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Where is Costa Rica?
The Republic of Costa Rica isolated in the southern part of the Central Americas, boarded by Nicaragua to the North and Panama to the South. To the East is the Caribbean Sea (Atlantic Ocean) and to the West is the Pacific Ocean. Costa Rica is just 8 degrees latitude of the Equator.
What is the geography of Costa Rica?
Costa Rica’s land mass is 51,100 square kilometers, making it about two thirds the size of Scotland and with a population of just over 4,000,000 there is lots of countryside. Costa Rica is 7 hours behind the UK during British Summer Time and 6 hours behind during Daylight Saving Time. The geography of the land is rather different than the UK with mostly mountain and volcanoes strewn throughout the center of the country which flatten out as you move to the coast. The highest point within Costa Rica is Cerro Chirripo, 3,810 m high, however the mountain range throughout the center over Costa Rica is on average between 1000-2000m high. The country has a long coastline of beaches both on the Pacific and Caribbean coast ranging in sand colour from black volcanic sand to pristine white sanded beaches.
What is the ethnic make up and language of Costa Rica?
Costa Ricans are referred to as Tico’s (male) and Tica’s (women) who make up around 94% of the population with Chinese, Nicaraguan and other nationalities making up the other 6%. The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish, however it does differ slightly from the original Spanish language. English is widely spoken throughout the country and normally Tico’s and English speakers have no difficulty in communicating. The Caribbean side of Costa Rica is inhabited by mainly people with coloured skin where as the Pacific Coast is mainly inhabited by Costa Rican’s with a much darker complexion than those of the cities and mountains.
How is the weather and seasons in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is a tropical country that is pleasant all year around the average temperature throughout the country is around 25 degrees. The temperature on the coast is of course much warmer than the mountains with an average temperature being between 27-35 degrees. Where as the average temperature within the mountains being between 20-25 degrees.
Costa Rica has 2 seasons, the dry season which runs from December until April and the green season which runs from may to November. During the green season you can expect great sunny mornings with the chance of showers and heavier rain in the afternoon.
For more information or up to date weather information on Costa Rica please follow the link below: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/central_america/