COSTA RICA
Capital: San Jose
Population: 4 016 173
Language: Spanish
Currency: Costa Rican colon
Religion: Roman-Catholicism dominates (85%)
Useful information:
Country code: 506
Emergency phone: 911
Electricity:
In Costa Rica, electricity is supplied at 110V, 60Hz. American style outlets are in use.
Payment cards:
Master Card, American Express and Visa are widely accepted.
Cuisine:
Most important ingredients of the Costa Rican cuisine are rice and black beans. Main dinner dish is the casado, which consists of meat (carne asada), fish or chicken and salads. Soups are based on black beans, beef and pork ribs, with corn and other vegetables. Furthermore, bananas and coffee are very popular, as both are Costa Rica’s main exports.
Typical prices:
Cheapest dinner in a restaurant – app. $10 A bottle of mineral water (1,5 liter) – $1 A package (250 grams) of good quality coffee – $6
Weather conditions:
Costa Rica is a tropical country, with two seasons, dry and wet. The climate is mainly tropical rainforest, with western part located in subtropical climate.
Places to see:
San Jose – the largest city of Costa Rica, which lies in the Central Valley, is nation’s cultural and financial center. Seeing the city on foot is the best way to make sure one does not miss anything. Among interesting places there are the National Theatre of Costa Rica, the Metropolitan Cathedral of San José, and several museums, such as the Precolumbian Gold Museum, the Jade Museum, the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, and Museo de Los Ninos (Children’s Museum).
Manuel Antonio National Park – one of the most beautiful nature reserves of Costa Rica, rich in flora and fauna. There are over 350 species of animals, mainly birds (parrots, tucans, owls and others), also fish and other sea animals, and monkeys, living in the jungle.
Tamarindo – a town and district on the Nicoya Peninsula along the Northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Tamarindo Beach is a long beach, with a tropical forest stretching alongside. One of the biggest attractions of the region is the Leatherback Turtle, which comes to lay its eggs here. Tamarindo is especially popular among surfers, thanks to its excellent waves and strong currents.
Quepos – a small tourism-oriented town, with sandy beaches, beautiful jungle, numerous restaurants and bars. Quepos has a number of art galleries, small stores and an annual sea festival, the month-long Festival Del Mar.
Monteverde – one of the most beautiful places and nature reserves of Central America. It is Costa Rican center of ecotourism, with the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, where over 2500 species of plants, animals and insects can be found. Thanks to a 24-kilometer network of footwalks, tourists can admire wild nature and waterfalls. In the area of Monteverde there also is Arenal Volcano, as well as butterfly and frog farms.
Cartago – one of the oldest towns in Costa Rica, which once used to be the capital of the nation. Cartago has several ancient buildings and 16th century colonial ruins. Here the famous and beautiful Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels (Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles) can be found. The basilica is dedicated to the Virgen de los Ángeles (the Lady of the Angels). Inside, there is the miraculous statue of the Black Madonna.
Limon – main port of Costa Rica, which was established in 1502, when Christopher Columbus landed here. Tourists are attracted by beautiful beaches, and the Parque Vargas with its promenade.
Liberia – the capital of the Guanacaste region, with an important airport. Liberia is often called the white city, due to its whitewashed, colonial houses. The town has a very interesting white church, and its Spanish roots are very visible here, with every day siestas.
Heredia – known for coffee plantations and proximity of several national parks.
