Country Guide • Costa Rica
Costa Rica is located centrally within the Americas bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama.
| Official Name | Republic of Costa Rica |
|---|---|
| Area | 51,100km² (19,730mile²) |
| Population | 3,896,000 |
| Continent | Central America/North America |
| Population per mile² | 197 |
| Capital City | San José |
| Religions | 84% Roman Catholic, 14% Protestant |
| Language | Spanish - official language with English as their second language |
| Government | Democracy |
| Currency | ColÓn |
| GDP | $31.9 billion |
| GDP per Head | $8,500 |
| Natural Resources | Hydro Power |
| Land Use | Arable Land 4% |
| Agriculture | Coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes, beef and timber |
| Industry | Tourism, electronics, coffee, bananas, sugar, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer and plastics |
| Tourism | Costa Rica has an enormous amount of coastline and as such has some of the region's best beaches and surfing.The country has many natural attractions including wildlife and of course the tropics and Costa Rica is one of the best country's to experience the tropics naturally |
| Natural Hazards | Occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast, frequent flooding at onset of rainy season and active volcanoes |
| Health Risks | Dengue fever, malaria, low risk of cholera and hepatitis |
| Climate | Costa Rica has a tropical climate with two seasons. A wet season from May to November and a dry season from December to April. In the central upland areas the climate is more temperate. Average annual rainfall can be as much as 130 inches but rainfall patterns vary from region to region. Average temperature ranges in San Jose are from 14 to 24°C in December to 17 to 27°C in May |
| Time | GMT/UTC-6 hours |
| National Days | September 15 |
| Visas | Visa requirements change rapidly so check with your consulate before leaving. Currently Britain, Australia, Ireland, Iceland, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, and most Europepean and Latin America country's citizens do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica and can stay as visitors for three months and citizens of the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, Panama, Romania, South Korea, Uruguay do not need a visa for a 90-day stay |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
Information Only
The content above is for information purposes only and we have tried to ensure that the information is as accurate as possible. We cannot accept any responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury as a result of the information above. You should always check and verify any critical information like visas, health and safety and customs with the relevant authorities before you travel since information can change at any time.
