| The Republic of Costa Rica is located in Central | | | | more power is invested with the President and |
| America and is an amazingly beautiful country. | | | | executive branch. The President and congressional |
| Following is an overview of the past and present of | | | | members are elected to 4-year terms. |
| Costa Rica for travelers. | | | | Costa Rica covers an area of 19,730 square miles. |
| Overview of Costa Rica for Travelers | | | | The capital is San Jose, which has a population of 2.1 |
| Christopher Columbus discovered Costa Rica and the | | | | million people. The terrain is rugged and tropical with |
| indigenous people living there in 1502. The Spanish | | | | dormant volcanoes, a rain forest in the south and |
| subsequently colonized it. The name of the country, | | | | immaculate beaches. Rainfall is heavy during summer |
| Rich Coast, comes from their mistaken belief that | | | | months, but temperatures are consistently in the 70 |
| gold was prevalent. It wasn't, but the name stuck. In | | | | to 90 degree range. |
| 1821, Costa Rica joined other Central American | | | | The people of Costa Rica are known both as "Ticos" |
| countries in declaring independence from Spain. True | | | | and "Costa Ricans." The total population is 4 million, |
| independence didn't occur till 1838 when Costa Rica | | | | but growing at 1.5 percent. Roman Catholic is the |
| broke away from a federation of Central American | | | | dominant religion, although 15 percent of the |
| countries. | | | | population claims Protestant as their faith. Literacy is |
| In a major departure from many Central America | | | | at 96 percent. Average life expectancy for a woman |
| countries, Costa Rica has largely been a free and | | | | is 79 years while men average 74 years. Spanish is |
| peaceful democracy since 1899. It has a system of | | | | the dominant language. |
| checks and balances similar to the United States, but | | | | |