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Costa Rica Facts
Time and Weather
Time Zone (UTC -6) Note that UTC is also known as GMT, or Greenwich Mean Time. Climate Costa Rica's tropical climate is pleasant throughout the year, with prevailing trade winds helping to cool down much of the coastal areas.
March through May are the hottest months, while somewhat cooler temperatures are the norm, December, January and February.
As usual in mountainous countries, temperatures vary by elevation. In Costa Rica, the average high temperature in the elevated Central Valley (I.E. San Jose) is near 72° F; in the lows 80s along the Caribbean coastline, and approaching 90° F on the Pacific coast.
The country receives copious amounts of rain, with an annual yearly average near 100 inches (250cm). The heaviest amounts fall along the Caribbean coastline in the form of afternoon showers.
Time Zone (UTC -6) Note that UTC is also known as GMT, or Greenwich Mean Time. Climate Costa Rica's tropical climate is pleasant throughout the year, with prevailing trade winds helping to cool down much of the coastal areas.
March through May are the hottest months, while somewhat cooler temperatures are the norm, December, January and February. As usual in mountainous countries, temperatures vary by elevation. In Costa Rica, the average high temperature in the elevated Central Valley (I.E. San Jose) is near 72° F; in the lows 80s along the Caribbean coastline, and approaching 90° F on the Pacific coast. The country receives copious amounts of rain, with an annual yearly average near 100 inches (250cm). The heaviest amounts fall along the Caribbean coastline in the form of afternoon showers. Facts and Figures
Name Costa Rica
(long form) Republic of Costa Rica
Population 4,016,200
Population & Density (all countries)
Capital City San Jose (300,000)
Currency Costa Rican Colon (CRC)
Languages Spanish (official), English
National Day September 15
Religions Catholic (76.3%), Evangelical (13.7%), none (3.2%), others
Latitude/Longitude (Capital City)
9º 56' N, 84º 05' W
Relative Location Costa Rica is positioned in both the northern and western hemisphere. Located in North America on the Central America isthmus - a somewhat narrow strip of land that connects North and South America - the country is bordered by Nicaragua, Panama, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
Land Statistics
Coastline 802 miles (1,290 km)
Land Areas
(land) 19,560 sq miles (50,660 sq km)
(water) 170 sq miles (440 sq km)
(TOTAL) 19,730 sq miles (51,100 sq km)
Landforms Most of Costa Rica is dominated by the Sierra Madre mountains, literally fractured into individual ranges and valleys by violent volcanic eruptions over eons of time.
And speaking of volcanoes, the country's most active one (cone-shaped Arenal), located in the Tilaran Mountains erupts in some measure almost everyday. To the southeast, the Poas, Barva, Irazu and many other volcanoes form the Central Mountain's most spectacular landforms, while the higher Talamanca Mountains front its southern border with Panama.
The heavily-forested northern plains (to the south of Lake Nicaragua) stretch eastward along the San Juan River, then push southward through the rain forest edges of the Central Mountains, and on to the sandy beaches of the Caribbean coastline.
Costa Rica's beach-covered Pacific coastline is quite narrow, and indented with many small bays, as well as the Gulf of Dulce and the Gulf of Nicaya, both protected by hook-shaped peninsulas. In the west, those beaches rise abruptly into the coastal hills of the mountains.
Many dozens of rivers drain the land; the Chirripa, Frio, General, San Juan and Tempisque are indicated on the map above.
Highest Pt. Cerro Chirripo - 12,500 ft. (3,810 m)
Lowest Pt. Pacific Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m)
Land Divisions 7 provinces; including Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas and San Jose.
Most of Costa Rica is dominated by the Sierra Madre mountains, literally fractured into individual ranges and valleys by violent volcanic eruptions over eons of time. And speaking of volcanoes, the country's most active one (), located in the Tilaran Mountains erupts in some measure almost everyday. To the southeast, the Poas, Barva, Irazu and many other volcanoes form the Central Mountain's most spectacular landforms, while the higher Talamanca Mountains front its southern border with Panama. The heavily-forested northern plains () stretch eastward along the San Juan River, then push southward through the rain forest edges of the Central Mountains, and on to the sandy beaches of the Caribbean coastline. Costa Rica's beach-covered Pacific coastline is quite narrow, and indented with many small bays, as well as the Gulf of Dulce and the Gulf of Nicaya, both protected by hook-shaped peninsulas. In the west, those beaches rise abruptly into the coastal hills of the mountains. Many dozens of rivers drain the land; the Chirripa, Frio, General, San Juan and Tempisque are indicated on the map above. Cerro Chirripo - 12,500 ft. (3,810 m) Pacific Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m) 7 provinces; including Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas and San Jose. Located in North America on the isthmus - a somewhat narrow strip of land that connects North and South America - the country is bordered by Nicaragua, Panama, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. San Jose (300,000) Costa Rican Colon (CRC) Spanish (official), English September 15 Catholic (76.3%), Evangelical (13.7%), none (3.2%), others San Jose (300,000) Costa Rican Colon (CRC) Spanish (official), English September 15 Catholic (76.3%), Evangelical (13.7%), none (3.2%), others
Name Costa Rica (long form) Republic of Costa Rica Population 4,016,200 Population & Density (all countries) Capital City San Jose (300,000) Currency Costa Rican Colon (CRC) Languages Spanish (official), English National Day September 15 Religions Catholic (76.3%), Evangelical (13.7%), none (3.2%), others Latitude/Longitude (Capital City)
9º 56' N, 84º 05' W Relative Location Costa Rica is positioned in both the northern and western hemisphere. Located in North America on the Central America isthmus - a somewhat narrow strip of land that connects North and South America - the country is bordered by Nicaragua, Panama, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Land Statistics
Coastline 802 miles (1,290 km) Land Areas (land) 19,560 sq miles (50,660 sq km) (water) 170 sq miles (440 sq km) (TOTAL) 19,730 sq miles (51,100 sq km) Landforms Most of Costa Rica is dominated by the Sierra Madre mountains, literally fractured into individual ranges and valleys by violent volcanic eruptions over eons of time. And speaking of volcanoes, the country's most active one (cone-shaped Arenal), located in the Tilaran Mountains erupts in some measure almost everyday. To the southeast, the Poas, Barva, Irazu and many other volcanoes form the Central Mountain's most spectacular landforms, while the higher Talamanca Mountains front its southern border with Panama. The heavily-forested northern plains (to the south of Lake Nicaragua) stretch eastward along the San Juan River, then push southward through the rain forest edges of the Central Mountains, and on to the sandy beaches of the Caribbean coastline. Costa Rica's beach-covered Pacific coastline is quite narrow, and indented with many small bays, as well as the Gulf of Dulce and the Gulf of Nicaya, both protected by hook-shaped peninsulas. In the west, those beaches rise abruptly into the coastal hills of the mountains. Many dozens of rivers drain the land; the Chirripa, Frio, General, San Juan and Tempisque are indicated on the map above. Highest Pt. Cerro Chirripo - 12,500 ft. (3,810 m) Lowest Pt. Pacific Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m) Land Divisions 7 provinces; including Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas and San Jose. Most of Costa Rica is dominated by the Sierra Madre mountains, literally fractured into individual ranges and valleys by violent volcanic eruptions over eons of time. And speaking of volcanoes, the country's most active one (), located in the Tilaran Mountains erupts in some measure almost everyday. To the southeast, the Poas, Barva, Irazu and many other volcanoes form the Central Mountain's most spectacular landforms, while the higher Talamanca Mountains front its southern border with Panama. The heavily-forested northern plains () stretch eastward along the San Juan River, then push southward through the rain forest edges of the Central Mountains, and on to the sandy beaches of the Caribbean coastline. Costa Rica's beach-covered Pacific coastline is quite narrow, and indented with many small bays, as well as the Gulf of Dulce and the Gulf of Nicaya, both protected by hook-shaped peninsulas. In the west, those beaches rise abruptly into the coastal hills of the mountains. Many dozens of rivers drain the land; the Chirripa, Frio, General, San Juan and Tempisque are indicated on the map above. Cerro Chirripo - 12,500 ft. (3,810 m) Pacific Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m) 7 provinces; including Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas and San Jose. Located in North America on the isthmus - a somewhat narrow strip of land that connects North and South America - the country is bordered by Nicaragua, Panama, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. San Jose (300,000) Costa Rican Colon (CRC) Spanish (official), English September 15 Catholic (76.3%), Evangelical (13.7%), none (3.2%), others San Jose (300,000) Costa Rican Colon (CRC) Spanish (official), English September 15 Catholic (76.3%), Evangelical (13.7%), none (3.2%), others
Traveler Info
Attractions: Of all of the vacation destinations on the planet, Costa Rica is certainly one the most exotic, as it offers unparalleled natural beauty, fiery volcanoes, misty cloud forests, thick jungle rain forests, and a wide range of national parks and eco-tourism activities. In addition, Costa Rica has over 1,000 miles of simply gorgeous white-and-black sand beaches, plenty of sunshine, and more than its share of world-class sport fishing, snorkeling and surfing venues. The most popular nature attractions include a litany of volcanoes, including Arenal Volcano, that almost-daily produces a spectacular show of lava, rock and stream; the active (and viewable) crater in the Poas Volcano; summit tours of the stunning Irazus Volcano; Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve; Osa Peninsula and the Corcovado National Park, and the Caribbean flora and fauna of the Tortuguero National Park. The single most-visited place in Costa Rica is the capital city of San Jose; it serves as the main entry point into the country, and its mixture of traditional Spanish architecture, museums and theaters are first rate. Limon, on the Caribbean coastline, hosts cruise ships from around the world and some fabulous markets and shops along its seawall. Of all of the countries in Central America, Costa Rica has historically been the friendliest and safest. Country Dialing Code 506 From USA Dial 001-(506) Electricity Costa Rica uses 110/220 volts AC (60 HZ) 
PLEASE NOTE: Before making travel plans for any worldwide destination, we strongly recommend you authenticate important details regarding visas, local health care, customs, etc. We always find it helpful to contact the nearest consulate of any country before beginning a journey into a foreign land.