According to wholevehicles, Costa Rica is located in the southernpart of Central America bordering Panama to the south and Nicaragua to the north. Costa Rica borders the Caribbean Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. Costa Rica literally means rich coast. This is the name Christopher Columbus gave to the coast during his fourth voyage to present-day America. Before the arrival of the Spaniards in the early sixteenth century, the country was inhabited by various Indian tribes. Unlike many other countries in Central America and in the northern part of South America, Costa Rica has few to no large structures of ancient cultures. In 1524, the first colonial settlement in Costa Rica was established. Soon Costa Rica was added as a province to the sub-kingdom of Mexico. Because there were few raw materials in the country, only a few settlements were built. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the country became part of the United States of Central America. This was short-lived, however, and a few seizures of power and civil wars later, the República de Costa Rica was eventually proclaimed. In 1948 a minor civil war raged after which the incumbent president was ousted. After this civil war, Costa Rica abolishes the army. This makes Costa Rica one of the few countries in the world without an army. The money that is left over is used for education, culture and safety. All this ensures that the residents of Costa Rica have been in first place on the Happy Planet Index several times. Costa Rica is one of the wealthiest countries in Latin America. The economy of Costa Rica is mainly dependent on the agricultural sector. Cocoa, bananas, sugar and coffee are grown here. In particular, the banana industry in Costa Rica is very large. In addition, the tourism industry is becoming an increasingly important source of income for the country. It is mainly American and Canadian tourists who book Costa Rica as a winter sun destination. You can experience Costa Rica in two ways as a beach holiday but also as a tour through the various natural parks. The latter in particular is an increasingly popular way of traveling in Costa Rica.
Sights
Most sights in Costa Rica have a natural origin. The many national parks in the country, the dense jungles and the beautiful coasts make the country one big attraction. One of the highlights, literally and figuratively, is the Arenal volcano. This still active volcano spews lava almost daily and you can hear it rumbling regularly. The Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja, Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, Parque Nacional Tortuguero, Corcovado National Park and Monteverde Natural Park are among the most beautiful parks in the country. These parks have a great diversity of flora and fauna. Some of these parks include Tapirs, jaguars, pumas, crocodiles and various monkey species. The capital San José is already a sight in itself. The city is located in the central part of the country. The city has grown after colonization by Spain and many colonial buildings can still be found in the city. This creates a special atmosphere in the city. In San José you can find, among other things, a gold and a jade museum and the National Museum Dan José.
UNESCO
In total, there are three World Heritage List entries in Costa Rica. All three are registrations of a natural nature. The first registration took place in 1983. This concerned the Talamanca Range – La Amistad Reserve / La Amistad National Park, which is partly located in Panama. This national park mainly consists of tropical rainforest. the second registration concerns Cocos Island. This island is a national park. Cocos Island is located about 500 kilometers off the coast of Costa Rica and used to be a notorious pirate island. Finally, the Area de Conservación Guanacaste was added. This area in northwestern Costa Rica consists of several national parks and Junquilla Bay.
Climate
Costa Rica is located on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, this fact is very decisive for the climate of Costa Rica. There are some tropical climates in Costa Rica. In addition, there are some microclimates to be found. For example, the highest parts of the Cordillera de Talamanca mountain range have a temperate maritime climate. But as already mentioned, Costa Rica mainly has a diversity of tropical climates. The type of climate that applies to a particular area strongly depends on the amount of precipitation in a particular area. The places where the most precipitation falls is the tropical rainforest climate. This climate type is the most common in Costa Rica. Due to the heavy rainfall, high humidity prevails in these parts, which can make it feel very clammy and stuffy. This is especially true on the eastern side of the mountain range. The central part of Costa Rica and the western part have a rainy season that lasts from May to November. Because of Costa Rica’s southern location on the Caribbean Sea, hurricanes rarely or never occur here. However, the country regularly suffers from the effects of hurricanes. Consequences of this can be, for example, abundant precipitation and strong wind gusts. The climate of Costa Rica is very pleasant, especially in the winter. This makes Costa Rica a popular winter sun destination. Because of Costa Rica’s southern location on the Caribbean Sea, hurricanes rarely or never occur here. However, the country regularly suffers from the effects of hurricanes. Consequences of this can be, for example, abundant precipitation and strong wind gusts. The climate of Costa Rica is very pleasant, especially in the winter. This makes Costa Rica a popular winter sun destination. Because of Costa Rica’s southern location on the Caribbean Sea, hurricanes rarely or never occur here. However, the country regularly suffers from the effects of hurricanes. Consequences of this can be, for example, abundant precipitation and strong wind gusts. The climate of Costa Rica is very pleasant, especially in the winter. This makes Costa Rica a popular winter sun destination.
Geography
Costa Rica is located in the southern part of Central America between Nicaragua and Panama. Costa Rica borders the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The landscape of Costa Rica is mainly defined by the Cordillera de Talamanca mountain range that runs along the longitudinal axis of the country. The highest point in the country can be found here. The mountain Cerro Chirripó is the highest point in Costa Rica at 3,819 meters. A striking number of volcanoes belong to this ridge. Some of these volcanoes like Arenal are active. The highest volcano in Costa Rica is the Poás at 2,708 meters. Much of Costa Rico consists of protected natural areas. About a quarter of the country consists of national parks. Many of these parks mainly consist of tropical rainforest. In addition, there are dry forests, mangrove forests and grasslands in Costa Rica. Some well-known islands that belong to Costa Rica are isla Chira in the Gulf of Nicoya, Isla Tortuga, Isla del Caño, Isla San Lucas and Isla Cabo Blanco. Cocos Island, which is five hundred kilometers away, also belongs to the country. In Costa Rica there are two notable rivers, the San Juan, which partly forms the border with Nicaragua and the Sixaola. The capital San José is the largest city in the country. Just under ten percent of all residents of Costa Rica live in this city. Other major cities in Costa Rico are Alajuela, Cartago, Puntarenas, Liberia, Puerto Limón and Montezuma.
Travel advice
The travel advice for Brazil has been on “be extra vigilant” for some time now. This is mainly due to the increasing crime that mainly occurs in the larger cities. In addition, there is an increased risk of robberies near airports, tourist attractions and public transport. It is therefore wise to look extra carefully here. If you drive a rental car, you are recognizable as a tourist, keep this in mind. Be careful with hailing taxis on the street. It is wiser to have your hotel order a taxi for you. From June to September, severe tropical storms and hurricanes can occur in Costa Rica. Due to the heavy rainfall, landslides and mud avalanches can occur. These in turn cause the roads to be blocked, which can disrupt life to such an extent. There is also an increased risk of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Travel documents
All travelers to Costa Rica must hold a valid passport that is valid for at least six months on the date of departure from the country. You do not need a visa to visit Costa Rica. However, if you want to stay in the country for more than 90 days, you must apply for a visa at the Costa Rican embassy in the Netherlands. This applies to all travelers, including children under the age of twelve. If your flight is via a layover via the United States of America, you must request an ESTA (Electronic System of Travel Authority) permission. In addition, it is wise to take a digital copy of your passport with you in case something happens to your passport.
Info table
| Capital city | San Jose |
| Phone (country code) | 506 |
| Internet domain | .cr |
| Language(s) (official) | Spanish |
| Language(s) (colloquial) | Spanish, Aymara, Quechua and 24 indigenous languages |
| Religion(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Time zone(s) | UTC-6 |
| Time difference summer | In Costa Rica it is 8 hours earlier than in the Netherlands |
| Time difference winter | In Costa Rica it is 7 hours earlier than in the Netherlands |
| Daylight Saving Time Control | no |
| Currencies | Costa Rican Colon |
