Rich in ecological diversity and known for its hospitality, Costa Rica has become a favorite vacation spot for American and European travelers over the past two decades. About the size of West Virginia and with a population of roughly four million, Costa Rica has a wealth of natural resources. Its distinctive microclimates feature beautiful beaches, active volcanoes, rainforests filled with monkeys and colorful birds, the hot "cowboy country" of Guanacaste, and more. Additionally, it is also regarded as one of the most peaceful countries in Central America. Costa Rica does not maintain a standing army, and one of its presidents, Oscar Arias, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987. The philosophy of the country can be summed up in the catch phrase "pura vida," ("pure life") which tourists find emblazoned on mugs and t-shirts throughout the country.
Costa Ricans take pride in the high educational level of the country. Free and obligatory elementary school, provided for in the state's constitution, has led to the high literacy rate among adults. The country boasts a 96% literacy rate and has recently implemented new educational schemes designed to extend opportunities for learning to all its citizens. Students who wish to continue their post-secondary education can choose among four different state-funded universities.
Most volunteers are placed in rural areas in the mountains. While the beach is accessible via bus, volunteers should expect to spend most of their time in their towns. While there is no “typical placement” in Costa Rica, most placements have a plaza (a grassy area about the size of a soccer field), a church, a school and a pulpería (small convenience store). However, many placements do not even have all four of these amenities. Volunteers will have access to a larger town (usually about an hour from their site) which should have more pulperías, some sodas (small restaurants), and perhaps internet.
There are a number of resources available for information on Costa Rica, particularly because it is such a popular tourist destination. Your local library probably has some books.Travel books are also a good resource. You can also find a partial list of internet resources below.
Web Resources for Costa Rica
