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For years, Costa Rica was the well-kept secret of a few biologists,
backpackers, and beachcombers, but that's all changed. Today, the country is a major international vacation destination.
Despite this newfound popularity, Costa Rica remains a place rich in natural wonders and biodiversity but relatively
young in infrastructure and luxurious beach resorts and hotels. Costa Rica is a great gateway to Central America
and a good choice, when the Caribbean and Mexico have become old hat. Here, you can still find uncrowded and unpoiled
beaches that stretch on for miles, small lodgings that haven't attracted hordes of tourists, jungle rivers for
rafting and kayaking, spectacular scuba diving , and cloud and rain forests with ample opportunities for bird watching
and hiking.
Costa Rica´s year round climate is pleasant with naturally occurring breezes cooling down most of the coastal
areas. Temperatures in the highlands and the mountains are warm by day and brisk at night giving an "eternal
spring" feeling. The average annual temperatures range from 31.7°C (89°F) on the coast to 16.7°C
(62°F) inland. The rainy, or green, season lasts from May to December with noticeably drier days during the
rest of the year.
Diving can be great any month of the year. Visibility can vary from 40 to 80 feet the same day on different dives.
This is primarily due to the abundance of plankton that thrive in the tropical waters, and is the principal reason
for the varied pelagic marine life that can be seen on each dive. Swarms of schooling fish, sharks, eagle, manta,
and golden rays along with sightings of turtles is synonymous with Costa Rica diving.
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Area: 51,060 sq km (19,720 sq miles).
Population: 3,464,000 (1997).
Population Density: 67.8 per sq km.
Capital: San José. Population: 329,154 (1997).
Geography: Costa Rica, lying between Nicaragua and Panama, is a complete coast-to-coast segment of the Central
American isthmus. Its width ranges from 119 to 282km (74 to 176 miles). A low thin line of hills, that rises between
Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean in Nicaragua, broadens and rises as it enters northern Costa Rica, eventually
forming the high, rugged, mountains of volcanic origin in the centre and south. The highest peak is Chirripó
Grande which reaches
3820m (12,530ft). More than half the population live on the Meseta Central, a plateau with an equitable climate.
It is rimmed to the southwest by the Cordillera range, and provides the setting for the country's capital, San
José. There are lowlands on both coastlines, mainly swampy on the Caribbean coast, with grassland savannah
on the Pacific side merging into mangrove towards the south. Rivers cut through the mountains, flowing down to
both the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Government: Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1821. Head of State and Government: President Miguel Angel
Rodríguez Echeverría since 1998.
Language: Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken. Some French, German and Italian are also
spoken.
Religion: Roman Catholic.
Time: GMT - 6.
Electricity: 110/220 volts AC, 60Hz. 2-pin plugs are standard.
Communications:
Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 506. Telephone booths are available all over the country.
Fax: Facilities are available in San José at the Radiografica Costarricense SA (opening hours: 0700-2200).
Mobile telephone: AMPS network is operated by Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE). Not compatible with
GSM phones. Handsets can be hired, although this can be difficult and time-consuming.
Internet/E-mail: There are several cybercafés and some hotels also provide facilities.
Postal: Airmail letters to USA - 3 or 4 days, Western Europe usually take between 6 and 10 days.
Press: Daily newspapers printed in Spanish include La Nación, La República, La Prensa Libre, Eco
Católico, El Heraldo and Diario Extra. Three weekly papers are printed in English, The Tico Times, Costa
Rica Today and Central America Weekly. |
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| Travel |
AIR: The Costa Rican national airline is Grupo Taca (TA) (an ammalgamation
of the airlines Lacsa, Taca, Aviateca and Nica). Grupo Taca flies direct to Costa Rica from Miami, New Orleans,
Los Angeles, New York, Mexico and other destinations in Central and South America. The Visit Central America Pass
is available from Grupo Taca and is an economical way to travel to Costa Rica from the USA and from Costa Rica
to other Central American countries.
Approximate flight times: From San José to Los Angeles is 11 hours and to New York is 7 hours, San José
to London is 12 hours (including stopover time), .
International airport: Juan Santamaría (SJO) 17km (11 miles) northwest of the city. Coaches depart every
20 minutes (0500-2400); return pickups stop at various hotels. Buses depart to the city every 15 minutes (0600-2200);
return is from Alajuela Station 14th Street, 1/3 Avenue, every 20 minutes (travel time - 35 minutes). Some hotels
have shuttle services to the airport. Taxis are also available to the city.
Departure tax: US$16.50 (or c2900) payable if staying more than 24 hours.
SEA: Cruise lines calling at Costa Rican ports include Costa, Holland America, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity,
Wind Star, Carnival, Sun, NCL, Crystal, Silversea, Royal Olympic, Regal, Seabourn, Cunard, Radisson, Hapag, Delphin,
and Mediterranean Shipping. The port of Puntarenas has been redeveloped recently.
ROAD: The Inter-American Highway runs through Costa Rica from La Cruz on the Nicaraguan border through San José
to Progreso on the Panamanian border. |
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| Entry |
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Passport |
Visa |
Return Ticket Required |
| Australian |
Yes |
4 |
Yes |
| British |
Yes |
2 |
Yes |
| Canadian |
1 |
3 |
Yes |
| Japanese |
Yes |
3 |
Yes |
| Other EU |
Yes |
3 |
Yes |
| USA |
1 |
3 |
Yes |
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PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least 6 months at date of entry required
by all, except 1. Canadian and US citizens with proof of identity, eg a Certified Birth Certificate and official
ID containing a photograph. Tourist Cards will be issued to these nationals either at a Costa Rican Consulate or
at any airline office at the airports of: Amsterdam, Aruba, Barranquilla, Caracas, Curaçao, Panama and Port
of Spain for approximately US$2.
VISAS: Required by all except the following:
(a) 2. nationals of the UK and its dependencies for stays of up to 90 days;
(c) 3. nationals of Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep. of), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland,
Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA and Uruguay for a stay of up to 90 days;
(d) 4. nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile,
Colombia, Czech Republic, Dominica, El Salvador, France, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland,
Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, St Kitts &
Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, *South
Africa, Surinam, Taiwan (China), Trinidad & Tobago, UAE, Vatican City and Venezuela for a period of 30 days.
(e) transit passengers continuing their journey to a third country by the same or first connecting flight within
48 hours, provided holding confirmed onward tickets and not leaving the airport (except nationals of China (PR)
who do need a transit visa authorised by the Immigration Department in San José).
All other nationals require a visa. In some cases an authorisation from the Immigration Department in San José
is also necessary.
Temporary visitors must hold return or onward tickets, except those holding a visa showing an exit ticket is not
required.
Note: (a) *Persons holding passports issued by the former homelands of Transkei and Venda do need a visa authorised
by the Immigration Department in San José. (b) Nationals of countries listed above must obtain an exit visa
from the Immigration Department in San José at least 3 days before leaving Costa Rica. Those who stay for
less than 30 days are exempt if in possession of a disembarkation card.
Types of visa and cost: Tourist and Business. Visas cost approximately £15. All passengers requiring a visa
must hold documents required for the next destination.
Validity: Visas are valid for 1 month or 90 days. Contact the Immigration Department in Costa Rica for renewal
or information on the extension procedure.
Additional Visa Information:
http://costarica-embassy.org |
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