Costa Rica Travel Guide

Costa Rica — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Central America.
Language: Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken. Some French, German and Italian is also spoken.
Area: 51,100 sq km (19,730 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT - 6.
Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60Hz. Two-pin plugs are standard.
Population: 4.6 million (2009).
Population Density: 90 per sq km.
Capital City: San José.
Government: Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1821.
Head of State: President Laura Chinchilla Miranda since 2010.
Religion: Almost entirely Christian, with Roman Catholic majority.

Recent History

Columbus landed in what is now Costa Rica in 1501. Under the rule of General Tomas Guardia between 1870 and 1882, Costa Rica developed many of its principal modern characteristics, notably the minimal role of the Catholic Church in secular matters and an adherence to the principles of democracy. Throughout the 20th century, Costa Rica enjoyed peace and a steady growth in prosperity, with the notable exception of a civil war in 1948, which followed a disputed presidential election. Significantly, Costa Rica is the only country in the region to have abolished the national army.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +506. There are no area codes.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with some countries. Handsets can be hired, although this can be difficult and time-consuming (www.ice.go.cr). Costa Rica employs both GSM and TDMA systems. The state telephone company ICE has a monopoly on service, which is available throughout much of the nation except remote mountain regions.

Internet

There are Internet cafés throughout the country, and most tourist hotels also provide facilities.

Media

Costa Rica has nine major newspapers, several private and public TV stations, and a busy FM radio scene. Cable TV is widely available. Costa Rica enjoys near total freedom of media, although the major dailies are considered to be conservative. Daily newspapers printed in Spanish include Al Día, Diario Extra, El Heraldo, La Nacion, La Prensa Libre and La República; the Tico Times is a weekly newspaper published in English. The public channel is Rede Nacional (channel 13). Private channels include: Teletica (channel 7), Repretel (channels 4, 6, 11) and Conexion (channel 2). Direct TV cable service is available throughout most of the country.

Post

Airmail letters to Western Europe usually take between at least 10 days; those to North America take at least one week.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
11 Oct Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)*

2013
11 Apr Juan Santamaría’s Day
1 May Labor Day

2011
25 Jul Guanacaste Annexation
2 Aug *Virgin of Los Angeles, Feast of Patroness of Costa Rica
15 Aug Mothers’ Day and Assumption
15 Sep Independence Day
12 Oct *Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Apr - 9 Apr Easter
11 Apr Juan Santamaría’s Day
1 May Labor Day
25 Jul Guanacaste Annexation
2 Aug *Virgin of Los Angeles, Feast of Patroness of Costa Rica
15 Aug Mothers’ Day and Assumption
15 Sep Independence Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
* Most businesses close for the whole of Holy Week and between Christmas and New Year.

Contact Information

British Embassy in Costa Rica

Apartado 815-1007, Edificio Centro Colón, (Piso/floor 11), San José, Costa Rica
Tel: (506) 2258 2025.
Website: www.ukincostarica.fco.gov.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 0800-1600; Fri 0800-1300.

Embassy and Consulate of the Republic of Costa Rica in the UK

Flat 1, 14 Lancaster Gate, London W2 3LH, UK
Tel: (020) 7706 8844.
Website: www.costarica.embassyhomepage.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1500 (embassy); 1000-1300 (consulate).