Heritage and Culture
Costa Rican culture is in many ways a
reflection of its racial diversity. The predominant influence has
long been European, which is reflected in everything from the
official language -- Spanish -- to the architecture of the country´s
churches and other historic buildings. The indigenous influence is
less apparent, but can be found in everything from the tortillas
that are served with a typical Costa Rican meal to the handmade
ceramics sold at roadside stands.
An important aspect of Costa Rica´s cultural heritage is their love
of peace and democracy. Ticos like to point out that their nation is
the exception in Latin America, where military dictatorships long
dominated politics.
They can boast of having more than one hundred years of democratic
tradition, and almost half a century without an army. The army was
abolished in 1948, and the money the country saves by not having a
military is invested in improving the standard of living for Costa
Ricans, which has fostered the social harmony that makes it such a
pleasant country to visit.
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The Tico
Ticos, as Costa Ricans are commonly known,
are a fairly mixed bunch. Though the majority of the country´s 4 million
inhabitants are the descendants of Spanish immigrants, many families
originated from other parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and, of course,
Central America.
You may be surprised by the number of fair-skinned people you´ll see in
the country, especially in the Central Valley.
In the lowlands, more people are mestizo -that is mixture of European and
Indigenous blood- whereas the majority along the Caribbean coast are of
African lineage, and much of the Talamanca Mountain Range is inhabited by
full-blooded Indians of various tribes.
It has
been said the Ticos are their nation´s greatest asset, and once you´ve
experienced their friendliness and spontaneity, you´ll no doubt agree.
Government
Costa Rican system of government is very
similar to that of the United States of America. There are three branches
of government: Executive, which consists of the president, two vice
presidents and cabinet; the Legislative Assembly, with 57 individually
elected deputies; and, the Judicial Branch, which consists of civil,
criminal, appellate and constitutional courts. The President and members
of the Legislative Assembly are elected for four-year terms.
The President is Mr. Abel Pacheco.
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Banks & Money
There is an ample selection of state
owned and privately held banks in San Jose, and throughout the
country. The official currency of Costa Rica is the colon, however
US dollars are widely accepted. US dollars and traveler´s checks
can be changed in banks and hotels. Most major credit cards are
widely accepted, and cash advances can be obtained at banks around
the country and a variety of places throughout San Jose.
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Economy
You don´t have to drive very far in
Costa Rica -- past the coffee, pastures, bananas and other crops --
to realize that agriculture is the basis of its economy. Coffee has
historically been the country´s most important crop, and Costa Rica
continues to produce some of the finest coffee in the world. However
in recent years less traditional crops have been playing an
increasingly important economic role. Bananas are the second most
important export crop, with vast plantations covering parts of the
Caribbean lowlands, there is also significant land dedicated to the
cultivation of pineapples, sugar, oranges, rice, hardwoods and
ornamental plants, as well as raising cattle for beef and dairy
products.
Though agriculture remains the basis of the national economy,
tourism has earned more than any single export crop during the last
few years, and the tourism industry continues to grow providing new
employment opportunities, and stimulating the conservation of our
complex biodiversity.
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Education and Health
The Costa Rican government has long
dedicated a significant portion of its national budget to education and
other social services; a policy that has resulted in a healthy and
educated populace. The country has a literacy rate and average life
expectancy that are much closer to those of Western European nations than
most Latin American countries. Costa Rica has had a socialized medical
system for nearly half a century, and while schools and clinics are found
throughout the country, the Central Valley has several public universities
and dozens of private universities.
Travelers are more likely to encounter more educated people, and don´t
have to worry about most of the diseases they would expect to encounter in
a tropical country.
Communications
Costa Rica has one of the most advanced telecommunications systems in
Latin America, with telephones and fax machines all over the country, and
an increasing number of businesses online. To call or fax Costa Rica, dial
the country code 506 before the number. There is also reliable mail
service, and an ample selection of courier services in San José. Most
large hotels in the San José area have cable television, with US and
European stations. Newspapers and magazines from North America and several
European nations are sold in many shops and hotels in and around the
capital.
Geography
Country
capital:
San José
Area: 51,000 square kilometers (19,652 sq. miles)
Languague: Spanish
Location: Located in the Central American isthmus, immediately
north of Panama, south of Nicaragua, with ports in both the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans and 153 highway miles between them.
Population
Inhabitants:
4.0 million
Density: 78.4 inhabitants per square kilometer (203.5 inhabitants per sq.
mile)
Major metropolitan center: San Jose (1 M )
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