Costa Rica Country & Tourist Information

Location
Central America.

Area
51,100 sq km (19,730 sq miles).

Population
4.25 million (2004).

Population Density
83.1 per sq km.

Capital
San José.
Population: 328,293 (official estimate 2002) (Province of San San José: 1.1 million).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1821.

Language
Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken. Some French, German and Italian is also spoken.

Religion
Almost entirely Christian, with Roman Catholic majority.

Time
GMT - 6.

Electricity
110 volts AC, 60Hz. Two-pin plugs are standard.

Head of State
President Oscar Arias since 2006.

Telephone
Country code: 506. Telephone booths are available all over the country.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with some countries. Handsets can be hired, although this can be difficult and time-consuming (website: www.ice.go.cr).

Internet
There are Internet cafes and some hotels also provide facilities.

Media
Costa Rica has nine major newspapers, several private and public TV stations and a busy FM radio scene. Cable TV is widely available.


Post
Airmail letters to Western Europe usually take between six and 10 days.

Press
• Daily newspapers printed in Spanish include Al Día, Diario Extra, El Heraldo, La Nacion, La Prensa Libre and La República.
• The Tico Times is a weekly newspaper published in English.

Radio
• Radio Reloj is a popular national radio.
• Radio Columbia and Radio Monumental are news and talk stations.
• Radio Eco is a news station.
• Radio Faro del Caribe is a religious station.
• Radio Uno and Radio Dos are commercial stations.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
11 Apr Juan Santamaría’s Day.
6-9 Apr  Easter.
1 May Labor Day.
25 Jul Guanacaste Annexation.
2 Aug Virgin of Los Angeles, Feast of Patroness of Costa Rica*.
15 Aug Mothers’ Day and Assumption.
15 Sep Independence Day.
12 Oct Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)*.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
21-24 Mar Easter.
11 Apr Juan Santamaría’s Day.
1 May Labor Day.
25 Jul Guanacaste Annexation.
2 Aug Virgin of Los Angeles, Feast of Patroness of Costa Rica*.
15 Aug Mothers’ Day and Assumption.
15 Sep Independence Day.
12 Oct Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)*.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

* Not legally binding.

Note
Most businesses close for the whole of Holy Week and between Christmas and New Year.

Contact Information:

Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT)
Costado Este del Puente Juan Pablo II, Sobre Autopista General Cañas, San José, Costa Rica
Tel: 299 5800/11 or 1 866 267 8274 (in the USA).
Website: www.visitcostarica.com

Embassy and Consulate of the Republic of Costa Rica in the UK
Flat 1, 14 Lancaster Gate, London W2 3LH, UK
Tel: (020) 7706 8844.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1800 (embassy); 1000-1300 (consulate).

Embassy of the Republic of Costa Rica in the USA
2114 S Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 234 2945 or 328 6628 (consular enquiries).
Website: www.costarica-embassy.org


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