Costa Rica, one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, lives on a belief system of “Pura Vida” or “Pure Life.” What better place to live and spread pure life by volunteering? Costa Rica has a high standard of environmentalism thanks to green farming techniques and a ban on recreational hunting. The largest industries in Costa Rica are pharmaceuticals, software development, and coffee farming and production. Costa Rica is a success story in many respects. They excel in Latin America in areas like environmentalism, medicine, and education. The capital city, San José, has a large European influence, so visitors to Costa Rica can also experience some Spanish culture and architecture. Outside of the urban areas, Costa Rica offers tropical rainforests and warm, sandy beaches filled with unique flora and fauna that can’t be found in such conditions anywhere else in the world.
The Latin American country’s population is just over four million (typically smiling) people. Costa Ricans have a very high respect for education. The country has one of the highest literacy rates in Latin America; 95 percent of the country’s population can read and write. Most Costa Rican adults can also speak a second language besides Spanish.
Costa Rica has a mostly European influence, so 70 percent of the population is Catholic, 14 percent are Protestant, and 11 percent are non-religious. There is a religion called Animism practiced in Costa Rica that focuses on the spiritual qualities of the natural elements, which makes sense considering all the natural areas in the country.
Costa Rica has a mostly rainforest type of environment which means it is tropical all year. Instead of the traditional seasons, Costa Rica experiences two: dry and wet. The “summer,” or dry season, is from December to April and the “winter,” or wet season, is from May to November. In wet season, there is rainfall nearly everyday. Temperatures are between 63 and 82 degrees fahrenheit all year round. The best time to go to Costa Rica would be during the dry season, or spring semester for students.
Remember that Costa Rica is a very environmentally conscious country, so bringing a plastic umbrella into the jungle that may break and then thrown away is not seen as the best remedy against the rain; it can also be a hassle to store if not wearing a backpack. Instead, wear a raincoat with a hood for both practicality and respect of the environment. Rubber boots or Wellingtons are good work shoes for certain environments and can be rented or purchased in many places in Costa Rica, but any waterproof hiking shoe will be beneficial. Lightweight clothing is best if not near a washing machine, and cotton clothing will be best against the humidity. The best gadget to bring is a flashlight that does not require batteries such as those that can be charged by shaking or cranking.
Costa Rican cuisine is a blend of Native American, Spanish, African, and many other cuisine origins. Rice and black beans are staple foods and can be seen as a side to most dishes. Gallo pinto is a breakfast dish of rice and beans mixed with onions and bell peppers. It is considered to be the national dish. Arroz con pollo, or chicken and rice, with a Russian salad is often eaten for special occasions and family gatherings. A popular snack is plaintain chips, sometimes with a lime flavor.
The currency in Costa Rica is the Costa Rican colón (CRC). The symbol for colones is ₡. The bills are comprised of 500, 1000, 5000, and 10,000 notes while coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, and 100. U.S. dollars are accepted in some locations in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica, while its official language is Spanish, has slight differences in the phonetics and meanings in its language. To put it in perspective, it’s like taking standard American English and comparing the accents of Minnesota and Alabama. Consonants are dropped and some letters are slurred together. The biggest difference is that the Costa Ricans use “vos” where traditional Spanish may use “tu”. Costa Rican Spanish is much like Spanish in Spain. Over 11 percent of adults speak English, and many others speak German or French as a second language. Creole-English is spoken along the coast.
People commonly greet each other with a light kiss on the cheek; men, though, should not do this to other men. Because Costa Rica is predominantly Catholic, religious values and some conversation topics are avoided. Costa Ricans are very polite and courteous. Giving gifts to a host is a polite gesture, but avoid giving lilies, as they are reserved for funerals.
Costa Ricans are also very celebratory people. One of the biggest holidays celebrated is St. Joseph’s Day in March. San José, the capital city, is named after St. Joseph; the city celebrates with a parade and religious ceremonies. Mothers Day is especially honored in Costa Rica. Independence day is September 15th and is celebrated in every province.
A popular attraction for visitors to see is the Arenal Volcano in the northern part of the country. It’s made of two peaks, one of which still spits rocks of cooled lava! Zip lining through the rainforest in Monteverde area is also popular, but be careful that monkeys are not on the line, which is common. The northwest has many resorts and sandy beaches so it’s a popular tourist location.
While Costa Rica is high in literacy rates, environmental efforts, and overall has a clean bill of health, it takes a lot of work to get that way. Costa Rica is a popular volunteer destination for very good reasons: the people are welcoming of volunteers and there are plenty of areas to volunteer. Turtle conservation, providing clean drinking water in rural areas, teaching English to both children and adults, providing medical care, and many other volunteer projects are available.
International visitors do not need a visa if staying in Costa Rica for up to 90 days, but the individual programs will let their candidates know if they need specific work permits or vaccinations.