GVMnetwork.com | Costa Rica: An Overview

Costa Rica has long been the Central American calling of Ventura County surfers. Warm water, lush tropical landscapes, and the promise of offshore barrels at spots like Witch’s Rock all contribute to the allure. When you add in the hype generated by the engaging surf flick “The Endless Summer II”, it’s no wonder Tamarindo and Ollie’s Point have become sought after surf destinations. But before you pack your bags and start brushing up on your Spanish, here’s some background info and tips on making the most of your excursion to Costa Rica.

First, a quick history lesson. In 1502, on his fourth and last voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus (the dude that stumbled onto America) made the first European landfall in the area. Settlement of Costa Rica began in 1522. For nearly three centuries, Spain administered the region as part of the Captaincy General of Guatemala under a military governor. The Spanish optimistically called the country "Rich Coast", hence the name Costa Rica. Finding little gold or other valuable minerals in Costa Rica, however, the Spanish turned to agriculture.

Costa Rica joined other Central American provinces in 1821 in a joint declaration of independence from Spain. Although the newly independent provinces formed a Federation, border disputes broke out among them adding to the region's turbulent history and conditions. Costa Rica's northern Guanacaste Province was annexed from Nicaragua in one such regional dispute. In 1838, long after the Central American Federation ceased to function in practice, Costa Rica formally withdrew and proclaimed itself sovereign. Today Costa Rica is a democratic republic with a strong system of constitutional checks and balances. Executive responsibilities are vested in a president, who is the country's center of power. There also are two vice presidents and a cabinet consisting of 15 members. Pretty different setup than here in the states, eh?

GEOGRAPHY AND DEMOGRAPHICS

Costa Rica covers an area of 19,730 square miles. The capital is San Jose, which has a population of 2.1 million people. The terrain is rugged and tropical with dormant volcanoes, a rain forest in the south and immaculate beaches. Rainfall is heavy during summer months, but temperatures are consistently in the 70 to 90 degree range.

The people of Costa Rica are known both as “Ticos” and “Costa Ricans.” Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion, although 15 percent of the population claims Protestant as their faith. Literacy is at 96 percent. Average life expectancy for a woman is 79 years while men average 74 years. Spanish is the dominant language.

The total population of Costa Rica is currently 4 million and grows at 1.5 percent annually. This population growth is most heavily noted around the coastal Pacific communities in areas like Tamarindo. Not long ago, Tamarindo was a quiet little fishing town that enjoyed relative isolation. However, over the last 15 years the town has become a hot spot for visiting surfers and the tourism industry. Left and right, there are vacation rentals and time shares being built at an astonishing rate. With the rapid influx of foreign money, things are changing in Costa Rica. But even with this economic growth curve, take heart, Tamarindo is still a phenomenal destination that boasts world class waves. If you’re a Ventura County surfer that’s never been to Tamarindo, you’ll love it. If you’ve visited in the past, there’s a chance you’ll be disappointed with the aggressive development.

NATURE

Nature is Costa Rica's green card. Wildlife diversity and exceptional landscapes merge in a long list of untouched lands and protected areas that will get you involved in as many Costa Rica expedition activities and adventure sports as you can imagine. Trust me, there’s a lot more to do down here than just surfing.

Costa Rica is unusually blessed by the diversity of its butterflies. There exists about 20,000 butterfly species worldwide. Of these, about 1,000 or 5% can be found in Costa Rica. With more than 850 species of birds, all found within a tight geographic area, Costa Rica offers birders of all levels of expertise an unrivaled bird watching experience. Birders out on the trail in Costa Rica's forests should keep an eye out for mixed flocks foraging on certain types of food, especially fruit, in the forest canopy.

Costa Rica is home to roughly 150 species of amphibians, some of which are extremely colorful and exotic. There are tree frogs, which spend their entire lives above the forest floor, breeding in the water of tank bromeliads or in holes in the trunks of trees. Others, like the poison-arrow frog, are exuberantly colored, ranging from bright red with blue or green legs to bright green with black markings.

There are over 200 species of reptiles in Costa Rica. The 14 turtle species include both marine and freshwater varieties. The largest of the marine turtles are leatherbacks. Their shells are up to 5 feet and they weigh upwards of 800 pounds.

The protection of Costa Rica's natural heritage is managed by the respective national parks and reserves. These areas protect many species of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and a vast number of identified vascular plants-representing 4% of the world's total floral and faunal species.

In addition, these management groups protect examples of almost all the existing natural habitats such as deciduous forests, mangrove swamps, rain forests, herbaceous swamps, cloud forests, and marshlands. They also protect areas of historical and archaeological interest, such as pre-Columbian settlements and early battlefields, as well as beautiful areas of scenic interest, such as beaches, valleys and waterfalls. But above all, the areas of particular interest to the conservationist are the zones which protect the last remaining examples of Central American dry forest and the beaches where the sea turtles nest.

On the whole, access to these areas and facilities are freely available provided that visiting surfers respect the need to protect them. These protected areas are ideal for hiking and rafting, watching the birds and other wildlife, camping and just enjoying in general, the rivers, beaches, jungles, mountain forests, volcanoes as well as the immense historic and archaeological sites that Costa Rica offers.

TIPS AND POINTERS

Alright, enough background information. Before traveling outside the United States on any surf excursion, you should prepare yourself. Learning about the country before you go can prevent common problems or confusion. Cultures vary throughout the world and sometimes a simple misunderstanding can become a big deal. Learning about the basic life, culture and laws of a country you are traveling to can help you to be prepared and have an enjoyable surf trip packed with vivid memories.

Once you get to Costa Rica, you need to determine how you’re going to get around from place to place. Buses are the main form of transportation. It is the most cost efficient and easiest way to get from Point A to Point B. But be aware that the buses in Costa Rica are small and sometimes cramped. You won’t be able to take along luggage and if you’re over 6’2”, be aware that legroom is limited. Another form of transportation is a rental car. They’re significantly more expensive and you’re required to have insurance that will cover the rental car in case of an accident. Now’s a good time to note that most Costa Rican rental cars are manual transmissions (stick shifts), so if you don’t know how to drive one you may be out of luck. Starting to see why many visiting surfers elect a surf camp that includes transportation?

Business hours in Costa Rica are similar to the United States. Typical establishments run from 8 or 9 AM to 4 or 5 PM. Everyday a lunch break takes place between 12 Noon and 2 PM. Many establishments are closed on Sundays. Note that Costa Rica runs on Central Standard Time, so sets your watches accordingly.

The healthcare system in Costa Rica is very advanced. They have an excellent program that offers up-to-date medical care in modern hospitals. You can often find doctors that speak English as well. So if your board connects with your melon while surfing some isolated sandbar, you’re probably in good hands.

Now are you ready for this? In Costa Rica, both alcohol and prostitution is legal for those over the age of eighteen. Say what?!

When you’re ready to leave Costa Rica, you’ll be required to pay an exit fee of roughly $27. Just be prepared for it. Also note that Costa Rica laws require that all luggage is screened through customs and declarations must be filled out for certain items like food and anything valuable.

The busiest time in Costa Rica is during what is called the high season. The high season is between December and May. This also happens to be the prime surf season for the northern region of Costa Rica. You may find that getting reservations can be difficult during this time, so plan ahead.

You usually do not have to tip while in Costa Rica. A 10% tip is added to your bill.

The electricity in Costa Rica is the same as in the United States. They do not use the grounding prong in some locations, so be aware of the need for adapters in some spots.

Until next time, I'll see you in the water.