Costa
Rica is a tropical and mountainous country
located on the narrow Central American isthmus, it
is situated between 8 and 11 degrees above the equator,
with Nicaragua to the North and Panamá to the
South. To the East and West are the Caribbean Sea
and Pacific Ocean, respectively.
Costa Rica has an
area of roughly 51,100 square kilometers (31,682 square
miles). Even so, it is internationally famous and
recognized for the diversity and density of its natural
resources and for the fabled kindness of its inhabitants.
These facts set it apart as an especially attractive
destination for foreign tourists who, not incidentally,
make far more than a million and a half visits a year.
BANKING
Banks are open from
9 am to 3 pm and do not close for lunch. Some private
banks are open until 7 pm.
BUSINESS HOURS
Government offices
are open from 8 am to 4 pm. Commercial offices are
open from 8 am to 5 pm. Stores and other businesses
from 8 am to 6 pm.
CHURCHES
Predominantly Catholic,
but other denominations are found throughout the country.
CLIMATE
Costa Rica has only
two seasons: dry and green. The dry season with very
little rain is generally between late December and
April and the green or wet season lasts the rest of
the year - May through November, and still offers
an average of about 5 hours of daily sunshine. The
Caribbean coast stays green all year round due to
the humidity. The Central Mountainous Region is more
temperate.
Temperatures vary
little between seasons. The main influence on temperature
is altitude. San José at 1150m (3772ft) has
a climate which the locals refer to as the "Eternal
Spring". It has simply delightful weather all
year around! Average temperature ranges in San Jose
are from 57°F to 75°F (14°C to 24°C).
The coasts are much hotter, with the Caribbean averaging
70°F (21°C) at night and over 86°F (30°C)
during the day. The Pacific side is a few degrees
warmer still, but due to a lower humidity it tends
to be more comfortable.
The following is
a table with the temperatures and the rainfall average
all year around from San Jose, Tortuguero (Caribbean
Coast) and Jaco (Pacific Coast)
Temperature (hi/lo
in °F) and Rainfall (in)
Temperature (hi/lo
in C°) and Rainfall (cm)
CLOTHING
Pack light for your
travels. The highland areas can be very cold, so pack
a sweater if you are going there. For the lowland
areas light, loose-fitting shirts and pants are essential.
A wide-brimmed hat sunglasses and sunscreen are recommended
for the beach.
COMMUNICATIONS
Direct - dial telephone
service, facsimile, telex, radio, internet service
and cable television are all available around the
entire country.
Bilingual operator assistance for international calls
is 116, Local telephone information 113 and long distance
information is 124.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Handshaking is common
and forms of address are important. 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.
CREDIT CARDS AND
TRAVELERS CHECKS
Most major credit
cards accepted by businesses and in tourist areas
throughout the country are: Visa, Master Card, American
Express and Diners Club. Checks can be easily cashed
but some banks will only accept Visa or Amex. Banks
also usually require your passport in order to cash
these checks.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE
The official currency
is the Colón and is easier to use than american
dollars, although US Dollars are accepted throughout
the country. Currency can be exchanged at banks, hotels
and airport (safer). Also some hotels and banks are
accepting euros but the exchange rate is less.
DEPARTURE TAX
The rate is US $26.00
to depart by air. Land and sea exits are not charged.
EDUCATION
Costa Rica enjoy
a high level of education and one of the highest literacy
rates in the world.
ELECTRICITY
110 volt AC is found
nationwide. A few outlying areas use their own power
source so check ahead before traveling.
GOVERNMENT
Costa Rica is a democratic
republic. Elections are held every four years.
HOSPITALS
Health care in Costa
Rica is very good and sanitary standards are high.
First class hospitals are found throughout San José
and some of the other largely populated areas.
LANGUAGE
Spanish is the official
language. English is spoken in tourist areas throughout
the country.
PEOPLE AND CULTURE
Ticos, as are very
friendly, educated and happy people who will make
the visitor feel just like at home. Religion, politics
and soccer are an important part of the Tico life.
The Costa Rican culture has a predominant Spanish
influence.
POPULATION
Costa Rica has a
population around 4 million persons.
TAXES
There is a 13% sales
tax at hotels, restaurants and most service industries
and an additional 3.69% tourist tax at hotels.
TIME ZONE
Costa Rica is in
the same time zone as U.S. Central Standard Time,
but does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
TIPPING
Tipping is not necessary
in restaurants, where a 10% service charge is always
added to your bill (along with a 13% tax). If service
was particularly good, you can leave a little at your
own discretion, but it is not mandatory. Porters and
bellhops get around 75¢ per bag. You don't need
to tip a taxi driver unless the service has been superior,
a tip is not usually expected.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Just a tourist tasted
are varied, so are the tourist attractions that Costa
Rica offers in the form of natural beauty, sun and
sea, hospitality, history, adventure and fun. All
these attractions are concentrated in a small area
where distance does not present a problem.
WATER
The majority of cities
in the country have drinkable water, although in the
more remote areas it is recommended that you drink
bottled water. |
