About Costa Rica

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Location & Geography

Costa Rica is about the size of the U.S. state of West Virginia and is located in Central America, between Nicaragua to the north, and Panama to the south. It has 912 miles of coastline, as it lies between the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. Between the two drastically different coastlines is 20,480 square miles of mountainous terrain among multiple volcanoes, a couple of which are still active. Covering only about 0.03% of the surface area of the Earth, Costa Rica offers 6% of the entire world's biodiversity. To accommodate all of that nature, 21% of the country is protected, allowing Costa Rica to boast being the country with the largest percentage of protected area in the world!

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Getting Here

San José is the capital city of Costa Rica, and is easily accessible from many international locations. Many international airports in the United States offer daily flights for prices between $300-$700 (depending on the season). Costa Rica is not as far as people think - for example, is only a 2.5 hour flight from Miami, Florida. A visa is not necessary to travel to Costa Rica from the United States, but a valid passport is. Once in Costa Rica, it is legal to stay for up to three months. After three months, a tourist must leave the country for 72 hours before returning, and may then stay for up to another three months before repeating this process. For people enjoying extended stays in Costa Rica, residency options are available. For detailed information, please check out the  Foreign Rights/Residency section of Investing in Costa Rica 

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Economy

Costa Rica is a militarily neutral company, having dissolved its army in 1949. Instead of toward armed forces, Costa Rica dedicates its money to healthcare and education. The country spends 32% of its budget a year on its socialized healthcare. Education is highly regarded in Costa Rica; the literacy rate is 96.5% and 18.5% of residents pursue higher education. Costa Rica has a stable economy, comprised of services (58%), industry (26%), and agriculture (16%). The currency used is the colone, which is currently exchanged for the U.S. dollar at 500:1. (¢500 = $1.00) Check out the most current exchange rates available.

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Lifestyle

A popular phrase in Costa Rica is "pura vida", which literally translates to mean "pure life," and the common greeting sums up the attitude of Ticos (Costa Ricans) very well. Ticos enjoy a laid-back lifestyle, where the emphasis is placed on enjoying the pleasures that family and life offer.

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Language

Spanish is the national language of Costa Rica, and is spoken throughout the country. Generally, Costa Ricans speak a very formal Spanish, and often find the Spanish spoken by North Americans to be harsh. But their Spanish is easy to understand, and is very similar to textbook Spanish. The further out into the countryside you go, the more variation in the Spanish you will find. Young Ticos tend to speak very fast and use a lot of slang. At the beach, you will hear more English spoken, as that is where you will find the most English-speaking tourists. Toward the east coast of the country, the dialect is most often a mixture of Spanish and English with a Caribbean flair.

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Seasons

There are two main seasons in Costa Rica: the dry and the "green" seasons. The dry season extends from December to May, and boasts hotter weather with less rain. (While much of Costa Rica is lush rainforest, there is almost always the chance of rain!) The "green" season offers slightly cooler temperatures because of the increase in precipitation, and extends from June to November. The temperature is range is vast, spreading between 60º and 100º, depending on the area of the country. The west coast - the Guanacaste and Puntarenas provinces - are the hottest. The other provinces are much more temperate. For more information on the provinces of Costa Rica, please see the specific section below.

As Costa Rica is only 9° above the equator, it enjoys intense sun exposure. And when the sun sets, usually between 5-6pm, it is very dark. Being so close to the equator prevents long dusks and dawns; it is either bright and sunny or dark!

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areas/Provinces

Costa Rica is divided into 7 provinces:
 San José 
 Alajuela 
 Cartago 
 Heredia 
 Guanacaste 
 Puntarenas 
 Limón 

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San JosÉ

San José is the hub of the country. Located in the Central Valley, surrounded by towering green mountains, the capital city is vibrant and not as intimidating as most Central American capitals. Several downtown pars provide tranquil green oasis amid the stresses of city life. Nightlife is vibrant and international restaurants are plentiful. Various museums, including the 100 year-old National Theater and several dance and theater companies make San José the cultural capital as well.

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Alajuela

Alajuela stretches from the Central Mountain Range to the fertile northern plains, presenting a remarkable diversity of stunning landscapes. You may visit two of the most popular active volcanoes in the country, Poas and Arenal, in this province. The main crater of Poas, a mile in diameter, displays fumerol and geyser activity that has earned it the distinction of the largest geyser in the world. Arenal regularly astounds visitors with its rumbling eruptions of ash and lava. Relaxing in the thermal waters at Tabación Hot Springs, in the shadow of Arenal, is the perfect way to conclude a day of jungle exploration. The artisan center of Sarchi is home to Costa Rica's famous hand-painted oxcarts.

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Cartago

Cartago Province is the location of Costa Rica's original capital city of the same name. The colonial atmosphere of the area and lunar-like landscape of Irazu, the country's tallest volcano, await visitors to this historic province. Guayabo National Park exhibits excavations of important pre-Columbian structures here in Cartago.

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Heredia

High mountains thick with tropical forests, spectacular waterfalls, and raging rivers provide settings for a multitude of nature and adventure activities in Heredia Province. The rugged mountains of Braulio Carrillo National Park are characterized by thick forests, deep rivers cutting through steep canyons and countless waterfalls. Nature is the focal point of activities in this province, where you can take a leisurely cable car ride through the rain forest canopy, hike rugged forest trails, or challenge white water rapids.

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Guanacaste

The northwestern province of Guanacaste named after the large umbrella-like trees prevalent in the zone, encompass a vast area if diverse topography. From the boiling mud pots of Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, to the sun-drenched beaches of the Pacific coast, this corner of the country offers much to the adventurous traveler and sun worshipper. Santa Rosa and Guanacaste National Parks are vital protective areas for the Dry Pacific climatic zone. Santa Rosa is also a very important historic site and protects remains of structures dating from the colonial period and Costa Rica's struggles for independence. The seasonal lake of Palo Verde National Park attracts the largest concentration of waterfowl and wading birds in Central America.

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Puntarenas

Blessed with seemingly endless beaches, Puntarenas stretches along two-thirds of the country's Pacific coast to the southern border with Panamá. The ever popular Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the most beautiful in the country, and a south Pacific paradise. The dense rich green jungle of Corcovado National Park stands as an unspoiled showcase of tropical nature. The private Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is one of the richest in the world. Straddling the Continental Divide, this is the only known home of the very rare golden toad. Carara Biological Reserve protects a transitional zone and harbors an incredible variety of wildlife including the larges population in the country of the endangered scarlet macaw.

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LimÓn

The crystal clear Caribbean beckons all dreamers to enjoy Limón Province's 130 miles of sandy beaches and coconut palms. Barra del Colorado offers world-class tarpon and snook fishing. The beach at Tortuguero National park is the most important nesting site in the western Caribbean for the green sea turtle. Cahuita National Park and Manzanillo provide excellent scuba diving throughout the year. The laid-back Afro-Caribbean lifestyle of the region is irresistibly alluring. It is the perfect place to shed pressures of the concrete jungle.