Costa Rica Facts

Costa Rica Facts - Costa Rica is a democratic republic. It is one of the first countries to have abolished its armies. The country has had almost fifty nine years of uninterrupted democracy, the longest time in all of Latin America. The country’s President has the executive responsibilities of the country.

Costa Rica Facts - Costa Rica has a rich flora and fauna. The country is home to a variety of animals and plants. Almost twenty five percent of Costa Rica consists of reserves and protected forests. The Corcovado National Park is one such park in Costa Rica that is internationally known for its biodiversity.

Followings are some of the facts about Costa Rica

Location

Central America.

Time

GMT - 6.

Area

51,100 sq km (19,730 sq miles)

Population

4.1 million.

Population Density

80.8 Per sq km.

Capital

San Jose.

Geography

Costa Rica Facts - Costa Rica, lying between Nicaragua and Panama, is a complete coast-to-coast segment of the Central American isthmus. Its width ranges from 119km to 282km (74 to 176 miles). A low thin line of hills that rises between Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean in Nicaragua broadens as it enters northern Costa Rica, eventually forming the high, rugged, mountains of volcanic origin in the Pacific Northwest and the centre of Costa Rica.

The southern half of the country is dominated by mountains of tectonic origin; the highest peak is Chirripo Grande, which reaches 3,820m (12,530ft). More than half the population live on the Meseta Central, a plateau with an equitable climate. It is the setting for the country's capital, San Jose. There are lowlands on both coastlines, mainly swampy on the Caribbean coast, with savannah and dry forest on the Pacific Northwest merging into mangrove and rainforest southward. Rivers cut through the mountains, flowing down to both the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Independence

Gained independence from Spain in 1821.

Recent History

Costa Rica Facts - Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias Sanchez won the presidential elections held in February 2006 after campaigning to overturn a ban on individuals serving two presidential terms. The election on 5 February became Costa Rica's hardest-fought vote in the last four decades. Mr Arias is committed to taking Costa Rica into a controversial free trade pact with the United States but has maintained the nation's traditional pacifist stance as an outspoken opponent of the Iraq war, while also committing more government funds to education.

Language

Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken. Some French, German and Italian are also spoken.

Religion

Christian (almost entirely), with Roman Catholic majority.

Electricity

110 volts AC, 60Hz. Two-pin plugs are standard.

Holidays

The business shuts down around the Easter holiday. The holiday is only for few days but the entire week of Easter is a lost cause. Don't expect anything to get done during this week. This is a well known fact if Costa Rica. This fact also applies to other holidays as well, although to a lesser extent.

Safety

Costa Rica is a safe country but be aware of the following safety facts about Costa Rica. Like most (read all) Latin countries, petty theft is the biggest problem any tourist will face. Leave your Rolex and fancy jewelry at home. Ask your host about the do's and don'ts of the areas you visit.

Alajuela and Escazu are two expatriate areas that tend to be less rife with theft than downtown the capital-San Jose for instance. Most of this nonsense occurs at night when tourists have maybe had a few drinks and their guard is down. Remember, It is better to be safe than sorry...

Social Conventions

Handshaking is common although is typically limp, and formal titular address is important. Christian names are preceded by Senor for a man and Senora for a woman, but Don is used to address a highly respected man and Dona for a female equivalent.

Normal courtesies should be observed when visiting someone's home and gifts are appreciated as a token of thanks, especially if invited for a meal. For most occasions casual wear is acceptable, but beachwear should be confined to the beach.

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