Some informationabout Costa Rica from the U.S. Department of State:
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Area: 51,100 sq. km (19,730 sq. mi.) about the size of the states of Vermont and New Hampshire combined.
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Costa Rican(s).
Population (2007 est.): 4.13 million.
Government Type: Democratic republic.
Independence: September 15, 1821.
Constitution: November 7, 1949.
Unlike many of their Central American neighbors, present-day Costa Ricans are largely of European rather than mestizo descent; Spain was the primary country of origin. However, an estimated 10% to 15% of the population is Nicaraguan, of fairly recent arrival and primarily of mestizo origin.
Costa Rica's major economic resources are its fertile land and frequent rainfall, its well-educated population, and its location in the Central American isthmus, which provides easy access to North and South American markets and direct ocean access to the European and Asian Continents. One-fourth of Costa Rica's land is dedicated to national forests, often adjoining picturesque beaches, which has made the country a popular destination for affluent retirees and eco-tourists
And here are a couple of paragraphs from the CRUISE PAGE of the official site of the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo, which is called "Costa Rica - NO Artificial Ingredients."
LAND AHOY!
This country´s port industry honors the name of “Costa Rica”, which in English means “rich coast”. Each cruise ship that comes to its coasts will find optimum conditions for disembarkation: Specialized operators, excellent flotilla, surveillance and security from the Ministry of Public Safety, traffic police, and ambulances. Professional guides will be waiting to take tourists along the many available tours that will attract everyone.
Costa Ricans value highly the great natural treasures they have inherited. At the present time, approximately 25% of the territory has several protected areas: National Parks, Biological Reserves, National Wildlife Refuges. This exotic display of flora and fauna, is waiting for tourists from all over the world in a unique place, different from any other destination.
Puerto Limón, the most important spot in the Caribbean for cruise calls, awaits visitors with an exuberant vegetation and its friendly Afro-Caribbean culture.
When you arrive in Limón, you will find many options to enjoy your visit.
In the Northern Caribbean region you can be more in contact with nature while visiting the Tortuguero National Park. This zone offers bird watch, turtle watch, sailing along canals, and an enormous variety of flora to complete the tour.
The Southern Caribbean region has beautiful beaches. Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, and Gandoca Manzanillo are the villages that best represent the Caribbean flavor, shown in their architecture and cuisine.
All this scenic beauty is complemented by an excellent tour system. They offer a great variety of options for the visitor: Canopy tours, horseback tours, nature observation, the canals of Tortuguero, visits to pineapple plantations, tropical flower plantations, sugar haciendas or banana plantations and even a city tour.
The Port of Moin is 8.2 kms to the west from Limón. It is located at 10°00´ N and 83°05 W. The Limon-Moin port complex is one of the most important of its kind in Central America. It connects Costa Rica with major international markets in the United States, Latin America, and Europe.
Puntarenas and Caldera are the two main ports in the Costa Rican Pacific coast. These two ports are run by the INCOP (Port Authority for the Pacific Region ).
Leaving from Puntarenas or Caldera, tourists will be less than 2 hours away from the many exciting tours of the zone: National Parks in the Middle Pacific region, like Manuel Antonio and Carara. In the Central Valley, there is the awesome Poas Volcano and Sarchí, where tourists will find a wide display of the work of local artisans at affordable prices. San José, the capital city, is approximately 2 hours away from Puntarenas.
The Central Pacific region has numerous interesting options, like: tours on Horseback, alligator watch, aerial trams, white water rafting, and walks along bridges suspended from the tree tops.
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