About Costa Rica

Republic of Costa Rica

National name: República de Costa Rica

President: Óscar Arias Sánchez

Land area: 19,560 sq mi (50,660 sq km); total area: 19,730 sq mi (51,100 sq km)

Population (2006 est.): 4,075,261 (growth rate: 1.5%); birth rate: 18.3/1000; infant mortality rate: 9.7/1000; life expectancy: 77.0; density per sq mi: 208

Capital: San José, 1,527,300 (metro. area), 337,200 (city proper)

Monetary unit: Colón

Languages: Spanish (official), English

Ethnicity: white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%

Religion: Roman Catholic 76%, Evangelical 14%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other Protestant 1%, other 5%, none 3%

Literacy rate: 96% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $40.44 billion; per capita $10,100. Real growth rate: 3.3%. Inflation: 13.8%. Unemployment: 6.6%. Arable land: 4%. Agriculture: coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber. Labor force: 1.82 million; agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.). Industries: microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products. Natural resource: hydropower. Exports: $7.005 billion (2005 est.): coffee, bananas, sugar, pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment. Imports: $9.69 billion (2005 est.): raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum. Major trading partners: U.S., Netherlands, Guatemala, Japan, Mexico, Brazil (2004).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 1.132 million (2002); mobile cellular: 528,047 (2002). Radio broadcast stations: AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002). Television broadcast stations: 20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002). Internet hosts: 10,826 (2003). Internet users: 800,000 (2002).

Transportation: Railways: total: 278 km (2004). Highways: total: 35,303 km; paved: 4,236 km; unpaved: 31,067 km (2002). Waterways: 730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2004). Ports and harbors: Caldera, Puerto Limon. Airports: 149 (2004 est.).

Certainly, Costa Rica is one of the ultimate destinations and not just for vacationers. This small country of 50,000 square kilometers between the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean is about the same size as Switzerland. Not only ecotourists and retirees praise it for its abundant fauna & flora - the country has no military, no nuclear power plants, the highest literacy rate in North America, no winter and lots of culture.

Costa Rica. You have many options like guided mountain tours, the best birdwatching in the world, rainforest canopy tours, whitewater rafting, wind surfing, fly fishing tours etcetera.

See interesting places like Tortuguero, Drake Bay, Corcovado, Puerto Viejo Sarapiquí and Cahuita at the Caribbean Coast or Playa Flamingo, Gulf of Papagayo, Playa Hermosa, Potrero, Conchal, Tamarindo or Langosta at the Northern Pacific.

Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica - "Region of the Turtles"

The small village of Tortuguero (translated as "Region of Turtles") lies on the northeastern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, approximately 50 miles north of the principal Port of Limon.

The region surrounding Tortuguero is called the Tortuguero Plain, which is a vast low lying area of little topographic relief still covered by a large expanse of tropical rainforest.

Drake Bay - MANGROVE AND BIRD ISLAND TOURS

Drake Bay is one of the most remote and natural settings that tourists will encounter in Costa Rica. The abundance of wildlife, (particularly birds), combined with great accomodations and friendly people make this one of the most spectacular and memorable places to visit.

This is truly an outdoor lover's paradise. Hiking, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, and sunbathing are just some of the many outdoor activities here.

Playa Conchal

Located 2 kms from Playa Brasilito, Playa Brasilito and Conchal make up a unit seperated by the rock headlands of Punta Conchal. Its name is derived that the sand is made up of millions of cruched shells that constitute a rare environment. along the 1,5 km long beach, manzanillo-, madero negro-, brasil-, and some ear trees can be observed. The beaches are drenched in sunshine, this being one of their most valued attractions.

Costa Rica Climate and Weather

Don't worry about the weather! Costa Rica offers the best climate in the world. Like many tropical countries, Costa Rica experiences two seasons, wet and dry, rather than the four seasons of temperate regions. The dry season verano (summer) lasts from about December to April. The rest of the year tends to be wet and is called invierno (winter).

Here you can find the so called Green Season, when it usually rains in the afternoon, leaving the rest of the day for you to enjoy the outdoors. Even during rainy season there is a daily average of 5 hours sunshine.

At the end of your stay, you will be fascinated with this country of endless beauty! Here a list of what awaits you: Flora and Fauna Tours, National Parks, Volcanoes, Rainforests, Dry Tropical and Cloud Forests, Wilderness Lodges, Surfing, Wind Surfing on Lake Arenal, one of the world's top five wind surfing spots, Deep Sea and Inshore Fishing (Sailfish, Marlin, Roosterfish, Mahi-Mahi, Yellow-fin Tuna, Grouper Tarpon and Wahoo), Freshwater Fishing for local rainbow bass, Scubadiving, Snorkelling, Whitewater rafting, Canopy Tree-top rides, Arial Trams, Sky-walks on Hanging Bridges or Souvenir shopping in one of the popular craft towns.