Home » Costa Ricacosta ricaWelcome to the Nature capital of the worldIntroduction | Geography | People | Government | Economy ![]() 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!Amazing numbers define Costa Rica's ecology: somewhere between 500,000 and a million total species of flora and fauna; hundreds of thousands, perhaps even a million species of insects; 2,000 species of orchids; 208 species of mammals; 850 species of birds; endless thousands of species of moths and butterflies. In a space that occupies less than three ten-thousands of the earth's surface are 5 percent of all of the plant and animal species on the planet. Some developed for tourism while others are remote and rarely visited. Costa Rica's charm is embodied in its forests, its unpredictable volcanoes, its endless shores and its underwater marvels. If you haven't walked at least one of its jungle trails, you can't claim to have visited Costa Rica, for therein lies the essence of the country, its inner meaning, its vibrant skien of life woven between its enchanting shorelines to cover its craggy mountain chains. You can't reach out and hold it but there's something there, so that, once you've felt it, you'll never really leave Costa Rica behind, no matter where your body goes. Costa Rica has something for everyone. From hiking in rainforests and mountains, relaxing on beaches, to snorkeling through tropical reefs and surfing some of the best waves in Central America, Costa Rica is a natural wonderland. With both a Pacific and Caribbean coast, there are plenty of beaches in Costa Rica. Full country nameRepublic of Costa Rica Area51,100 sq km (19,929 sq mi) Population4,195,914 (July 2008 est. - growth rate 1.7%) Capital citySan José (pop 333,000) People96% Spanish descent, 2% African descent, 1% indigenous Indians, 1% Chinese LanguageSpanish, Creole English and Indian dialects Religion85% Roman Catholic, 14% Protestant GovernmentDemocracy PresidentCarlos Alvarado Quesada (2018-2022) GDPUS$26 billion GDP per headUS$7,100 Inflation10.8% Annual growth7% Major industriesCoffee, bananas, sugar, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products, tourism Major trading partnersUSA, Germany, Italy, Japan, Guatemala, Mexico Time ZoneGMT - 7 Electricity110 / 220 Volts 60 Hz. 2 pin lugs are standard. Radio Frequencies
Country Code506 IDDInternational direct dialing is available Outgoing Code00 Emergency Numbers
CurrencyColon - 1 US$ = 604,23 Colones [26 November, 2018]. 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 availabilityOver 150 locations. Available in Samara. Money Wiring ServicesAvailable in major towns. Western UnionAvailable Credit card Emergency Numbers
Travelers ChequesThomas Cook: 1 800 223 7373 Local Tourist InformationInstituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT); Apartado 777; Edificio Genaro Valverde; Calles 5 y 7; Avenida 4a 1000 San José; Costa Rica - Tel 2223 1733 or Fax: 2223 5452. Passport InformationPassport 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 InformationNot normally required. Check with the embassy and consulate for the latest information. Prohibited ItemsNarcotics and firearms. Airport Departure TaxUS$ 26 or local equivalent payable if staying in Costa Rica for longer than 48 hours by everyone. Public Holidays 2018
Costa Rica has...
Click here for a detailed Costa Rica Map Background: 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. Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 84 00 WMap references: Central America and the CaribbeanArea: total: 51,100 sq kmland: 50,660 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Isla del Coco Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West VirginiaLand boundaries: total: 639 kmborder countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km Coastline: 1,290 kmMaritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM Climate: tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlandsTerrain: coastal plains separated by rugged mountainsElevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m Natural resources: hydropowerLand use: arable land: 6%permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 31% other: 12% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (2003 est.)Natural hazards: 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, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation Population: 4,195,914 (July 2008 est.) Age structure:0-14 years: 31.38% (male 605,728; female 578,128) 1.65% (2001 est.) Birth rate:20.27 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) Death rate:4.3 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) Net migration rate:0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 11.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.02 years 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) 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 Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica 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 2006 (next to be held February 2010) 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:
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] International organization participation:BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: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] 2220-3939 fax: [506] 2220-2305 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 EconomyEconomy - overview: 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. GDP:purchasing power parity - $25 billion (2000 est.) GDP - real growth rate:3% (2000 est.) GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2000 est.) GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 12.5% industry: 30.7% services: 56.8% (1999) Population below poverty line:20.6% (1999 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 34.7% (1996) Inflation rate (consumer prices):11% (2000 est.) Labour force:1.9 million (1999) Labour force - by occupation:agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.) Unemployment rate:5.2% (2000 est.) Budget:revenues: $1.95 billion expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) Industries:Microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products Industrial production growth rate:4.3% (2000) Electricity - production:5.805 billion kWh (1999) Electricity - production by source:fossil fuel: 2.41% hydro: 83.32% nuclear: 0% other: 14.27% (1999) Electricity - consumption:5.303 billion kWh (1999) Electricity - exports:165 million kWh (1999) Electricity - imports:69 million kWh (1999) Agriculture - products:coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber Exports:$6.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) Exports - commodities:coffee, bananas, sugar; pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment Exports - partners:US 54.1%, EU 21.3%, Central America 8.6% (1999) Imports:$5.9 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) Imports - commodities:raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum Imports - partners:US 56.4%, EU 9%, Mexico 5.4%, Japan 4.7%, (1999) Debt - external:$4.2 billion (2000 est.) Currency:Costa Rican colon (CRC) Currency code:CRC Exchange rates:Aug, 2015 ~ approx. 528 Colones for US$1. Fiscal year:calendar year CommunicationsTelephones - main lines in use: 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, fibre-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) Radio broadcast stations:AM 50, FM 43, shortwave 19 (1998) Radios:980,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations:6 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997) Televisions:525,000 (1997) Internet country code:.cr Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (of which only one is legal) (2000) Internet users:1,214,400 (2007) TransportationRailways: total: 950 km narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified) (2000) Highways:total: 37,273 km paved: 7,827 km unpaved: 29,446 km (1998 est.) Waterways:730 km (seasonally navigable) Pipelines:petroleum products 176 km Ports and harbours:Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas Merchant marine:total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,716 GRT/NA DWT ships by type: passenger 1 (2000 est.) Airports:152 (2000 est.) Airports - with paved runways:total: 29 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 7 (2000 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 123 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 95 (2000 est.) MilitaryMilitary branches: Coast Guard, Air Section, Ministry of Public Security Force (Fuerza Publica) note: Costa Rica has no military, only domestic police forces, including the Coast Guard and Air Section Military manpower - military age:18 years of age Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,035,090 (2001 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 692,973 (2001 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 39,411 (2001 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure:$69 million (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.6% (FY99) Transnational IssuesDisputes - international: Legal dispute over navigational rights of Rio San Juan on border with Nicaragua Illicit drugs:Transhipment 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. |
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