Destination Information

About Costa Rica

Costa Rica can offer a visitor so much in the way of natural environment and recreational activities. But to truly enjoy it, a basic knowledge of this small country's history, resources and culture is essential.

Costa Rica is a nation developed from ideals like peace and pacifism. It is the only country in the Western Hemisphere that lacks a national army and maintains a diplomatically neutral stance. Without defense spending, the government has been able to bolster social programs with its excess tax revenue. Universalized health care, social security, and free, mandatory education are just a few of the successful programs that are subsidized by the State.

Due to its geographical location, Costa Rica forms the land bridge between the two American continents. This isthmus is the point of convergence of a variety of cultures, and a corridor for the migrating fauna of the region. And the protection of this great resource is paramount. Costa Rica is among the world's countries with the highest amount of protected land in the world. Approximately 25% of the national territory is allotted for the National Park system; biological, marine and land reserves; as well as other natural wildlife areas.

THE COSTA RICAN PEOPLE (Tico's)

Costa Rica is known for its civilized way of life. It is no exaggeration to call the country an oasis of peace. This a fundamental part of the Costa Rican character. Costa Rica is the seat of the University for Peace as well as the Interamerican Court of Human Rights. This fact emphasizes the trust placed in the country's political and social stability by the international community. Costa Ricans are characterized by three distinct cultural life styles; that of the peasants and farmers of the Central Valley, of the inhabitants of the plains of Guanacaste and of the Caribbeans of the Province of Limón.

Their ethnic origins are a mixture, being a blend of the native inhabitants of the area (although to a lesser extent than in other Central American countries), of the Spanish colonists and of Afro-Caribbean immigrants which began entering as of the 19th century. The Costa Rican is both friendly and hospitable, the obvious product of his freedom. Costa Rica is one of the oldest democracies in America, as well as being a free and independent republic. Its inhabitants not only enjoy complete political stability, but also their nation's long-standing commitment to democratic freedom. Peace is the most precious possession of Costa Rica's people. The country abolished its army half way through the 20th century, the Rural and Civil Guards being sufficient to protect the citizens. Costa Rica was twice nominated to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and this was awarded, in 1987, to the incumbent President of the Republic, Dr.Oscar Arias. This award was a truly merited recognition of the Costa Rican way of life.

The social impact of this democratic tradition is easily seen. In 1869 a compulsory public education system was established, one that involves public institutions at all levels. In this, the government supplies the necessary funds for medical and educational programs; both services having achieved outstanding successes. Due to the educational efforts, 93% of the adult population is literate. Medical services, especially in the area of preventive medicine, has reached high levels of achievement in both rural and urban areas. Life expectancy is between 72 and 75 years of age, an excellent average for Latin America.

POPULATION AND LANGUAGE

There are approximately 3.6 million (1999) inhabitants whose native language is Spanish. However, other languages such as English, French, German and Italian are frequently spoken and foreign visitors find it easy to be understood. There are seven provinces which make up the country: San José, Alajuela, Heredia, Puntarenas, Cartago, Guanacaste and Limón. The capital, San José, is in the province of the same name, which is the most densely populated of all the provinces.

Location

Costa Rica is located in the Central America isthmus, immediately north of Panamá, with ports in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and 153 highway miles between them.
Costa Rica holds a privileged place in the world, being found in the center of the Central American Isthmus. On its east lies the Caribbean Sea and to its west, the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Nicaragua to the North and Panama to the South.

Climate

A small tropic country, Costa Rica lies between two oceans. This, combined with its complex mountainous topography, gives rise to an extensive variety of habitants. These range from tropical dry forest and lowland rainforest. In general, temperatures vary between 14 and 22 degrees Centigrade (57 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit) in the high Central Valley and between 22 and 28 Centigrade (72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit) in the lowlands. Temperatures remain relatively stable throughout the year, although some slight changes take place according to whether it is "Summer" (the dry season) or "Winter" (the wet season). Summer usually prevails from December to April and Winter from May to November. These seasons are clearly defined on the Pacific side of the country but are much less noticeable on the Caribbean side where the precipitation is much more evenly distributed throughout the year.

Abandoned Children in Costa Rica

At the beginning of this decade, the United Nations Statistical Office estimated that there were five million children living in the streets in Latin America. In the case of Costa Rica, there are approximately 8000 children in orphanages and 20,000 living in the streets. More than 40 % of the countries population is under the age of 15. A large portion of these children work without the protection of laws or other control measures to protect rights or guarantee healthy living conditions. Therefore it’s a precarious life for the 20,000 children that Costa Rica considers as abandoned.

In the migrations of the 1950s and 60s that saw masses of rural people flow to the capital, San Jose, the poor were shunted aside – marginalized. A parallel social system was created, composed of those unable to adapt to the fast paced urban changes. This marginalized population had to evolve its own value system and “laws”, one of the consequences was the growing number of abandoned children.

Even though the proportion of children living in the streets is much larger in cities, the phenomenon is not a strictly urban one. Abandoned children are also found in the most isolated areas of the country. Poverty is not the only cause for abandonment. In the country as in the city, the relaxation of mores, the proliferation of unwed mothers, homeless women and beggars, parental ignorance of their obligations and role, family conflicts, the incidence of mental deficiencies in some adults, the lack of proper contraceptive methods, and the recent phenomenon of family break-ups are all factors contributing to an increase in abandoned children in Costa Rica.

A child is considered to be abandoned according to criteria set down by the government of Costa Rica, not only when there is no family but also when within the family, the child is mistreated and has inadequate guidance. In such cases the state reserves the right to assume responsibility for the child and to remove them from the family placing them with an orphanage.