ABOUT COSTA RICA
Costa Rica is located in Central America bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south-southeast. Costa Rica was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502 and finally settled in Costa Rica in 1563 when Cartago was founded. On September 15, 1821 Costa Rica declared their independence from the Spanish Empire. In 1949 Costa Rica did away with its army and this made Costa Rica the first country to ever operate within a democratic system without having a military. Therefore, Costa Rica has avoided plagued Central America and it is seen as an example of political stability and is commonly referred to as the Switzerland of the Americas. Therefore it makes for a safe place for foreigners to invest and sometimes relocate and ultimately retire in.
Costa Rica is the home to a rich variety of plants and animals. Over 25% of Costa Rica is composed of protected forests and reserves. Costa Rica supports a wide variety of wildlife due to its climate and geography. You will find the best collection of wildlife in Corcovado National Park in the Osa Peninsula which is located in the Southern area of Costa Rica. Viewing wildlife is easy. White-faced, howler, and the endangered squirrel monkeys often greet visitors. You can look in the tree branches for sloths, toucans and scarlet macaws. Some beaches of Costa Rica are a haven to green sea turtles, leatherbacks which have been seen laying their eggs on the beach. Dolphins swimming in schools inside the breaking beach waves and humpback whales during their time of migration. The wildlife list goes on and on.
Nature is the main reason tourists visit Costa Rica and Tourism is the nation’s second main income earner after agriculture. Tourism in Costa Rica has grown in leaps and bounds over the past few years. Tourist attractions are abundant in Costa Rica such as white water rafting, big game fishing, zip line or canopy tours through the rainforests, horseback riding through the rainforest and on the beaches, world renowned surf breaks and the list goes on and on of things to do. Place all these attractions in the center of a rainforest or black sand beaches and it makes for a wonderful vacation place. Many people have even fallen in love with the combination of all these things mentioned before and have decided to make Costa Rica their home.
The people of Costa Rica are refer to each other as “Ticos.” The ideology of the Ticos is that of a laid back, very friendly, helpful, “I’ll get to it when I get to it” educated and environmentally aware people. The phrase “Pura Vida” (literally translates to “Pure Life”) is a common saying ubiquitous in Costa Rica. If Costa Rica had a National motto, it is believed that this would be it. The phrase “Pura Vida” is used to say hello, goodbye and to show appreciation for a person, object or situation.
Costa Rica has two seasons, summer and winter. Summer begins in December and ends sometime around May. Summer is the driest time of the year and some rain comes down in the afternoons but nothing compared to the winter season. Winter season also known as the “rainy season” or “green season” starts end of May, June and continues up to and through November. This is the best time to visit if you plan on white water rafting as the rivers are high. The coastal plains are low, hot, and heavily forested. The inland and valley areas are cooler. You will notice the change in temperature due to the altitude. On your drive from San Jose to the coastal lands you will experience fluctuating climate changes. You will reach lower temperatures when reaching the mountain peaks and warmer ones as you approach the coastline.
The experience of visiting Costa Rica is one that should be on everyone’s list of “Things to Do.” Don’t just take if from us at Pacific Tides Realty, experience the “Pura Vida yourself!
POPULATION AND LANGUAGE
There are approximately 3.6 million(1999) inhabitants whose native language is Spanish. However, other languages such as English, French, German and Italian are frequently spoken and the foreign visitor will find it easy to make himself understood. There are seven provinces which make up the country: San José, Alajuela, Heredia, Puntarenas, Cartago, Guanacaste and Limón. The capital, San José, is in the province of the same name, which is the most densely populated of all the provinces.
Standard of Living Indicators
Life expentancy: 76.1 years
Literancy rate: 94.7%
Student Population: in 2000(Primary and Secondary) 889 306.
Educational Institutions: 6147 primary and secondary schools
Educations expenditures: US $716M(1999), or 6.52% of GDP. Minimum fixed by law at 6% of GDP.
Population served with piped water: 99%
Public health services coverage: 90.4% of population.
Health expenditures: 27.8% of Goverment Total
Acces to telephone service: 92% of population.
According to AACCLA, Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America, Costa Rica's labor force was rated as the most productive and fast learning in Latin America.
According to the United Nation's Human Development Index(HDI) for 1999, Costa Rica has one of the highest ratings for quality of human resources among developing nations.
The Catholic Faith is the official religion, although the right to practice other religions is guaranteed.
GOVERNMENT
Costa Rica is a republic with political power distributed among the following governing bodies:
- Executive Branch: The President of the Republic, elected openly every four years to only one term in office. There two Vice Presidents. A Presidential Cabinet, made up of 22 State Ministers, is active in economic, social productive and cultural areas.
- Legislative Branch: This is a single chambered congress, with 57 popularly elected delegates, which is responsible for passing laws.
- Judicial Branch: Made up of the Supreme Court, consisting of four tribunals, and including high courts, local courts and civil justices in various jurisdictions.
PUBLIC SERVICES
Electric Power
Costa Rica has a nationwide power grid standard 110 volt, 60 Hertz electricity.
Water
The water throughout most the country is pure and quite potable.
Road Network
A good network of paved roads and highways allow easy travel throughout the country. These also connect us with other Central American countries. Naturally, there is also an extensive web of secondary roads.
Public Transportation
The country has a large fleet of taxis, easily identified by their red color. In rural areas, the taxis are often 4-wheel drive vehicles in order to give easy access to farming zones. Orange colored taxis provide service to and from the Juan Santamaría International Airport. Bus services are very available, both within and between provinces, as well as internationally.
Banking & Currency
Both local and international banking services are available at numerous state and private institutions. Banking hours are from9 AM to 3 PM with continuos service. Evening banking services are often available from 4PM to 6PM. The national currency is the "colon" which has a varying exchange rate against the US dollar. Dollar can be exchanged at any of the National Banking System banks. Most international credit cards are accepted in many establishments throughout the country.
Office Hours
These vary with the company or institution. Most government offices open to the public from 8 AM until 4 PM while private companies tend to open from 8 AM to 5 PM. Many shops and businesses open from 9 AM to 7 PM. Other keep a 8 AM to 6 PM working day. In the capital there are even supermarkets open right around the clock.
COMMUNICATIONS
Telephone System
Costa Rica has one of the most advanced telephone systems is Latin America. International calls can be dialed directly from almost any point in the country. There are public telephones throughout the country, and in the few rural populations where these are not available one can find operator assisted phones.
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