Costa Rica is only two and a half hours from Miami. There
are also daily scheduled flights from most major US airports. European airlines also
service Costa Rica with direct flights from several European cities.
South and Central American carriers offer daily service
between San Jose and all Central American capital cities. Lacsa, the Costa Rican carrier
is part of Groupo Taca, the major airline servicing the Central American area.
With a round trip ticket, for continuing travel, and a valid
passport; citizens of the United States of America, Canada, Germany, Spain and Italy can
visit Costa Rica for a stay upto 90 days. No visa from a consular office is required.
Citizens of other countries should check in their own country for visa requirements.
Visitors wishing to extend their visit beyond the 90 day
limit should contact an Immigration Officer upon arrival. Costa Rica Tourist Cards can be
purchased from airlines that serve Costa Rica
Splendid Nature!
Costa Rica enjoys international recognition
for it's National Parks and beaches. They include impressive volcanoes, rain and cloud
forests, bird and turtle nesting sites, coral reefs and virtually any form of nature that
you would expect to find in the Tropics.
Full country name
Republic of Costa Rica
Area 51,100 sq km (19,929 sq mi)
Population
3,773,057 (July 2001 est. - growth rate 1.7%)
Capital city San José (pop 333,000)
People 96% Spanish descent, 2% African descent, 1% indigenous
Indians, 1% Chinese
Language Spanish, Creole English and Indian dialects
Religion 85% Roman Catholic, 14% Protestant
Government Democracy
President Oscar Arias (2006-2010)
GDP US$26 billion
GDP per head US$7100
Inflation 10.8%
Annual growth 7%
Major industries Coffee, bananas, sugar, food processing, textiles
and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products,
tourism
Major trading partners USA, Germany, Italy, Japan, Guatemala,
Mexico
Time Zone GMT - 7
Electricity 110 / 220 Volts 60 Hz. 2 pin lugs are standard.
Radio Frequencies:
BBC: 17.84 15.26 95.90 5.975
VOA: 15.12 11.91 9.590 6.130
Telephone Service:
Country Code: 506
IDD: International direct dialing is available
Outgoing Code: 00
Emergency Numbers:
Police - 104
Fire - 103
Ambulance - 225-1436 and 228-2187
Currency: Colon
1 US$ = 498 Colones
[27 February, 2008].
For the latest Exchange Rate please go to Banco Central de Costa Rica's
web site at http://www.bccr.fi.cr
All major credit cards are accepted.
VISA is more widely accepted. Travelers cheques in US dollars are accepted.
ATM availability Over 150 locations. Available in Samara.
Money Wiring Services Available in major towns.
Western Union Available.
Credit card Emergency Numbers:
Amex:
+44 1273 696933
Diners Club: 257-1766
VISA:
+1 (410) 581-9091
Travelers Cheques
Thomas Cook: 1 800 223 7373
Local Tourist Information Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT); Apartado 777; Edificio Genaro
Valverde; Calles 5 y 7; Avenida 4a 1000 San José; Costa Rica
Tel 223 1733 or Fax: 223 5452.
Passport Information Passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from date of arrival;
except Canadian and US citizens with proof of identity for visits not
exceeding 90 days. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at
short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.
VISA Information Not normally required. Check with the embassy and consulate for the
latest information.
Prohibited Items Narcotics and firearms.
Airport Departure Tax US$ 37 or local equivalent payable if staying in Costa Rica for longer
than 48 hours by everyone .
Public Holidays 2006
January 1 New Year's Day
March 19 Feast of Saint Joseph (San Jose only, not banks)
April 11 Anniversary of the Battle of Rivas (not banks)
April 9-12 Holy Thursday Easter Sunday & Monday
May 1 Labour Day
June 10 Corpus Cristi
June 29 St Peter and St Paul
July 25 Anniversary of the Annexation of Guanacaste Province
August 2 Feast of Patroness of Costa Rica
August 15 Assumption/Mothers' Day
September 15 Independence Day
October 12 Columbus Day / Dia de la Raza
December 8 Immaculate Conception (not banks)
December 24 Christmas Eve (not banks)
December 25 Christmas Day
December 28- 31 Christmas Holiday
Costa Rica has
Over 800 species of birds, more than all of North America
Some 1200 species of orchids
Over 8000 species of higher plants
10% of all the butterflies in the world and more than the
entire continent of Africa
Costa Rica is a Central American
success story: since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of
violence have marred its democratic development. Although still a largely
agricultural country, it has achieved a relatively high standard of
living. Land ownership is widespread. Tourism is a rapidly expanding
industry.
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes
along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy
season and landslides; active volcanoes
Environment - current issues:
deforestation and land use change,
largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and
agriculture; soil erosion; water pollution (rivers); coastal marine
pollution; wetlands degradation; fisheries protection; solid waste
management; air pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05
male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years
and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total
population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant
mortality rate:
11.18 deaths/1,000 live births
(2001 est.)
Life
expectancy at birth:
total population:
76.02 years male: 73.49 years
female: 78.68 years (2001 est.)
Total
fertility rate:
2.47 children born/woman (2001
est.)
HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate:
0.54% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS:
12,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS
- deaths:
750 (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Costa Rican(s)
adjective: Costa Rican
Ethnic
groups:
white (including mestizo) 94%,
black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical
13.7%, other Protestant 0.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other 4.8%, none
3.2%
Languages:
Spanish (official), English spoken
around Puerto Limon
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write total population: 94.8%
male: 94.7% female: 95% (1995
est.)
conventional long
form: Republic of Costa Rica conventional short
form: Costa Rica local long form: Republica
de Costa Rica local short form: Costa Rica
Government type:
democratic republic
Capital:
San Jose
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela,
Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San
Jose
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National
holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September
(1821)
Constitution:
7 November 1949
Legal
system:
based on Spanish civil law system;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and
compulsory
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or
Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members are elected by direct, popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 1
February 1998 (next to be held 3 February 2002)
election
results: percent of vote by party - PUSC 41%, PLN 35%, minority
parties 24%; seats by party - PUSC 27, PLN 23, minority parties 7
Judicial
branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22
justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Agricultural Labor Action or PALA
[Carlos Alberto SOLIS Blanco]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Justo
OROZCO]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Jose M. NUNEZ]; Libertarian
Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; National Christian Alliance
Party or ANC [Alejandro MADRIGAL]; National Independent Party or PNI
[Jorge GONZALEZ Marten]; National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ
Cespedes]; National Liberation Party or PLN [Sonia PICADO]; Social
Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Luis Manuel CHACON]
note: mainly a two-party system - PUSC and PLN;
numerous small parties share less than 25% of population's support
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Authentic Confederation of
Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee
Growers; Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate);
Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party
affiliate); Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP; National
Association for Economic Development or ANFE; National Association of
Educators or ANDE; Rerum Novarum or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [Gilbert Brown]
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jaime DAREMBLUM Rosenstein chancery: 2114
S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1]
(202) 234-2945 FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago,
Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San
Antonio, San Francisco, St. Paul, and Tampa
consulate(s): Austin
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Thomas J. DODD embassy: Calle 120 Avenida
O, Pavas, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020
telephone: [506] 220-3939 FAX:
[506] 220-2305
Flag
description:
five horizontal bands of blue
(top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms
in a white disk on the hoist side of the red band
Costa Rica's basically stable
economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty
has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social
safety net has been put into place. Foreign investors remain attracted by
the country's political stability and high education levels, and tourism
continues to bring in foreign exchange. However, traditional export
sectors have not kept pace. Low coffee prices and an overabundance of
bananas have hurt the agricultural sector. The government continues to
grapple with its large deficit and massive internal debt and with the need
to modernize the state-owned electricity and telecommunications sector.
450,000 (1998)
note: 584,000 installed in 1997, but only about
450,000 were in use 1998
Telephones - mobile cellular:
143,000 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment:
very good domestic telephone service domestic:
point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic, and
coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available
international: connected to Central American
Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
two submarine cables (1999)
legal dispute over navigational
rights of Rio San Juan on border with Nicaragua
Illicit
drugs:
transshipment country for cocaine
and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis on small,
scattered plots; domestic cocaine consumption is rising, particularly
crack cocaine; those who previously only trafficked are now becoming users
The Land ...
Costa Rica is about one third the size of
Florida. With Nicaragua to the north, Panama to
the south, the Caribbean to the east and the Pacific to the west, Costa Rica is very
easily reached by air, sea and land routes.
