2012 Trip Dates

Geostats

Official Name: Republic of Costa Rica

Passport/Visa Requirements: A passport good for at least 60 days from the last day of your trip, and proof of return travel are required for entry to Costa Rica. There is an exit tax of $26 due at the airport to leave the country.

Capital: San Jose

Population: 4.5 million

Languages: Spanish is the official language, but English is widely spoken as well.

Predominate Religions: More than 90 percent of Costa Ricans are Roman Catholic.

Time Zone: 6 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-6 GMT). Costa Rica does not observe Daylight Savings Time, and so falls in the U.S. Central Time Zone (CDT) from Nov - Feb and the Mountain Time Zone (MDT) from Mar - Sept.

Voltage Requirements: 110 Volts, two-prong outlets (similar to U.S.)

Costa Rica is a small Central American country of 20,000 square miles, about the size of West Virginia. The many varied areas of Costa Rica reveal the tremendous diversity and brilliance of the country's rich tropical setting. It is home to three volcanic mountain ranges, 9 active volcanoes, Pacific and Caribbean coastlines and numerous rainforests. Costa Rica is a multi-party democracy with over 400 years of unbroken peace, and the "Ticos" (as Costa Ricans are affectionately called) are characterized by genuine friendliness and national pride.

The capital, San Jose, and the neighboring major cities of Alajuela and Heredie lie in the middle of the Meseta Central (Central Valley). Almost two-thirds of the nation’s population lives in this small, fertile valley. The Pacific coastal plain is much narrower than its Caribbean counterpart. Both coasts are lined with white and black sand beaches.