Cultural Diversity
San José, Costa Rica, is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with a rich culture. The city is home to a diverse population of people from all over the world, and this diversity is reflected in the city's many cultural offerings. San José is a great place to experience the arts, with a variety of museums, theaters, and music venues. The city is also home to a number of festivals and celebrations throughout the year, which offer a glimpse into Costa Rican culture. San José is a great place to learn about Costa Rican culture and to experience the many things that make the country so special.
Health
Costa Rica's universal health care system is one of the best in Latin America, and it provides free or low-cost care to all citizens. It is funded by a combination of taxes and social security contributions. This health care system focuses on prevention and early detection of disease. Costa Rica has a high life expectancy and a low infant mortality rate.
Education
Costa Rica's education system is highly regarded in Latin America, and the country has made significant progress in recent years in improving access to quality education for all children. The government has invested heavily in education, and the results are clear: Costa Rica now has one of the highest literacy rates in the region, and its students consistently score well on international standardized tests. The country's education system is also highly diversified, with a wide range of options available to students from all backgrounds.
Language
The primary and official language of Costa Rica is Spanish. That said you will hear some different dialects of Spanish, including Spanish from Nicaragua, Panama, Columbia, Spain, and Mexico. Spanish in Costa Rica is unique to the area. It has unique sayings and phrases. For example Pura Vida (Pure Life) and Tuanis (Cool or laidback). Many black people, especially on the Caribbean coast, speak Patois, a traditional Jamaican dialect of English. About 10 percent of the population speak English as a second language. Other languages you might hear are German, Chinese, French, Italian or Portuguese.
Religion
The official religion of Costa Rica is Catholic. You will see it in the traditions and definitely on holidays as many locals flood the streets for Holy Week or Easter. Roughly 70 percent of the Costa Rican communities are Roman Catholic. Other religions include Evangelical Protestants and Jehovah’s Witnesses. About 10 percent of the population identifies themselves with another religion or is non-religious.
Costa Rican Coffee
Costa Rican coffee is often considered to be some of the best in the world. The country's climate and soil are ideal for growing high quality beans, and much of the country's history and economic development is due to this crop. Costa Rica is also a leader in sustainable coffee production. Many coffee farms in the country are certified as organic or fair trade. Whether you have a cup at a local restaurant or in a cafe, be sure to sit back, relax, and enjoy some of Costa Rica's biggest expertise: coffee.