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Population
The
population of 4,135,000 is largely of Spanish descent. About
50%
of the population live in rural areas, mostly on small farms.
There are fewer Mestizos in Costa Rica than in other Latin American
countries. A small minority of blacks live on the Caribbean
coast.
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Languages Spoken
Spanish is the official language, although
English is widely spoken in
the business community and at most tourist destinations.
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Currency
The national currency is the Colon.
Foreign dollars can be
exchanged at banks of the National Banking System, although many
businesses readily accept US cash. Credit cards such as Visa, Master
Card, American Express, etc., are accepted as a cash alternative.
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Banks
The National Banking System's public service
timetable is approximately
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are many other state and
private
banks that offer services throughout the country with extended business
hours. ATM's are available in most popular public areas.
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Communications
There are postal and telegraph offices in
cities and villages
throughout the country. Costa Rica has one of the most
advanced
telecommunications systems in all Latin America. Radiografica
Costaricense (RACSA) provides telex, fax, international data
transmission, and many other services (including Internet
access). The country code for Costa Rica is 506.
There is
no area code inside the country.
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Hospitals
Costa Rica boasts a modern and renowned
public medical health system,
under the administration of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social
(CCSS). Internationally administrated private hospital
facilities
provide an alternative to the public system when desired.
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Climate
Costa Rica has a spring-like climate,
allowing the use of light
clothing almost all year round. The average temperature for
the
central and mountain valley areas is 68 degrees F (20 degrees C) and
78.8 degrees F (26 degrees C) for the lower coastal areas.
The rainy season spans from late April to November, while the dry
season is usually from December to early April. Average
year-round temperatures are in the low 70s (22 degrees C).
Costa
Rica posesses an ideal soil and climate for coffee
production. Coffee plantations can be found near
the towns
of Tarrazu, Grecia, Naranjo and Orosí. Following a
rigorous and strict production process, Costarican cofeee has a
pleasant, aromatic and fine flavor.
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General Information
Costa Rica is a small republic in Central America, bordered by
Nicaragua on the north and Panama on the south. Its land mass
is
51,060 square kms (19,714 square miles). The capital city is
San
José with an estimated population of 2,000,000 people.
Costa Rica has majestic mountains, active volcanoes and exotic
animals. Bordered on the west by the Pacific ocean
and east
by the Caribbean sea, it has beautiful beaches with crystal clear
waters perfect for surfing, sportfishing and other
activities.
You will find this an exciting place to be with all of the pleasures of
a peaceful tropical paradise.
Costa Rica is a democratic, free and independent republic.
The
political constitutional law is divided into three branches: the
Executive , Legislative, and Judicial. The Government of the
Republic is popular, representative and responsible.
Costa Ricans are proud of the fact they have no standing
army.
The predominant religion is Roman Catholicism. It is the rare
visitor to this country who returns home unimpressed by the Costa
Ricans' celebrated warmth and hospitality.
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History
Columbus discovered Costa Rica in 1502, but because of its lack of
resources the region escaped the ravages of the
Conquistadors.
Since few Indians survived the legacy of new world diseases left by the
Spanish, the white farmers worked their own land, establishing a
significant middle class and avoiding the semifeudal peonage system so
destructive in other Latin American countries.
In 1821 Costa Rica declared independence from Spain, joining first the
Mexican Empire and then the Central American Federation, which
dissolved into anarchy in 1838. A power struggle
followed,
complicated by the invasion of the American adventurer William Walker,
who was defeated in 1857.
In 1869 access to 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 year 1949 the armed forces were
abolished and in 1983 Perpetual Neutrality was proclaimed.
Oscar Arias Sánchez, who was elected president in 1986, was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts to bring peace to
war-torn Central America.
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