Basic Costa Rica Questions

Can I get a cell phone in Costa Rica?

Because of ICE policy, cell phones are currently restricted to Costa Ricans and legal residents of Costa Rica.  This is likely to change once private operators are selling cell phone lines.  One common way around this is to form a company to hold a line, however many lawyers charge $500 or more for corporations or limited companies.  Another possibility is to have a Costa Rican apply for the line and hold a power of attorney, however they would be ultimately liable for charges to the line, so this is a delicate situation.

If you are travelling in Costa Rica and not living here, you can investigate international roaming with your US cell number.  Charges may not be outrageous with your plan, and with VOIP it is not expensive for others to call a phone in the US. Cell phone rentals are available from rent-a-car companies and at hotels, the rate is around $10 per day.

A new possibility is the ICE phone chips, if your phone is unlocked.  Or you could purchase a phone here or on the Internet for use here.  CELL Service

The prepaid card is good for up to 60 days and works on GSM telephones.  You choose between 3 plans, the difference is the amount of the recharge, basically $5, $10 and $20 increments.  The per minute rate is about 8 cents maximum, if you get the 60 day card about 5 to 7 cents per minute.  (28 - 34 colones)  Here are the specs for what the phone needs:

Verify model is compatible:  LIST OF VERIFIED MODELS FROM ICE
Basic Specifications

• SIM card voltage 3-5 volts.
• GSM compatible Phone with Phase 2 plus.
• SIM Toolkit (STK) apps support.
• 1800MHz Band
• Permits ADN, FDN, SDN cards
• Unblocked Phone (without SIM Lock)

For advanced phones:

• Wap 1.2 or 2.0, or GPRS 4:1
• Triband (900/1800/1900 MHz)

If not a new phone verify:

• Not reported as stolen or lost.
• Good working order.
• Ask for the receipt

Costa Rica's National Anthem Lyrics Translated

Noble patria, tu hermosa bandera / Noble homeland, your beautiful flag

expresión de tu vida nos da; / gives us a glimpse of the life you offer:

bajo el límpido azul de tu cielo / under your clear blue sky,

blanca y pura descansa la paz. / peace rests, white and pure.

En la lucha tenaz, / In the fierce struggle

de fecunda labor / of prolific labor,

que enrojece del hombre la faz, / that reddens the face of man,

conquistaron tus hijos / your children, simple laborers

labriegos sencillos / conquered

eterno prestigio, estima y honor. / eternal prestige, honor and glory.

¡Salve, o tierra gentil! / Salve*, oh gentle earth!

¡Salve, o madre de amor! / Salve,* oh mother of love!

Cuando alguno pretenda / When anyone tries to

tu gloria manchar, / stain your glory,

verás a tu pueblo valiente y viril, / you shall see your people, manly and brave

la tosca herramienta en arma trocar. / transform crude tools into weapons.

Salve oh Patria tú pródigo suelo, / Salve* oh homeland, your prodigious soil

dulce abrigo y sustento nos da; / gives us sweet comfort and sustenance

bajo el límpido azul de tu cielo / under the clear blue of your sky,

¡vivan siempre el trabajo y la paz! / May peace and work always prosper!

* Salve - is a poetic exclamation, like Oh! en English. But it has a double meaning, since it is also the name of a prayer in which one praises and begs the Virgin Mary, salve is also the name of the music that accompanies these prayers.

Flight Arrival Departure Information - SJO, Juan Santamaria International Airport Costa Rica

Are you picking someone up at the airport?  Check this page to see if their flight is on time:

Official Juan Santamaria Airport Information Page ( by airport operator AERIS Costa Rica )

On this page you get departure information by default, but in the upper right hand corner of your browser is a button to view arrival information.

If you would like to confirm information with any airline operating at the international airport, at the bottom is a button to get the current phone numbers.

Here is a list as of this article's last modified date:

Is Costa Rica a Democracy?

Costa Rica became independent from Spain in 1821 on September 15, which is celebrated each year.  The country briefly formed part of a Central American confederation based in the old Colonial capital in Guatemala. In 1823 Costa Rica elected a Congress and its first President, Juan Mora Fernandez, who served 3 consecutive terms from 1824 through 1833.  So it has been a democracy for nearly 2 centuries.

What are the currencies accepted in Costa Rica?

The Costa Rican currency is the colon, named after Christopher Columbus who is credited with discovering the "Rich Coast" on his 4th and last trip to the "New World" in 1502.  Costa Rica has relied heavily upon exports throughout its history, so foreign currency has always been important in the economy.  There are no restrictions on exchanging currencies.

The US Dollar is widely accepted, particularly in $20 bill and lower denominations, although in tourist areas $50 and $100 bills are more easily exchanged or used.  You may find it convenient to carry colones in order to not worry about what exchange rate a particular establishment is using. US Dollar accounts are available at state and private banks, they may be savings or checking accounts.  Some banks offer accounts tied to the US banking system, so you can make payments more easily in the US and receive US checks or transfers more quickly, and have the capability of withdrawing the money here.

Euros are not widely accepted, however banks offer Euro savings accounts and certificates of deposit.  For businesses wishing to mitigate their foreign exchange exposure this is a valuable service.

What is the Legislature's Composition?

User Rating: / 1
PoorBest 

The legislature is a unicameral body made up of 57 representatives (called diputados), who are elected once every 4 years at the same time as the President and the municipal councils.  They may not be re-elected to consecutive terms.

As specified in the Constitution, the seats are divided by province according to the population determined in the latest census (done in 2000): San José: 20; Alajuela: 11; Cartago: 7; Heredia: 5; Guanacaste: 4; Puntarenas: 5 and Limón: 5 .

On the ballots, each party is listed and citizens vote for one party for their province, not for individual candidates.  Each party has registered the name of their 1st through nth place candidate for each province, the "n" being ascertained according to their most optimistic predictions as to the number of votes they can expect in the election.  The votes cast in each province are divided by number of seats for that province and then each party who reaches that number of votes earns a seat.

In the 2010 legislature, the parties are divided as follows

• 4 - PASE (Accessibility without Exclusion Party)
• 11 - PAC (Citizen Action Party)
• 1 - Frente Amplio (Full Front Party)
• 24  - PLN
• 9 - ML (Libertarian Movement)
• 1 - Renovacion (Costa Rican Renovation Party)
• 1 - Restuaracion (Costa Rican Restoration Party)
• 6 - PUSC (United Social Christian Party)

The representatives are accorded certain privileges and immunities from prosecution in the constitution, so that they may oppose the executive or legislative power without any fear of reprisal.

What's Tico Time?

"Tico Time" is nowadays more strictly applicable to social situations rather than business dealings.  For example, if you set a meeting with suppliers or subordinates for 3 pm on Thursday, you can expect it to happen on time.  If it doesn't you can take appropriate measures.

However, if you are dealing with a handyman or gardener or the phone company, then "Tico Time" is definitely in play, as well as when going to a party or social gathering.   In fact, it could even be considered rude to show up at 2:30 pm for a party scheduled to start at 3pm !  You have to give the hostess time to freshen up, or get everything completely ready.

Tico Time is basically two hours, three hours, two days ... (jaja), behind regular time.  It refers to the lackadaisical attitude foreigners generally found among the Costa Ricans regarding being on time.  Whereas in North American cultures "5 minutes early is on time", traditional Tico culture regards most any time as good.  Since relationships are valued more highly here, it is more important to catch up with an old friend, for example, than to be on time for an appointment.  For example, your handyman is going to paint your roof and you have an appointment so he can quote you on the job.  But he runs into his _______________ and arrives 2 hours later.  Welcome to Tico Time!

Where does the name Costa Rica come from?

Contrary to what most web sites say, Costa Rica was not so named by Christopher Columbus (aka Cristobal Colón in Spain).  From its discovery by Colon in 1502 to 1537 Costa Rica was part of the Veragua territory and ruled by 2 Governors, Diego de Nicuesa and Felipe Gutiérrez y Toledo.  In 1537 the Duchy of Veragua was created and was awarded to Luis Colón, Cristobal's grandson, by the crown after a successful legal battle. The Duchy of Veragua was located in what is now Panama and it was actually the Spaniards located in Panama and Nicaragua that named our area Costa Rica, in order to differentiate it from their own areas.  The first official usage of the name Costa Rica, is found in 1539 in official documents related to hearings over Panama.

Upon the creation of the Duchy in 1537 through 1540, the lands not belonging to it were ruled as Royal Veragua.  These lands were to the southeast and the northwest of the Duchy.  In 1540 the lands north of the Sixaola river were combined with another territory - Castilla de Oro (what today is the Nicoya Peninsula) - to form Nuevo Cartago y Costa Rica (New Carthage and Costa Rica), which in turn was awarded as a province of the Kingdom of Guatemala and governed from Antigua once that city was established in 1543.

Taken from Wikipedia articles:

Wikipedia contributors, "Veragua," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Veragua&oldid=334197917 (accessed April 29, 2010).

Wikipedia contributors, "Royal Veragua," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Veragua&oldid=301180108 (accessed April 29, 2010).

and originally from Oceano's "The Encylopedia of Costa Rica, Its History, Territory and People, Volume 2, page 186. (published 1992)