History of Costa Rica

The aboriginal inhabitants of what today is Costa Rica were part of the transition area between Mesoamerican and South American cultures. Population was sparse and without the magnificent buildings and cultural development of Aztecs, Incas or Mayans; local cultures, however, reached a very high level in pottery and in gold and silver work, with beautiful results.



Indigenous population declined quickly after the colonization due mainly to diseases brought from Europe.

Scarcity of workforce, limited mining resources, distance and difficult communications from the administrative capital (Capitanía General) of Guatemala in colonial times, caused Spanish colonization to be very slow and seriously limited in its economic resources. Costa Rica was at that time the southernmost and poorest region of New Spain. The provincial capital was then the city of Cartago.

Independence from Spain was proclaimed by the Federal Rpublic of Central America in 1821. After a short period of annexion to Iturbide’s Mexican Empire, this republic became independent again but was short-lived, dissolving in 1842.

When, after several years of civil war in Nicaragua, the American mercenary William Walker seized power, he aimed to the neighboring Costa Rica. The just created National Army of Costa Rica defeated General Walker’s troops in Santa Rosa (Costa Rica) and Rivas (Nicaragua), returning peace and stability to the region on April 11th, 1856.

Costa Rica suffered three interruptions of constitutional rule during the 20th century. The first one was in 1917, then again in 1919 and the last one in 1948 due to electoral fraud, which led to a civil war between both sides. On December 1st, 1948, José Figueres Ferrer, leader of the winning faction, abolished the army, thus transforming Costa Rica in the first world’s republic with no army. Since then, democratic alternation and political stability have allowed a much higher degree of development and social peace than what is unfortunately usual in the region.

Tourism in Costa Rica: Ecotourism

Costa Rica is a tiny country but enormously rich in tourist attractions:

Beaches

The Caribbean shores boast a great variety of marine ecosystems and its beaches of white and black sand, ideal for the practice of outdoor and sea activities, such as deep sea fishing and scuba diving, and also to enjoy sunbathing and seaside strolls.



The Pacific coast has excellent tourist resorts and its beaches are preferred for the practice of surf, for example. Some of them are: Esterillos, Jacó, Hermosa, Boca Barranca and near the Marino Ballena National Park, where a famous long wave, loved by surfers, usually appears.

Adventure sports

For the lovers of adventure sports, Costa Rica is a destiny with plenty of emotions and adrenalin waiting for them, in sports such as hitchhiking, canoeing and canyoneering.



Ecotourism

But it is indeed ecotourism what has placed Costa Rica in the place it occupies today in international tourism. Ecotourism means tourism with a minimal impact on the environment. The income obtained from it should be reinvested un protection of natural areas and benefits for local populations, helping them to reduce their dependence from other economic activities more harmful for the environment.

The Costa Rican territory, birthplace of ecotourism, is also the place where it has reached its maximum degree of development. Costa Rica possesses 20 natural parks, eight biological reserves and a wide range of protected areas that captivate ecotourism adepts.

In order to have a rough idea of the importance of Costa Rican biodiversity, we may just consider the fact that it is home for more species of birds than the whole territory of the United States, and more species of butterflies than the whole of Africa.
The offer for excursions and trips is really varied: from horse riding to hitchhiking and birdwatching guided tours. But please, remember always to behave like a good ecotourist: respect nature and leave everything behind you exactly as you found it.

Inland regions of Costa Rica

Heredia

With an extension of 2,656 sq km and a population of 75,000 people, Heredia is the smallest province of Costa Rica. It keeps its colonial tradition and the adobe architecture can still be seen in Barva and Santo Domingo.



Coffee plantations are ubiquitous in the region, and many of them are open to visits.
Among the natural wonders of the region there is the Braulio Carrillo National Park, a tropical rainforest reserve. Excellent for birdwatching, especially quetzals. The imposing Barva volcano, 2,906 meters high, dominates the western part of the Park.

Cartago

Also known as The Old Metropolis, the city of Cartago was Costa Rica’s capital city until 1823, when San José became the new one. This is the most important region of Costa Rica in terms of colonial art and heritage.



The region has a wet tropical climate and is located between two ridges, Central and Talamanca, where is the Cerro Chiripó, the highest mountain in Costa Rica with its 3,600 m. But Cartago’s main point of interest is the Irazú volcano, a 5-craters monster, still active today, which attracts thousands of tourists every year.


Alajuela

Called “Land of mangoes”, this is one of the country’s biggest regions. It is located at the north of the country, bordering with Nicaragua. The city of Alajuela was founded in 1782 and it is the birthplace of historical personalities such as the national hero Juan Santamaría.

This province possesses natural treasures ranging from rainforests to the lust northern plains. Visitors can enjoy the sights of two of the most active volcanoes in the world, whose flows of lava form a fascinating night show, and the Poás volcano, in the central Volanic Ridge.

Caribbean Costa Rica: The region of Limon

The Caribbean province of Limón comprises the whole eastern coast of Costa Rica and is a true natural paradise, formed by a mixture of impenetrable jungles, imposing mountains and idyllic beaches. It is, by its culture and geography, the most diverse region of all Costa Rica. It boasts the highest percentage of protected land and an huge variety of flora and wildlife.



This was the first part of what today is Costa Rica that was visited by Christopher Columbus when he reached its coast in 1502. Due to the huge amounts of gold that natives used to wear, Columbus called it the “Rich Coast” or Costa Rica.

It was though the last region to be colonized, and when it eventually happened, the scarcity of workforce made necessary to bring workers from other Caribbean islands. This is the reason why the region is a cultural melting pot of a strong Caribbean flavor, with well renowned Carnivals

The Creole English spoken by most inhabitants of Afro-Caribbean descent is also a distinctive trait of this region. As it couldn’t be otherwise, the Limón old city’s quarters have an architecture of strong Caribbean Victorian architecture, and gastronomy is also close to that from English-speaking Caribbean islands.

There are also indigenous communities which have kept the purity of their culture, such as the Keköldi and Bribri groups.
The port city of Limón is an essential point of entry for the economy of Costa Rica and the greatest example of multiculturality of the region. Just one or two hours away are Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, two great places to taste authentic local culture.
The Tortuguero National Park, in the North of the province, which is the place where the green turtle lays its eggs, and the National Wildlife Refuge Barra del Colorado, a privileged spot for deep sea fishing, are two of the most emblematic natural wonders of the region.



Finally, the National Wildlife Refuge Gandoca-Manzanillo is close to the Panamanian border. This refuge protects thousands of acres of beach and shores, a place where several species of turtles lay their eggs and home for the manatees.

Costa Rica regions: Puntarenas

Known as “the Pearl of the Pacific”, Puntarenas is the biggest region in Costa Rica, with an extension of 11,276 sq km, and spreads along 700 km of Pacific coastline, from the limit with Guanacaste to the border with Panama. Its main attractions are beaches, national parks and natural reserves.



The Carara Biological Reserve has thousands of acres of forests and mangroves. Only part of it is open to general public, although some more restricted areas can be explored if accompanied by professional guides.



The Manuel Antonio National Park is small but is one of the most visited parks in Costa Rica. Its rainforest are home for the titi monkey, among more than one hundred species of mammals and a similar amount of birds.

The South of Puntarenas forms the Corcovado National Park, a refuge for endemic and very threatened species such as the golden toad.

The port of Caldera and the city of Puntarenas are visited every day by tourist cruise boats, and is often taken as a departure point to explore Costa Rica by land.
The region is also famous for its local seafood gastronomy and its colorful Carnival.

Costa Rica regions: Guanacaste

Guanacaste was the last region to become part of Costa Rica, in 1824; it is well known for its cattling resources and awesome beaches: some of the world’s best resorts are located in Guanacaste beaches. It’s the driest region in Costa Rica, especially its coastal areas, although there are other extensions of dry and rain forest, plains and an impressive volcanic ridge.



Panama Beach, in the North of the province, is one of the best options for tourists who are seeking to unwind and relax. Coconut Beach (Playa del Coco) is famous for its nightlife and amount of visitors. Nearby you can find Flamingo Beach, with classy hotels and a serene ambiance.

Many other beaches along the coast complete a natural offer of great beauty.
The Santa Rosa National Park, located at the North of the province is a redoubt of the extremely scarce dry tropical forest, which is home for a extraordinary variety of plants and wildlife.

The Las Baulas National Park is a sanctuary form thousands of baula turtles that arrive to its shores every year to lay their eggs on the sand.



The Guanacuaste Ridge includes the Tenorio, Orosi, Miravalles and Rincón de La Vieja volcanoes, the latter one being part of the National Park with the same name.

Tourism in Costa Rica

Ecotourism is indeed the country’s main attraction for the visitors that every year come from every corner of the world to admire Costa Rica’s natural wonders and biodiversity. Specifically, Costa Rica is one of the best places in the world to observe wild birds.



Other people come to Costa Rica to enjoy all its possibilities in water sports such as surf and scuba diving. The best beaches and places to practice sports are in the Caribbean shores, while deep sea fishing is very popular on the Pacific Ocean side.

Forests and mountains offer the perfect scenery for mountain biking or horse riding. Actually, horse riding is extremely popular in the country and one of the most important events in San José is the parade of more than one thousand horses during Christmas.

Some parts of the country also hold rodeos and bullfighting events.

Adventure sports also offer huge possibilities, such as rappel descents from the rainforest canopy and whitewater rafting.



Golf is also becoming popular very quickly and there is a 18-hole golf course that holds international competitions, the Cariari Country Club. There are also tennis, cycling and other sports tournaments.

Baseball, basketball and volley ball are popular throughout the country, but the sport that really inspires passion in Costa Rican hearts is football (soccer).



Finally, if we want to change from sports, we have plenty of possibilities: San José has an incredibly varied offer of restaurants, cinemas, theaters and discos, and holds every other year a prestigious Art Festival.

Regions: San Jose de Costa Rica

The capital of Costa Rica, San José, is located in the Valle Central (Central Valley), in the province of San José, the most populated province in the country. It is a high plateau surrounded by majestic volcanoes and mountains and includes national parks, forest reserves and fertile agricultural lands where coffee plantations abound.



It was founded during the first half of the 18th century, and today is a city where visitors from all around the world converge.

Places of interest:

· Museo del Jade (The jade museum). Avenida 5-7, Calle 11-13 bis, INS, now on the 1st floor. Tel 223-5800. Mo-Fr 8:30AM-3PM. Entrance fee 500 Colones.

· Museo de los Niños (The children's museum), antigua penetenciaría (the old prison). Tel 258-4929. M-F 9:30AM-3:30PM, Sa-Su 10AM-4PM. Entrance fee 600 Colones for adults and 300 for children.

· Museo de Arte Costarricense, east end of Sabana Park. This used to be San Jose's main airport terminal back when La Sabana was the airport. Tel 222-7155. Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00, Su 10:00-14:00. Entrance fee $5 (students $3).

· Insect Museum at the Universidad de Costa Rica A very elegant collection of exotic bugs. Only a few dollars, but check the times when they are open.

· Asamblea Legislativa (Parliament). It spreads across several neighboring buildings: the Colegio de Sión, the Castillo Azul, Casa Rosada de los Salazar and the congress building.

Public Opening times: Mon-Fri 8:00 to 16:00. Tel: (506) 243-2000


· Museo Nacional
The museum includes a large butterfly garden and a collection of large stone spheres from the Diquis Valley near the Pacific ocean. The museum building is an old fort last used during the 1948 revolution. Calle 17 Avenida 2. Tel 257-1433. Tu-Su 8:30AM-4:30PM. Entrance fee 2000 Colones.

· Parque Nacional

Includes the National Monument dedicated to the heroes of the 1856-1857 war.

· Centro Nacional de Cultura (CENAC), ancient Fábrica Nacional de Licores

Mon-Fri, de 8:00AM to 4:00PM. Tels: (506) 255-3638 or 255-3376 Fax: (506) 256-6722

· Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneo

Tue-Sat 10:00AM to 5:00PM. Tels.: (506) 257-9370. Fax: (506) 257-8702

· Museo del Oro Precolombino (The Gold Museum).

Under Plaza de la Cultura. Tel 243-4202, museoro@racsa.co.cr . Tu-Su 10AM-4:30PM. Entrance fee $7 for foreigners. The collection consists of 1600 pieces of Pre-Columbian gold work dating from 500 AD to 1500 AD. Information is given on the processing and making of the pieces as well as their social, cultural and religious meanings. At the same place you will also find The Numismatic Museum and The Temporary Exhibition Galleries. There is a nice museum shop and a tourist office at the entrance.

· Teatro Nacional

A symbol of the aspiring liberal coffee planting bourgeoisie, the Teatro Nacional was built at the end of the 19th century, by means of a strong tax to coffee production.
Mon-Sat 9:00AM to 4:00PM Tel. (506) 221-3756 ó 221-9417. Fax (506) 223-4990.

· Catedral Metropolitana

Masses: Mon-Sat: 6:30AM, 11:00AM and 5:00PM. Sundays: 7,9,10:30AM and 12,16,18,20PM. Holy Hour every Thursday at 3:00PM. Tels.: (506) 258-1015 or 221-3820. Fax: (506) 221-2427.

Schools and Education in Costa Rica

Primary education and high school

Costa Rica’s educational system is of good quality. Many Costa Ricans send their children to private schools, which are also excellent. If you wish to settle in the country for a short period of time, you might prefer to take your children to a school with a class calendar matching the American one (which happens to be very similar to most European systems), going from September to June.

Some of these schools are bilingual and in some others, the subjects are taught exclusively in English. They are usually internationally accredited and follow the so-called International Baccalaureate programme, intended to provide schools with an international curriculum intended to be acceptable to universities around the world. There are several of them in the Central Valley and in coastal areas where there is a sizeable presence of foreigners.

The usual Costa Rican school calendar, though, goes from February to December, thus adapting to traditional harvest seasons in Costa Rican agriculture.



Universities

State universities are of good quality, being the University of Costa Rica the most important one. Competition is strong to join them, as they are financed by the government and cost for the pupil is very reasonable.

There are also private universities, more expensive although in some of them the complete curriculum is shorter.