• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Mail
+44 (0)20 7604 4408
Nomadic Thoughts
  • Inspiration
    • Introduction
    • Accommodation
    • Activities & Sports
    • Beaches
    • Culture
    • Deserts
    • Family Holidays
    • Gastronomy
    • Mountains
    • Special Events & Festivals
    • Wildlife
  • Destination
    • Introduction
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Caribbean
    • Central & North America
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • Oceania
    • South America
  • Experience
    • Introduction
    • Adventure
    • City Breaks
    • Cruises
    • Honeymoons
    • Luxury Holidays
    • Sabbaticals
    • Self-Drive Holidays
    • Spa & Treatments
    • Total Escape
    • Train Journeys
  • Expertise
    • Introduction
    • About Us
    • AITO Member
    • Award Winners
    • Consumer Protection
    • Contact Us
    • Jono’s Travel Blog
    • LGBTQ Travellers
    • Make An Appointment
    • Our UK Holiday House – Brecon Beacons, Wales
    • Pre-Departure Info
    • Sustainable Tourism
    • Travelling Solo
    • Travel Presentations
    • Useful Links
    • Welcome
    • What Our Clients Say
    • Where To Go When
    • Why Nomadic Thoughts?
    • World Weather Guide
    • EU General Data Protection and Nomadic Thoughts Compliance
  • Blog
  • Discover
  • Menu Menu

Costa Rica

Top tip: Galoshes, goggles & jungle gear

Geography

Geography


Costa Rica lies between Nicaragua and Panama, and is a complete coast-to-coast segment of the Central American isthmus. A low, narrow line of hills between Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean expands into a high, jagged mountain range as it enters northern Costa Rica. The highest peak is Chirripo Grande which reaches 3820m. The Meseta plateau, which is home to more than half the population, bordered to the Southwest by the Cordillera mountain range, which provides the back drop to Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose.

In the Central Valley, where the main centres of population are located, the average temperature is 22°C (72°F). However, on the coast it is often much hotter. The rainy season starts in May and finishes in November. The ‘warm’ dry season is considered to be December to May, though temperature differences between summer and winter are only slight.


Facts and Figures


Area 51,100 sq km (19,730 sq miles).
Population 4,608,426 (2011 estimate)
Capital San José- population 365799 (2006)
Language Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken. Some French, German and Italian are also spoken.
Religion Almost entirely Christian, with Roman Catholic majority.
Time GMT – 6
Highlights

Highlights


Costa Rica is the leader in ecotourism in Central America and has set aside approximately 26% of its total area to protected areas and national parks. Active volcanoes, cloudforests and rainforests teeming with a stunning diversity of flora and fauna are the main attractions in Costa Rica – in fact 5% of all life forms on earth can be found in this tiny country, including over 850 bird species. The Braulio Carrillo National Park lies just 14 miles north of San Jose with many trails through the park; jaguars and ocelots can be found here and many orchids and ferns. The Tortuguero National Park protects the Atlantic green turtle egg-laying grounds. It also has a network of canals and lagoons for transportation and exploration. Manuel Antonio National Park is situated on the Pacific coast and includes twelve islands which serve as natural seabird sanctuaries due to the lack of vegetation. Many birds also use the islands for nesting. The Nicoya Peninsular has become popular for ocean sports such as windsurfing, kayaking, surfing and sport fishing. The most popular adventure sport is white-water rafting in the Pacuare and Pascuarivers.

Costa Rica is one of the most bio-diverse countries on the planet, with a variety of fascinating microclimates to explore. Accordingly it is extraordinarily environmentally conscious, dedicated to protecting its toucans, howler monkeys and thousands of examples of exotic flora and fauna. A seductively laid back local lifestyle is coupled with the opportunity for countless adventure sports, while beach-lovers can relax on white sands, sipping fresh young coconut milk and sampling sweet, freshly picked oranges.

History

History


Along with the other Central American countries, Costa Rica is a product of Spanish invasion. Costa Rica was difficult to conquer due to the varied terrain, and the Spanish had little return for the effort it cost them. While other countries in the region boasted plenty of gold and silver reserves, Costa Rica yielded little. However, the settlers farmed the land and created a rural democracy. Today, Costa Rica is considered to be the most fair and democratically developed country in Central America, and conscientiously looks after its natural environment.

Costa Rica’s native civilisation was never as strong as that of Mexico, for example, and so the diseases introduced by Europeans wiped out most of the indigenous peoples. Those who were left were largely absorbed into the Spanish population, although there are still a few very small tribes to be found. The territory that is now Costa Rica was declared independent from Spain in 1821, but was first part of Mexico before becoming an independent country in its own right in 1838.

Throughout the twentieth century, Costa Rica was peaceful and stable, enjoying growth and prosperity, with the notable exception of a civil war in 1948 following a disputed presidential election.

Generally, Costa Rica has been a peaceful and liberal country for well over a hundred years. Significantly, it is the only country in the region to have abolished its national army.

A national emergency struck in 1991, when an earthquake caused considerable loss of life and damage. Nevertheless, its tourism market has expanded rapidly over the last two decades. In the 2010 Environmental Performance Index, it is ranked third in the world and first in the Americas. The government has announced plans to become the first carbon-neutral country by 2021, which bolsters their long-standing eco-friendly image.

Interested in Costa Rica? Call +44 (0)20 7604 4408 for expert holiday advice

+44 (0)20 7604 4408



Travel News
Thoughts

Destination
Introduction
Africa
Algeria
Botswana
Comoros
Democratic Republic of Congo
Egypt
Ethiopia
Kenya
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Reunion
Rwanda
Seychelles
South Africa
Tanzania
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Asia
Bhutan
Burma (Myanmar)
Cambodia
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Kazakhstan
Laos
Malaysia
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Philippines
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Thailand
Tibet
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Caribbean
Anguilla
Antigua
Aruba
Bahamas
Barbados
Bonaire
British Virgin Islands
Curacao
Grenada
Jamaica
St Kitts and Nevis
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos
Central & North America
Belize
Canada
Costa Rica
Cuba
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
United States of America
Europe
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Russia
Spain
Sweden
Turkey
Middle East
Iran
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Oman
Syria
United Arab Emirates
Yemen
Oceania
Australia
Fiji
New Zealand
Tahiti
South America
Antarctica
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Peru
Venezuela

For expert, first class holiday advice contact us today:
+44 (0)20 7604 4408
Email us now


  • AFRICA
  • Algeria
  • Botswana
  • Comoros
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
  • Kenya
  • Libya
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mauritius
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Reunion
  • Rwanda
  • Seychelles
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Tunisia
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
  • ASIA
  • Bhutan
  • Burma (Myanmar)
  • Cambodia
  • China
  • Hong Kong
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Laos
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Sri Lanka
  • Taiwan
  • Tajikistan
  • Thailand
  • Tibet
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vietnam
  • CARIBBEAN
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua
  • Aruba
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bonaire
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Curacao
  • Jamaica
  • St Kitts and Nevis
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos
  • OCEANIA
  • Australia
  • Fiji
  • New Zealand
  • Tahiti
  • EUROPE
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Malta
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Russia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Turkey
  • NORTH AMERICA
  • Belize
  • Canada
  • Costa Rica
  • Cuba
  • El Salvador
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Mexico
  • Nicaragua
  • Panama
  • United States of America
  • SOUTH AMERICA
  • Antarctica
  • Argentina
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Ecuador
  • Peru
  • Venezuela
  • MIDDLE EAST
  • Iran
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Oman
  • Syria
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Yemen
© Nomadic Thoughts Ltd. All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Mail
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Contact +44 (0)20 7604 4408
Scroll to top
This site uses cookies: Find out more.