Costa Rica is a Small Country Rich in Culture and Natural Resources
The Official name of Costa Rica is Republica de Costa Rica, consisting of 51,100 square kilometers or 19,714 square miles, it has a population of more than 4 million people. The Capital City of Costa Rica is San Jose with Spanish as the country’s official language but English and French are also widely spoken.
The type of government in Costa Rica is Democratic Republic and the Costa Rican Colon is the official currency. The country has been under Spanish rule and gained only its independence from Spain on September 15, 1821. This is the reason why the nation is predominantly Catholic, comprising more than 70% of the total population. The political subdivision is provinces and there are 7 namely: San Jose, Puntarenas, Limon, Heredia, Guanacaste, Cartago and Alajuela.
The country lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean at 9º 93N, 84º 08W . The highest elevation is Chirripo which is 12,533 feet above sea level. The major Islands in Costa Rica are Isla de Caño, Isla de Coco and Isla Tortugas. Agricultural products like coffee, sugar, bananas, rice, corn, beans, beef, potatoes and timber, electronic exports and tourism are the country’s major industries.
Your Costa Rica vacation will not be complete without a visit to the Costa Rican beaches and its islands which are world-famous for surfing. Visit San Jose and stay at The Costa Rican Condo to explore the city, and arrange various trips to the beaches and to the protected national parks. From your luxurious and comfortable accommodations in Hotel Costa Rica, you can go to the town zoo, explore the sights and get a taste of the vibrant night life of Costa Rica.
The Costa Rican national flag is basically red white and blue horizontal bands of varying width featuring the Costa Rican coat of arms. The light blue ribbon above the coat of arms contains the words “America Central” and the white ribbon says: “Republica Costa Rica”. The color blue stands for the blue sky, the white band means peace and the purity of the country’s ideals while red represented energy, courage and generosity of the Costa Ricans in standing up for their ideals and principles.
Cattleya skinneri, a common orchid became the national flower of Costa Rica in 1937 voted as such by scholars, horticulturists, university and secondary school students. In January 3, 1977, the Yiguirro, the Costa Rican clay-colored robin became the national bird so familiar to the people of Costa Rica because of its melodious songs signaling the start of the rainy season.
The national tree was declared to be the Guanacaste tree in August 31, 1959. Its scientific name is enterolobium circlocarpum and was chosen to honor Guanacaste, the last province that joined the Costa Rican Republic in 1825. The Guanacaste provides a giant shade and serves as a symbol of the protection the people of Costa Rica receives from the State. This tree produces fruits that are shaped like a human ear, so it is commonly called “nahuatl” meaning the tree of the ears.
“Pura Vida” is the country’s unofficial motto coined from the 1956 Mexican Movie. It conveys a state of happiness, tranquility and peace that is prevalent in Costa Rica because of its political stability and freedom.
