Costa Rica Guide

Costa Rica is by all accounts a small country encompassing just 0.03% of the world’s landmass.  Yet with over 500,000 plant and animal species perhaps no other country on the planet contains such dense biodiversity.  According Costa Rica’s National Biodiversity Institute (INBio), the biodiversity in Costa Rica represents close to 4% of the total species on Earth.

Geography and Climate

Much of Costa Rica’s diversity can be attributed to its location between two continents as well as its numerous microclimates, which vary by elevation amid the country’s mountainous and volcanic landscape.  The Great Continental Divide runs through the country’s interior, and weather patterns from both the Pacific and Caribbean sweep across the divide’s verdant slopes.  Costa Rica’s northern-most regions tend to be more flat and arid, with dry tropical forests, while the air humidity and precipitation increases moving to the lush jungles in the south.  The country’s rainiest months, termed the “green season,” start in about May and run through to early December.

Development and Society

The pillars of Costa Rican society are rooted in family, education, and health.  Ticos and Ticas (male and female Costa Ricans, respectively) are a humble, non-confrontational, and friendly people.  Their sustained commitment to healthy personal relationships and stewardship of the natural environment, particularly in the last 40 years, has set a profound example, and it has allowed a fascinating model of development to take root.

Although political stability is a term that generally escapes characterization of Central American nations, Costa Rica has been a peaceful democracy without a military for more than 60 years.  It is often referred to as the Switzerland of Central America.  In the place of military spending, Costa Rica has created a modern welfare state that offers free education through the 11th grade as well as health care for all its citizens.  As a result, Costa Rica enjoys a higher standard of living than its neighbors, with the highest regional literacy rate (96%) and an average life expectancy of 78 years.  Costa Rica’s long-term vision and investment into the health of its people has also paid off with many foreign businesses drawn to its qualified work force, stability, and proximity to the United States.

In addition to generous social policies, Costa Rica has enacted progressive conservation efforts that have drastically reversed the process of deforestation that ravaged its land for decades.  The country’s system of national parks and reserves protects approximately 25% of the country, a percentage that sits among the highest in the world.

Living up to environmental virtues and sustainable development remains a constant battle throughout the country, whether due to lucrative contract offers, corrupt politics, or illegal poaching and logging.  Never the less, Costa Rica has largely resisted opportunities to exploit its vast natural resources for high valued commodities, despite having a high density of precious metals in the South Pacific, oil along the Pacific Coast, and rare hardwoods in the rainforest.  Instead, Costa Rica has opted for an ethic of sustainable development and a commitment to develop renewable energy.  Already, Costa Rica is on track to become the first carbon-neutral country, with 99% of the country’s energy needs meet through a combination of geothermal, hydroelectric, and wind power.

General Travel Information

It rains year-round in Costa Rica, and visitors should be sure to bring a light rain jacket or poncho.  However, the months from December through April are generally considered the “dry season,” with the rainy, green season starting in May.  The busiest travel times in Costa Rica are during Christmas and New Years, as well as the week leading up to Easter Sunday, called Semana Santa.  For these weeks, hotels are often fully booked well in advance.

Unlike other Central American countries, clean tap water can generally be found throughout the country and in most tourism destinations.  Additionally, most visitors find that they are free to enjoy the food without serious repercussions for their stomachs.

Costa Rica’s unit of currency is the colon.  Yet most places will accept US dollars, provided the bill size is not too large and the bill is in good condition.  Hotels and tours generally list their prices in dollars.  Compared to the rest of the Central America, prices in Costa Rica are relatively high, due in large part to the country’s higher standard of living.

Road conditions throughout the country are quite variable.  With the tropical climate and mountainous terrain, many roads are difficult to maintain, and many have never been paved.  Some relatively short distances can take many hours due to poor road conditions or traffic, and some roads are simply inaccessible during the rainy season when rivers swell.  Therefore, it is always a good idea to check with the locals before planning a day excursion or taking off in your rental car.

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