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Culture of Costa Rica

The first European explorer to encounter Costa Rica was the Great Navigator himself, Christopher Columbus. Costa Rica is known as the "Switzerland of the Americas" and has a strong democratic tradition and a long history of dispute resolution.

It is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua in the north, Panama to the south, Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east.

There is evidence of human habitation in Costa Rica as early as 10,000 BC in the southern Turrialba Valley.

Ceramic artifacts have been dated to 1500 BC, although they are not abundant and widely scattered.

After 400 BC, there was a dramatic increase in population, trade, agricultural sophistication, and social complexity.

Costa Rica is a democratic republic with more than 115 years of democracy and a strong constitution. It is seen as one of the most stable countries in Latin America. Costa Rica has avoided the violence that has plagued Central America; it is seen as an example of political stability in the region.

Costa Rica Culture. The culture of Costa Rica, located in the center of the American Continent, is strongly influenced by Spain, as a result of the conquest by this European country.

The country was inhabited since at least 5000 years B.C; but these aborigines were few in number in comparison to the big Pre-Columbian civilizations.

Christopher Columbus discovered and baptized Costa Rica in 1502 during his fourth trip. After that, the representatives of the Spanish government and the Catholic Church let the country develop itself, separated from the historic trends of Latin America, making the country very singular for some historians.

Other historians do not agree with this criterion and think that the culture of this nation was strengthened by the influence of powerful indigenous civilizations such as the Incas, in South America, and the Aztecs in North America. Although Spanish influence is evident. Its customs, mainly religious, are part of the folklore of this Central American nation.

The conquerors planted seeds that were the base of future governing descendant generations. Indigenous tribes are less than one percent of the total population of the country. Some characteristics of their legacy survive in the designing of jewelry, leather articles and clothes.

Historically the economy of Costa Rica has been based on agriculture, including the production of coffee, bananas, pineapples, and ornamentals, but in recent times, electronics, pharmaceuticals, ecotourism, financial outsourcing and software development have become the prime industries.

The locals of Costa Rica refer to themselves as "Tico" which means very friendly, helpful, laid back, unhurried, educated and environmentally aware people. Costa Rican traditions and culture tend to retain a strong degree of Spanish influence. Their spoken accent is rather different than its Central American counterparts.

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