Useful Information for Travelers
Area: comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Local Time Difference: GMT
minus 6 hours.
Population: 3,835,000
(July 2002 est.)
Religions: Roman
Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, other
Protestant 0.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other 4.8%,
none 3.2%
Languages Spoken: Spanish
is the official language, although
English is widely spoken in the business community and
at most tourist destinations.
Capital: San Jose,
estimated population: 893,000
Geography and Climate:
The country lies between Nicaragua and Panama
and has coastlines on the Caribbean and the Pacific. A low, thin line
of hills between Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific is prolonged into northern
Costa Rica, broadening and rising into high and rugged mountains in
the center and south. Costa Rica's weather is influenced by altitude.
The Pacific coast is drier while the Atlantic coast has the most rainfall
- about 300 days a year. The wet season is from May to October. The
hottest months are March and April.
Money: The national
currency is the colon.
The exchange rate fluctuates in relation to the U.S. dollar. Dollars
can be exchanged in any bank in the National Banking System or at most
hotels. Credit cards are widely accepted. Smaller, local establishments
and many lodges accept only cash.
Visas: Visa requirements
for Costa Rica change rapidly so check with your consulate before leaving.
Currently citizens of the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan,
Panama, Romania, South Korea, Uruguay, the UK, France and most other
Western European countries do not need a visa for a 90-day stay. Citizens
of Australia, Ireland, Iceland, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia,
South Africa, Vatican City and most of Eastern Europe and Latin America
can stay 30 days without a visa. If you do need a visa, it will cost
approximately US$20 from a Costa Rican consulate.
Electricity: 110V, 60 Hz
Weights & Measures: Metric
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