Volunteer Costa Rica Information
History
Costa Rica declared its independence from Spain in 1821 by joining the federation of the United Provinces of Central America. This was the start of an important path towards complete autonomy. In 1838, Costa Rica withdrew from the federation and became a sovereign nation. Unfortunately this independence did not stop William Walker from trying to conquer the country. Walker, a mercenary from the United States, intended on conquering Central America so he invaded Guanacaste, Costa Rica in 1856. Costa Rican forces had to confront Walker and his mercenary army, and Costa Rica was victorious, thus forcing the eccentric soldier to flee the country. Costa Rica declared its first national hero when Juan Santa Maria, a Costa Rican drummer boy, sacrificed his life by torching the fort where Walker was hiding.
Over the years, the government has granted women and minorities the right to vote, established set terms for presidency, abolished the military, and has taken many other actions to ensure a just system of government. Costa Rica continues to be known as the most peaceful and stable country in Central America. This ongoing exceptionality, combined with the natural beauty of the rainforests, volcanoes, and coasts, has made Costa Rica a very popular tourist destination.
When to visit Costa Rica
Due to Costa Rica's tropical climate, the weather tends to be quite pleasant. The average annual temperatures range from 70 - 80 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the weather varies depending upon the region and time of year you are visiting. The lowlands, highlands, and central valley have different climates.
Due to the deep Catholic roots imbedded in Costa Rican culture, holidays associated with Catholicism tend to be the most important celebrations. Christmas and Holy Week (Semana Santa) are the two biggest holidays during which many Costa Rican families and tourists head to the beach. During these two holidays Costa Rica becomes rather busy, so it will be more difficult to make reservations. Therefore, plan and schedule your trip in advance. The high season for volunteer placements are from February to August and in October and November.
Currency in Costa Rica
The colon (pronounced "Coh-lone") is the unit of currency in Costa Rica. The current exchange rate is: $1 to 573.425. When attempting to do quick conversions, tourists commonly round the exact rate to 550-600 for every dollar.
For the most up-to-date currency conversions, please visit the popular currency website: http://www.xe.com
Cost of living in Costa Rica
Meals- Eating at a soda is considered the more economical choice, as meals run from around $3 to $6. The most common dish in a soda is called "Casado," which has meat, black beans, rice, salad and sweet plantains.
Beer- You should expect to pay anywhere from $1 to $3 for one beer.
Coffee- A basic cup of coffee is priced around $1.
Transportation- The Red cabs that have yellow triangles on the cab provide a registration number, this shows they are official taxis in Costa Rica. The ride usually begins at 420 colon. Taxi rides within the cities are quite cheap.
Accommodation- Staying in a hostel is the best choice aside from camping. A single night in a hostel can cost anywhere from 5 to 14 USD. Hotels can be a bit pricier.
You can search online to find more detailed information: www.hostelworld.com
Internet Cafe- Most Internet cafes will charge $1 per hour.
Laundry Service- In tourist locations as well as in the capital, you can send out your laundry from your hotel or drop it off at a lavanderia (Laundromat). The service fee will usually be $6 to $10. These services are not provided in rural areas.
Traveling in Costa Rica
By Plane- There are in-country flights available through Sansa Airlines and Nature Air. One-way tickets are usually priced around $50 - $100 (sometimes slightly more or less depending upon your destination.)
For more information you can search:
By bus- Buses travel all over the country and are considered a safe means of transportation. Costa Rican bus fare is cheap, with the highest price around $5 per ticket. (uVolunteer advises our participants not to place their luggage in the over head space while traveling on buses. Instead place your baggage between your legs under the seat in front of you.)
By Taxi- Used for short trips around town or to nearby locations. The ride usually begins at 420 colons.
Useful Links
- News
- The Tico Times is a well-known newspaper that provides articles about Costa Rica in English once a week. http://www.ticotimes.net
- La Nacion is a Costa Rican newspaper that provides daily news in Spanish. http://www.nacion.com
- Inside Costa Rica is an online source of daily news in English. http://insidecostarica.com
- Health and Safety
- The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is a federal agency in the United States that provides information pertinent to the wellbeing of its citizens. On the website you can find up-to-date information on vaccinations you will need to travel to Costa Rica, as well as diseases to look out for and places to avoid. http://wwwn.cdc.gov
- Tourist information
- Lonely Planet remains a leader in the travel guide sector. Their website is a great source of travel information. http://www.lonelyplanet.com
- National Geographic's website contains thousands of links to videos, news articles, informational articles, and maps related to Costa Rica. The website is very thorough; as well as accurate. http://www.nationalgeographic.com
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