|
About Costa RicaCosta Rica truly has something that everyone will enjoy. It is a genuine ecological paradise with 9000 species of flowering plants, 1200 varieties of orchids, over 850 recorded species of birds (that’s more than the U.S., Canada, and Mexico combined), 205 species of mammals, and 1500 tree species. Costa Rica is only .03% of the total world’s mass yet is home to 5% of the world’s biodiversity. Anyone will be awed by the lush valleys, massive volcanoes, mountains, rolling hills, plains, not to mention Costa Rica’s combined 761 mile coast line.
The small country of Costa Rica, which is approximately the size of West Virginia, is located in Central America with Panama to it’s south and Nicaragua to it’s north. Costa Rica’s 131 mile Caribbean coast to the east is mostly lowland areas abundantly filled with sandy beaches lined with palm trees and mangroves. To the west, the 630 mile Pacific coast has fabulous world class beaches, renowned for its diving, surfing, fishing and much more.
There are direct flights from JFK that are about 5 hours and only about a 2 hour flight from Atlanta, Dallas, or Miami, as many flights from northern cities connect in these cities. International flights arrive at San Jose’s modern Juan Santa Maria or Liberia’s Daniel Oduber Airports.
Today Costa Rica is a country of just over 4 million people, who are predominantly of European descent. These amazingly friendly people call themselves Ticos. They enjoy listening and dancing to Latin music like salsa and meringue, and sounds of reggae and afro-beats fill the Caribbean coast. These carefree people voted to abolish their army in 1949. Instead, for more than 50 years, the democratically elected government has been concentrating on creating and maintaining National Parks and Reserves, which now comprise 27% of the country’s land. A national expression of often boasted to tourists, “Costa Rica has more teachers than policemen,” as they have invested in education dearly as well. There is a 97% literacy rate among Ticos.
Costa Rica has seven distinct climate zones. All year around, average temperatures range from 70-90 degrees, depending on altitude. There is a climate for everyone´s comfort anytime of the year. Though, the most popular months to visit are from December until September.
|
|
