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Costa Rica.....       the Jewel of Central America    “pura vida” it means “pure life”   These words best describe Costa Rica. From exotic scenery filled with exotic animal life, visitors find themselves inexorably drawn to Costa Rica and its culture.                                                         Click here for more information about Costa Rica   Costa Rica lies on the Central American isthmus, flanked by the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean with a distance of approximately 155 miles (248 kilometers) between coasts. Costa Rica contains 6% of the world’s biodiversity on its total area of 20,480 square miles (51,200 square km).   Costa Rica has a population of approximately 4.5 million. About one million North American citizens have made Costa Rica their home. Having one of the oldest and more consolidated democracies in Latin America, it abolished its army over 50 years ago, choosing instead to spend that money on health services and education. As a direct result, the literacy rate rose to 95% and still continues to be one of the highest rates in the Americas.   International ports on both coasts, air and freight transportation services, a well-developed infrastructure and strategic central location for two continents make Costa Rica a contender in world markets. The government’s receptiveness towards tourism and new business ventures has lured a growing number of multinational corporations to the country. Environment Costa Rica’s varied terrain consists of nine active volcanoes, diverse forest environments, hot springs, wetlands, lakes, island reserves and 600 miles (966 km) of beaches.  A world leader in terms of protected areas, with 27% of its land mass designated as national parks and reserves. Costa Rica has justifiably earned its reputation of paradise regained. The odds of seeing wildlife are greater in Costa Rica than anywhere else in the world. The country is home to 1240 species of butterflies, 845 species of birds, 250 mammal classifications, 160 amphibian categories, 218 types of reptiles and 1013 varieties of fresh and saltwater fish, including several endemic species found nowhere else on the planet. Climate Costa Rica's microclimates vary from the barren cold volcanic tundra to the exotic cloud forest, from the deep dense jungle of Talamanca to the tropical dry forests of Guanacaste, from quiet gold-hued beaches where the Baulas Tortoises build their nests to the winding Tortuguero Canals where the crocodile is king. Even so, Costa Rica's overall climate can be best described as mild. Being located within the tropics, seasonal changes in Costa Rica are not as dramatic as they are in countries on other latitudes. There is a 'dry" season (equivalent to summer and spring) during which temperatures hover pleasantly in the high 60's to low 70's (20 –23 degrees C), which goes from December to May, and a "wet" season from June to November during which mornings are usually sunny and showers might be expected in the afternoon. On areas near the coasts, temperatures may be as much as ten degrees higher, where at Chirripó Peak, the highest mountain in Costa Rica (3800 meters), temperatures may drop down to the freezing point. Tourists should bring light clothes: a jacket and a raincoat is all the protection you'll need unless you plan to go hiking in the higher mountains.   Time Costa Rica is six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is equivalent to Central Time in North America. There is no daylight saving time. Language Costa Rica's official language is Spanish. On the Caribbean Coast, a small minority of Jamaican descendants speak a local version of English, and most Costa Ricans can understand and speak a bit of English. All public schools made it mandatory to learn a second language.   Religion As in the rest of Latin America, Roman Catholicism is Costa Rica's main religion, but there is a very wide margin of tolerance and the constitutional freedom of creed is always respected. Costa Rica's religions by percentage of practicing members are as follows: Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%.     Legal System Costa Rica is a civil law country which means that the organization of the legal system is derived from the French Napoleonic Code as opposed to English common law. The Government of Costa Rica has 4 branches: The Judicial, Executive - President and cabinet ministers, Legislative - Elected members and Electoral Tribunal - takes over police and all government functions dealing with elections before each election. Members are usually unpaid volunteers who are judges. This is to ensure all elections are completely democratic and free.   Currency The national currency is the colon and dollars are easily exchanged at all banks while other foreign currency can be exchanged through private agencies. All major credit cards as well as travelers checks are widely accepted. The colon exchanged at approximately 515 per US$ (as of October 2007) .     Electricity The standard in Costa Rica is the same as in the United States: 110 volts AC (60 cycles). However, three-pronged outlets can be scarce, so it's helpful to bring along an adapter.     Business Hours Most banks are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 3:30pm, although many have begun to offer extended hours. Offices are open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm (many close for 1 hr. at lunch). Stores are generally open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 6pm (many close for 1 hr. at lunch).