Costa Rica Land of natural wonders, Land of peace

1
Costa RicaLand of natural wonders,Land of peace

• Costa Rica does not have an army. For over a
  century it has been a peaceful country.
• Costa Rica has contributed greatly to bring peace
  to Central America .

2
Location

• Costa Rica is located in Central America, between
  Nicaragua to the North and Panamá to the South.

3
FACTS

• It is a very small country compared to the size
  of West Virginia.
• The official language is Spanish.
• The official currency is EL COLON.

4
Currency5 colones bill
5
Currency2.000 colones
6
CurrencyMil colones bill coins
7
5000 colones
8
Facts

• Costa Ricas population is close to
• 4 million.
• The capital is San José, located right in the
  heart of the country.
• There is a 94 literacy rate, one of the highest
  in the world.

9
More Facts

• The official religion is Roman Catholic and each
  barrio (neighborhood) has a church.
• Approximately 93 of Costa Rican are
  Catholics.
• Most of the architecture is in colonial style.
• Costa Rican calendar evolves around the church
  calendar.

10
More Facts

• Religious festivities are the base of Costa Rican
  culture.
• Holy Week is highly respected and celebrated with
  processions on the streets.
• Christmas is also celebrated with great joy.

11
Basilica de Los Angeles
12
Iglesia de Sarchí
13
La Virgen de los AngelesNational Patron
14
Holy Week

• Processions

15
Navidad ( Christmas)El Portal, The Nativity
scene is a Christmas tradition
16
HISTORY

• Costa Rica gained its independence from Spain in
  1821.
• It is said that it was called Costa Rica
• ( Rich Coast ) by Christopher Columbus when he
  landed in the Atlantic Coast and was impressed by
  its beauty.

17
History

• However, the Spanish considered it a poor colony.
  There was not much gold or other minerals and
  its indigenous population was very small.
• Therefore, there was not much to conquer.

18
HISTORY

• The lack of wealth became in the long run Costa
  Ricas blessing.
• Because of the lack of slavery and human
  exploitation, Costa Ricans develop a sense of
  high appreciation for peace and tolerance.

19
HISTORY

• As a result, Costa Rica became mainly a land of
  farmers which created a large middle class.

20
HISTORY

• In 1856, William Walker an American filibuster
  tried to take over Costa Rica. Soon enough the
  farmers got together and using their tools
  planned to get rid of him.
• Juan Santamaría became the national hero. He
  gave his life when he burned the headquarters
  where Walker and allies were hiding and planning
  the invasion.

21
Juan Santamarías monument.
22
History

• In 1948 Don Pepe José Figueres
• abolished the Army created the new Countrys
  constitution which continued the tradition of
  democracy.
• Since then, Costa Rica has been known as the
  Switzerland of Latin America.

23
DON PEPE

• President of Costa Rica during 3 different
  periods.
• 1948-49
• 1953-59
• 1970-74
• Creator of the National Liberation Party. PLN

24
Not having an army is the key to a real democracy

• The government invests more in education, health
  and ecological conservation.

25
Don Oscar Arias

• Costa Ricas second Hero is Don Oscar Creator
  of the Esquipulas Peace plan for Central
  America.
• President from 1986-1990 current president
  since 2005.
• 1987 Nobel Peace Laureate

26
Government

• Costa Rica like the US has a bipartisan system
• Two major parties dominate the political
  scenario.
• Liberación Nacional ( Rightist)
• Unidad Social Cristiana ( Leftist)

27
Liberación Nacional
28
Unidad Social Cristianas Flag
29
Economy

• Costa Rica was introduced to Coffee in the 16th
  century, since then coffee has played a major
  role in the economy of the country.

30
Coffee

• The rich volcanic soils are wonderful to grow
  coffee.
• It was the nations major export for years.
• It helped to create and maintain the aristocratic
  class.

31
Coffee

• Costa Ricas coffee is known today as Arabica and
  it originated from Ethiopia.

32
Bananas

• Have also play a very important role in the
  economy of the country.
• The industry was introduced by the American
  Michael Keith in the late 1800s when he build
  the first rail road that connected the Central
  Valley with the Atlantic Coast.

33
Banana Plant
34
Bananas

• Michael Keiths company would become later the
  United Fruit Company that started the Chiquita
  Banana brand.

35
Bananas
36
Tourism

• Within the last twenty years tourism has become
  the main industry in the country counting for ¾s
  of Costa Ricas revenue.

37
Tourism

• Costa Rica s natural beauty and diversity
  attracts thousands of tourists every year.
• The political stability of the country is a great
  incentive for people to travel.
• The country has a wonderful tropical climate with
  2 distinctive seasons (dry and wet) and stays at
  around 60-80 degrees year round.

38
Tourism

• The country has seven different provinces great
  bio diversity.
• All provinces are very different from each other.
  
• Bordered by both the Atlantic and the Pacific
  ocean, the country has the diversity and richness
  of both costs.

39
Tourism

• Dry regions in the pacific.
• Rain forest in the pacific northwest.
• Cloud forest in the central Valley
• Multiple Volcanoes

40
Biodiversity

• Since the 1970s Costa Rica has enforced very
  effective measures to promote eco-tourism and to
  protect its natural wonders.
• Approximately 27 of the countrys territory is
  either national parks, wildlife refuges or
  natural reserves.

41
The central Valley

• Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago y San José.
• These are the main cities located in the Central
  Valley, no matter where you are you can see the
  mountains.
• Very refreshing, spring like weather.

42
Local Artists

• Carmen Lyra
• A writer of childrens
• stories and a wonderful
• poet

43
Local artits

• A combination of Jazz and Latin traditional
  music, Editus is a delightful unique band.
• They have won 4 Grammies.
• Listen to samples of their music at
  http//www.edituscr.com/

44
Hotel Costa Rica y Plaza de la Cultura
Located in the heart of San José.
45
Universidad de Costa Rica
46
San José
47
San José
48
La Feria Every Saturday local farmers sell
their products at the outdoors market called LA
FERIA
49
La Feria
50
La Feria
51
Tropical fruitPapaya, mamón chino, y magos.
52
Tropical FruitJocotes, mangos
53
Local Homes

• Costa Ricas homes usually have very strong
  foundations because of the many and common
  tremors and earthquakes.
• Most homes are made of brick.

54
Homes
55
HOMES
56
HOMES
57
View from a Central Valley Home
58
Homes
59
Homes
60
More Homes
61
The Pacific Coast
62
The Pacific Coast
63
The Pacific Coast
64
Iguana
65
White Faced Monkey
66
Sloth ( Perezoso)
67
Toucans Parrots
68
Monteverde ( Rain Forest)

• Heaven on earth

69
Butterflies
70
Red Eyed Frog
71
Hummingbirds
72
The Sky Trek Canopy tours

• The closest you can ever feel to heaven still
  being on earth.

73
Sky Walk
74
Exotic Flowers Orquids
75
Arenal Volcano
76
Arenal Volcano
77
The crater
78
Tabacon Hot Springs
79
La Paz Waterfall
80
Tortuguero
81
Activities you can enjoy in Costa Rica

• Bird Watching
• Surfing
• Scuba diving
• Fishing
• Windsurfing

• Snorkeling
• Kayaking
• Horse back riding
• Whitewater Rafting
• Tropical Bungee

82
Scuba Diving

• Wonderful both in the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts.

83
Surfing

• Witches Rock is the most famous spot

84
Horse Back Riding
85
Whitewater Rafting
86
Costa Rican Peoplecommonly called TICOS

• Tico comes from the diminutives suffixed by
  Costa Ricans to almost every word which helps to
  soften the speech appears more approachable
  when interacting with others.
• Ticos are known for being very warm caring.

87
TICOS
PURA VIDA
The phrase that embodies the Tico lifestyle is
Pura Vida, literally translated as Pure Life,
meaning roughly "This is living!" or "Cool!"
Friends often greet or salute eachother with
Pura vida
88
Education Children

• Is the governments greatest priority.

89
Oscar Arias Children
90
TICOS
91
Costa Ricans love salsa, merengue and folkloric
music
92
Costa Rican Typical Food

• The staple of the Costa Rican diet consist of
  rice and beans.
• Food is very natural savory although not spicy.

93
Fruit is included in almost every meal.
94
Tropical Fruit
Coconut
Guanábana
Papaya
95
Pejibaye
It is boiled first and then eaten with mayonnaise
and lemon.
96
Gallo Pinto

• Black Rice Beans mixed together. It is a
  typical breakfast dish.
• Very tasty colorful calls for onion, garlic,
  cilantro and red bell pepper Salsa Lizano, a
  spicy salsa made in Costa Rica.

97
Plantains
Although they look like bananas, they are not
bananas. They belong to the same family but are
different. They maybe boiled, fried or baked.
They are very sweet and yummy.
98
Arroz con pollo
It is the weekend dish and the most commonly
served at family gatherings and partys. The
chicken is mixed in the rice.
99
Casado
A casado consists of black beans, rice, potato
hash, salad, plantain and any type meat. It could
be served with chicken, steak, fish, etc.
100
Empanadas
Empanadas are made of a fine pastry filled with
beef, chicken, potatoes, or fruit. They could be
salty or sweet.
101
Lengua en Salsa
Believe it or not Cow tongue is a delicatessen
in Costa Rica. It is made for special holidays
or celebrations.
102
Tamales

• It is one of Costa Ricas most traditional
  dishes. They may look like a simple dish but
  they take an entire day to make. They are made
  out of corn and wrapped in a banana leaf.
  Tamales are filled with pork, rice and
  vegetables.
• They are traditionally eaten during the holidays.

103
Carne rellena
A traditional holiday dish. It is very similar
to a Costa Rican style tamal but made with ground
beef.
Sr. Gerardo Jara Heredia, Costa Rica
104
Tres Leches
A traditional Latin American dessert. Every
country has its own variety but they all call for
3 milks , evaporated, condensed whipping
cream. It is very refreshing
105
Pan ( Bread)
Costa Ricans eat bread 3 times a day. At
breakfast, as a snack and at coffee break in the
afternoons around 400 pm. In the cities, there
is a bakery shop almost on every corner. When
riding the bus, the smell of fresh bread is
everywhere.
106
Coffee
The smell of fresh brewed coffee is
everywhere. Coffee is not only one of Costa
Ricas main income sources but an excuse to chat
and relax. Costa Ricans drink coffee anytime as
an excuse to take a break and socialize.
107
National brands
108
National brands
109
Coffee Britt
110
Salsa Lizano

• There is no gallo pinto without Salsa lizano.

111
National Emblems

• La guaria Morada.
• The national Flower

112
El Yugüirro

• The National Bird

113
El árbol de Guanacaste

• The national Tree

114
La carreta

• The oxcart used to transport coffee in the 19th
  century. Now it is a popular souvenir and
  decoration.

115
El escudo

• The National Emblem.
• Represents the seven
• provinces, the two oceans
• a new nation with great
• hope for a wonderful
• future for its children and
• future generations

116
La Bandera

• The national flag.
• Blue represent the sky which we all share.
• Red represents the blood sacrificed for the
  countrys freedom.
• White represents the peace that Costa Ricans
  enjoy and treasure so much

117
Peace Democracy Costa Ricans way of living
most precious treasure
118
A Costa Rican Sunset