Official name of country: Republic of Costa Rica
Population: 4.2 million
Capital City: San Jose
Time Difference: Costa Rica is in the same time zone as the US MST, so it is two hours behind the east coast and one hour ahead of the west coast.
National Animal: White-tailed deer
National Currency: Costa Rican Colon (CRC)
National Food: Gallo Pinto (rice and beans dish)
National Sport: Soccer
Languages: Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica, but being such a popular tourist destination has led to English becoming a common second language amongst the locals. Locals are known as Ticos and their warm, friendly nature is the perfect practice ground for improving your Spanish. At Universidad Veritas, all levels of Spanish courses are available and you are sure to improve your Spanish in Costa Rica!
Geography: Costa Rica is bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, Panama to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Although it is only roughly the size of West Virginia, Costa Rica is home to 5% of the world’s biodiversity! Tropical jungles and rainforests are what Costa Rica is most known for. The country also boasts four mountain ranges within its interior that contain more than 60 volcanoes (don’t worry, the majority are inactive). You will love the year-round mild climate in Costa Rica that avoids extreme hot or cold temperatures. The rainy season lasts from May to November, and the Caribbean coast sees more rain than San José in the interior part of the country.
Famous People: Oscar Arias Sánchez (Nobel Peace Prize winner), Claudia Poll (first Olympic gold medalist), Francisco Amighetti (painter), Franklin Chang-Diaz (astronaut), and Juan Santamaria (official national hero).
Great Movies: El Camino; It’s a Jungle Out There; Paso a Paso: A Sentimental Journey; En el Nombre del Pueblo; El Loco, Cacharro y Su Capitán.