International Health Central American Institute
Foundation
Who are we Mission News Awards Programs Reports Partnerships
Useful Information
Electricity: 110 Volt, plugs with three prongs often need an adapter.
Water: Potable in greater San José area as well as in bigger cities, outside of
cities caution is advised.
Telephone: The telephone system of Costa Rica is one of the most efficient in
Central America. Direct international calls can be made from any phone in the
country. A very extensive net of public telephones exists accepting both small
change and calling cards.
Mail: There is generally a post office (correo) in every small town, and there
are several in the bigger cities.
Internet: In San Jose and the surrounding cities internet cafes are abundant and
access is cheap. Outside of the cities, at the beach and in the mountains there
are internet cafes but their use is a lot more expensive.
Television: Channels in both English and Spanish exist, however, the public
channels are solely in Spanish. Most homestay families will only have the
official channels, but some might have cable that also includes English
channels. Better hotels may have satellite connections and therefore a bigger
choice of channels.
Radio: Large number of both AM and FM emitters exist in the country, some of
them in English.
Newspapers: Six daily newspapers in Spanish with many other weekly and monthly
papers. There are also weekly and monthly newspapers in English – for example
the Tico Times which is published weekly in San José.
Streets: The country has a net of paved roads that facilitate traveling and
connect the country to Central America. There is also a secondary system of
unpaved roads, especially in rural areas.
Public Transport: In the Central Valley (San José) there is a tightly strung net
of public busses that are very efficient and cheap. The busses also connect the
city with all the suburbs and cities at regular intervals. Almost all busses to
the provinces depart from San José. A large number of official, red taxis in the
entire country including 4WD taxis in some remote areas are available. There is
a well-established and functioning network of buses within and between
provinces, as well as international busses.
Banks: All national and international financial transactions can be effectuated
through the National Bank or with any private bank. The official currency is the
‘colón’ (plural: colones) and its exchange is made via the Dollar at a
fluctuating rate. Any bank changes Dollars to Colones. International credit
cards are generally accepted in most banks on the territory. ATMs generally
accept cards with the plus sign and MasterCard as well as VISA.
Tourism
Costa Rica is a favorite destination for eco-tourists. More than 13.000 square
kilometers are protected in more than 30 units of national parks and reserves.
There is an administration that connects all parks and that promotes the
involvement of local communities in which the reserves are located. A tremendous
variety of activities are possible in the parks, ranging from bird watching and
hiking, to sailing and diving. The parks provide services such as paths, eating
areas, public bathrooms, camping facilities, as well as information on wildlife
and plants. The unique geography of Costa Rica provides an immense diversity of
climates and landscapes on a small territory. Over 4 percent of all plants and
animals of this earth are found here, on only 0.01 percent of the surface.
A series of volcanic
mountain ranges, with 112 volcanoes, 12 of which are currently active, run from
the Nicaraguan border in the northwest to the Panamanian border in the
southeast, splitting the country in two. The system of mountains is divided into
two subsystems by the central valley – where the cities of San José, Alajuela
and Heredia are. The northernmost range is the Cordillera de Guanacaste. Rincón
de la Vieja with fumaroles and boiling mud pools is probably the most famous
volcano of this range. Farther to the southeast is the Cordillera de Tilarán,
which includes the renowned Monteverde cloud forest reserve and, just north of
the main massif, the continually exploding Volcán Arenal, the most active
volcano in Costa Rica. Three ecologically important volcanoes, part of the
central mountain range, are easy accessible from the city of San José. They are
called Volcán Poás, Barva and Irazú. Over half of
the population of Costa Rica lives on the plain between these three volcanoes,
which contains fertile volcanic soil. The southernmost mountain range is
Talamanca, including Volcán Chirripó, with 3.821m the highest peak in Costa
Rica. Talamanca is higher, geologically older, more remote and more rugged than
the other ranges.
These mountain ranges
provide the country with an ample number of lakes and rivers. Lake Arenal is
world-famous for windsurfing, as the winds never die down. The view of Volcán
Arenal in the background is priceless. Caño Negro is a quiet river, famous for
its animals that are easily observed from a boat. Rio Pacuare is also well-known
for its natural richness of flora and fauna and is one of the most visited
rivers in Costa Rica. A large number of water sports are also practiced, for
example sport fishing. White water sports abound as well, with river rafting on
over 800 km of navigable rivers being a favorite. Surfing is practiced by a
great number of travelers on many beaches. Playa Pavones, for example, is known
worldwide for having the longest waves, reportedly providing up to three
minute-long rides.
On either side of the volcanic central highland, lie coastal lowlands, which are both very distinct from each other. It is possible to see both oceans at the same time from some high outlooks, such as Volcán Irazú or Chirripó. A large advantage is the relative proximity of everything to the capital, which is in the center of the country. Somebody with a car, traveling at 80km/h, could be swimming in the Atlantic at 8am, start his or her trip at 10am and be diving in the Pacific by 5pm, still having the sun to tan a little more.
The Caribbean coast consists of two distinct parts, one of which is north of Limón and stretches all the way to Nicaragua. A large littoral separates the ocean from a series of fresh-water lakes fed by various rivers. This zone contains the canals of Tortuguero, a net of 110 km of navigable waterways, and home to seven species of turtles. South of Limón, which is one of the most important shipping ports of the country, extends a long beach to Panama, only interrupted by the coral headland of Cahuita, where snorkeling is amazing. This coast is characterized by year-round rains, mangrove swamps, sandy beaches, and small tides.
The Pacific coast is a
1200km long beach, from Panama to Nicaragua, with a variety of sceneries,
islands, gulfs, peninsulas, inlets and beautiful beaches. The coast is bordered
by tropical dry forests, which receive almost no rain for several months each
year, as well as by mangroves, and swamps. The tidal variation is quite large
and there are many offshore islands, which provide romantic sunset sceneries.
Osa, one of the three main peninsulas, has the
highest biodiversity and
richness of flora and fauna in Costa Rica. Coco Island lies 500km off the coast
and is famous for its legends about hidden treasures. In reality, Coco has an
extraordinary variety of animals and plants in this national park. The diving is
wonderful there due to a huge diversity in the marine life.
Costa Rica’s unique
biodiversity is in large parts due to its particular geographical location and
history. Around 100 million years ago Costa Rica consisted of just a few,
scattered islands, between the two big landmasses that, today, are North and
South America. Strong tectonic movements of the Coco plate lifted the more
stable Caribbean plate and, in conjunction with volcanic activities, produced a
connection between the two subcontinents. This link that allowed the migration
of animals and plants between the two landmasses explains the large
biodiversity. The interruption of the connection between the two great oceans
bordering Costa Rica, on the other hand, initiated the diversification of the
marine life. Due to its geographical location, 10º north of the equator, it is,
almost year-round, exposed to trade winds of the Caribbean Sea which carry a lot
of humidity and provide a high level of precipitation for the Caribbean coastal
areas and the north of the country. The extraordinary location between two
subcontinents and between two oceans has produced this unique and astonishing
biodiversity.
Culture and entertainment are certainly not lacking either, especially in the big cities. San José, the capital of Costa Rica, is the nucleus of what is called the metropolitan area, with a population of roughly one million. San José offers a lot of historic sites that are associated with the foundation of the republic, but there are also innumerable museums, some with artifacts from pre-Columbian times. The Museum of Jade, for example, has the largest collection in the world of Jade relics, most coming from Costa Rica. The Museo Nacional in San José certainly has the largest exhibitions and the biggest variety of displays, but many of the smaller museums are very interesting and worth a visit. There are various theatres, several of which were founded with the help of the University of Costa Rica (UCR). Most productions are in Spanish, but the Little Theatre Group is known for its English-language performances.
Costa Rica – General Information
Costa Rica is part of Central America with a surface of 51.100 square kilometers, which is almost half the size of Kentucky, USA and two-thirds the size of Scotland. It is located centrally in Latin America, bordering Nicaragua in the north and Panama in the southeast. To the northeast is the Caribbean Sea and in the west and southwest it borders the Pacific Ocean. Costa Rica provides a connection between the northern continent and the southern continent of the Americas. There is an incredible diversity of rivers, mountains, valleys, volcanoes, beaches, protected areas, national parks, and an immense flora and fauna. The language spoken by the 3.800.000 inhabitants is Spanish, but English is widely spread, and French, German and Italian are also spoken by some.
The climate is typical
for a tropical country, but there is an extraordinary variety of micro-climates
that vary from dry tropical forests to moors. The country experiences only two
seasons, the dry and the wet season. Summer lasts from December to April and is
characterized by a dry climate with little rain. Winter is from May till
November, this season is characterized by its frequent rains. It can rain up to
20 days per month during the winter. The Caribbean coastal region is rainy year-round.
The dry season in the Caribbean has fewer rainy days and longer spells of fine
weather. The northern and central Pacific coast has rain patterns similar to the
highlands, whereas the southern Pacific coast can experience rain year-round.
Temperatures in the whole country vary little between seasons and the main
influencing factor is altitude. They generally lie between 14° and 32° C (58°
and 90° F). San José, at 1150m, has a climate that is referred to as ‘eternal
spring,’ with an average temperature during the day of 24° C (75° F) and a mild
15º C (59º F) at night. The coasts are significantly warmer and the high
humidity can be oppressive, but most visitors adjust to the conditions after a
few days.
Since 1992 Costa Rica is the seat of the Earth Council for its initiative in the area of conservation. An amazing 26.3 percent of its surface is protected, which makes it the country with the largest portion of protected areas and national parks. The importance of Costa Rica’s natural resources transcends its borders as flora and fauna about to be extinct are found and protected here. These efforts makes it a favorite destination for ecotourism. Hikes, bird watching, camping, rivers, beaches, forests and volcanoes provide ample diversity for everybody’s taste.
The Costa Rican
government is organized as a democratic republic with seven provinces: San José,
Alajuela, Heredia, Guanacaste, Cartago, Limón and Puntarenas. The government is
divided into three powers, an executive, a legislative and a judicial power. The
president of the republic, who is both the head of government and the head of
state, wields executive power, assisted by two vice-presidents and a cabinet of
12 ministers. Presidential elections are held every four years, and an incumbent
cannot be reelected. Every province has a governor who is appointed by the
president. The Legislative Assembly, or Congress, consists of 57 representatives
(diputados). The Legislative Assembly appoints 22 Supreme Court magistrates for
the judicial power, who then select judges for the lower courts. The idea behind
the three power structure is to prevent any one person or group from having too
much control, thus ensuring
a real democracy.
There is an Electoral Tribunal that is responsible for supervising elections and
ensuring that the electoral process is fair and democratic. Costa Rica does not
have an army since 1949; instead there is a ‘Fuerza Publica’, a form of an armed
police force. Costa Rica is the seat of the University for Peace, as well as the
seat of the Interamerican Court of Human Rights. Both these headquarters confirm
the confidence of the international community in the political and social
stability of the country. In 1987 the President of the Republic, Oscar Arias
Sánchez, received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to extend Costa Rica’s
peace to the surrounding regions.
Education is one of the
most significant agendas of the government, with about 20 percent of the budget
allocated to it and it is compulsory through ninth grade (age 14). Costa Rica
has the highest literacy rate in Latin America with about 93 percent of the
population being able to read and write. Medicine and health care are also a
very important part of the budget, which explains the high life-expectancy of an
average of 76.9 years; this is significantly higher than the rest
of Latin America. Preventative medicine is a particular focus in both urban and
rural areas.
Costa Rica is a mixture of african black, natives indians, east people, maily
chinese and white european and the majority of Costa Rica’s inhabitants
practices Roman Catholicism. The inhabitant of Costa Rica is generally called
Tico for men and Tica for women. The Ticos have a civil and very peaceful
tradition and is typically nice, very hospitable and helpful. Greetings are
considered very important. Male friends and casual acquaintances shake hands at
the beginning and end of even a short meeting; women kiss one another on the
cheek in greeting and farewell. Men often kiss women decorously on the cheek,
except in a business setting, where a handshake is more appropriate. References
to a person’s appearance are practical endearments and are not meant to give
offense, though non-tico recipients may find them tiresome at times. There are
three distinguishable cultures within Costa Rica. One is the typical
agricultural worker of the Central Valley, the second is the campesino (farmer)
from Guanacaste and the third is the culture of the Afro-Caribbean from the
province of Limón. The three cultures live peacefully together and there is
little tension or racism.
History of Costa Rica
There where about 40.000 souls living on the territory of Costa Rica When America was discovered. The people were divided into different kingdoms in two big areas of cultural influence. One was Mesoamerica with the Mayas and Aztecs and the other was South America. Costa Rica was a point for trade, but not the seat of any well-organized culture itself.
Costa Rica was discovered by Christopher Columbus on his fourth and last voyage to the Americas when he landed on a little island near of Limón in September 1502. He was treated well by the coastal Indians during his stay of 17 days, and he noted that some of the natives wore gold decorations. Because of this observation, the place was called ‘costa rica’ (rich coast) by the Spaniards, who imagined that there must be a rich empire lying farther inland. Spanish King Ferdinand appointed Diego de Nicuesa as governor of the region and sent him to colonize it in 1506. This time the Indians did not provide a friendly welcome. The colonizers were hampered by the jungle, tropical diseases, and the small bands of Indians who used guerrilla tactics to fight off the invaders. About half the colonizers died and the rest returned home. Several more unsuccessful attempts at colonization followed, until by the 1560s the Indian resistance had worn down, many of them had died or were dying of diseases and others had moved on to more inhospitable terrain.
In 1562, Juan Vásquez de
Coronado arrived as governor and decided that the best place to found a colony
would be in the fertile highlands of the Central Valley. This was a very unusual
decision since the Spaniards were seafaring people and had naturally tried to
colonize coastal areas, where they built ports and maintained contact with
Spain. In 1563 Cartago was founded in the Central Valley where the colonizers
encountered a healthy climate and fertile volcanic soil. The colony survived.
Cartago was quite different from other colonial towns. There were very few
Indians and, thus, the colonizers did not have a big workforce available. The
imagined riches of Costa Rica turned out to be very small and were soon
plundered. The little highland colony became a forgotten backwater, isolated
from the coast and major trading. It survived only by hard work of the
colonizers. Only in the 1700s the colony slowly expanded over the highlands and
other towns, such as Heredia, San José and Alajuela were founded. Much of
Cartago was destroyed in an eruption of Volcán Irazú in 1723, but the survivors
rebuilt the town. The colony remained one of the poorest and most isolated in
the Spanish empire.
Central America became independent of Spain on September 15, 1821. Guatemala, then the seat of the governor, declared its independence of the King of Spain who, at that time, was involved in several wars and had to accept. Costa Rica did not hear about its independence until a month later, when the letter arrived from Guatemala. It was briefly part of the Mexican empire, and then became a state within the Central American United Provinces. The first elected head of state was Juan Mora Fernández, who governed from 1824 to 1833. During his time of office the export of coffee, that had been introduced a few years earlier from Cuba, began in modest amounts. The rest of the 19th century saw a steady increase in coffee exports, and this turned Costa Rica from an extremely poor and struggling country into a more successful and worldly one.
In June 1855, the US
filibuster William Walker arrived in Nicaragua with the aim of conquering
Central America and converting it into slaving territory, then using the slaves
to build a Nicaraguan canal to join the Atlantic and Pacific. Walker defeated
the Nicaraguans and advanced to Costa Rica, which he entered more or less
unopposed. Costa Rica had no army, so Mora – the president at that time –
organized 9000 civilians to gather what arms they could and march north in
February 1856. In a short, but determined battle, the Costa Ricans defeated
Walker, who retreated to Nicaragua followed by the victorious Costa Ricans.
Walker and his soldiers made a stand in a wooden fort, and Juan Santamaria, a
drummer boy, volunteered to torch the building, thus forcing Walker to flee.
Santamaria was killed doing this and is now remembered as one of Costa Rica’s
favorite national heroes.
In 1889 the first democratic elections were held with the poor peasants as well as the rich coffee growers being able to vote, women and Blacks had not yet received that right. Democracy has been a hallmark of Costa Rican politics since then, with very few lapses. In 1940, Rafael Angel Calderón Guardia became president. His presidency was marked by reforms such as workers’ rights to organize, minimum wages, and social security. He was strongly supported by the poor but vehemently criticized by the rich. In 1948 Calderón ran for presidency again with Otilio Ulate as his opponent. Ulate won the election, but Calderón claimed fraud because some of the ballots had been destroyed. The government did not recognize Ulate’s victory, and the tense situation escalated into civil war. After several weeks of civil warfare, in which over 2000 people were killed, José Figueres Ferrer (who also opposed Calderón) emerged victorious. He headed the interim government and in 1949 handed the presidency to Otilio Ulate.
The year 1949 was
important in many respects, as it marked the creation of the Costa Rican
constitution, which is still in effect today. Among the most important changes
were that Women and Blacks received the right to vote, presidents were not
allowed run for successive terms, and a neutral Electoral Tribunal was
established to guarantee fair and lawful elections. A lot of public offices were
created during this time, helping to organize the country and to provide better
services to the people (see Health). The longest-lasting impact on the nation,
however, was the dissolution of the military.
Oscar Arias, who governed from 1986 to 1990, was an especially famous president as he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his work in attempting to spread peace from Costa Rica to all of Central America.
IHCAI Foundation tiene la sede en San José de Costa Rica, América Central.
IHCAI Foundation is an equal opportunity organization and do not make
any preference by gender, race, sexual orientation or political opinions
and rejects those openly racist, Nazi or Neo Nazi oriented.
IHCAI - Main Office
P.O. Box 1677-2100, San José, Costa Rica,
Tel: (506) 2227-6564 // Fax: (506)2226-3047
Email: info@ihcai.org
http://www. ihcai.org
