Costa Rica is an absolutely tremendous travel destination for travelers to Central America. If you are going, there are some basic things you need to know about the country.
Costa Rica is one of the better off countries in Central America from an economic point of view. Earnings are about double of the countries around it. As a result, the people are friendly and issues such as crime are no more significant than in most people. Costa Rica is also unique in that it has no standing military force.
Costa Rica is a predominantly Roman Catholic country, a trend you find through most of Central America. The country also invests heavily in education with literacy rates in the high 90s. The country is a democracy with elections being held every four years. Spanish is the dominant language, but English, Italian and German are spoken, particularly in tourist areas.
For population purposes, Costa Rica is somewhat of a hidden country. The vast majority of people live in the internal area of the country around the largest city of San Jose. These people tend to be “hidden” from travelers because most of them head to the coasts to enjoy the beaches and beautiful weather.
Costa Rica is a diverse country when it comes to geography. The south is immersed in deep rain forests while the far north tends to be more arid. The Midwestern part of the country is very mountainous with stunning views, particularly as you head towards the coast line. A line of volcanoes run north to south more or less through the center of the country.
From a client standpoint, the country is complex. The wet season on the Pacific coast tends to run from May to November. In October, it pretty much pours each and every day. On the east coast, however, the wettest months tend to run from November through January. The rest of the country has similar variations. If you are going to travel to Costa Rica, it is important that you find out what the weather will be like in the particular areas you want to visit.
All and all, Costa Rica should be at the top of your list of places to visit. It is a beautiful country with very friendly people.
Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of
travel accessories.
