Costa Rica Travel Guide

Costa Rica

Country: Costa Rica

Population: 4,133,884

Capital: San Jose

Time Zone: UTC-6

Currency Name: Costa Rican colon (CRC)

Government Type: Democratic Republic

Languages: Spanish (official), English

Ethnic Breakdown: white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%

Religion: Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%

Major Cities: San Jose

Phone Country Code: 506

Health Concerns:

Official Tourism Website:

High Travel Season: May - July

Voltage: 120 V - 60 Hz

Electrical Plug Type: a, b

Major Holidays: January 1 (New Year's Day), April 11 (Battle of Rivas' Day), May 1 (Labor Day), July 25 (Annexation of Guanacaste's Day), August 2 (Virgen de los Angeles' Day), August 15 (Mothers Day), September 15 (Independence Day), October 12 (Columbus Day), December 25 (Christmas Day)

Misc Fact / Good to Know: In Costa Rica gringo has no negative connotation unlike elsewhere in the world.