Costa Rica General Info
Costa Rica, a small country roughly the size of west Virginia is wonderful to explore, offering the visitor two coasts with miles of beautiful beaches, and extensive national parks system covering approximately 25% of the land, and an incredible biodiversity, including tropical rain forest, dense cloud forest, and active volcanoes.
There is a wide choice of hotel accommodations throughout the country, ranging from five star hotels to quaint lodges, something to suit everybody's taste and budget. Costa Rica is easily reached from most important cities in United States, Canada, and Europe with daily flights on major Airlines. All these factors as well as Costa Rica's friendly people and peaceful democratic life style make it a favorite vacation destination.
The diversity of the tourist attractions within the country including the white sand beaches of Guanacaste, famous for its pristine waters, and a world Mecca for sportfishing. In addition to it's splendid beach resorts; then the Central Pacific Area with the popular Jaco Beach (the closest Beach to San Jose) a complete Beach resort area and the nearby Manuel Antonio National Park, also renowned for it's beautiful beaches.
The most popular destinations for nature lovers include the jungles and canals of Tortuguero National Park. Costa Rica's nine active volcanoes offer visitors a chance to see the awesome power of nature such as the Arenal Volcano; the unspoiled mountainous areas have a lot to explore as in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. All these will give a perfect opportunity to have a close up look at nature's masterpiece... Costa Rica!
Sports and adventure enthusiasts will discovers Costa Rica's mighty rivers for white water rafting and river kayaking; the marine life in the warm Pacific waters will astonish scuba divers; the mountains offer extraordinary challenges to mountain bikers, and a wide diversity of scenery for horse back riding.
- Go to top -
Important Information for Tourists
Language: Spanish is the official language. English is spoken in tourist areas throughout the country.
Electricity: 110-volt AC is found nationwide. A few outlying areas use their own power source so check ahead before traveling.
Water: The water is safe to drink in all areas of the country.
Currency Exchange: The official currency is the Colon and is easier to use than dollars. The currency rate fluctuates every day without notice. US dollars are accepted throughout the country, except in small villages, where local currency is required. You can exchange money at the International Airport, banks and hotels receptions.
Credit Cards and Travelers Checks: Most major credit cards are accepted throughout the country, but some smaller businesses will only accept local currency.
Time Zone: Costa Rica is the same as US Central Standard Time (GMT -6), but does not observe daylight savings time.
Business Hours: Government offices are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Commercial offices are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Stores and other businesses from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Banks are open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and do not close for lunch.
Churches: Like all Latin American countries, Costa Rica is predominantly Catholic, but other denominations are found throughout the country.
Climate: Costa Rica is a tropical country and experiences only two seasons: wet and dry. The dry season is generally between late December and April, and the wet season lasts the rest of the year. The Caribbean coast tends to be wet all year. Temperatures vary little between seasons, the average is 24 degrees Celsius, and the main influence on temperature is altitude. The coasts are very hot and humid, with the Caribbean averaging 21 degrees Celsius at night and over 30 degrees Celsius during the day, the Pacific is a few degrees warmer still.
Clothing: Pack light for your travels. The highland areas can be very cold, so pack a sweater if you are going there. For the lowland area light, loose-fitting shirts and pants are essential. A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses are recommended for the beach.
Communications: Direct-dial service is efficient and there are more telephones per capita than in any other Latin American country. Facsimiles, telex, radio Internet access and cable television is all-available throughout the country. Bilingual operator assistance for international calls is -116, Local information -113, Long distance information -124.
Hospitals: Health care in Costa Rica is very good and sanitary standards are high. First class hospitals are found throughout San Jose and some of the other largely populated areas.
Entry Requirements: Citizens from Canada, the U.S. and Panama can enter with just a tourist card and one other piece of identification, such as passport, driver's license or birth certificate. No passport is required. Citizens of all other countries require a valid passport to enter Visas are needed by certain nationalities so check ahead before traveling.
Customs: Arrivals are allowed 500 cigarettes plus three liters of wine or spirits duty free in addition to personal goods and sporting equipment.
Departure Tax: The average rate is US $ 17 to depart by air. Land and sea exits are not charged.
Taxes: There is a 13% sales tax at hotels, restaurants and most service industries, and an additional 3% tourist tax at hotels.
Tipping: A 10% tip is appropriate. Most restaurants will add the tip to your bill so read your bill before paying a tip. Other services does not include tip, as is voluntary according to services received. Taxi drivers generally do not receive a tip.
Government: Costa Rica is a democratically elected republic. One of the oldest democracies en America, and the only country in the world without an army. Elections are held every four years.
Population: Costa Rica has a population of 4 million people. Over fifty percent live in the Central Valley which comprises only 4% of the entire country.
Topography: Panama borders Costa Rica to the north by Nicaragua and to the south. It has both a Caribbean and a Pacific coast. A series of volcanic mountain chains runs from the Nicaraguan border in the northwest to the Panama border in the south east, splitting the country in two, In the center of these ranges is a high-altitude plain, with coastal lowlands on either side. Over half the population lives on this plain, which has fertile volcanic soils. The Caribbean coast is 132 miles long and Pacific coast is 635 miles long.
COSTA RICA MAP
- Go to top -
Weather & Climate
Costa Rica's microclimates vary from the barren cold volcanic tundra to the exotic cloud forest, from the deep dense jungle of Talamanca to the tropical dry forests of Guanacaste, from quiet gold-hued beaches where the Baulas Tortoises build their nests to the winding Tortugero Canals where the crocodile is king. Even so, Costa Rica's overall climate can be best described as mild. Being located within the tropics, seasonal changes in Costa Rica are not as drastic as they are in countries on other latitudes. There is a 'dry" season (equivalent to summer and spring) during which temperatures pleasantly in the high sixties (20 degrees C), which goes from december to may, and a "wet" season from june till november during which mornings are usually sunny and showers might be expected after noon. On areas near the coasts temperatures may be as much as ten degrees higher, where as in the Chirripo Peak, the highest mountain of Costa Rica (3800 meters) temperature may drop down to freezing point although snow is unheard of, even at the Chirripo. Tourists should bring light clothes, a jacket and a raincoat is all the protection you'll need unless you go hiking.
 |
 |
- Go to top -
Language & Religion
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 costarrican can understand and speak a bit of English. Quite recently all public schools made mandatory the learning of a second language.
The main religion, as in the rest of Latin America is the Roman Catholic, but there is a very wide margin of tolerance, and the constitutional freedom of creed is always respected.
- Go to top -
National Currency
The national currency is the colon and dollars are easily exchanged at banks of the National Banking System, other foreign currency can be exchanged through private angencies. All mayor credit cards as well as travellers checks are widely accepted. The colon per dollar exchange can be expected to increment by 0,17 on average per day.
- Go to top -
International Communication Services
There are postal and telegraph offices in cities and villages throughout the country. The Central Post Office is located in San José on Second Street between Avenues 1 and 3, and is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 12 noon. Radiográfica Costarricense is located on Fifth Avenue between Streets 1 and 3. This company provides telex, fax, international data transmission, and many other services (including Internet access). The country code for Costa Rica is 506, and there is no area code inside the country.
- Go to top -
TRANSPORTATION
International Air Transportation: Juan Santamaria International Airport located in the capital city, San Jose (4 hours from Ocotal), is serviced by American, United, Taca, Continental, Iberia, KLM.
Daniel Oduber International Airport only 20 minutes from Ocotal is serviced by Delta and American Airlines via Atlanta or Miami.
Domestic Air Transportation: All flights leave from the International Juan Santamaría Airport or the Tobías Bolaños Airport. There is a network of internal airports which not only serve important cities, but special interest tourist areas. Among the most important are: Liberia, Palmar Sur, Tamarindo, Barra del Colorado, Limón, Quepos, Golfito, Coto 47, etc. From the Tobías Bolaños Airport, located to the west of the capital city, private airlines with twin-engine airplanes for five passengers, offer charter flights anywhere in the country with a landing strip.
Domestic Bus Service: The country, in general, offers an adequate bus service. The majority are private companies which link San José with the principal provincial towns and cities, seaports and tourist areas. With good-quality vehicles and frequent itineraries, the user can easily travel throughout the country, leaving from different bus terminals. In the main cities and villages nationwide, there are taxicab companies that service the user to the more remote places in the country. Four-wheel drive vehicles are typical for the rural areas.
International Bus Service: Leaving from San José, there is bus service to Central America and Panama. The companies TICA BUS, SIRCA and TRACOPA have scheduled trips to Panama, Nicaragua and other countries.
Automobile Circulation: Costa Rica has a good highway network, the majority of which, for tourist use, is paved. In most places there are adequate traffic signs. In the major highways there are toll booths (San José-San Ramón, San José-Guápiles, San José-Cartago, San José-Ciudad Colón). Throughout the country there are many gas stations, some of which offer round-the-clock service. Costa Rica does not have self-service gas stations.
Driver Requirements: A foreigner may drive with a current license from his country of origin and his passport, during the three months that his tourist visa is in force. The warning triangles should be carried at all times by all drivers, and seat belts are also required for drivers and front-seat passengers. The use of helmets for motorcycle conductors is required.
- Go to top -
Medical Facilities
Any foreigner who is temporarily in the country has the right to receive health attention at hospitals and clinics in case of an emergency, sudden illness or a chronic disease. Costa Rica boasts a modern and renown medical health system, under the administration of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS).
Most of the hotels have contact with a doctor. In Costa Rica there are public and private hospitals and clinics that have 24-hour service, seven days a week.
- Go to top -
Time Zone
Costa Rica is on Central Standard Time and does not observe daylight savings time.
Roads
Costa Rica has an extensive network of roadways, mostly paved, that provide access to almost any part of the country. The main route is the Inter-Amerian Highway that links the two borders from Peñas Blancas to Paso Canoas.
- Go to top -
Democracy
Democracy is not only the type of government of Costa Rica. Democracy is also the source of tremendous pride in a country that brags about having more teachers than policemen and not having a standing army since 1948. Democracy also means that even the smallest town has a right to have electricity, potable water and public or private phones.
Elections are at the core of this democracy. In Costa Rica, elections are an incredibly interesting sociological phenomenon for any foreign observer. This event is held every four years, on the first Sunday in February. The days previous to the big event turn into a national party. Even in remote areas, children and adults stand by the roadside or ride cars honking horns and waving their party's flag. Anybody over eighteen can vote in the country's schools which are equipped for this purpose during election time. The democratic nature of voting is reinforced by separate elections for presidential, legislative and municipal offices; one can vote for one party's presidential candidate and for another group's municipal president.
- Go to top -
Government
Costa Rica is a democratic republic, as stated by the 1949 Constitution, which guarantees all citizens and foreigners equality before the law, the right to own property, the right of petition and assembly, freedom of speech, and the right to habeas corpus, among others. The government is divided into independent executive, legislative, and judicial powers. This "separation of powers" is sipulated under Article 9 of the Constitution.
- Go to top -
