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WHY COSTA RICA?
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1.- LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION
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Nicaragua
Chirripó 3820m.
Panamá

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  Land area of 19,730 square miles (about the
size of West Virginia). 288 miles maximum
length. 161 miles maximum width along northern
border. 74 miles minimum width along southern
border. 631 miles of Pacific coastline. 132
miles of Atlantic coastline. Four major mountain
ranges running roughly northwest to southeast,
all of volcanic origin Highest peak is Cerro
Chirripó at 12,536 feet.
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2.- EXCEPTIONAL WEATHER
Costa Rica is a tropical country which contains
several distinct climatic zones. There is no
winter or summer as such and most regions have a
rainy season from May to November and a dry
season from December to April. Annual rainfall
averages 100 inches nationwide with some
mountainous regions getting as much as 25 feet on
exposed eastern slopes. Temperature is more a
matter of elevation than location with a mean of
around 72 degrees in the Central Valley, 82
degrees on the Atlantic coast and 89 degrees on
the Pacific coast
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English 19th-century novelist Anthony Trollope
was among the first to wax lyrical "No climate
can, I imagine, be more favorable to fertility
and to man's comfort at the same time than that
of the interior of Costa Rica."
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OVERLOOKING FROM NORTH MOUNTAINS
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3.- DEMOCRACY, STABILITY AND PEACE
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HISTORY and GOVERNMENT Christopher Columbus
arrived on the Atlantic coast in 1502. Gained
independence from Spain on Sep. 15, 1821. The
first Constitution, was adopted and led to the
celebration of the first elections in December of
1821. A declaration of absolute independence as a
sovereign State was issued in 1848. Costa Rica
is a democratic, free and independent republic.
The Government of the Republic is popular,
representative, alternative and responsible. It
is exercised by three powers, different and
independent among themselves, which are
Legislative, Executive and Judicial. Costa Rica
is one of the oldest, most stable and pacific
democracies in Latin America. In 1869 the primary
education for both sexes was declared obligatory
and free of cost, defrayed by the State. In 1882
the death sentence was abolished. In the year
1949 the armed forces were abolished and in 1983
a Perpetual Neutrality was proclaimed.
Prestigious international human rights
organizations have their headquarters in Costa
Rica. Political candidates generally belong to
two major parties, the PLN and PUSC. However,
there are several lesser parties active in
politics and elections.
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Demonstrating an environmental sensitivity
unparalleled elsewhere, Costa Ricans have set
aside one quarter of their land as protected
areas and national parks. Ecotourists are
rewarded with botanical and animal marvels found
nowhere else on Earth. Although Costa Rica is
best known as an invaluable refuge for nature,
this small nation is also a heaven of peace.
A bio-geographical land bridge that scientists
claim that Costa Rica has, for its size, more
species than any other terrestrial habitat in the
world. Twelve distinctive life zones harbor an
abundant variety of flora and fauna. Over 10,000
species of higher plants (4 of the earth's
total) As for fauna, consider there are over 200
species of mammals, 160 species of amphibians,
over 200 of reptiles, 1000 of butterflies, and
850 species of birds (more than in the entire
North American continent). National Parks and
Forestry Services, of nearly 3 million acres (25
of the national territory), in 74 protection
units plus several dozen private preservation
areas.
4. NATURE
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Costa Rica is home to one of the oldest
democracies in the Americas. The country has been
noted for its friendliness and preoccupation with
peace. Its policy of active neutrality has twice
earned it the nomination for the Nobel Peace
Prize. This, the fact that over a quarter of its
territory enjoys protection in the ever-growing
network of national parks and reserves, its
continued dedication to environmental protection,
and many other reasons answer why Costa Rica has
repeatedly been referred to as the Switzerland of
the Americas.
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5. HEALTH CARE
The social security system was established in
1941 and provides services to over 91 of the
population. Approximately 28 of the national
budget is used for public health matters. There
are more than 30 hospitals and 120 clinics
(8,000 beds) in a network of public and private
institutions. Life expectancy is between 72 and
77 years. The public water system provides good
quality water around all major cities.
99 Excellent education of medical
practicioners. Organized country in case of
emergencies.
Oschner Services by Clinica Biblica
Reliable medical services are available in Costa
Rica. Standards of health and hygiene are among
the best in Latin America.
New Cima Hospital at Escazu
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6. GOOD ECONOMY
Costa Rica remains one of the safest and most
attractive country for foreign investment in
Latin America. The Costa Rican government, its
ministries and financial institutions maintain a
decidedly pro-U.S. and continental stance in
regard to financial security and tax laws. The
stated aim is to entice primarily high-tech
corporations to take advantage of Central
America's most educated, computer literate and
disciplined workforce, along with the modern
production infrastructure the country is
currently creating. The economy is being
transformed from its long-time dependence on
coffee, bananas and cattle raising to one
centered on microprocessor production and
high-tech telecommunications services
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  Population 4.0 Million Crecimiento 2
Density 204 inhabitants per sq mile San
Jose Metropolitan 1.0 Million Central
Valley 3.0 Millon IDH 31 Global
Position Natalidad 11.02 per
1.000 Mortalidad 1,9 per 1.000 Inflation Devalu
ation Education expenditures 6.25 of
GDP Telephone access 92 Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) 11.5Billion US Manufacturing Value
Added (MVA) 2.0 Billion US MVA per capita
511.0 US Manufactured Imports
4,712.0Million US Unemployment 7 Exportat
ion 5.010 Millions US Importation
Total 6.564 Millions US Basic Pasive
Rate 16 Colones 6 US Basic Active
Rate 25 Colones 11 US
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Headquarters of Procter Gamble, Unisys, Western
Union, Dole, etc.
Costa Rica Stock Exchange
Forum Business Center at the Central Valley
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This investment-friendly climate and government
policy of making Costa Rica "the Silicon Valley
of Latin America" has enticed commercial leaders
such as Acer, Microsoft, GE, Abbot Laboratories,
Continental Airways and Intel Corporation to make
sizable investments here, both financially and
physically, with major production and
distribution facilities. Western Union has chosen
Costa Rica to host its Latin American regional
operations center. In 1998, for the first time
ever, Costa Rica is poised to earn more from high
technology exports than from coffee or bananas or
even its lucrative, thriving tourism industry.
A study done recently for the Ministry of
Foreign Trade (COMEX) projects that by the year
2005, Costa Rica's export earnings will amount to
15.7-billion, about four times the current
figure. Intel will be leading the way its
exports, from the manufacturing facilities.
Costa Rica is one of the most vocal supporters of
continental free trade, and already has its own
agreement with Mexico and other countries of the
region. Costa Rica's numerous free trade zones
and tax holiday opportunities are extremely
enticing. They offer benefits such as exemption
from import duties on raw materials, capital
goods, parts and components unrestricted profit
repatriation tax exemption on profits for eight
years and a 50 percent exemption for the
following four years.
The World Bank has given Costa Rica an excellent
bill of overall political and economic health. At
its annual conference in El Salvador this year,
the bank lauded the country as possessing "one of
the most stable and robust" democracies in Latin
America. It went on to praise the Costa Rica's
"healthy economic growth rate" and "some of the
best social indicators" on the continent.
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Ticos, as the friendly, warmhearted Costa Ricans
are known, pride themselves on having more
teachers than policemen, a higher male life
expectancy than does the United States, an
egalitarianism and strong commitment to peace and
prosperity, and an education and social-welfare
system which should be the envy of many developed
nations. Even the smallest town is electrified,
water most everywhere is potable, the roads are
generally excellent, and the telecommunications
system is the best in Latin America. In 1990, the
United Nations declared Costa Rica the country
with the best human-development index among
underdeveloped nations in 1992 it was taken off
the list of underdeveloped nations altogether. No
wonder National Geographic called it the "land of
the happy medium."
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Costa Rica has an extraordinary abundance of
flora, including some 9,000-plus species of
"higher plants." There are many more species of
ferns in Costa Rica--about 800--than in the whole
of North America, including Mexico. Of
heliconias, members of the banana family more
familiarly known as "birds of paradise," there
are some 30 species. It is a nation of green upon
green upon green.
Costa Rica received the Cantico a Todas Las
Criaturas--"Song to all Creatures"--award given
by the Franciscan Center for Environmental
Studies, based in Rome was one of three winners
of the first environmental award presented by the
American Society of Travel Agents and was named
the most environmentally conscious country in the
world by the San Francisco-based News Travel
Network in April 1992, the National Biodiversity
Institute was also awarded the Peter Scott Award
by the International Union for the Conservation
of Nature
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Most Costa Ricans insist that their country is a
"classless democracy." True, the social tensions
of class versus class that characterize many
neighboring nations are absent. Ticos lack the
volatility, ultranationalism, and deep-seated
political divisions of their Latin American
brethren. There is considerable social mobility,
and no race problem on the scale of the United
States'. And virtually everyone shares a
so-called middle-class mentality, a firm belief
in the Costa Rican equivalent of "the American
Dream"--a conviction that through individual
effort and sacrifice and a faith in schooling
every Costa Rican can climb the social ladder and
better him- or herself. Still, despite the high
value Ticos place on equality and democracy,
their society contains all kinds of inequities.
Wealth is unevenly distributed (the richest one
percent of families receive 10 of the national
income the poorest 50 receive only 20 and at
least one-fifth of the population remain
marginados who are so poor they remain outside
the mainstream of progress). Costa Rica is
unquestionably the most homogeneous of Central
American nations in race as well as social class.
Travelers familiar with other Central American
nations will immediately notice the contrast the
vast majority of Costa Ricans look predominantly
European
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There are 31 museums located throughout the
country, preserving all aspects of Costa Rican
heritage and culture. 14 theaters, plus numerous
art galleries. The country's first bastion of
culture, the 99-year-old National Theater (it
celebrates 100 years in October, 1997), continues
to host the finest performances from around the
world. Three symphony orchestras choral groups
Sixty movie theaters provide entertainment in
all corners of the country.
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In the Central Valley, where the main centres of
population are located, the average temperature
is 22C (72F). In the coastal areas the
temperature is much hotter. The rainy season
starts in May and finishes in November. The
'warm' dry season is December to May, though
temperature differences between summer and winter
are slight. Required clothing Lightweight
cottons and linens most of the year, warmer
clothes for cooler evenings. Waterproofing is
necessary during the rainy season
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