Multicolored beaches, shady and
deserted, crystal blue waters, lush
tropical forest, curious and wild
flora and fauna, splendid and virgin
uncontaminated National Parks, impetuous
streams and charming rivers, virgin
forests and spectacular volcanoes
all within a touch of safe adventure:
these are the extraordinary ingredients
of the fabulous cocktail named Costa
Rica.
Or as our Costa Rica Chamber of
Tourism says...
Costa Rica, No Artificial Ingredients.
Costa Rica represents a destination
unique in the world, capable of
offering, in the smallest geography
territory known, the greatest amount
of riches no other country has.
There are many different climates
and landscapes to be seen in only
a few hours, Tropical Rain Forest
in the Caribbean, Tropical Dry Forest
in the North and Central Pacific
Coast, South Pacific Tropical Rain
Forest in the South Pacific, Paramo
and High Mountain Cloud Forest in
the Central Mountain Range that
splits the country in two, bizarre
Volcanic scenes and Central Valley
and Sub Mountainous Forest in the
Central Valley.
Rivers and estuaries, swamps and
Mangroves, the Pacific only four
hours from the Caribbean... the
attractions are simply immense.
Very few are the countries in the
planet that were capable to undertake
the precious actions as Costa Rica
did, aimed at preserving the invaluable
treasure of its natural resources.
In the country the flowing species
find protection:
"
13000 varieties of plants ( More
that Canada and U.S.A together )
" 3000 species of Butterflies
" 237 species of mammals
" 848 species of birds among
383 known species of reptiles and
amphibians.
The wide biodiversity, typical of
the Costa Rica Territory, also affects
the people... In fact, people of
different colors and credos live
together- here - in total reciprocal
respect. Such an evident tolerant
inclination in the nature of Costa
Ricans has turned him into an amiable,
spontaneous and obliging person,
friendly and self-assured, gifted
with a strong national pride...Smiles
are sincere in Costa Rica and a
special cordiality radiates from
people's faces, so difficult to
be found in other places of the
world.Costa Rica is also one of
the oldest Democracies of America
enjoying today such political stability
that earned the country the Name
" The Switzerland of the Americas
"Peace and perpetual neutrality
are based on courageous convictions,
to the extent that the country has
no army, that being prohibited by
its constitution.
Principal industries: Tourism,
coffee, bananas
Costa Rica
Fast Facts
Name: Republic
of Costa Rica
Location: Central
America, south of Nicaragua and
North of Panama
Capital: San Jose
Area: 50,660 km
sq (about the size of the U.S. state
of West Virginia)
Population: 3.5
million (2000 estimation)
Infant mortality rate:
11.6 per 1,000 live births
Life expectancy:
77.49 years male, 79.52 years female
Total fertility rate: 3.11
children per woman (1993 estimate)
Ethnic divisions: white
(including mestizo) 96 percent,
Black 2 percent, Indian 1 percent,
Chinese 1 percent
Religions: Roman
Catholic (official state religion)
95 percent. Protestant faiths are
practiced, and there is a small
Jewish community.
Language: Spanish
(official), English spoken around
Puerto Limon, in the tourism industry,
and by many professionals in the
Central Valley
Administrative division:
provinces Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste,
Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San
Jose
Legal system: based
on Spanish civil law system, judicial
review of legislative acts in the
Supreme Court
Direct election : democratic
republic with two similar centrist
dominant parties National Liberation
Party (PLN) and Christian Unity
Party (PUSC). Elections held every
four years.
Education: Free and compulsory through
the end of the 9th year.
Hotels in Costa Rica
