Costa Rica Information

COSTA RICA GENERAL INFORMATION


Capital of Costa Rica: San José
Official Language: Spanish
Government: Democratic
Population: 4,233,432 (2007)
Currency: Costa Rican Colón


Costa Rica is located, according to the Ecuador, in the Northern Hemisphere, and according to the Greenwich meridian, in the Occidental Hemisphere. Its geographic coordinates are 10 north, 84 west. Costa Rica is part of what is called Central or Middle America, main land. Because of its geographic location, Costa Rica has a strategic value in communication and commercial relationships, climate, and in productive and politic activities. The country is 2.5 times larger than wider with a total area of 51,100sq km, out of which 50,660sq km are land. From these, 6% is arable land, 5% permanent crops, 46% permanent pastures, 31% forest and woodland, and 12% of others, including Coco Island, and 440sq km of water, (1,200sq km are irrigated land).

The area of the country can be compared with the area of West Virginia. Costa Rica’s borderline is about 639 km and it borders Nicaragua in the north (309 km) and Panama in the south (330 km). Its coastline is approximately 1,290 km, and it has the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Its climate is mostly tropical with two marked seasons: dry season from December to April and rainy season from May to November. Christopher Columbus arrived to Costa Rica on his 4th journey in 1502. When he arrived he saw a wonderful rich land full of lush vegetation and diverse wildlife, that he called “Rich Coast” or Costa Rica.

Costa Rica small country of 51.0000 square Km., is a complex and perhaps more diverse than any place of its size on earth, divided into several distinct regions, each of them looks like an entirely separate place, where you will find a large number of rivers, plains, mountains, valleys, flora, fauna, volcanoes, beaches, protected areas, and biological reserves. Its many and varied attractions that make this country a great destinations for any visitor.

It was the first country in the world to constitutionally abolish its army, by former president José Figueres Ferrer in 1948, consolidating the country as one of the oldest democracies in the Americas. Among Latin American Human Development Index. It has around 4 million people with a wide variety of religions and cultures, and a 95% of literacy among its population. The country is ranked 5th in the world, and 1st among the Americas, in terms of the 2008 Environmental Performance Index. countries, Costa Rica ranks 4th in terms of the 2007.

Costa Rica is located in the tropical zone, and its geographical coordinates provide it with a unique diversity of flora and fauna. Its privileged location in the isthmus enable Costa Rica to become a biological bridge for the gathering of fauna and forest species, and also a cultural link for the cultures form the south and north areas of the continent. Costa Rica is the world's most popular destination for rainforest tourism thanks to its spectacular biodiversity, relative ease-of-access and safety, and many natural attractions. In 2007 nearly 2 million tourists visited the country, generating almost 2 billion in revenue - more than the combined income from bananas and coffee.

Costa Rica has a population of 4.000.000 people, and the native language iof the country si Spanish. However is not difficult for our foreigners to communicate using other language that are usually spoken here, such as, French, English, Italian or German.

Catholicism is the official religion, freedom of religion to all is guaranteed.It is a democratic republic, and the system is based in the balance of the three powers: Executive-, Legislative-, and Judiciary, established by the Political Constitution of Costa Rica. San Jose is the Capital city of the country ansd it is located in the central valley, and represents the centre of the metropolitan area.

The population of the metropolitan area goes around one million inhabitants, including the floating population. There are some historical sites and museums, where to explore the architectural, archaeological, artistic and scientific patrimony. Costa Rica nickname TICOS are proud to be famous for being hospitable, educated and working people, they love to smile and shake your hand, they try to explain something that may look rather weird to the visitor. The idea is the visitor feel comfortable and in home.



CLIMATE
Costa Rica is a tropical country and does not have well defined seasons and the climates is stable in every region year around. We have light climatic changes according to the time of the year, for example summer time called -dry season- from December to April or winter – rainy season- from May to November.

Costa Rica has one of the biggest diversities in the world, and is privileged country for being home of many diverse organisms, considered to be one of twenty countries on the world with the highest diversity in species, estimated in 12-14 million species of all kind of organisms in the world, of which only 1.75 million has been described.With such diversity, Costa Rica is also home of 850 species of birds, from which 600 are resident and the remaining are migratory during the winter, the former flying out to South America. Costa Rica is a country that has given a great deal of attention to the conservation and preservation of its national parks, forests and jungles.

COSTA RICA FLORA AND FAUNA

Costa Rica is one of the countries where an unusual amount and variety of fauna and flora are found. Its rich and abundant fauna included more than 200 species of mammals, more than 850 species of birds, 200 species of amphibians and 220 species of reptiles. The wonders of Costa Rica nature has allow the country to develop a crescent touristic activity based on ecotourism and rural tourism, all in harmony with nature. Hummingbirds, doves, sloths, butterflies, snakes, giant lizards, sea turtles, among many others, can be found in many places in Costa Rica.

In such a small country, there are many different habitats, such as dry forest, rain forest, cloud forest, and mangroves, among many others. There are more than 9.000 species of higher plants, more than 800 species of ferns, including the unique blue fern, 2000 species of bromeliads, and 30 species of heliconians, among many others.

THE TICOS AND TICAS

Living in a country with a salubrious climate with sweet and soft winds, beautiful countryside, active and smoking volcanoes, occasional rainbows and fluffy white cumulus, Costa Ricans are very friendly, dignified and indenpendent. Tico and Ticas are peaceful, friendly and proud to have a beautiful country to share with visitors from all over the world. Passing through Costa Rican countryside, it is impressive to look people living in houses on plots of land that they themselves own and farm.