| Area |
51,100 sq km (19,730 sq miles). |
| Population |
4,250,000 (2004). |
| Capital |
San José- population 328,293 (2002) (Province of San San José: 1,100,000). |
| Climate |
In the Central Valley, where the main centres of population are located, the average temperature is 22°C (72°F). In the coastal areas, the temperature is much hotter. The rainy season starts in May and finishes in November. The 'warm' dry season is December to May, though temperature differences between summer and winter are slight. |
| Language |
Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken. Some French, German and Italian are also spoken. |
| Religion |
Almost entirely Christian, with Roman Catholic majority. |
| Time |
GMT - 6
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| Highlights |
Costa Rica is the leader in ecotourism in Central America and has set aside approximately 26% of its total area to protected areas and national parks. Active volcanoes, cloudforests and rainforests teeming with a stunning diversity of flora and fauna are the main attractions in Costa Rica - in fact 5% of all life forms on earth can be found in this tiny country, including over 850 bird species. The Braulio Carrillo National Park lies just 14 miles north of San Jose with many trails through the park; jaguars and ocelots can be found here and many orchids and ferns. The Tortuguero National Park protects the Atlantic green turtle egg-laying grounds. It also has a network of canals and lagoons for transportation and exploration. Manuel Antonio National Park is situated on the Pacific coast and includes twelve islands which serve as natural seabird sanctuaries due to the lack of vegetation. Many birds also use the islands for nesting. The Nicoya Peninsular has become popular for ocean sports such as windsurfing, kayaking, surfing and sport fishing. The most popular adventure sport is white-water rafting in the Pacuare and Pascua rivers.
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| Country Facts |
Costa Rica lies between Nicaragua and Panama in Central America. It measures 176 miles at its widest and only 74 miles at its narrowest. A low thin line of hills that rises between Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean in Nicaragua broadens and rises as it enters northern Costa Rica, eventually forming the high, rugged mountains of volcanic origin in the centre and south. The highest peak is Chirripo Grande, which reaches 3820m. The Meseta plateau where more than half the population live is rimmed to the southwest by the Cordillera range providing the setting for the country's capital, San Jose. The Caribbean coast is mainly swampy with the main sandy beaches located along the Pacific coastline. |