Central America.

GMT - 6.

51,100 sq km (19,730 sq miles).

4.25 million (2004).

83.1 per sq km.

San José. Population: 328,293 (official estimate 2002) (Province of San San José: 1.1 million).

Costa Rica, lying between Nicaragua and Panama, is a complete coast-to-coast segment of the Central American isthmus. Its width ranges from 119km to 282km (74 to 176 miles). A low thin line of hills, that rises between Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean in Nicaragua, broadens and rises as it enters northern Costa Rica, eventually forming the high, rugged, mountains of volcanic origin in the centre and south. The highest peak is Chirripó Grande, which reaches 3820m (12,530ft). More than half the population live on the Meseta Central, a plateau with an equitable climate. It is rimmed to the southwest by the Cordillera range, and provides the setting for the country’s capital, San José. There are lowlands on both coastlines, mainly swampy on the Caribbean coast, with grassland savannah on the Pacific side merging into mangrove towards the south. Rivers cut through the mountains, flowing down to both the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Under the constitution of 1949, executive power is vested in the President, supported by two Vice-Presidents and an appointed Cabinet of Ministers. The President is elected for a 4-year term by universal adult suffrage (voting is obligatory), conditional on one candidate receiving more than 40 per cent of the vote. Legislation is the responsibility of the 57-member National Assembly, which is also elected for a 4-year term of office.

Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1821. Head of State and Government: President Oscar Arias since 2006. Recent history: Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias won the Presidential elections held in February 2006. The election on 5 February became Costa Rica's hardest-fought vote in the last four decades. Otton Solis, his rival, only gave up after losing a manual recount and a series of legal challenges. Mr Arias is committed to taking Costa Rica into a controversial free trade pact with the United States.

Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken. Some French, German and Italian is also spoken.

Almost entirely Christian, with Roman Catholic majority.

Handshaking is common and forms of address are important. Christian names are preceded by Don for a man and Doña for a woman. Normal courtesies should be observed when visiting someone’s home and gifts are appreciated as a token of thanks, especially if invited for a meal. For most occasions casual wear is acceptable, but beachwear should be confined to the beach.

110 volts AC, 60Hz. Two-pin plugs are standard.