Did you Know?

• Costa Rica has no military.
  Costa Rica has devoted more than 25% of its land to National Parks and protected areas, ensuring excellent ecotourism and the widest range of adventure options.
  Our currency, the Colón, was named after Christopher Columbus, who landed in our Caribbean coast in 1.502.

• Costa Rica is only 2.5 hours from Miami and 3 hours from Houston.

Within its 51,100 square kilometers there is a wider variety of species of birds than in all of Europe or North America. With a relatively small population of roughly four million inhabitants, Costa Rica also boasts one of the oldest and more consolidated democracies in Latin America. In 1.869, primary education for both sexes was declared obligatory and free of charge, defrayed by the State. In 1.882, death penalty was abolished. In the year 1.949 the armed military forces were abolished. In 1.983 Perpetual Neutrality was proclaimed. And former president Oscar Arias S. was honored with the Nobel Peace Price in 1.989. Prestigious international human rights organizations have their headquarters in Costa Rica. Due to all this, its lush 1.500 kilometers of tropical sun-bathed beaches and the wild diversity of flora and fauna found in its wide array of microclimates, Costa Rica has justifiably earned its reputation of natural, social and democratic paradise.

Democracy

Democracy is not only the type of government of Costa Rica. Democracy is also the source of tremendous pride in a country that brags about having more teachers than policemen and not having a standing army since 1948. Democracy also means that even the smallest town has a right to have electricity, potable water and public or private phones.

Elections are at the core of this democracy. In Costa Rica, elections are an incredibly interesting sociological phenomenon for any foreign observer. This event is held every four years, on the first Sunday in February. The previous days to the big event turn into a national party. Even in remote areas, children and adults stand by the roadside or ride cars honking horns and waving their party's flag. Anybody over eighteen can vote in the country's schools, which are equipped for this purpose during election time. The democratic nature of voting is reinforced by separate elections for presidential, legislative and municipal offices; one can vote for one party's presidential candidate and for another's municipal president.

Government

Costa Rica is a democratic republic, as stated by the 1949 Constitution, which guarantees all citizens and foreigners equality before the law, the right to own property, the right of petition and assembly, freedom of speech, and the right to habeas corpus, among others. The government is divided into independent Executive, Legislative, and Judicial powers. This 'separation of powers' is stipulated under Article 9 of the Constitution.

 

Costa Rica in brief...

Population: 4.000.000
Territory: 51.100 Km2
Capital: San José
Religion: Predominantly Catholic
Currency: Colon
Political System: Democratic
National Bird: Yigüirro tordus grayi
National Flower: Guaria Morada cattleya skinerii