Costa Rica ¨Pura Vida¨

Costa Rica, country of Central America. Its capital is San José.

Capital: San José

Population: 4,857,274

Language: Spanish

Nationals: Costa Ricans or Ticos(a) for short

Of all the Central American countries, Costa Rica is generally regarded as having the most stable and most democratic government. Its constitution of 1949 provides for a unicameral legislature, a fair judicial system, and an independent electoral body. Moreover, the constitution abolished the country’s army, gave women the right to vote, and provided other social, economic, and educational guarantees for all of its citizens. Throughout the 1970s and ’80s Costa Rica managed to stay relatively peaceful compared with its war-torn neighbours. It has one of the highest literacy rates (more than nine-tenths) in the Western Hemisphere and a solid educational system from the primary grades through the university level. Several renowned universities and an active network of bookstores and publishing houses tend to make San José the nucleus of intellectual life in Central America. Because of the country’s peaceful reputation and its commitment to human rights, several nongovernmental organizations and pro-democracy foundations have their headquarters in San José. Costa Rica is also known for its strong commitment to the environment and for protecting its numerous national parks. These factors, along with an established ecotourism industry, have attracted foreign investment, which shifted the country’s once agriculture-based economy to one dominated by services and technology by the late 20th century.

Ticos, as the people of Costa Rica are called, use the phrase pura vida (“pure life”)

in their everyday speech, as a greeting or to show appreciation for something. Ticos are generally proud of their political freedoms and their relatively stable economy. Costa Rica’s well-populated heartland, formed in and around the upland basin known as the Valle Central or Meseta Central, is devoted to the cultivation of coffee, one of the country’s most important exports. In the region’s outlying reaches, bananas—the principal export—are grown. Pineapples have become a significant export, surpassing coffee as the number two export by the late 20th century.

Land

Extending from northwest to southeast, Costa Rica is bounded by Nicaragua to the north, by the Caribbean Sea along the 185-mile (300-km) northeastern coastline, by Panama to the southeast, and by the Pacific Ocean along the 630-mile (1,015-km) southwestern coastline. At the country’s narrowest point, the distance between the Pacific and the Caribbean is only about 75 miles (120 km).

Quick Facts Costa rica

Climate

Do you need a visa to visit Costa Rica?

CURRENCY AND TIME ZONE

Thermal convection and onshore breezes bring abundant rains to the Pacific coast in the wet season, generally May to October in the north and April to December in the south. Northeasterly trade winds on the Caribbean provide ample year-round precipitation for the country’s east coast, with the heaviest amounts occurring in the Barra del Colorado region. The higher mountain ranges have warm temperate climates, and the Pacific slopes have alternating wet and dry seasons.

Situated in the Valle Central at an elevation of 3,800 feet (1,160 metres), San José enjoys moderate temperatures and ample rainfall. Average monthly rainfall there ranges from well under 1 inch (25 mm) in February to more than 12 inches (300 mm) in September, with a yearly average of more than 70 inches (1,800 mm). Temperatures vary with elevation. San José has a mean temperature of 69 °F (21 °C), while means of 59 °F (15 °C) and 80 °F (27 °C) have been reported at stations located at 7,665 feet (2,340 metres) and 682 feet (210 metres), respectively.

CURRENCY AND TIME ZONE

Do you need a visa to visit Costa Rica?

CURRENCY AND TIME ZONE

Costa Rica’s national currency is known as the colón (plural: colones), but dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas and other places around the country.

Exchange rate: 1 Dollar equals 566 Costa Rican Colones.

Time Zone

Central Standard Time (CST) is 6 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This time zone is in use during standard time in: North America, Central America.
This time zone is often called Central Time.

Do you need a visa to visit Costa Rica?

The requirements to enter Costa Rica depend on your country of nationality. Generally, citizens of the United States, Canada and the European Union countries do not require a visa application to enter Costa Rica since they will automatically be given a tourist visa at the immigration point of entry. With a valid passport these nationalities can enter Costa Rica and remain in the country for up to a maximum of 90 days.

Credit cards

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Do you need a visa to visit Costa Rica?

Use ATMs

Most major towns and even some small villages have at least one ATM, so using these machines is a great way to ensure you’ve got access to your money when you need it.

Here is what to do before you travel:

Make sure that you have a 4 digit pin number, otherwise you won’t be able to take money out.

Check with your card issuer about the charge for using your credit or debit card while abroad; some banks may be more forgiving than others.

Notify your bank and credit card issuer of your travel plans, so your vacation spending isn’t flagged as suspicious activity that could end up with your card being suspended.

Once here, follow these tips to avoid issues:

Expect to pay a flat fee of between $1 and $3 per transaction, much as you would at a non-chain ATM back home.

If you’re having trouble with a particular transaction, be wary of trying repeatedly—the machine might just swallow your card. It may be worth carrying two ATM cards to prepare for this, just to be safe.

Virtually all ATMs “close” at around 10 p.m., so don’t count on being able to make a withdrawal in the wee hours of the morning!

When possible, only use ATMs that are marked with ATH. This means a todas horas or “all hours”, meaning if you do have any issues at the ATM—like the machine swallowing your card—then you can call for someone to come help you 24/7.

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