Costa Rica Information

Location: Costa Rica is located approximately ten degrees North of the Equator, on the isthmus of Central America. Costa Rica is bordered on the North by Nicaragua and on the South by Panama. To the East lies the Caribbean Sea; and to the West, the Pacific Ocean.

Size: Costa Rica is a small country, irregular in shape and less than 20,000 square miles in size. At it’s narrowest point, just 75 miles separate the Caribbean Sea from the Pacific Ocean. From North to South the country is just 180 miles long.

Geography: Jagged mountains run through the heart of Costa Rica, extending almost continuously from the northwest to the southeast corners of the country.

There are four major volcanic mountain ranges: Guanacaste, Tilarán, Central and Talamanca. These mountain ranges are separated by low passes and valleys, and rise increasingly higher in the southern part of the country.

These cities lie at altitudes of between 3,000 to 5,000 feet (1,000 to 1,800 meters) above sea level.

Just south of the Central Range is the Central Plateau, or Meseta Central, which is the social and economic soul of Costa Rica, and home to approximately 60% of its population. The four principal cities that compose the Meseta Central region are Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago and the capital city of San José.

The "Meseta Central", is marked by a mix of virgin forests, cultivated lands and urban centers, all set on rolling terrain, bordered by large mountains.

The country-side slopes precipitously towards the country’s two coasts. These slopes are etched with fast flowing rivers, some of which have been harnessed to provide electrical power. Geographically, Costa Rica is blessed with tremendous diversity and the lush radiance of its rich tropical settings.

For Costa Rica`s History Click:

Costa Rica's Temptations
P.O.Box 1199-1200 San José, Costa Rica
Ph.: (506) 239-9999
Fax: (506) 239-9990
E-mail: reserv@crtinfo.com