History and Culture
The spontaneous hospitality and welcoming smiles of the Costa Rican people make every visitor's stay in Costa Rica special. People greet one another, even in passing. Costa Ricans take great pride in their democracy, excellent public education system, and national health care system. This peaceful nation draws its identity on decision by consensus and non-military solutions. This spirit of cooperation developed early on in the nation's history. There were approximately 400,000 people living in Costa Rica when Columbus landed in 1502. The natives resisted Spanish colonization but Columbus' crew soon established a Spanish government within the nation.
The impenetrable jungle and the lack of gold and precious metals to plunder led the Spaniards to travel north in search of more treasures. The few Spaniards who did settle in Costa Rica did so in the province that is now called Guanacaste and the Central Valley. Costa Rica gained its independence from Spain in 1821 and joined the Central American Federation. It held its first elections in 1889, making it one of the oldest democracies in the Americas. In 1949, the modern constitution abolished the army and directed the country's resources to education, social programs and economic development. Two generations have grown up without knowing war.
Education
Costa Rica's first university was established in 1843. The country maintained strong ties with Europe, and this European influence is apparent its the culture and architecture. A group of prominent Europeans came to Costa Rica to construct the National Theater, the country's primier architectural showpiece which was completed in 1897. Free, compulsory education was established in 1917. At present, children must attend school until the ninth grade, after which many scholarships and grants are available for continuing education. Costa Rica boasts an adult literacy rate of 94% (higher than the United States).
Human Rights
Costa Ricans believe strongly in the respect for human rights and personal freedom and they have demonstrated this in their legislative decisions. Slavery was abolished in 1823, the last execution was held in 1859 and capital punishment was offically abolished in 1883. Women won the right to vote in 1949.
Healthcare
Costa Rica's excellent health system keeps diseases in check through public education campaigns and preventive medicine. Free, universal health care means that people do not hesitate to visit the doctor when needed. The system covers everything from dentistry, to maternity care, to open-heart surgery. As a result, Costa Ricans enjoy good health and a comparable life expectancy to that of North Americans.
Economy
Over the last decade, Costa Rica has experienced a shift from a largely agricultural economy to a largely high-tech economy. No longer dependant on banana and coffee exports, the highly literate and well-educated population has attracted high-tech companies such as Intel to move tech support and manufacturing offices to Costa Rica. Modern techonology has also influenced the agricultural sector, allowing farmers to determine soil viability, make crop projections, and keep track of accounting. Visitors to Costa Rica are surprised by the number of computers, cell phones, and Internet cafes which have vastly improved instant international and domestic communication.
Geography
Costa Rica itself is located in Central America just below Nicaragua and above Panama. Costa Rica's capital, San Jose, is by far the largest city in the small nation. Housing half of the country's four million inhabitants, San Jose sits in the Central Valley. The international airport, the University of Costa Rica, and virtually all of the government offices are found inside the city limits of San Jose.
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