A friendly, democratic and peaceful, Costa
Rica is a beautiful country. This Central American country lies between
Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. It’s landscape is diverse with
long stretches of deserted and undeveloped beaches, dense jungles teeming with
exotic wildlife, towering volcanoes, lush green valleys, and hundreds of
crystal-clear lakes and rivers.
Its area slightly exceeds that of Vermont and
New Hampshire combined. Unlike other Central American countries, clean tap
water can generally be found throughout the country and in most tourist
destinations. Additionally, most visitors find that they are free to enjoy the
local food without serious repercussions on their stomachs.
General Information
about Costa Rica:
·
Population: 4,695,942
·
Capital City:
San José
·
Climate: Tropical and
subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November);
cooler in highlands
·
Time Zone: GMT-6
·
Language: Spanish
(official), English
·
Country Code: 506
·
Coastline: 1,290km
Costa Rica is bestowed with an intense
array of biodiversity and environmental attractions – majestic volcanoes, misty
cloud forests, stunning river valleys, and hundreds of beaches along the
Pacific and Caribbean coasts. It is definitely a small country that
encompasses just 0.03% of the world’s land mass.
With over 500,000 plant and animal species,
Costa Rica is one of the planets most biologically dense countries. According
to Costa Rica’s National Biodiversity Institute, the biodiversity in Costa Rica
represents close to 4% of the total species on Earth. Much of Costa Rica’s
biological diversity can be attributed to its location between two continents,
as well as its numerous microclimates, which vary by elevation amid the
country’s mountainous and volcanic landscapes.
Costa Rica’s terrain varies between coastal plains and rugged mountains.
Three mountain ranges run through the country and there are over 100 volcanic
cones, several of which are major volcanoes. The highest point is Cerro
Chirripo, which rises to 3,810 meters (12,500 ft) in the Chirripo National
Park.
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