History Overview
Costa Rica's history is one of triumph of peace over hostility, thus the tranquil laid back atmosphere in the country.
Studies have been done in Costa Rica which confirm that civilizations had settled in this region 10,000 years ago, well before the arrival of Spanish conquistadors. Many indigenous civilizations, made Costa Rica their homes, and left mysteries and marvels for future generations. One of these wonders are the hundreds of perfect rock spheres, found throughout the west coast. Gold and Jade objects are other treasured items left behind by ancient civilizations which can now be observed and appreciated in the Gold and Jade Museums in San Jose. More recently, some indigenous ruins have been discovered around the central valley, demonstrating a very sophisticated system of waterworks and canals. By the time Columbus arrived, there were four major indigenous tribes living in Costa Rica. The east coast was the realm of the Caribs, while the Borucas, Chibchas, and Diquis resided in the southwest.
After its independence from Spain there were several military governments, until the country finally became a democracy with a publicly elected president and parliament or "Asamblea". Coffee quickly became the main product of Costa Rica, but other products such as bananas also helped boost the Costa Rican economy. Revenues from these activities helped promote the modernization of transportation and telecommunication systems, helped build roads, hospitals, railways, and made free education available to everyone. There were some memorable and not so many memorable presidents that helped forge the Costa Rica that exists today. Without a doubt, and to this date, the most influential leader was Jose Figueres Ferrer, who led the victorious side in the the Civil War of 1948. President Figueres abolished the army, established many of the social programs, and changed the face of the nation forever, turning it into the warm, calm and peaceful nation it is today. Ex-president Oscar Arias put Costa Rica back on the world map again by winning the Nobel Peace price in 1987 for his efforts in the Central American conflicts.
Today Costa Rica remains a peace loving country, with no army. Instead we have one of the highest literacy rates in the world, and many multinational companies such as Intel and Amazon among others have set up operations here. Tourism has replaced the traditional products of the country as the #1 source of income.
Studies have been done in Costa Rica which confirm that civilizations had settled in this region 10,000 years ago, well before the arrival of Spanish conquistadors. Many indigenous civilizations, made Costa Rica their homes, and left mysteries and marvels for future generations. One of these wonders are the hundreds of perfect rock spheres, found throughout the west coast. Gold and Jade objects are other treasured items left behind by ancient civilizations which can now be observed and appreciated in the Gold and Jade Museums in San Jose. More recently, some indigenous ruins have been discovered around the central valley, demonstrating a very sophisticated system of waterworks and canals. By the time Columbus arrived, there were four major indigenous tribes living in Costa Rica. The east coast was the realm of the Caribs, while the Borucas, Chibchas, and Diquis resided in the southwest.
After its independence from Spain there were several military governments, until the country finally became a democracy with a publicly elected president and parliament or "Asamblea". Coffee quickly became the main product of Costa Rica, but other products such as bananas also helped boost the Costa Rican economy. Revenues from these activities helped promote the modernization of transportation and telecommunication systems, helped build roads, hospitals, railways, and made free education available to everyone. There were some memorable and not so many memorable presidents that helped forge the Costa Rica that exists today. Without a doubt, and to this date, the most influential leader was Jose Figueres Ferrer, who led the victorious side in the the Civil War of 1948. President Figueres abolished the army, established many of the social programs, and changed the face of the nation forever, turning it into the warm, calm and peaceful nation it is today. Ex-president Oscar Arias put Costa Rica back on the world map again by winning the Nobel Peace price in 1987 for his efforts in the Central American conflicts.
Today Costa Rica remains a peace loving country, with no army. Instead we have one of the highest literacy rates in the world, and many multinational companies such as Intel and Amazon among others have set up operations here. Tourism has replaced the traditional products of the country as the #1 source of income.
Costa Rica Geography
Costa Rica, is the southernmost of the five republics that make up Central America and extends from eight to eleven degrees north latitude and between eighty-three and eighty-six degrees west longitude. According to the latitudes mentioned, Costa Rica is located practically in the center of the inter-tropical zone 10° north of the equator. This zone is also referred to as the "Hot Zone", due to its prevailing warm temperatures throughout the year. It is also located on the North American Continent, on the Central American Isthmus, six hours west of Greenwich. Costa Rica's boundaries are natural, conventional and mixed. On the east and northeast the country it’s bounded by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west and south by the Pacific Ocean. Panama borders the country to the Southeast, and to the north Costa Rica is separated from its northern neighbor, Nicaragua, by natural boundaries: the little Sapoa River, the southern shore of Lake Nicaragua and the San Juan River. A series of volcanic chains (cordilleras) runs from the Nicaraguan border in the northwest to the Panamanian border in the southeast, splitting the country in two. In the center of these ranges is a high-altitude plain (Central Valley), with coastal lowlands on either side. Over half the population lives on this plain, which has fertile volcanic soils. The Caribbean coast is 132 miles long while the Pacific coast is 635 miles long
Costa Rica Climate
Often considered as the "land of eternal spring" by its inhabitants, Costa Rica's mild climate is the envy of many a visitor. Blessed with a tropical climate, Costa Rica’s landscape is constantly in a state of renewal, making this country a year-round destination with annual average temperature of 21C-30C (70F-82F) and with a year-round sea temperature of 28C-82F that makes it welcoming for swimming and water sports. While definitely a misnomer, summer or more precisely Costa Rica's dry season, runs from Mid-November to April; and the rainy or "green" season, from May to Mid-November. Given the topography of the country, Costa Rica can boast a wide range of microclimates that give way to the great diversity of flora and fauna.
In the Northwestern province of Guanacaste, the dry season (lasting from December to April), lasts several weeks longer than in other regions. Even in the rainy season, days often start sunny, with rain falling in the afternoon and evening. During the months of July and August, locally-called veranillo, or “little summer” winds start to increase, leading to the rainy season’s main months of September and October.
On the Caribbean coast, especially south of Limón, you can count on rain year-round, although this area gets less rain in September and October than the rest of the country. This region doesn’t have distinctive dry and green seasons – but November to January and May to August are two time periods where visitors can expect constant rain showers with endless sunny days in October. The rainiest month is January, normally because of cold fronts from the Northern Hemisphere and most rainfall occurs at night and early morning. There is no daylight savings time in Costa Rica and daylight hours year round are 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.
In the Northwestern province of Guanacaste, the dry season (lasting from December to April), lasts several weeks longer than in other regions. Even in the rainy season, days often start sunny, with rain falling in the afternoon and evening. During the months of July and August, locally-called veranillo, or “little summer” winds start to increase, leading to the rainy season’s main months of September and October.
On the Caribbean coast, especially south of Limón, you can count on rain year-round, although this area gets less rain in September and October than the rest of the country. This region doesn’t have distinctive dry and green seasons – but November to January and May to August are two time periods where visitors can expect constant rain showers with endless sunny days in October. The rainiest month is January, normally because of cold fronts from the Northern Hemisphere and most rainfall occurs at night and early morning. There is no daylight savings time in Costa Rica and daylight hours year round are 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Currency, Banking, Credit Cards, Traveler's Checks
The Costa Rican monetary unit is the Colon.
NOTE: DON'T BE TEMPTED TO EXCHANGE MONEY IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY BEFORE DEPARTING AND DEFINITELY NOT AT THE CURRENCY EXCHANGE COUNTER AT THE AIRPORT; THE RATE YOU WILL RECEIVE IS WELL BELOW THE OFFICIAL RATE.
There is a branch of the Banco de San Jose (BAC) at the airport where you can change dollars for colones as well as the many banks scattered throughout the country. It is best to bring some cash and don't expect to cash personal checks. All major credit cards (Visa, Master Card, AMEX), are accepted pretty much everywhere and there are numerous ATM's around the country that work on the Cirrus, Star, and Plus systems so don't forget your PIN. You can normally withdraw up to 200,000 colones (about US $325) at a time, but can do so four times in a 24-hour period. Office hours are generally from 8:00 am to 4:30-5:00 PM with an hour for lunch between 12 noon and 1 PM. Most banks are open from 9:00 am to 3:00 PM on weekdays.
NOTE: DON'T BE TEMPTED TO EXCHANGE MONEY IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY BEFORE DEPARTING AND DEFINITELY NOT AT THE CURRENCY EXCHANGE COUNTER AT THE AIRPORT; THE RATE YOU WILL RECEIVE IS WELL BELOW THE OFFICIAL RATE.
There is a branch of the Banco de San Jose (BAC) at the airport where you can change dollars for colones as well as the many banks scattered throughout the country. It is best to bring some cash and don't expect to cash personal checks. All major credit cards (Visa, Master Card, AMEX), are accepted pretty much everywhere and there are numerous ATM's around the country that work on the Cirrus, Star, and Plus systems so don't forget your PIN. You can normally withdraw up to 200,000 colones (about US $325) at a time, but can do so four times in a 24-hour period. Office hours are generally from 8:00 am to 4:30-5:00 PM with an hour for lunch between 12 noon and 1 PM. Most banks are open from 9:00 am to 3:00 PM on weekdays.
Costa Rican Cuisine and Eight Things You Must Eat When in Costa Rica
Due to its' geographical location and climate, Costa Rica has a wealth of fruits and vegetables that, when combined with the interplay of native and European ingredients and culture, translate into a unique Costa Rican flavor. The basic staples of the Costa Rican diet are rice, beans, and tortillas, which consist primarily of corn. The ingredients used by Costa Rican cooks include simple native foods, such as chayotes, avocados, and the ever-present corn. "Tico" fare is neither spicy nor, in many respects, unfamiliar. Breakfast typically features a delicious mixture of rice and black beans known as "gallo pinto" which may be accompanied by eggs, corn tortillas and sour cream. Calorie counters may prefer a tropical fruit plate of papaya, watermelon, pineapple, banana, and in season mango or cantaloupe. "Casados", popular at midday, are huge plates of white rice, beans, fried plantains, salad, cheese, diced vegetables, and your choice of meat, chicken or fish. Hearty soups are a favorite for dinner and of course there is that world famous Costa Rican coffee.
Whenever you visit a new place that you have never been before a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture is to try new and exotic dishes. Every country, city, and town has their own individual dishes that celebrate local ingredients and are prepared in a particular manner. Costa Rica is no different, it has a wide selection of amazing ingredients to choose from and the local cooks and chefs create innovative dishes that make up the cuisine of this most wonderful country. Listed below are some of the amazing dishes that form part of the cuisine of Costa Rica. There are also many local variations and regional dishes that add extra variety to the national cuisine of this exciting Central American country.
CACAO FRESCO
Not every place in the world has amazing tropical ingredients and the people of Costa Rica are most fortunate to have a wide selection of things to eat. One such ingredient is the cacao, the large yellow pods that encase the beans have a delicate fleshy part inside them. The fruit is utterly delicious, it is both sweet and tangy and not remotely like chocolate at all. There are several places in Costa Rica that grow cacao and it is an important part of the economy as the product gets exported all over the world.
CASADO
Casado translates into married, and the dish is called this because it brings together certain ingredients that complement each other perfectly. The crux of this dish is the white rice and black beans, this is the marriage. The Casado then will traditionally contain a vegetable and a protein to complete the dish. The vegetable could be almost anything, but local cabbage is common. For the protein it could be a pork chop or a piece of fish and anything in between. The protein normally dictates a specialty dish of a particular restaurant or town. Because the dish is made up of individually cooked ingredients the whole thing is normally smothered in fried onions and a spicy salsa to bring the individual components together as a complete dish.
CHIFRIJO
Many places have tried to claim that they were the first people to make Chifrijo but most of the evidence seems to point to San Jose as the birthplace of this particular dish. It is a highly popular dish consisting of rice, pork, black beans and a piquant tomato salsa. The dish is traditionally served with tortilla chips so that the diner can scoop up the mixture with a crispy chip and devour it in one bite. Chifrijo is a highly popular snack in bars and goes great with an ice cold beer.
GALLO PINTO (SPECKLED ROOSTER)
Many Caribbean and South American countries have their own versions of rice & beans and Gallo Pinto is Costa Rica’s. The origins of this particular version seem to hail back to the remote town of San Sebastian, when a local spotted hen was highly fancied by the townspeople for a sumptuous dinner. The owner of the hen fooled the townsfolk by cooking white rice and ladling in copious amounts of black beans to replicate the spotted hen. Of course this is just folklore but stories such as this are a part of regional cuisine.
GRANIZADOS
Typically Costa Rican this refreshing treat is ideal on a hot summers day when you need to cool down. All over Costa Rica you can see small handcarts being pushed along the street with the vendors calling out to everybody Granizados! It is a particular favorite with kids as it is a local version of a lolly-ice. The cart owner has a large block of ice which he shaves shards from and then covers the ice with condensed milk, then any flavored syrup is smothered over the top. Classic syrups that are sold with the Granizados are mango, cherry, and grape.
NATURALES
Naturales can be found all over Costa Rica and are delicious drinks made from fresh tropical fruits. The best places that make these refreshing and healthy drinks are the little standalone kiosks that often have one or two stools at the front so you can enjoy a rest while consuming your freshly juiced Naturales or as they are sometimes called Refresos. The choice of fruit is usually what is in season and can include sour green mango, melon, mango, banana, and milk with cinnamon and rice.
PICADILLO
This dish is highly influenced by Mexican cuisine and is normally sold at roadside stalls and small diners. Typically Picadillo is eaten as a side dish but can easily be eaten on its own. Basically it is diced vegetables that are fried with garlic, onions, carrots and a little minced meat.
RONDON
This spicy coconut soup that emanated from the Caribbean is different in every place you eat it, in fact the only constant about Rondon is that it is always different. Basically it is a fish soup that can be made from any fish and any fish parts. Indeed it is quite common to see a fish head glaring back at you from your bowl. Different cooks then throw in assorted tubers, which can include yucca and sweet potato. The broth part of the soup is always the same and is coconut milk, and Rondon is usually then simmered for hours over a wood burning fire. The spice comes from local chilies that bring the soup to life on the tongue.
Whenever you visit a new place that you have never been before a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture is to try new and exotic dishes. Every country, city, and town has their own individual dishes that celebrate local ingredients and are prepared in a particular manner. Costa Rica is no different, it has a wide selection of amazing ingredients to choose from and the local cooks and chefs create innovative dishes that make up the cuisine of this most wonderful country. Listed below are some of the amazing dishes that form part of the cuisine of Costa Rica. There are also many local variations and regional dishes that add extra variety to the national cuisine of this exciting Central American country.
CACAO FRESCO
Not every place in the world has amazing tropical ingredients and the people of Costa Rica are most fortunate to have a wide selection of things to eat. One such ingredient is the cacao, the large yellow pods that encase the beans have a delicate fleshy part inside them. The fruit is utterly delicious, it is both sweet and tangy and not remotely like chocolate at all. There are several places in Costa Rica that grow cacao and it is an important part of the economy as the product gets exported all over the world.
CASADO
Casado translates into married, and the dish is called this because it brings together certain ingredients that complement each other perfectly. The crux of this dish is the white rice and black beans, this is the marriage. The Casado then will traditionally contain a vegetable and a protein to complete the dish. The vegetable could be almost anything, but local cabbage is common. For the protein it could be a pork chop or a piece of fish and anything in between. The protein normally dictates a specialty dish of a particular restaurant or town. Because the dish is made up of individually cooked ingredients the whole thing is normally smothered in fried onions and a spicy salsa to bring the individual components together as a complete dish.
CHIFRIJO
Many places have tried to claim that they were the first people to make Chifrijo but most of the evidence seems to point to San Jose as the birthplace of this particular dish. It is a highly popular dish consisting of rice, pork, black beans and a piquant tomato salsa. The dish is traditionally served with tortilla chips so that the diner can scoop up the mixture with a crispy chip and devour it in one bite. Chifrijo is a highly popular snack in bars and goes great with an ice cold beer.
GALLO PINTO (SPECKLED ROOSTER)
Many Caribbean and South American countries have their own versions of rice & beans and Gallo Pinto is Costa Rica’s. The origins of this particular version seem to hail back to the remote town of San Sebastian, when a local spotted hen was highly fancied by the townspeople for a sumptuous dinner. The owner of the hen fooled the townsfolk by cooking white rice and ladling in copious amounts of black beans to replicate the spotted hen. Of course this is just folklore but stories such as this are a part of regional cuisine.
GRANIZADOS
Typically Costa Rican this refreshing treat is ideal on a hot summers day when you need to cool down. All over Costa Rica you can see small handcarts being pushed along the street with the vendors calling out to everybody Granizados! It is a particular favorite with kids as it is a local version of a lolly-ice. The cart owner has a large block of ice which he shaves shards from and then covers the ice with condensed milk, then any flavored syrup is smothered over the top. Classic syrups that are sold with the Granizados are mango, cherry, and grape.
NATURALES
Naturales can be found all over Costa Rica and are delicious drinks made from fresh tropical fruits. The best places that make these refreshing and healthy drinks are the little standalone kiosks that often have one or two stools at the front so you can enjoy a rest while consuming your freshly juiced Naturales or as they are sometimes called Refresos. The choice of fruit is usually what is in season and can include sour green mango, melon, mango, banana, and milk with cinnamon and rice.
PICADILLO
This dish is highly influenced by Mexican cuisine and is normally sold at roadside stalls and small diners. Typically Picadillo is eaten as a side dish but can easily be eaten on its own. Basically it is diced vegetables that are fried with garlic, onions, carrots and a little minced meat.
RONDON
This spicy coconut soup that emanated from the Caribbean is different in every place you eat it, in fact the only constant about Rondon is that it is always different. Basically it is a fish soup that can be made from any fish and any fish parts. Indeed it is quite common to see a fish head glaring back at you from your bowl. Different cooks then throw in assorted tubers, which can include yucca and sweet potato. The broth part of the soup is always the same and is coconut milk, and Rondon is usually then simmered for hours over a wood burning fire. The spice comes from local chilies that bring the soup to life on the tongue.
