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- Capital: San José
- Area: 51,100 sq km
- Population: 5.2 million
- Languages: Spanish, also Mekatelyu, Bribri, Jamaican Creole
In the heart of Central America, Costa Rica is flanked by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. To the west, it meets the Pacific Ocean, and to the east lies the Caribbean Sea. This tropical country boasts an area of 19,710 square miles (51,060 square kilometers), which is ample space for its population of 5,264,000 people to call home.
The country’s landscape mainly consists of four geographical regions: the Central Valley, the coastal plains, the mountain ranges, and the wetlands.
The Central Valley, Costa Rica’s most populated region, stretches in a wide arc from east to west. Here, the land takes on a gentler aspect, sculpted by rolling hills and fertile plains. Among these verdant landscapes nestle the bustling cities of San Jose, Heredia, Alajuela, and Cartago. These urban areas, interspersed with coffee plantations and farms, paint a picture of a vibrant blend of urban and rural life.
Straddling the Central Valley are the impressive mountain ranges, which include the Cordillera Volcanica to the north and the Cordillera de Talamanca to the south. These mountain ranges form the country’s natural backbone and house several active and dormant volcanoes, such as the Arenal Volcano, the Poás Volcano, and the Irazú Volcano. The country’s highest point, Mount Chirripó, lies in the Cordillera de Talamanca and reaches a staggering height of 12,536 feet (3,821 meters).
Two coastal plains – the Caribbean and the Pacific – flank these central mountains. The Pacific coastal plain, also known as the Guanacaste Plain, is drier and more agriculturally oriented, supporting vast cattle ranches and fields of sugarcane, while the Caribbean coastal plain, often referred to as the Limón coastal plain, is marked by lush rainforests and extensive banana plantations. The Nicoya Peninsula and the Osa Peninsula further enhance the scenic beauty of the Pacific coast.
The wetlands, which include the Tortuguero and Caño Negro wildlife refuges, are other vital geographical features. These areas, comprising mangrove swamps, lagoons, and marshes, support a wide variety of wildlife and are important habitats for migratory bird species.
Costa Rica hosts several major bodies of water. Lake Arenal, the country’s largest lake, sprawls across the northern highlands. It’s both a critical hydroelectric power source and a popular spot for water sports. Other significant lakes include Lake Cote and Lake Bonilla.
The country also boasts a network of rivers that snake their way across the landscape, feeding its diverse ecosystems. The Reventazón River, one of Costa Rica’s most prominent rivers, meanders through the country’s central region before pouring its waters into the Caribbean Sea. Other major rivers include the Tempisque, the Sierpe, and the San Juan, which form a natural border with Nicaragua.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Currency & banking
Current exchange rate: $1USD = [convert number=1 from=”usd” to=”crc”] Colones
Costa Rica’s official currency is the Costa Rican colón. Nevertheless, the reference currency used in the country is the US dollar while colones are divided into 100 pennies. Popularly, they are known as “pesos” (the previous currency) or “cañas” and its symbol is a C crossed by two vertical bars “?”
Nowadays, there are coins of 1 (although it has not been officially withdrawn from circulation, it is very strange to find them due to its small value), 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 (colloquially known as “tejas”) and 500 colones being the last three the most used ones. On each coin’s front side, Costa Rica’s Republic shield is engraved while on its reverse, the value is specified.
Also, there are ? 1000 (“one red”), 2000, 5000 (“a toucan”), 10000, 20000 and 50000 banknotes. Each banknote makes reference to one of the six ecosystems in the country, and Costa Rican illustrious figures are printed on its front side. The banknotes have different colours and, although they have the same length, their widths are different to help blind people.
You will not have problems with your payment since dollars are accepted in many touristic establishments, in fact, in many places, prices are specified in dollars, and you can receive the change in colones.
ATMs work around the whole country being the biggest networks those from the national banks BCR (Bank of Costa Rica) and BN (National Bank). Also, you can find ATM’s in many petrol stations.
Private banks do not have an own service of cash dispensers, so they hire outsourcing enterprises. In that case, the service has an additional bank commission charged by the subcontracted company.
You can use worldly recognised credit cards (mainly Visa, Mastercard and American Express) in most of tourist establishments, hotels, shops and restaurants but it is always necessary to have some cash to pay for public transport and in little restaurants.
Cost of living
The cost of living in Costa Rica is high compared to other countries in Central America. Costa Rica is called the Switzerland of Central by the locals.
Eating out can be expensive and drinks in bars and restaurants will set you back similar to what you would pay in the United States of America.
Food and drink are also pricey in the stores. We didn’t find any large supermarkets during our stay, consequently, the choice options on the shelves is limited.
Etiquette
- Costa Ricans tend to place more emphasis on people and relationships than strict adherence to a set schedule. in social situations. It is acceptable to be 20 to 30 minutes late.
- Costa Ricans tend to take a more indirect path when communicating, requiring creative speaking and listening techniques.
- Costa Rica has a macho culture and women are often treated differently than men. Most women are expected to do all the housework, all the cooking, etc.
- Catcalls are common toward women walking in the streets but the advances usually stop at that.
- The shared national pacifism can also be seen in the attitude of the Costa Rican people. There is a culture of non-confrontation in Costa Rica, probably as a consequence of the country’s laid-back way of life.
- There are a few rules of etiquette to observe if dining with Costa Rican hosts. The first – don’t begin eating your food until the host says the words ‘Buen Provecho’.
- Costa Ricans take great pride in their dress, both inside and outside of work. Although they tend to perceive their outside work dress as informal, it’s still rather smart compared to other cultural norms.
- Tipping in Costa Rica is not mandatory, though restaurants do add a service charge on the final bill that includes 10 per cent gratuity. This is considered a sufficient amount for a tip when dining out, but you can always leave a few extra colons (or CRC) if the service exceeds expectations.
Getting Around
Air
There are two international airports, which make for great airports for domestic airline hubs; San Jose & Liberia. Over the past few years, there has been a shake-up on domestic airlines, from only two a few years ago to currently four airlines doing daily scheduled flights.
Flying is a great and easy way to travel throughout Costa Rica, especially to the regions that are more remote. These off-the-beaten-path areas, such as the Osa Peninsula, are often hard to get to.
Bus
The bus system in Costa Rica is not as developed as in other Central and South American countries. Consequently, it is not so easy get the country by bus, but it is easily the cheapest way to get around.
Buses are privately owned in Costa Rica and tend to operate in their specific areas of the country, setting their own routes, timetables and fares. They also operate their own bus stations. So, arriving in one place at the bus station if you have a connecting journey with a different bus company you’ll have to find where their bus station is located.
Many city buses also have the fare on the front. They will also have the name of the bus company on them so you can look for that to see if it’s the correct bus.
Car & Motorcycle
If you are pushed for time then travelling by motorcycle and car is a great option. The roads are on the whole fairly good. We travelled along many of the main roads and we had no issues, although there were a lot of roadworks to negotiate. Also, we didn’t see many dual carriageways beyond San José and there are not always places to overtake, so you’ll likely get stuck behind some slow-moving traffic at some point during your travels.
Having said the roads are good, that is not true of everywhere. For example, if you approach Monteverde from the east the road is horrible, with huge potholes. In Monteverde getting to some of the forests the roads again are very potholed, we just about managed in our little Hyundai with its low clearance. During the rainy season, a 4×4 will be needed to get around some of these areas. Another region of Costa Rica worth visiting is the Corcovado Peninsula. The roads are poor and a 4×4 vehicle would be the best option.
It is also worth noting that finding an address can be difficult as houses are not numbered and sometimes an address is a reference relative to other things in the location. GPS worked pretty well for us in Costa Rica – at least for about 95% of the time!
Renting a car in Costa Rica is not cheap. We chose Adobe Car Rentals and had a great experience with them. If you go through bloggers at Mytanfeet you can get a discount. They’ll also help you coordinate with Adobe.
Train
The train system in Costa Rica is rudimentary and not an efficient way to get around the country. The existing trains serve mainly the areas around San José.
What to wear
Light cotton clothes are needed in the summer, medium weight in the Winter. raincoats and waterproof clothing are especially needed in the western areas and the mountainous regions. Wherever you go, take a sweater for cool evenings.
Health advice
The US Center For Disease Control maintains an updated list of medical advice for those traveling to Costa Rica
The CDC recommends being up to date with all your regular shots. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot
They also suggest being vaccinated for hepatitis A. There is also some advice about protection for hepatitis B and rabies – but this depends to some degree on where you are heading and what you are doing.
Additionally, zika virus, chikungunya virus and dengue fever is a risk in Costa Rica so avoiding being bitten by mosquitos is advised.
Poisonous snakes, scorpions, and other pests pose a small threat in Costa Rica.
Healthcare
In general, Costa Rica has a high level of medical care and services for a developing nation. The better private hospitals and doctors in San José are very good. In fact, given the relatively low-cost nature of care and treatment, a sizable number of foreigners come to Costa Rica each year for elective surgery and other care.
Pharmacies are widely available, and generally well stocked. In most cases, you will not need a doctor’s script to fill or refill a prescription.
Food Safety
Water is generally safe to drink, especially around San José, but the quality can vary; to be safe, drink bottled water. In rural areas you run a mild risk of encountering drinking water, fresh fruit, and vegetables contaminated by faecal matter, which in most cases causes a bit of traveller’s diarrhoea but can cause leptospirosis (which can be treated by antibiotics if detected early). Stay on the safe side by avoiding uncooked food, unpasteurized milk, and ice—ask for drinks sin hielo (without ice). Ceviche, raw fish cured in lemon juice—a favourite appetizer, especially at seaside resorts—is generally safe to eat.
Safety
Here is a link to the US State Department Travel Advisory for Costa Rica for the latest information on travelling to Costa Rica.
The emergency numbers in Costa Rica are:
- Police & Medical Emergency 911
The greatest danger to your person actually lies off Costa Rica’s popular beaches: riptides are common wherever there are waves, and tourists run into serious difficulties in them every year.
Avoid swimming where a town’s main river opens up to the sea. Septic tanks aren’t common.
Violent crime is not a serious problem in Costa Rica, but thieves can easily prey on tourists, so be alert. The government has created a Tourism Police unit whose more than 250 officers can be seen on bikes or motorcycles patrolling areas in Guanacaste, San José, and the Arenal area. The general advice is:
- Don’t flash expensive jewellery or watches.
- In cities, don’t carry expensive cameras or lots of cash.
- Wear backpacks on your front; thieves can slit your backpack and run away with its contents before you notice.
- Don’t wear a waist pack, because thieves can cut the strap.
- Keep car windows rolled up and car doors locked at all times in cities.
Climate
The best time to visit Costa Rica is between December and April, when the weather is at its driest and brightest. We’d also recommend traveling in the country’s green season, from May to June or in November. This is when you catch the seasons in transition, and the national parks are quieter.
Costa Rica’s wildlife is hard to rival and a key attraction of the country, as long as you miss September and October’s heavier rainfall. It’s a tropical country, so you should be prepared for rain at any time of year, even in the dry season. It’s this rainfall that makes Costa Rica so lush and beautiful.
Average temperatures are consistent across the year, with highs between 74°F and 79°F, and lows between 59°F and 63°F.
Costa Rica – Month-by-Month
Costa Rica’s high season brings the least amount of prolonged rainfall; though tropical showers are always to be expected in a country with such plentiful rainforest. This season brings many visitors, particularly in January and over Easter, with busier national parks and beaches but wonderful conditions for viewing wildlife, trying adventure activities and relaxing on jungle-fringed coastlines.
Events & Festivals
- Marine life (November to April): Head to the south coast during these months to try spotting blue, sperm, fin and Bryde’s whales, as well as many dolphin species, turtles, tuna and even flying fish.
- Kandy Perahera (July or August): This is a fun spectacle, with colourful processions and traditional dancing taking over the city to celebrate the famous Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha, housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa.
- Kandy Perahera (July or August): This is a fun spectacle, with colourful processions and traditional dancing taking over the city to celebrate the famous Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha, housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa.
- Marine life (November to April): Head to the south coast during these months to try spotting blue, sperm, fin and Bryde’s whales, as well as many dolphin species, turtles, tuna and even flying fish.
The official start of Costa Rica’s ‘green season’. While rainfall does indeed become more frequent, this is still interspersed with plenty of warm sunshine; particularly in the Central Valley, Caribbean Coast and Northern Pacific. National parks are quieter, so you can spend longer periods observing the wildlife without interruptions. Surfers will also enjoy this time of year, with increasing swells on the country’s best surfing beaches.
Rainfall is increasing, but this does not deter all visitors; particularly those with school-age children heading to Costa Rica to enjoy its wealth of adventure activities. This is also a great time to see green sea turtles on the coastline of the Tortuguero National Park, and the beginning of whale watching season around Dominical. For those looking for some beach time, sunshine can still be found on the far northern Pacific coast, which receives the lowest year-round rainfall in Costa Rica.
Events & Festivals
This is the height of Costa Rica’s wet season and travel is not recommended. Prolonged heavy rainfall makes wildlife spotting challenging, while roads will be muddy and sometimes impassable due to higher river crossings or landslides, making exploration beyond the main highways difficult.
Events & Festivals
The end of the heavy rains can be difficult to predict, with some heavy rain still to be expected until the end of November. The worst will certainly be over, and by mid December the peak period commences in earnest, with Christmas and New Year visits requiring particularly early planning.
Events & Festivals
Visa information
Entering Costa Rica is fairly easy. Most people enter the country one of the main airports, Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaría, just outside San José or Liberia. Overland border crossings from Nicaragua and Panama are straightforward if you have the correct documentation
Most nationalities do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Check requirements at the Costa Rican embassy website. That said, some foreign nationals will require a visa, and you should be aware that you cannot get a visa at the border. At the time of writing the Covid-19 is still ongoing so there may be some additional requirements for entry. Check the Costa Rican government website for the latest information.
Passport-carrying nationals from the following countries are allowed 90 days’ stay with no visa: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, South Africa, UAE, USA and most western European Union countries. However, you should have a valid passport valid for a minimum of a day beyond your date of arrival and a ticket to either your home country or another destination that indicates you will depart within 90 days.
There is another list of countries whose citizens can enter Costa Rica with no visa, but whose passport must be valid for at least three months beyond their arrival date, including several countries within the Caribbean, South America, Oceania, and Asia.
Nationalities required to obtain a visa to enter Costa Rica include a number of African and Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone, as well as a handful of South American countries, including Colombia, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic.
To check if your country is on the list of those required to obtain a visa, check the Costa Rican embassy’s website.
Which power plugs and sockets are used in Costa Rica?
In Costa Rica the standard voltage is 120 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz. The power plugs and sockets are of type A and B. Check out the following pictures.
- Type A: mainly used in North and Central America, China and Japan. This socket only works with plug A.
- Type B: like type A but with an extra prong for grounding. This socket also works with plug A.
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