Your vacations in Costa Rica

Costa Rica – officially, the Republic of Costa Rica (República de Costa Rica) – is a country in Central America. It’s bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the east and south, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south and the Caribbean Sea to the east.

The travel industry has quickly become one of Costa Rica's main economies. It has gained special favour among "green-minded" or eco-travelers.

In recent times, electronics, pharmaceuticals, financial outsourcing, software development, and ecotourism have become the prime industries in Costa Rica's economy. High levels of education among its residents make the country an attractive location for investors. Since 1999, tourism earns more foreign exchange than the combined exports of the country's three main cash crops, which are bananas, pineapples and coffee.

In 2008, the Environmental Performance Index ranked the country 5th in the world and 1st among the Americas.
 

Official language

Spanish; English is also widely spoken.

Currency

Costa Rican colon

Electricity

110/120 volts, 60 cycles same as Canada

Shopping

Costa Rica features a wide range of stores offering merchandise made locally or imported from other Central American countries. Most prices are fixed, and bargaining is recommended only with street vendors or in public market places.

Useful information

Boasting a wide diversity of eco-climates and settings, Costa Rica is attractive to travelers seeking beaches, tropical forests, active volcanoes, mountain settings, and a wide array of activities. Surfing, canopy zip-lining, hiking, birdwatching, and fishing are some of the most popular draws.

The climate in Costa Rica

The climate of Costa Rica is characterized by two seasons – the rainy season extends from May to November and the dry season from December to April.

Costa Rica is a tropical country situated between 8 and 11 degrees above the equator. So, it has only two seasons: dry and green (or wet)! The dry season is generally between late December and April and the green or wet season lasts for the the rest of the year, from May through November. Even during the rainy season, visitors can still enjoy an average of about 5 hours of sunshine daily.
Temperatures vary little between seasons. The main influence on temperature is altitude. San José at 1150m has a climate which the locals refer to as the "eternal spring". It has simply delightful weather all year around! Average temperature ranges in San Jose are from 14 to 24°C in December to 17 to 27 °C in May.
The lower level, sea level coasts are even warmer, with the Caribbean averaging 21°C at night and over 30°C during the day. The Pacific coast is a few degrees warmer still; but the humidity is generally less, so it tends to be more comfortable.
The Northern Pacific Region is referred to as the "Gold Coast" and has an abundance of large resort hotels because of the drier and sunnier climate.

Official language

Spanish; English is also widely spoken.

Currency

Costa Rican colon

Electricity

110/120 volts, 60 cycles same as Canada

Shopping

Costa Rica features a wide range of stores offering merchandise made locally or imported from other Central American countries. Most prices are fixed, and bargaining is recommended only with street vendors or in public market places.

Useful information

Boasting a wide diversity of eco-climates and settings, Costa Rica is attractive to travelers seeking beaches, tropical forests, active volcanoes, mountain settings, and a wide array of activities. Surfing, canopy zip-lining, hiking, birdwatching, and fishing are some of the most popular draws.