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Location & Geography

Costa Rica is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of West Virginia and is located in Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama.

Between the two drastically different coastlines is 20,480 square miles of mountainous terrain with 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. Over 21% of the country is protected, turning Costa Rica into a country with the largest percentage of protected areas in the world.

Getting Here

San José is the capital city of Costa Rica, and is easily accessible from many international locations. Many international airports in North America and Europe offer daily flights. From Miami, Florida, it is only a 2.5 hour flight to San Jose. Visa is not required from North Americans and most Europeans, a valid passport is all that is needed. Once in Costa Rica, you can legally stay in the country for up to three months after which you need to leave the country for at least 72 hours in order to be able to return and stay again for up to three months. A variety of residency options are also available for those individuals enjoying extended stays.

Economy

Having abolished its army in 1949, Costa Rica is a militarily neutral country. This has enabled Costa Rica to consistently allocate extensive funds to healthcare and education. The country allocates 32% of its budget on socialized healthcare. Education is also a priority; 96.5% of Costa Ricans are literate and 18.5% of all residents pursue higher education.

Costa Rica’s stable economy is comprised of services (58%), industry (26%), and agriculture (16%). The currency used is the colon, which is currently exchanged for the U.S. dollar at 520:1. (¢520 = $1.00).

Lifestyle

Costa Ricans have traditionally enjoyed a laid-back lifestyle with strong emphasis on family life. As the society evolves and Costa Rican upper middle and upper class consolidates, more and more Costa Ricans, generally at least bilingual, choose to live more independent lives centered around wide circles of friends and active outdoors and nightlife.

Language

Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica and is spoken throughout the country. Many Costa Ricans particularly those living in the western suburbs of Escazu and Santa Ana as well as those living on the beach are likely to also speak English and often another language as well.

Climate & Seasons

There are two main seasons. The dry season extends from December to May and is characterized by warmer temperatures and very little if any rain. The rainy “green” season is usually marked with a slight drop in temperatures and heavy though relatively short rains every day. Whereas most of Costa Rica is generally very hot and humid, the Central Valley due to its high altitude enjoys moderate climate throughout the year.

News

There is a number of print and online English-language publications covering major events, business, politics, society, culture and entertainment.

› The Tico Times – www.ticotimes.net
› A.M. Costa Rica – www.amcostarica.com
› Inside Costa Rica – www.insidecostarica.com

Some of the major Spanish-language newspapers in Costa Rica are:

› La Nacion – www.nacion.com
› Al Dia – www.aldia.co.cr
› La Republica – www.larepublica.net
› El Financiero – www.elfinancierocr.co