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Costa RicaCosta Rica<!-- begin quick bar --> <div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em"> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="border: 1px solid #9866FF; background-color: #f3f3ff" width="200"> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Flag</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 2px">Image:cs-flag.png</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; border-top: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Quick Facts</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Capital'''</td><td>San Jose</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Government'''</td><td>democratic republic<br/></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Currency'''</td><td>Costa Rican colon (CRC)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Area'''</td><td>''total:'' 51,100 sq km <br>''note:'' includes Isla del Coco <br>''water:'' 440 sq km <br>''land:'' 50,660 sq km</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Population'''</td><td>3,834,934 (July 2002 est.)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Language'''</td><td>Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Religion'''</td><td>Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, other Protestant 0.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%</td></tr> </table> </div> <!-- end quick bar --> Costa Rica is a country in Central America. In the north it borders to Nicaragua and in the south to Panama|Panamá. To the west there is the Pacific and to the east the Caribbean. Image:cs-map.png|frame|Map of Costa Rica WikiPedia:Costa Rica ==Regions== *Central Valley (Costa Rica)|San José and the Central Valley - *The North (Costa Rica)|North - *Guanacaste - *Nicoya peninsula - *The Central Pacific (Costa Rica)|Central Pacific - *The South (Costa Rica)|South - *The Caribbean (Costa Rica)|Caribbean - ==Cities== *San Jose (Costa Rica)|San José - The capital *Puntarenas - Ferry to Nicoya peninsula *Puerto Limon|Puerto Limón - Main city on the Caribbean side *Alajuela - *Liberia(Costa Rica)|Liberia *Heredia - *Cartago - ==Other destinations== *Fortuna|Arenal Volcano - active volcano *Manuel Antonio|Manuel Antonio National Park ==Understand== ==Get in== ===By plane=== '''Juan Santamaria Airport''' is located close to the cities Alajuela, Heredia and the capital San José. ===By car=== The ''Interamericana'' (Panamerican highway) runs through Costa Rica and is the main entry point by car. The border post in the north (to Nicaragua) is called Penas Blancas|Peñas Blancas and in the south (to Panamá) Paso Canoas. ===By bus=== There are bus services from the neighboring countries of Panama|Panamá, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. ===By boat=== ==Get around== ==Talk== Spanish is the language used in Costa Rica, but in the tourist business, most people also speak fairly good English. If you look like a foreigner (most tourists do) people will usually address you in English. Some Costa Rican expressions:<br> ''Pura vida'' means something like ok, cool, great, ++ and is used in every conversation, and usually also as the ending phrase of a conversation. ==Buy== The local currency is Colón(es) named after Columbus (Spanish: Colón). The rate of change is about 450 Colones for 1 US Dollar (August 2004), but note that there is a growing inflation. You may find the current value at this [http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/america/costa-rica/currency.htm currency conversion site]. Also note that the use of US Dollars is quite common, in fact, in the tourist setting, almost everything is priced in Dollars. <br> You can find ATMs most places.<br> The most common souvenirs are made from wood. <br> You might get a discount (usually around 10%) when paying in cash. ==Eat== Gallo pinto is mostly rice and beans. You can get it to breakfast, lunch and dinner. <br> Casado, which means married, is the typical lunch in Costa Rica, containing rice and beans with meat, chicken or fish, always served with salad and fried bananas<br> Fresh fruit ==Drink== The national drink is called ''guaro'', which is made from fermented sugar cane. It is similar to vodka, and is usually drunk with water and lemon. The most popular beers in the country are Bavaria, Imperial, and Rock Ice. ==Sleep== Hotels in Costa Rica are more expensive than in its neighboring countries to the north. Las Caletas, Drake Bay How to get there: By bus to Palmar Norte, Taxi to Sierpe, from there you will be picked up by boat (there is no road) and taken directly to Drake Bay. The Lodge is situated on a small hill overlooking the whole bay. The owners (Swiss and Puertorican) will look after you as one of the family. What to do: You can just relax or enjoy swimming, snorkling, scuba diving or make a visit to the close by national park of Corcovado. The owners will be pleased to arrange a trip for you. www.caletas.co.cr ==Learn== You can learn Spanish in Costa Rica, but probably a lot cheaper in other countries, like Guatemala. Also be aware that the Costa Ricans have adopted a slightly us-English pronunciation on a lot of words, so you run the risk of getting that too, even if you're from some place else. ==Work== A lot of the eco-projects are seeking volunteers. ==Stay safe== The traffic is dangerous, so take care.<br> The coasts of Costa Rica are known for strong currents and rip-tides. Take precaution and listen to the locals on where it is safe to swim.<br> Active volcanoes ''are'' dangerous, follow the directions given. ==Stay healthy== ==Respect== ==Contact== The international calling code/country code for Costa Rica is 506.<br> A postage stamp to Europe is 125 Colones. ==External links== fr:Costa Rica de:Costa Rica First page | Prev | Next | Last page |
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