Information about Costa Rica

    

Costa Rica is in Central America. It shares its northern board with Nicaragua and its southeast one with Panama. Its territory is surrounded to the east by the Caribbean Sea and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. San José is its capital, political and economic center. The official language is Spanish.

Costa Rica is one of the most consolidated democracies in America. It has preserved good political stability despite the economic and social difficulties of the last two decades. Costa Rica gained worldwide recognition for being the first country to abolish the army on December 1, 1948. Its high human development index is one of the best in Latin America. Also, it has one of the highest tourism competitiveness indexes in the American Continent. In addition, several studies classify it as one of the happiest countries in the world.

Costa Rica’s temperature in the Central Valley is approximately 22°C (72°F). The country has two seasons: the dry season from December to March and the rainy season from May to October. Transitions from one season to another happen in April and November. In July, there is a decrease in rainfall due to a change in wind circulation. In December, there may be sporadic rains and strong wind, so having an umbrella and a light coat is advisable. Costa Rica shows a great diversity of climates due to the prevailing winds and the small size of the territory. In addition, it has a mountain range that crosses the country from northwest to southeast with elevations of up to 3,820 meters above sea level.

Costa Rica's stable economy depends mainly on tourism and the export of agricultural products, such as coffee, bananas, sugar cane, tropical fruit, and flowers, among others. Corn, beans, vegetables, tobacco, and cotton are also produced. The livestock activity is made up of cattle, pigs, and horses, as well as poultry. The country’s natural beauty—its diverse beaches, national parks, volcanoes, islands, and tropical forests—is responsible for its great tourist boom.

For more information, you may read the following newspapers:

La Nación San José www.nacion.com
La República San José www.larepublica.net
La Prensa Libre San José www.prensalibre.co.cr
Semanario Universitario San José www.semanario.ucr.ac.cr

The capital city's international airport, Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), has more than 30 direct routes from different cities throughout the Americas.

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