last edited Dec 11, 2019
Overview of Costa Rica
Quick Overview
Costa Rica is a highly diverse country. Like its neighbors, it consists of a central mountain range surrounding a high valley exceeding 1,000 m, with coastal plains on both its Pacific and Caribbean shores. The central region is home to the capital, San Jose, and the majority of the population, while the Pacific and especially the Caribbean zones are only sparsely populated.
For a long time, the country has been known for its nature, volcanoes, and numerous parks and reserves scattered across the territory. It is thanks to this unique environment and the tourism development policy initiated decades ago that the destination is called the "Ecotourism Paradise". This activity significantly contributes to the wealth of this country, sometimes also referred to as the "Switzerland of Central America".
Key Facts
- Latitude/longitude: 10.00' N, 84.00' W.
- Local time:
- Capital: San Jose.
- Nature of the state: presidential republic.
- Official language: Spanish.
- Currency: Colón.
- Population: 4,987,142 inhabitants (2018).
- Area: 51,100 km².
- Density: 97 inhabitants/km².
- Highest point: Cerro Chirripó (3,810 m).
- Lowest point: sea level.
- Coastline: 1,290 km.
- Driving: on the right.
- Flag: [drapeau: Costa Rica]
Tourism
Excluding Mexico, which is a special case, Costa Rica is by far the most visited country in Central America. This makes sense given the strong "ecotourism" appeal of the destination and the development of tourism since the late 1980s. Moreover, this sector, which alone accounts for about 15% of direct jobs and 13% of the country's wealth, continues to grow (+50% between 2010 and 2018!). However, this growth is increasingly coming at the expense of a "certain authenticity"...
In 2018, Costa Rica surpassed the 3 million visitor mark for the first time (3.017 million), with visitors coming from the United States, Nicaragua, Canada, Panama, Mexico, and others. As for the French, who are increasingly numerous, they rank as the tenth most represented nationality with 61,500 visitors (2016), while the Swiss rank eighteenth with 17,000.
Travel Essentials
- Destination: for beginner travelers.
- By air: France-San Jose for 550/850 € round trip.
- Entry requirements: Passport.
- Currency to bring: US dollars (and some euros).
- Exchange rate:
- Daily "backpacker" budget: 35 to 50 € per person.
- Accommodation: mid-range hotels.
- Getting around: bus, or occasionally car rental.
- Risks: low health risks and fairly low security risks.
- Best period for climate/crowds/prices: April-May and November-early December.
- - Interests (out of ): Nature ; Adventure ; Culture ; Relaxation-holidays .
Addresses in France
- Tourist Office: no representation, only available online.
- Latin America House: 217 Bd Saint-Germain, 75007 Paris. Tel.: +33 1 49 54 75 00.
Addresses in Belgium, Switzerland, and Quebec
Socio-Economic Statistics
- "Quality of life": 63/188 (rank in 2018)
- GDP per capita: $16,900 (2017).
- Average monthly income: $730 (2012).
- Inflation: +1.6% (2017).
- "Official" unemployment: 8.1% (2017).
- Population below the poverty line: 21.7% (2014).
- Life expectancy: 78.9 years (2018).
- Migration rate per 1,000 inhabitants: +0.8 (2017).
- Population growth: +1.13% (2018).
- Literacy rate: 97.8% (2016).
- Urban population: 79.3% (2018).
- Press freedom: 10/180 (rank in 2018)
- Political regime: democracy (20/167 in 2018)
Sources: World Bank, Human Development Indicators, RSF, The Economist, The World Factbook