturalists until the middle of the 19th century, cultural activity has only begun to blossom in the last 100 years.
Within Costa Rica’s 51,200 square kilometers (19,768.4 square miles) there is a wider variety of species of birds than in all of Europe or North America. Its approach to conservation has ensured that lush jungles are home to playful monkeys, crocodiles, lizards, poison-dart frogs and a mind boggling assortment of exotic birds, insects and butterflies. Meanwhile, endangered sea turtles nest on both coasts and cloud forests protect elusive birds and jungle cats.
With a relatively small population of roughly three and a half million inhabitants, Costa Rica also boasts of one of the oldest and more consolidated democracies in Latin America. By some estimates, its population is formed by 96% Spanish descent, 2% African descent, 1% indigenous, 1% Chinese. Over half the population lives on the plains, which has fertile volcanic soils. In 1869, primary education for both sexes was declared obligatory and free of cost, defrayed by the State. In 1882 the death sentence was abolished. In the 1949 the armed forces were abolished and in 1983 Perpetual Neutrality was proclaimed.
Prestigious international human rights organizations have their headquarters in Costa Rica. Because of this, and of its lush 1500 kilometers (932 miles) of tropical sun-bathed beaches and the wild diversity of flora and fauna to be found in its wide array of micro-climates in its National Parks, Costa Rica has justifiably earned its reputation of paradise regained.
 Costa Rica is a tropical country experiencing only two seasons: wet and dry. The dry season is generally between late December and April, and the wet season covers the rest of the year. The Caribbean coast tends to be wet all year. Temperatures vary little between seasons; the main influence on temperature is altitude. San José at 1150m (3772ft) has a climate with lows averaging 15°C (60°F); highs averaging 26°C (79°F). 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 is a few degrees warmer still. The humidity at low altitudes can be oppressive.
Costa Rica is bordered to the north by Nicaragua and to the southeast by Panama. It has both a Caribbean and a Pacific coast. A series of volcanic mountain chains runs from the Nicaraguan border to the Panamanian border, splitting the country in two. In the center of these ranges is a high-altitude plain, with coastal lowlands on either side.
The Caribbean coast is 212 kilometers (131 miles) long and is characterized by mangroves, swamps and sandy beaches. The Pacific coast is much more rugged and rocky, and, thanks to a number of gulfs and peninsulas, is a tortuous 1016 kilometers (630 miles) long.
No one goes to Costa Rica for the cuisine. Although traditional dishes run to the South American staples of beef, chicken and fish dishes, with rice, corn or beans and fresh fruit as supplements, most of this fare has given way to the ubiquitous pizza and burger option. And even these can only be included in 'cuisine' by stretching the definition to its breaking point. Also be warned that Ticos love to spice up European dishes with salt, lots of it. On the positive side, their coffee is sublime. Even the coffee that accompanies the limp burger from the fast-food joint is a cut above your average North American cup of coffee.
Costa Rica is six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is equivalent to Central Time in North America. There is no daylight saving time.
Costa Rica's official language is Spanish. On the Caribbean Coast a small minority of Jamaican descendants speak a local version of English, and most Costa Ricans can understand and speak a bit of English. Quite recently all public schools made mandatory the learning of a second language.
To convert US Dollars to Costa Rica Colon please use the Currency Converter provided on the right side of the page.
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