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This section will provide you with a deeper insight
of what Costa Rica is all about...
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Industry and Economy
Costa Rica’s economy includes strong technology and tourism industries.
Electronics, pharmaceuticals, financial outsourcing, software development, and ecotourism have become the prime industries. Since 1999, tourism earns more foreign exchange than the combined exports of the country's three main cash crops; bananas, pineapples and coffee. Coffee production has played a key role in Costa Rica's history and economy, and by 2006 was the third cash crop export. The largest coffee growing areas are in the provinces of San Jose, Alajuela, Heredia, Puntarenas, and Cartago. Costa Rica is famous for its gourmet coffee beans, with Costa Rican Tarrazu among the finest Arabica coffee beans in the world used for making espresso coffee, together with Jamacian Blue Mountain, Guatemalan Antigua and Ethiopian Sidamo.
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Costa Rica's location provides easy access to American markets as it has the same time zone as the central part of the United States and direct ocean access to Europe and Asia.
With a $1.9-billion-a-year tourism industry, Costa Rica stands as the most visited nation in the Central American region, with 1.9 million foreign visitors in 2007, which translates into a relatively high expenditure per tourist of $1000 per trip, and a rate of foreign tourists per capita of 0.46, one of the highest in the Caribbean Basin. Most of the tourists come from the U.S. and Canada (46%), and the European Union (16%). In 2005, tourism contributed with 8.1% of the country's GNP and represented 13.3% of direct and indirect employment. Tourism now earns more foreign exchange than bananas and coffee combined.
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Nature and Wildlife
Costa Rica has the largest percent of protected areas in the world. It protects 23% of its national territory within the Protected Areas system. It also possesses the greatest density of species in the world. While the country has only about 0.1% of the world's landmass, it contains 5% of the world's biodiversity. The sights and sounds of Costa Rica are truly amazing. Rolling pastures, lush mountain canopy forests with exotic flora and fauna, waterfalls, rivers, natural hot springs, and white sand beaches.
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Biodiversity
Corcovado National Park is internationally-renowned among ecologists for its biodiversity (including big cats and tapiars) and where visitors can expect to see an abundance of wildlife.
Tortuguero National Park – the name Tortuguero can be translated as "Full of Turtles" – is home to spider, howler and white-throared Capuchin monkeys, the three-toed sloth, 320 species of birds, a variety of reptiles but is recognized for the annual nesting of the endangered green turtle and is the most important nesting site for the species. Giant leatherback, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles also nest there. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is home to about 2,000 plant species, including numerous orchids. Over four hundred types of birds can be found here, and over one hundred species of mammals. As a whole, around eight hundred species of birds have been identified in Costa Rica.
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At the far end of 26-mile-long Lake Arenal, (the longest lake in Costa Rica) lies the cloud-ringed perfect cone of Volcán Arenal, the dazzling active volcano that lights up the distant evening sky with incredible natural fireworks. The highest point in the country is Cerro Chirripó, at 3,820 meters (12,532 ft), and is the fifth highest peak in Central America. The highest volcano in the country is the Irazú Volcano (11,257 ft).
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Cloud Forest or Rain Forest?
A "cloud forest" is an example of "lower mountain rain forest" which are found around the very tops of volcanoes. Here the forest has shrunk in stature, with the canopy at 30 to 35 meters (98 - 115 feet) tall, but with occasional oaks reaching upwards of 50 meters (164 feet) at the lower altitudes. Buttresses on trees are uncommon, and the understory is dense. The ground is covered with moss and herbaceous plants. The higher you go, the colder and mistier it gets, eventually stunting the plant growth enough to create "elfin forest".
The tropical wet forest or "rain forest" is the most species-rich life zone in Costa Rica. The forest is tall and evergreen and has distinct layers to the vegetation. Canopy trees are 45 to 55 meters (148 - 180 feet) tall, with some emerging even higher. Trees tend to have high, well-developed buttresses. Sub canopy trees are 30 to 40 meters (98 - 131 feet) tall, and have narrow conical crowns and slender boles that are often twisted or crooked. Stilt-rooted palms are often abundant. There are lots or dwarf palms in the shrub layer.
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Coastal Beauty
Costa Rica also comprises several islands. Cocos Island stands out because of its distance from continental landmass, 300 miles from Puntarenas coast, but Calero Island is the largest island of the country.
Manuel Antonio is one of Costa Rica's best known and most often visited park.
It is one of the most beautiful places in Costa Rica, with spectacular white-grey sand beaches edged by thickly forested green hills. The park offers many activities from walking trails, white water rafting, horseback riding, fishing and sea kayaking. Manuel Antonio is a tropical forest abundant with wildlife.
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Climate
With a climate that is a moderate 72 degrees in the highlands, and temperatures in the lowlands and costal areas ranging from the low 70's to the high 90's, with ocean breezes cooling the beaches, anytime of year makes Costa Rica a perfect place to be. Rainy season occurs from the end of May to November, with the heaviest rainfall in October.
The Atlantic or Caribbean side is driest from February thru April, with a short "summer" in June and July, and the wettest months from November thru January. However, you should be prepared for rain at any time during the year in this part of the country.
The Pacific side and central parts of the country are driest from January through March.
A lot of people have a misconception of the "rainy season", imagining that it's "monsoon like" and that it never stops raining. Nothing could be further from the truth. Costa Rica can normally be assured of sunny mornings followed by some rain in the afternoons or evenings, and even plenty of days without rain. The Caribbean experiences a "short summer" during this time, and their weather can be quite pleasant. Avg. highs are between 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit and avg. lows between 72-75 degrees.
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White Water Adventure
Costa Rica is home to several white water rivers. Two of the country's most renowned rivers include the Rio Pacuare and the Rio Reventazon located near the city of Turrialba about two hours east of San Jose. Other notable whitewater areas are the Sarapiqui Valley area, several Pacific coast rivers near Quepos, and the southern Pacific drainage area around San Isidro de General.
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Costa Rica is a tropical paradise and has something for everybody!
National Parks, white water rafting, surfing, scuba diving in incredible reefs, golf, bird watching, sport fishing, canopy tours, jungle tours, stunning beaches with crystal clear ocean water, eco-tourism, mountains, volcanoes, cloud forests, rain forests, sightseeing and just plain relaxing.
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If you have any unanswered questions
your personal representative Otto Calvo will be happy to assist you.
973 343 8290
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