Costa Rica is a motorcyclist's paradise. Blessed with great weather, a never ending variety of roads and trails and a population that truly loves motorcycles, it is an inviting and yet an exhilarating place to ride. Clearly Costa Rica offers some of the best and most varied riding available anywhere in the world.

The Central Valley or plateau around San José has an altitude of 1,165 meters or 3,880 ft. Because of its location an almost constant temperature of 20°C or 68°F all year round, Costa Rica's climate is considered the healthiest climate of the world according to a NASA research. Depending on the altitude and the region in which you are, you can find a great variety of micro-climates. Cool, wet and very green mountain ranges, where many dairy farmers have established themselves; rain forests and dry tropical forests; the wet Caribbean coast and the dry Pacific coast; and cloud forests. This large variety of climates is responsible for an incredible array of plants and animals -9,000 species of flowering plants, 1,200 of orchids, 850 of birds, 205 of mammals, and 376 of reptiles and amphibians.

You will find Costa Rica (Spanish for "Rich Coast") is about the size of West Virginia. Ten percent of the country's 4 million inhabitants live in San José, and more than half of the population lives in the Central Valley around the capital in less than 20% of the total territory. Costa Rica is a founding member of the United Nations since 1945. It has a length of about 500 km. and a width of 150 km. There are several active volcanoes here: Irazú, Poás, Rincón de la Vieja and Arenal, the most active of all with eruptions every 15 minutes. The highest mountain, Cerro Chirripó, stands at 3,820 m. or about 12,000 ft. high. The coastline, with its three peninsulas (Osa, Nicoya, and Papagayo); has a length of 1,800 km. About one sixth of the country's territory has been set apart for national parks or wildlife refuges. The country also includes famous Cocos Island, which lays 500 km off the Pacific coast. Eighty percent of the population is of Spanish origin. About 40,000 Indigenous live mostly in isolated forests. Up to this date, some 250,000 foreigners live in Costa Rica.

WHEN TO VISIT:
The optimal season in Costa Rica, December through April, is the dry season. The rainy season, which lasts from May to November, usually sees sunny mornings, with rain showers in late afternoon and evening. Secondary roads can become rutted during those months, and four-wheel drive vehicles are strongly recommended. Overall, the climate is tropical, with an average temperature of 72°F (22°C). It can be much hotter along the coastal areas of the country and much cooler in the mountains.

MONEY:
Costa Rican currency is the colon (co-LOAN). It floats daily against the dollar and can be exchanged at banks and change booths. American dollars and major credit cards are acceptable almost everywhere, except in small business establishments or hotels and restaurants in remote locations. Travelers' checks are not exchanged as favorably as cash. If you pay by credit card, a small surcharge is sometimes added. ATMs are available in most cities and towns with bank offices.

PEOPLE:
The population of Costa Rica is now approximately 4,000,000 people, include 40,000 natives who belong to eight different cultural groups. The official language is Spanish, but many of the people speak some English, a required course in all schools. Costa Ricans are affectionately known as Ticos (TEA-coes) - and you would be hard pressed to find a friendlier and more welcoming culture.

EDUCATION:
Costa Rica's constitution requires 6% of its Gross Domestic Product be dedicated to education - and as a result it has a higher literacy rate (95%) than the United States. Compulsory education exists since 1843. Costa Rica's high education levels - besides the absence of a military - are probably what make it the most politically stable country in Latin America.

RELIGION:
Catholicism is the dominant religion, as it is in most of Latin America. Consequently, nearly all major holidays are religious in nature. The government and popular culture is secular, though still conservative.

ELECTRICITY:
The voltage throughout the country is 110, the same as in North America. However, three-prong outlets are scarce, so bring along an adapter if you need one. Travelers with appliances set for 220 will need an adapter that changes the voltage and allows for use of a different plug.

TIME ZONES:
Costa Rica is on Central Standard Time, six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time and one hour behind EST in the States. It does not currently use daylight saving time.

SAFETY AND CRIME:
Costa Rica is a safe destination for 99% of its tourists, but it's always a good idea to exercise caution whenever one travels. In general, the country has a low crime rate. In most cases, crimes are simple thievery - non-violent crimes of opportunity, so just exercise caution, as anywhere in the world. Additionally, most eco-adventures involve some sort of danger, so be sure to use less testosterone and more common sense when deciding on your level of participation in these activities. There has been no military in Costa Rica since 1948 when it was banned constitutionally.

WATER:
Tap water is safe to drink in most all areas of Costa Rica and is generally not a problem. If you are in more remote areas, you may want to drink bottled water.