COSTA RICA
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Land

Costa Rica extends majestically from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea with a width distance of barely 200 miles. Its land portion occupies only 20 thousand square miles. The variations in landscape and climate from province to province are truly amazing.

The territory is divided into 29 national parks, 19 wildlife refuges, 8 biological reserves, and a series of protected areas.

Relief

Two mountain chains together run almost the entire length of Costa Rica. These are, in the north, the Cordillera Volcánica, noted for its volcanic activity, as the name implies, and, in the south, the Cordillera de Talamanca. The Cordillera Volcánica may be divided into three ranges, from northwest to southeast: the Cordillera de Guanacaste, the Cordillera de Tilarán, and the Cordillera Central. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, the Cordillera de Talamanca is a massive granite batholith, quite different geologically from the volcanically active northern ranges.
Costa Rica’s highest point, Mount Chirripó (12,530 feet [3,819 metres]), is in the Talamanca system. Two of the highest peaks in the Cordillera Volcánica, Irazú (11,260 feet [3,432 metres]) and Poás (8,871 feet [2,704 metres]), have paved roads reaching to the rims of their active craters.
These volcanoes, overlooking the Valle Central, pose a serious natural hazard, as do earthquakes for most of the country. Arenal Volcano (5,358 feet [1,633 metres]), about 56 miles (90 km) northwest of San José, is the country’s youngest stratovolcano. Its last major eruption, in 1968, destroyed two villages, and the volcano continued to spew lava and breccia into the early 21st century.

The Valle Central is separated into two parts by the continental divide. The eastern part is drained by the Reventazón River to the Caribbean, and the western sector forms part of the basin of the Grande de Tárcoles River, which flows into the Pacific. Another large structural valley, the Valle del General, lies at the base of the Cordillera de Talamanca in the southern part of the country. To the north and east of the mountainous central spine lie the Caribbean lowlands, constituting about one-fifth of the country and reaching less than 400 feet (120 metres) in elevation. The Pacific lowlands, which contain several small valleys and plains, include only about one-tenth of Costa Rica’s territory.

National Park

Although Costa Rica is a small territory, it holds about 5 percent of the earth's biodiversity. Fortunately, this natural treasure is protected by the National System of Conservation Areas, preserving a total of 25 percent of the national territory.
Here we can enjoy the country's majestic volcanoes, Pacific and Caribbean beaches, tropical dry, wet, and rain forests, as well as exhilarating jungle landscapes, all without traveling long distances.
Here a list of best places: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Tortuguero National Park, Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsula, Piedras Blancas National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, Ballena Marine National Park, South Pacific Coast, Carara National Park, Central Pacific Coast, Tenorio Volcano National Park, Palo Verde National Park, Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Santa Rosa National Park and Irazu Volcano National Park.

Rivers, Lakes and Islands

Flow through all Costa Rica
Costa Rican Rivers thrive throughout the whole country. Some are the basis for cities and small town and others provided need life to the environment. The types of rivers are kind of interesting too. There are raging rapids and peaceful canals. Also, rivers that are almost a 100 meters wide and 100 kilometers long. It doesn’t stop there as the types of wildlife you find at the river’s banks thrive in the natural environment. Sierpre River is a great place to visit if you want to see wildlife.

Famous Rivers
One of the most famous Costa Rican Rivers is the Pacuare River. It is so famous because of the activities is done on it. This river is the rate in the top five white water rafting locations in the world. And how true it is. During the wet season, waters rise to give you the ultimate experience. Another popular river system is the Tortuguero canals. This extensive system of canals and rivers are located in the north most of Costa Rica’s Caribbean.

Climate

In geography, the region between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn is called the tropics. Costa Rica is located in this region, which gives its ecological surroundings – its forests, waters, soils and climate – certain tropical characteristics. Its flora and fauna are adapted to these conditions, meaning that they are tropical as well.
This tropical climate is modified by various factors, including relief (mountains, plains and plateaus), its position on the Central American isthmus, the influence of the oceans (winds and sea breezes and the temperature of ocean currents) and the general atmospheric circulation. The interaction of all of these local geographic, atmospheric and oceanic factors are the main causes of the country’s regional climate.
The northwest-southeast orientation of the mountain range divides Costa Rica into two sides: the Pacific and the Caribbean. Each one of these has its own precipitation and temperature regimen with particular spatial and temporal distribution.

Pacific
The Pacific region is characterized by a well-defined dry and rainy season.The dry season lasts from December to March. April is a transition month. The driest and hottest month is March.The Pacific region begins in the northwest and ends in the southeast, meaning that the dividing line changes from north to south. The rainy season goes from May to October, with November being a month of transition.There is a relative decrease in the amount of rain during the months of July and August, which are termed veranillo, or “little summer”. These months are marked by an intensification of the trade winds.The rainiest month are September and October, mainly due to the influence of the cyclone systems, the monsoon winds from the equatorial Pacific Ocean, and the sea breezes. The rains mainly occur during the afternoon and early evening.

Caribbean
The climate regime of this side of the country does not have a well-defined dry season, since the rains remain steady between 100 and 200 mm in the driest months, which is a considerable amount.
Two relatively dry periods exist in the coastal zones. The first dry period is between February and March and the second between September and October.
The first dry period is in sync with the Pacific dry season, while the second period occurs during the rainiest months on the west coast.In addition, there are two rainy periods between the dry ones. The first one goes from November to January and is the strongest rainy period.
The second one stretches from May to August and is characterized by a maximum in July that coincides with the “little summer” in the Pacific.The rainiest month is December, which is influenced by the effects of cold fronts coming from the Northern Hemisphere, which are present between November and May, though their greatest effect is felt between November and March. Rain falls mostly during the night and morning.

Business

The country’s wealth is better distributed among all social classes than elsewhere in Central America.
The government controls key utilities, including electricity, water, fixed-line telephone, and port and rail facilities, and the entire population is eligible for free medical care, but private enterprise is still strong and influential in policy making.

Agriculture

One does not have to drive very far in Costa Rica -- past the coffee, pastures, bananas, and other crops -- to realize that agriculture is the basis of its economy. Coffee has historically been the country's most important crop and Costa Rica continues to produce some of the finest coffee in the world. However in recent years, less traditional crops have been playing an increasingly important economic role. Bananas are the second most important export crop, with vast plantations covering parts of the Caribbean lowlands.
There is also significant land dedicated to the cultivation of pineapples, sugar, oranges, rice, hardwoods, and ornamental plants, as well as raising cattle for beef and dairy products. Cocoa, for chocolate production has become a signature product.

Industry

Many foreign companies (manufacturing and services) operate in Costa Rica's Free Trade Zones (FTZ) where they benefit from investment and tax incentives.[10] Well over half of that type of investment has come from the U.S. According to the government, the zones supported over 82 thousand direct jobs and 43 thousand indirect jobs in 2015. Companies with facilities in the America Free Zone in Heredia, for example, include Intel, Dell, HP, Bayer, Bosch, DHL, IBM and Okay Industries.

Manufacturing contributes about one-fifth of Costa Rica’s GNP and employs approximately one-sixth of the economically active population. Most industry is concentrated in the Valle Central, but a few plants operate in Puntarenas and Limón. Food and beverage processing, soap, paper, pharmaceuticals, and furniture making are domestically important. The main items manufactured for export are machinery, food products, textiles, and chemical and electronic products.

Costa Rica has both state-owned and private banks, and a national federation of savings and loan cooperatives supervises an extensive network of local agencies. Its national currency is the colón.

Tourism

By the mid-1990s, tourism had soared beyond the banana industry to rank first as a source of foreign exchange and income. Costa Rica’s rainforests, national parks, beaches, volcanoes, and biodiversity attract tourists, as does its reputation as a stable country. Resorts, condominiums, and other developments continue to be built along the coasts and around major tourist attractions.

Taxation

In Costa Rica, the taxation of individuals is based on the principle of territoriality, meaning that all personal income that has a foreign source is tax exempt. Only revenue earned by an individual within Costa Rica is subject to an assessment by the tax authorities. You do not have to pay tax on your Social Security income, pension, investment income, etc. And if you telecommute to a job abroad, have a business or rental property in your home country, online business, or are a freelancer, you do not have to pay income tax in Costa Rica. You are still on the hook to the IRS or your home country’s tax authority however. For U.S. citizens, be sure to ask your tax professional about the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, which exempts you from paying taxes from an overseas job or business if you qualify.

Income tax, or impuesto de la renta

If you generate income in Costa Rica in person or through a corporation, you will have to pay income tax. Income tax is paid before Dec. 15 every year. The Costa Rica tax year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. If you generate a foreign income and you already pay in the country where the income was generated, you don’t have to pay any income tax in Costa Rica.

Sales tax, or impuesto de ventas

Every product and most services, excluding what is called the canasta básica, or basic food basket, pay 13 percent sales tax. The canasta básica is a list of basic products like fruits, vegetables, rice and beans, meat, medicine, agricultural tools and supplies, certain veterinarian products, essential educational products and commercial fishing tools and supplies, which are all exempt from the sales tax. The Costa Rican government has plans to change the 13 percent sales tax into 15 percent IVA.

Import tax, or impuesto de importación

Every imported product that is not covered by a commercial treaty between the exporting country and Costa Rica pays import tax before it clears customs. This tax is charged over the invoiced C.I.F. value (Cost + Insurance = Freight). So if you buy a product in a local store, the tax is already paid. If you order a product online, you will have to pay the tax on it to get it to clear customs. Should you plan to bring your household goods and your car with you to Costa Rica, you must pay the import tax based on its value.

Luxury home tax, or Impuesto Solidario

The luxury home taxes has to be paid before the 15th of January each year and only has to be paid if the construction value of your property exceeds ¢128 million ($242,000 at today’s rate). This tax is 0.25 percent of the total value of your property up to ¢319 million including the land value and goes up to 0.55 percent for a property of ¢1.9 billion. If you are not sure about the value of your property, hire a licensed appraiser. The Luxury Home Tax can be paid at any Banco de Costa Rica.


Costa Rica has developed a system of payments for environmental services. Similarly, Costa Rica has a tax on water pollution to penalize businesses and homeowners that dump sewage, agricultural chemicals, and other pollutants into waterways. In May 2007, the Costa Rican government announced its intentions to become 100% carbon neutral by 2021. By 2015, 93 percent of the country's electricity came from renewable sources. In 2016, the country produced 98% of its electricity from renewable sources and ran completely on renewable sources for 110 continuous days.

Security and safety

Standard safety precautions are recommended in Costa Rica. Exercise common sense and remain vigilant for suspicious behaviour as you would in any other country. Watch out for petty crime in tourist areas and protect your valuables. Costa Rica has created the Policía Turística, a tourism police force dedicated to improving the security of foreigners.

Petty theft is the most common threat to tourists in Costa Rica as well as pickpocketing and carjacking. Fraud, including credit card fraud and identity theft, is on the rise as criminals have become more tech-savvy. Credit card thieves usually steal credit card information without stealing the physical card.

Costa Rica has some of the best beaches in the world. Both coasts, The Atlantic and the Pacific coasts, are only five hours away from each other and offer completely different views and landscapes. Please not that there are no signs indicating if the beach is unsafe due to riptides, so take precautions and listen to the locals on where it is safe to swim. Moreover, the public beaches do not have life guards. You should learn how to swim out of a rip tide and not swim alone.

There are some active volcanoes in Costa Rica, so follow the warning signs posted. The slopes of the Arenal volcano may seem like you can climb closer to the summit, but there have been deaths in the past with unseen gas chambers. As in any country, there are areas that are recommended to avoid. Jacó, on the Pacific Coast, is becoming a more unsafe area to visit due to the increase in drug trade and prostitution. Limón, on the Caribbean Coast, remains a point of interest for many travellers because of its wild Carnival festival; however, the Costa Rican government has identified it as a zone where crime is on the rise. Costa Rica can be safe as long as you use common sense and take advice from authorities, hotels and tour operators. It is important to follow the news on television and radio closely. Be aware of your surroundings at all times like you would in any large city.

Education and Academies

Education

The constitution provides for free and compulsory education. The central government oversees school attendance, curricula, and other educational matters. About one-fourth of the country’s budget is allocated to education, and more than nine-tenths of the population is literate. School attendance is relatively high, with more than nine-tenths of children age 6 to 11 enrolled in primary schools and more than three-fifths of students age 12 to 16 enrolled in secondary schools.

University

The University of Costa Rica (1941) has a well-planned, functional main campus in San Pedro, a suburb of San José, as well as a number of branches in outlying cities; the National University has a smaller campus in Heredia; and the “open” university, Universidad Estatal a Distancia (1977), offers courses by television from offices in San José.

The Autonomous University of Central America (1976) is also located in San José, as are several private institutions of higher education. Through the initiative of Pres. Rodrigo Carazo Odio (1978–82), Costa Rica became the home of the University for Peace in 1980. The Technological Institute of Costa Rica (Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica [ITCR]; founded in 1971 in Cartago) provides engineering and other technical training. Scores of foreign universities maintain exchange programs with Costa Rica’s universities.

Health

The Nicoya Peninsula is considered one of the Blue Zones in the world, where people commonly live active lives past the age of 100 years. The New Economics Foundation (NEF) ranked Costa Rica first in its 2009 Happy Planet Index, and once again in 2012. The index measures the health and happiness they produce per unit of environmental input. According to NEF, Costa Rica's lead is due to its very high life expectancy which is second highest in the Americas, and higher than the United States. The country also experienced well-being higher than many richer nations and a per capita ecological footprint one-third the size of the United States.

Costa Rica’s Social Security Institute, founded in the 1940s, is often considered a model for other Latin American countries.

Costa Rica healthcare has two systems, both of which expats can access: the government-run universal healthcare system, Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, known as Caja, and the private system. Both health systems are constantly being upgraded—new hospitals, new equipment, and improvements in staff training.

Despite the advancements, costs are low in comparison to those in the U.S. and even some European countries. Healthcare costs are about a third to a fifth of what you’d pay in the U.S., depending on the treatment. Many doctors, especially in private practice, speak English and have received training in Europe, Canada, or the U.S. Drugs are also much less expensive.

Private healthcare is also available, which is affordable and high quality. There are three large, private hospitals that most expatriates use: CIMA hospital in Escazú, Clínica Bíblica in San José, and Hospital La Católica in San José-Guadalupe. All these facilities are in and around the capital of the country, San José.

In this private system you can pay cash or use insurance, including some policies from the U.S. and Europe, international policies, and insurance from Costa Rican companies. Health insurance from the Costa Rican government monopoly Instituto de Seguro Nacional (INS), for example, is available to legal residents, affiliated with doctors, hospitals, labs, and pharmacies in the private sector. Even if you pay cash, costs are low. Doctors, for instance, rarely charge more than $60 a visit, even for house calls. And visits to see a specialist, of which there are many in the country, will run you $80 to $100. Tests like ultrasounds are $75. And even major surgeries are half to a quarter of what they’d be in the U.S.

A new full-service hospital from CIMA opened a couple of years ago in Liberia, capital of the Guanacaste province. It’s just an hour or so away from northern Pacific coast beaches like Tamarindo and Playas del Coco, home to many expats. It joins a Clínica Bíblica medical center already in town.

Daily life and social customs

Most Costa Rican diversions are cosmopolitan rather than nationalistic in nature. Ticos attend films with great frequency, enjoying international cinema. They listen to an extraordinary variety of music, especially from the many radio stations in the country. Cable television enables them to keep up with global events. Residents of the Valle Central attend the National Theatre, where the music played and the drama performed may come from any part of the world. Extended family and other personal connections through school, business, political, or religious associations are very important to ticos.

Whether you choose to live in Costa Rica full- or part-time, you will relish the ideal climate, safety and security, neighborly atmosphere, welcoming attitude of the locals, low cost of living, low-cost and high-quality healthcare, stable democracy, bargain real estate—whether you rent or buy, and countless ways to have fun. Costa Rica is a stable and safe country with good infrastructure. Numerous airlines fly into the country from many destinations in the United States and Canada from two major international airports in San José, the capital, and Liberia, in the northern Pacific coast.

This concept of "pura vida", slowing down to enjoy life, letting things just roll off your back, and relaxing your expectations is a great outlook to adopt. It’s likely one of the reasons Costa Ricans are among the healthiest and happiest cultures in the world.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as some great health food options, are widely available. They’re also extremely affordable.

Government offices are generally open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., while banks close often between 3 and 6 p.m., according to the bank and its branch. Most shops are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., while some open at 8 a.m. and others close at 7 p.m.; most grocery stores close at 8 p.m. Some shops also close for lunch, between noon and 1 or 2 p.m.

Food and drink

Costa Rican cuisine is a blend of Native American, Spanish, African and many other cuisine origins. Dishes such as the very traditional tamale and many others made of corn are the most representative of its indigenous inhabitants, and similar to other neighboring Mesoamerican countries. Spaniards brought many new ingredients to the country from other lands, especially spices and domestic animals. And later in the 19th century, the African flavor lent its presence with influence from other Caribbean mixed flavors. This is how Costa Rican cuisine today is very varied, with every new ethnic group who had recently become part of the country's population influencing the country's cuisine

Costa Rican food is pricier than that of other nations in Central America. This is the most expensive country in the region.

A typical Costa Rican breakfast consists of gallo pinto (a tasty combination of rice and beans), scrambled or fried eggs, cooked plantains, tortillas and/or toast. In restaurants, it is usually served with orange juice and coffee. Most menus include variations on the above; for example, onions and tomatoes stirred into scrambled eggs.

One of the most traditional Costa Rica dishes is called a casado: like a typical breakfast, the meal is a mix of items like black beans and rice or gallo pinto. However it also includes fried plantains, a chunk of Costa Rican cheese, salad, and a meat item, usually fish, beef, or chicken. Casados are normally served with tortillas for wrapping. Other popular Costa Rica meals that you will find in most eateries are black bean soup (sometimes served with a hardboiled egg), heart of palm salad, and seafood in any form.

Snacks and Sides: Ceviche (Chopped raw fish, shrimp, or conch mixed with onions, tomatoes, and cilantro, and marinated in lime juice) and Chilera (A spicy dressing made with pickled onions, peppers, and vegetables.)

Desserts: Tres Leches Cake, Arroz con Leche and Flan, a soft caramel custard.

In Costa Rica you can taste drinks like Refrescos (fruit smoothies made with water or milk - called "frescos" for short), Agua dulce (water sweetened with sugar cane), Guaro (a fiery sugar cane liquor, served as a shot or in a cocktail) and Beer (Cerveza).

Sports and recreation

Costa Rica, is a great destination for enjoying a variety of outdoor activities including leisure and adventure activities.

Water sports in Costa Rica

White Water Rafting: In Costa Rica there are some best white water rafting rivers include the Sarapiqui, the Corobici, the Pacuare and the Reventazon. Each river has differing degrees of difficulty, making it easy to find one that suits the skill levels of the paddlers. If you are adventure lover, you can go for enjoying white water rafting on the Pacuare river that offers thrilling roller-coaster rapids and overnight camping opportunities.

Sea Kayaking:Depending on your personal preference, you can enjoy sea kayaking as a invigorating or peaceful activity. During this activity you can enjoy watching some of the amazing marine life of the country. In both of the Caribbean coast and Pacific coast, you will find plenty of places to go for sea kayaking.

Snorkeling and Diving:In Costa Rica you can enjoy some terrific snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities, especially in the warm waters of the Caribbean. There you can also enjoy watching a wide variety of marine wildlife and underwater flora, particularly at the small reef near Manzanillo. You can also enjoy this outdoor activity in another less-known place and that is Isla del Cano (a small island and protected park off of Costa Ballena on the Pacific coast. There are also many snorkel opportunities all along the Pacific coast such as Bahia Ballena and Playa Panama. You can also enjoy snorkeling and diving at many other places such as Catalina Islands, Tortuguero and the Gulf of Papagayo.

Surfing: Due to its world-class surf breaks in both coastlines, Costa Rica is a popular surf destination. There are many popular surf spots such as Playa Negra, Playa Hermosa, Santa Teresa, Playa Tamarindo and Playa Jaco.

Hiking and trekking in Costa Rica

Hiking:In anywhere in Costa Rica you will find a good hike or walk in the vicinity. You can enjoy this outdoor activity from lowland tropical rainforest to beautiful beaches or can just choose the vast fields of hardened black lava that surround the Arenal Volcano.

Canyoning or Rappelling:To explore the wilderness of Costa Rica from totally different view, Canyoning or Rappelling is another popular outdoor activity. This activity is ideal for enjoying thrilling adventure. Waterfall rappelling is the most adventurous way to enjoy this activity.

Ziplining:In Costa Rica more than a quarter of area is covered in rainforests and Zip-lining is one of the best outdoor activity to enjoy discovering the enchanting ecosystems of this country. This popular activity can be enjoyed throughout the country but the best places you will find in Monteverde cloud forest and close to the Arenal volcano. This country offers a number of zipline courses that fly over beaches, through treetops and across canyons.

Horseback Riding:Almost everywhere in Costa Rica with the exception of the waterlogged northern Limón Province you can enjoy horseback riding. This is one of the best outdoor activities to enjoy exploring the Costa Rica’s countryside. You can go through the forests and spot different species of wild animals as well as discover the natural beauty of the area. You can also visit some of the wonderful waterfalls and up to breathtaking viewpoints or along the beautiful coastline is probably the best area in the country for riding, with a cluster of excellent haciendas. Riding along the beach on the Nicoya Peninsula, especially in Montezuma in the south and Sámara on the west coast are also very popular.

Birdwatching:Bird watchers will find Costa Rica just like a heavenly place. In this country about 840 species of birds are found. Depends on the season, you will choose the location for bird-watching. With the help of a good birding guide, you can find out the right place and spot some of the more elusive species.

Canyoning or Rappelling:To explore the wilderness of Costa Rica from totally different view, Canyoning or Rappelling is another popular outdoor activity. This activity is ideal for enjoying thrilling adventure.