A Foreign Affair Testimonials

Costa Rica is Central America's special jewel. It has a reputation for being an oasis of calm among its turbulent neighbors, but there's more to Costa Rica than a stable status quo. The country's natural attractions, wildlife and reputation for enlightened conservation draw tourists from all over the world, and the ticos know it. Successive governments have made a real effort to preserve the country's image as an ecotourism heaven, making Costa Rica one of the best places to experience the tropics naturally and with minimal impact.

But if trudging through knee-deep streams for hours on end to catch a glimpse of some lazy three-toed tree-hanger isn't your idea of a good time, don't write Costa Rica off as a waste of 51,100 sq km (19,929 sq mi). Not surprisingly for a country which is mostly coastline, Costa Rica has some of the region's best surfing, beaches galore and a climate that encourages slothfulness in all species.

Full country name:	Republic of Costa Rica
Area:	51,100 sq km (19,929 sq mi)
Population:	3.8 million
Capital city:	San Jose (pop 340,000)
People:	96% Spanish descent, 2% African descent, 1% indigenous Indians, 1% Chinese
Language:	Spanish, Creole English and Indian dialects
Religion:	85% Roman Catholic, 14% Protestant
Government:	Democracy
President-elect:	Abel Pacheco
GDP:	US$16.6 billion
GDP per head:	US$4300
Annual growth:	1%
Inflation:	11.6%
Major industries:	Tourism, electronics, coffee, bananas, sugar, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Major trading partners:	USA, Germany, Italy, Japan, Guatemala, Mexico

Costa Rica. San Jose

The cosmopolitan capital of Costa Rica is the transportation hub of the country, so most visitors spend at least a few days in the city. It has a more North American feel to it than many Latin American capitals, with department stores, shopping malls and fast-food chains. However, it also has several excellent museums, some great restaurants, colorful markets and a fine climate.

The best of the museums are the Museo Nacional, which has displays of Costa Rican archaeology, colonial furniture, costumes and religious art; the Museo del Oro Precolombino, which houses a dazzling collection of pre-Columbian gold pieces; and the Museo de Jade, with the world's largest collection of American jade sculptures. The most impressive city building is the Teatro Nacional, built in the 1890s. It hosts plays, operas, ballets and performances by the National Symphony Orchestra. The best market is Mercado Central, which bustles rather than buzzes, but has a range of goods from live turkeys to leatherwork, and some of the cheapest meals in town.

Most of the cheaper hotels and eateries are west of Calle Central, between Avenidas 1 and 2.

Costa Rica. Arenal Volcano

Northern Region of Costa Rica

This area encompasses not only the Arenal Volcano, protected by a 5.208 hectare national park, but also, a reservoir and the Arenal Botanical Garden. Cloud and Tropical Forest encircle the base of the volcano, which is six km from Fortuna. Arenal Itself is some 1.633 m high and has been active since 1968. Every night lava pours down the side of the volcano and boulders shoot into the air. Lake Arenal is perfect for water sports and fishing for rainbow bass.

Costa Rica. Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio National Park attracts tourists from all over the world. It has spectacular views of the blue Pacific and rocky little islands. Wonderful beaches are surrounded with exotic rainforests home to white face monkeys, three-toe sloths and hundreds of species of birds.

Costa Rica. Central Pacific Puntarenas & Jaco Beach

The road that follows the coast south from Punteranas not only winds past some impressive panoramas, it leads to two of the country's most popular beach resorts: Jaco and Manuel Antonio. The sugar-sand beach of Jaco was one of the first in Costa Rica to be developed as a resort. The area's natural attractions are worthy excursions for travelers tired of beach life.