![\"costa](\"https:\/\/d2ijz6o5xay1xq.cloudfront.net\/account_5373\/DSC_1617_0278b390c86d2b27b242e34315e6b6dc_800.JPG)
<\/picture><\/figure>\nWHY IS THERE NO ARMY IN COSTA RICA?<\/strong><\/h3>\nL'in Costa Rica was abolished<\/strong> at 1949<\/strong> by the new democratically elected president Jose \"Pepe\" Figuere<\/strong>s. Figueres\u00ab election followed the so-called \u00bb44-Day Civil War,\u201d which claimed 1,000 lives in 1948 after Otilo Blanco\u2019s government was not recognized. Figueres, the head of the army, took charge of the country and organized new democratic elections. He abolished the army and enacted a new constitution. He went on to win the elections.<\/p>\nCosta Rica is one of 28 countries in the world that do not have an army (such as Monaco, Liechtenstein, Andorra, etc.); it has a police force and enjoys indirect but strong political support from its North American \u201cbig brother\u201d and the international community.<\/p>\n
HOW DID SPANISH COLONIZATION DEVELOP IN COSTA RICA?<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"San](\"https:\/\/d2ijz6o5xay1xq.cloudfront.net\/account_5373\/CostaRicienSanJos_0d8443802631bedf6c5afb0f16523ce5_800.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\nCosta Rica was discovered in 1502 by Christopher Columbus during his final voyage to the Americas (\u00abAh, what a rich coast!\u00bb he exclaimed).<\/p>\n
However, the Spanish colonial administration did not truly take root in Costa Rica during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Instead, it focused on colonizing areas such as Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru\u2014where large and wealthy civilizations (the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas) already existed\u2014in order to exploit the gold.<\/p>\n
Subjugating these great civilizations was relatively easy. This was because they were already in decline and were organized into a pyramidal hierarchy (so all that was needed to subjugate the civilization was to replace the leaders at the top of the organization\u2014the local chieftains and indigenous priests).<\/p>\n
In addition to gold, the Spanish colonizers were also seeking sugar. They would find it in Cuba, where they imported Black slaves from the West Indies. In this context, Costa Rica had neither a well-organized indigenous population (estimated at 400,000 people, divided into scattered clans and tribes), nor gold, nor coastlines suitable for sugarcane plantations (there were a huge number of mosquitoes on the Caribbean coast). The region has therefore always been considered a remote and wild province.<\/p>\n
The country\u2019s economic development did not begin until the 18th century, with the emergence of coffee\u2014and later bananas\u2014as primary export commodities (a widespread economic trend in Latin America). As a result, there are no cities or Spanish colonial architecture here, as there are in other Latin American countries.<\/p>\n
WHY DO WE LEARN FRENCH AT SCHOOL IN COSTA RICA?<\/strong><\/h3>\nFrance has always had a strong influence in Costa Rica. This link is due to historical circumstances, and numerous agreements and conventions have been put in place between the two countries.<\/p>\n
IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN THE FRENCH FLAG AND THE COSTA RICA FLAG?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Costa Rican flag was inspired by the French flag. It was designed by Ms. Fernandez Pacifica.
\nBlue: sky; white: purity; red: the blood of all Costa Ricans; white: freedom; blue: the sea<\/p>\n
WHERE DO THE NATIVES LIVE? ARE THEY OF MAYAN ORIGIN?<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Bribris](\"https:\/\/d2ijz6o5xay1xq.cloudfront.net\/account_5373\/DSC_2464_4462946c3e3279b2729c69c077775c4c_800.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\nThe indigenous peoples of Costa Rica have two different origins:
\n\u2013 The first group, located in the northwestern part of the country (present-day Guanacaste), came from the north (Mexico) and were called the Chorotega (the name is thought to derive from the ancient village they occupied in Mexico, \u00abCholula3\u201d or \u201cChlouteca\u201d). They are believed to have arrived around the 8th century due to conflict with the Olmecs. The more warlike Olmecs were expanding their territory, prompting the Chorotegas to flee southward and into the rest of Central America. The basis of their economic activity was maize (in addition to cacao, cotton, tobacco, and numerous other fruits). Their rectangular houses were arranged around a central plaza. Society was organized into three classes: priests and warrior nobles, commoners, and prisoners of war and slaves. This society was organized into clans. They practiced human sacrifice as part of their rituals.<\/p>\n
\u2013 The second group, who came from the south and from Colombia and were of Chibcha origin, settled in the Talamanca Cordillera and the Central Valley. They were known for their skill in working with gold and other metals. They settled further north in Costa Rica to engage in trade (Costa Rica being considered a bridge between north-south migratory flows). Although considered less warlike, they were nonetheless skilled in the art of war. Women also participated in this art (see the \u00abbiritecas,\u00bb Boruca Indians, related to the Amazons). They had close ties to the indigenous communities of Chiriqu\u00ed in Panama. Their houses had a conical shape and were called \u00abpalenques.\u00bb They were also known for their pottery. They were well-organized and often settled in strategic locations at the confluence of two rivers (see Guayabo). The population is moving northward and toward the Atlantic.
\nToday, the vast majority of indigenous communities have become acculturated and have lost their languages and traditions. Only the Maquenques in the north near Guatuso, and the BriBris, Borucas, and Diquis in the south on either side of the Talamanca Range live in isolated regions and have preserved certain customs and traditions.<\/p>\n
IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN THE FRENCH FLAG AND THE COSTA RICA FLAG?<\/strong><\/h4>\n![\"Costa](\"https:\/\/d2ijz6o5xay1xq.cloudfront.net\/account_5373\/drapeau-costa-rica_6e9c0425df5a6477a5437e9f29845359_800.jpg\")
<\/picture>Costa Ric Flag<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Costa Rican flag was inspired by the French flag. It was designed by Ms. Fernandez Pacifica.
\nBlue: sky; white: purity; red: the blood of all Costa Ricans; white: freedom; blue: the sea<\/p>\n
IN WHAT YEAR DID COSTA RICA BECOME INDEPENDENT AND IN WHAT CONTEXT?<\/strong><\/h4>\nIn 1821, Costa Rica issued a joint declaration of independence with four other Central American provinces\u2014Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua\u2014while Belize was British and Panama still belonged to what is now Colombia. Costa Rica was briefly part of Agust\u00edn Iturbide\u2019s Mexican Empire, and later of the United Provinces of the Americas (between 1823 and 1839). The capital was moved from Cartago to San Jos\u00e9 in 1824, following a brief civil war between supporters of the Mexican Empire\u2014based in the former capital\u2014and the emerging bourgeoisie in favor of the United Provinces, based in San Jos\u00e9. Although the recently independent states formed a federation, disputes over border demarcation compounded previous conflicts. Consequently, the Costa Rican province of Guanacaste, located in the north of the country, was annexed by Nicaragua. In 1838, by which time the Federation had long since ceased to function de facto, Costa Rica officially withdrew from it, asserting its sovereignty.
\n(Source: Wikipedia).<\/p>\n
WHEN DID COFFEE GROWING BEGIN IN COSTA RICA? AND NOW?<\/strong><\/h4>\n![\"Costa](\"https:\/\/d2ijz6o5xay1xq.cloudfront.net\/account_5373\/GrainsCaffincaFortuna_85bbc9df6bf576ea03fa962b14efe705_800.jpg\")
<\/picture>RI<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nA short history of coffee in Costa Rica :<\/strong>\u00a0It is said that the English were the ones who introduced coffee to Costa Rica.<\/p>\nAt first, Costa Ricans didn\u2019t see the plant\u2019s commercial potential; at the time, they used it only as a decorative element in their patios. As the years went by, a law required Ticos to grow at least two coffee plants on their property\u2026<\/p>\n
As early as 1830, many\u00a0fincas<\/em>(coffee) were mainly planted in the central valley, where the climate was ideal at altitudes of 1,200 m and above, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 28\u00b0C . Coffee was transported to the port of PUNTARENAS in the famous colorful ox carts. Coffee became one of the country's most important resources.\u00a0The Coffee Barons (Cafetaleros)\u00a0<\/em>built the neoclassical buildings that were so fashionable at the time in San Jos\u00e9.\u00a0Th\u00e9\u00e2tre National*.\u00a0<\/strong>Today there are some 80,000 coffee growers, but more than\u00a095 beneficios\u00a0<\/em>(processing centers). Yields are the best in the world. Despite the collapse in prices in recent years, coffee is still\u00a0to 4th place in the economy\u00a0<\/strong>behind tourism, bananas and pineapples.<\/p>\n*The National Theatre\u00a0<\/strong>in neoclassical style, was built (inaugurated in October 1897) thanks to a tax on coffee exports. The magnificent coffee allegory is also featured on the 5-colon banknote (no longer in circulation).<\/em><\/p>\nFrom harvest to cup:\u00a0<\/strong>from November to March* the\u00a0picking\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>In contrast to other countries, Costa Rica produces only top-quality coffees (among the best in the world), and only perfectly ripe fruit is picked. One of the disadvantages of this method is the need to make several passes, as not all cherries from the same plant are ripe at the same time. After picking, you need to\u00a0separates\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>This operation is carried out using a machine with a rotating drum (\"d\u00e9pulpeuse\"). Once the kernels\u00a0separated and washed\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>comes the\u00a0drying\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>This can be done either in the open air, using the sun's rays, or using an industrial system, in large drums where hot air from wood-fired ovens is propelled through the drums. The grains are then\u00a0roasted\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>i.e. burnt (it is said that the benefits of roasted coffee were discovered by chance after a fire in Africa burnt down wild coffee trees...),\u00a0roasting\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>is fundamental to the quality of the drink. Great art...
\n* which is why the long school vacations were decided around this time. Children used to be able to take part in the harvesting work.<\/em><\/p>\nIn Costa Rica:<\/strong> Grano de Oro\u00a0<\/em>This is what Costa Ricans call coffee beans. Indeed, these\u00a0Grains of Gold\u00a0<\/em>These brought them wealth and, consequently, development.
\nIn general, the\u00a0cherry\u00a0<\/em>contains a\u00a0double bean\u00a0<\/em>But especially in Costa Rica, \"nature's kingdom\", the cherry sometimes produces a single seed, called a \"cherry seed\".\u00a0\u00a0caracoli\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0\". Some roasters seek them out for their customers, who particularly appreciate coffee roasted exclusively with\u00a0caracoli,\u00a0<\/em>which, it is said, exude a unique aroma... Rarity brings with it a corresponding price, even if some\u00a0fincas\u00a0<\/em>can produce up to 30%. The ideal altitude for coffee plants is between 1,200 and 1,800 meters; the shrub thrives particularly well in volcanic soil. Although the plant prefers warmth, it does not like direct sunlight; this is why it thrives in the Central Valley, where the sun is rarely very strong due to heavy cloud cover.
\nIn the Central Valley, flowering occurs 9 days after the first rains (March\/April). The \u00abcherries\u00bb reach maturity 8 to 10 months after flowering, depending on the altitude. Sometimes\u2014but only at high altitudes\u2014coffee trees bloom 2 to 3 times a year. In Costa Rica, the fruits (beans or cherries) are picked by hand.<\/p>\nThe country stands out as an exception in Latin America; it is the only country where, following agrarian reform, this natural resource is being cultivated by 33,000 small farmers. Organic farming has become increasingly common in the country in recent years.
\nCosta Rica ranks 10th in the world, producing 150,000 metric tons per year. In 2005, coffee brought in 300 million USD for the country, making it the fourth-largest source of revenue.<\/p>\n
\n- What do we (also) do with coffee?<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0The roots of coffee trees are uprooted after 20 to 30 years to renew the plantation; this wood is highly sought after by restaurants and roasteries, and the branches are also used to fuel the kitchen stoves for plantation workers. After composting, the pulp is used in the fields to improve soil structure. For the past few years, trials have been underway to use pressed pulp as fuel for coffee drying ovens.
\nCoffee tree wood is also used to make items for tourists\u2014some decorative, some practical\u2014such as decorative paper, jewelry, and giant pencils. Coffee liqueur and all kinds of sweets, often combined with chocolate, are among the many coffee-based products.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n
\n- The first cosmetics to use the flower of the coffee tree were created in Costa Rica:\u00a0<\/strong>\"Fleur de caf\u00e9\" is a cosmetics line created in Costa Rica from an original idea by Charlotte Robert. After extensive research with international and Costa Rican specialists, Charlotte has developed the world's first three products called \"Mountain Blossom\": an eau de toilette, a body lotion and a mist, all scented with the delicate jasmine-like essence of the coffee flower. These products are on sale in Costa Rica's \"good souvenir stores\", at the\u00a0Libreria Internacional<\/em>\u00a0or by mail order.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
\n- The benefits of coffee:<\/strong>\u00a0(according to La Nation, June 04, 2005)\u00a0\u00a0Caf\u00e9 rico para la salud!\u00a0<\/strong>\"\u00a0Caffeine helps protect against colon cancer, diabetes and Parkinson's disease\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u00bbA French researcher highlights the health benefits of coffee. Drinking coffee may delay the onset of Parkinson's disease and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and colon cancer.\".
\nDrinking 3 to 4 cups a day reduces the likelihood of developing Parkinson\u2019s disease by 2 to 5 times. This conclusion applies to men, since the study was conducted on 8,000 men over a 20-year period.\u00a0The protective compound appears to be caffeine. As for women, a study of postmenopausal women (the stage of life when Parkinson\u2019s most often appears) showed that caffeine helps this group, while it has a negative effect on women taking hormone therapy, increasing their risk of the disease.
\nThese analyses also highlighted the fact that moderate coffee consumption helps prevent type 2 diabetes and colon cancer; in this case, the benefits are thought to be due to another compound: polyphenols. Thus, coffee drinkers (who consume little or no sugar) may reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by 15 to 60 %. By drinking about 4 cups a day, the risk of colon cancer is reportedly reduced by 24%, as polyphenols are antioxidants. Caffeine is found in coffee, of course, but also in tea and chocolate. Costa Ricans consume an average of 4 kg of coffee per year.
\nContrary to some common misconceptions, coffee does not raise blood pressure, cause heart disease, or lead to gastritis. On the contrary, coffee contains substances that help relieve pain (particularly migraines).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n
\n- The main Arabica-producing countries :<\/strong>\u00a070% of world production is Arabica (in thousands of tonnes)
\nBrazil :\u00a0<\/strong>1 320 -\u00a0Colombia:\u00a0<\/strong>450 -\u00a0Mexico :\u00a0<\/strong>325 -\u00a0Guatemala\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0: 235 -\u00a0Ethiopia :\u00a0<\/strong>210...\u00a0Nicaragua :\u00a0<\/strong>60
\nCosta Rica :\u00a0<\/strong>150, i.e. 10th in the world, but the country ranks 1st for yield (900 kg per ha). The country exports 9 tenths of its production.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nWHY ARE TICOS CALLED THAT?<\/strong><\/h4>\nTicos were and still are in the habit of ending their words with the suffix \"tico\": chuiquito petit garcon becomes chiquitico petit gar\u00e7on...<\/p>\n
ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN COSTA RICA? NUCLEAR?<\/strong><\/h4>\nCosta Rica is virtually self-sufficient in energy at 80 %. Electricity production: 80% hydroelectric, 12% geothermal, the rest wind-powered. There is no nuclear power.<\/p>\n
WHEN DID THE CREATION OF PROTECTED AREAS BEGIN? WHY?<\/strong><\/h4>\nCosta Rica's geography has given rise to a multiplicity of ecosystems, from mangrove swamps and coastal rainforests to sub-alpine meadows. The Central American isthmus has served as a bridge between the living species of North and South America, encouraging the mixing of species according to complex filter logics defined by local climatic and orographic conditions. Despite its small size, Costa Rica benefits from an exceptional biodiversity of flora and fauna, thanks to its position on this Central American isthmus. According to the GEO report (MINAE, 2003): \"Costa Rica is one of the 20 countries in the world with a very high diversity of species expressed in total number of species per line unit. As a result, it could be the country with the greatest species diversity in the world, essentially thanks to its geographical position between North and South America.\" Costa Rica is home to an exceptional avifauna: over 2OO species of migratory birds from Alaska and Australia winter here, and almost 850 species have been recorded on the ground. There are some 237 species of mammals and 361 species of reptiles and amphibians. Plant biodiversity is also very high, with over 10,000 species of vascular plants (green plants with conductive tissues) inventoried, and new ones discovered every year. Orchids alone number some 1,300 species.<\/p>\n
Focus on biodiversity<\/h4>\n
However, prior to the 1980s, this rich diversity of flora and fauna was not yet fully appreciated. Environmental conservation was far from being a major concern. In the 1880s, this biodiversity first attracted the interest of North American scientists and researchers drawn to this still-pristine natural environment.<\/p>\n
Despite the government\u2019s early environmental awareness, it was particularly difficult to enforce the few environmental regulations that existed. The reason was the farming practices that were standard in the country at the time. \u00a0Costa Rica\u2019s emergence on the global economic stage in the second half of the 19th century was driven by the local coffee industry and, later, by the rapid growth of the banana industry. Thus, the country\u2019s massive deforestation began with the agricultural boom. The proportion of deforested land rose from 36 % in 1960 to 58 % in 1977 to 68 % in 1984, reaching, in 2000, 89 % (Fournier, p. 14). Even today, many farmers, herders, and residents make their living from forestry. While some practice slash-and-burn agriculture and gather firewood, others are drawn to the economic benefits that forestry provides.<\/p>\n
The creation of SINAC<\/h4>\n
Thus, on the one hand, the government encouraged deforestation by allowing farmers to settle on land covered by natural forest, and on the other hand, it sought to preserve wildlife, which led\u2014at the initiative of the United States\u2014to the creation of protected areas as early as the 1960s, the 1988 Biodiversity Law, and the establishment in 1989 the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), which has since become the Ministry of the Environment and Energy.<\/p>\n
However, in the face of the growing threat posed by deforestation, more than 27 % of the country\u2019s territory has been set aside for protection, including 13 % as part of the national park system, in order to safeguard the country\u2019s various habitats as well as its flora and fauna.
\nUntil then largely unknown, Costa Rica was not yet a subject of interest, except among scientists. It wasn\u2019t until the 1980s\u2014and particularly the year 1985\u2014that attention began to turn toward this small Central American country.<\/p>\n
Founded in 1956, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT)\u2014which is responsible for tourism promotion and development\u2014widely promotes Costa Rica\u2019s image abroad through numerous public relations and destination marketing efforts in North America. The ICT reaped the rewards of its work in the mid-1980s, when the country\u2019s tropical natural environment became a key factor in the decisions of many visitors and began to play a role in the tourism sector through ecotourism.<\/p>\n
Thus, with its stable political image, the growing presence of North American citizens, and the existence of vast protected natural areas, Costa Rica has everything it needs to position itself in the ecotourism market. Costa Rica is easily adapting to tourism, capitalizing on the growing global enthusiasm for travel.<\/p>\n
HOW MANY VOLCANOES ARE THERE IN COSTA RICA? HOW MANY ARE ACTIVE?<\/strong><\/h4>\n![\"Rincon](\"https:\/\/d2ijz6o5xay1xq.cloudfront.net\/account_5373\/volcan_afc43ff15486955fcdbe986baf1a6596_800.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\nIn Costa Rica, every mountain has been or is a volcano. There are more than 400 of them, about 100 of which have been identified and studied by OSVICORI (ICE).
\nThere are 5 active volcanoes in Costa Rica (as of September 17, 2014): Po\u00e1s, Arenal, Rinc\u00f3n de la Vieja, Turrialba, and Iraz\u00fa. The Arenal volcano is gradually entering a dormant phase. It has not emitted any lava flows since 2011. (However, experts say it is not extinct.).<\/p>\n
WHERE AND WHEN TO SEE TURTLES?<\/strong><\/h4>\n![\"Turtle](\"https:\/\/d2ijz6o5xay1xq.cloudfront.net\/account_5373\/Tableaudespontesdetortuescopy_c689b9f8fedef1493f07c569daa1e26a_800.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\nWHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE HUMPBACK WHALES?<\/strong><\/h4>\n![\"whale](\"https:\/\/d2ijz6o5xay1xq.cloudfront.net\/account_5373\/tableaudesbaleinesbosses_94ac1e5a7757e1b71cd55a4868b9a041_800.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\nWHEN TO SEE THE RESPLENDENT QUETZAL?<\/strong><\/p>\nYou can observe it at its best between March, May and June.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Vous vous posez des questions sur le Costa Rica? Voila les r\u00e9ponses aux questions les plus fr\u00e9quentes que nos voyageurs nous posent. POURQUOI N’Y A-T-IL PAS D\u2019ARM\u00c9E AU COSTA RICA? L\u2019arm\u00e9e au Costa Rica a \u00e9t\u00e9 abolie en 1949 par le nouveau pr\u00e9sident \u00e9lu d\u00e9mocratiquement Jose \u00ab\u00a0Pepe\u00a0\u00bb Figueres.\u00a0 L\u2019\u00e9lection de Figueres fait suite \u00e0 la […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4074,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-actualites-au-costa-rica-fr"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Les questions les plus courantes sur le Costa Rica - Morpho Evasions Costa Rica<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Le Costa Rica, sa culture, son histoire, sa faune, sa flore. Les questions les plus fr\u00e9quentes de nos voyageurs sur le Costa Rica.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/morphocostarica.com\/en\/frequently-asked-questions-about-costa-rica\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Les questions les plus courantes sur le Costa Rica - Morpho Evasions Costa Rica\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Le Costa Rica, sa culture, son histoire, sa faune, sa flore. 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Costa Rica is one of 28 countries in the world that do not have an army (such as Monaco, Liechtenstein, Andorra, etc.); it has a police force and enjoys indirect but strong political support from its North American \u201cbig brother\u201d and the international community.<\/p>\n
HOW DID SPANISH COLONIZATION DEVELOP IN COSTA RICA?<\/strong><\/h3>\nCosta Rica was discovered in 1502 by Christopher Columbus during his final voyage to the Americas (\u00abAh, what a rich coast!\u00bb he exclaimed).<\/p>\n
However, the Spanish colonial administration did not truly take root in Costa Rica during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Instead, it focused on colonizing areas such as Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru\u2014where large and wealthy civilizations (the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas) already existed\u2014in order to exploit the gold.<\/p>\n
Subjugating these great civilizations was relatively easy. This was because they were already in decline and were organized into a pyramidal hierarchy (so all that was needed to subjugate the civilization was to replace the leaders at the top of the organization\u2014the local chieftains and indigenous priests).<\/p>\n
In addition to gold, the Spanish colonizers were also seeking sugar. They would find it in Cuba, where they imported Black slaves from the West Indies. In this context, Costa Rica had neither a well-organized indigenous population (estimated at 400,000 people, divided into scattered clans and tribes), nor gold, nor coastlines suitable for sugarcane plantations (there were a huge number of mosquitoes on the Caribbean coast). The region has therefore always been considered a remote and wild province.<\/p>\n
The country\u2019s economic development did not begin until the 18th century, with the emergence of coffee\u2014and later bananas\u2014as primary export commodities (a widespread economic trend in Latin America). As a result, there are no cities or Spanish colonial architecture here, as there are in other Latin American countries.<\/p>\n
WHY DO WE LEARN FRENCH AT SCHOOL IN COSTA RICA?<\/strong><\/h3>\nFrance has always had a strong influence in Costa Rica. This link is due to historical circumstances, and numerous agreements and conventions have been put in place between the two countries.<\/p>\n
IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN THE FRENCH FLAG AND THE COSTA RICA FLAG?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Costa Rican flag was inspired by the French flag. It was designed by Ms. Fernandez Pacifica.
\nBlue: sky; white: purity; red: the blood of all Costa Ricans; white: freedom; blue: the sea<\/p>\n
WHERE DO THE NATIVES LIVE? ARE THEY OF MAYAN ORIGIN?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe indigenous peoples of Costa Rica have two different origins:
\n\u2013 The first group, located in the northwestern part of the country (present-day Guanacaste), came from the north (Mexico) and were called the Chorotega (the name is thought to derive from the ancient village they occupied in Mexico, \u00abCholula3\u201d or \u201cChlouteca\u201d). They are believed to have arrived around the 8th century due to conflict with the Olmecs. The more warlike Olmecs were expanding their territory, prompting the Chorotegas to flee southward and into the rest of Central America. The basis of their economic activity was maize (in addition to cacao, cotton, tobacco, and numerous other fruits). Their rectangular houses were arranged around a central plaza. Society was organized into three classes: priests and warrior nobles, commoners, and prisoners of war and slaves. This society was organized into clans. They practiced human sacrifice as part of their rituals.<\/p>\n
\u2013 The second group, who came from the south and from Colombia and were of Chibcha origin, settled in the Talamanca Cordillera and the Central Valley. They were known for their skill in working with gold and other metals. They settled further north in Costa Rica to engage in trade (Costa Rica being considered a bridge between north-south migratory flows). Although considered less warlike, they were nonetheless skilled in the art of war. Women also participated in this art (see the \u00abbiritecas,\u00bb Boruca Indians, related to the Amazons). They had close ties to the indigenous communities of Chiriqu\u00ed in Panama. Their houses had a conical shape and were called \u00abpalenques.\u00bb They were also known for their pottery. They were well-organized and often settled in strategic locations at the confluence of two rivers (see Guayabo). The population is moving northward and toward the Atlantic.
\nToday, the vast majority of indigenous communities have become acculturated and have lost their languages and traditions. Only the Maquenques in the north near Guatuso, and the BriBris, Borucas, and Diquis in the south on either side of the Talamanca Range live in isolated regions and have preserved certain customs and traditions.<\/p>\n
IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN THE FRENCH FLAG AND THE COSTA RICA FLAG?<\/strong><\/h4>\nCosta Ric Flag<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Costa Rican flag was inspired by the French flag. It was designed by Ms. Fernandez Pacifica.
\nBlue: sky; white: purity; red: the blood of all Costa Ricans; white: freedom; blue: the sea<\/p>\n
IN WHAT YEAR DID COSTA RICA BECOME INDEPENDENT AND IN WHAT CONTEXT?<\/strong><\/h4>\nIn 1821, Costa Rica issued a joint declaration of independence with four other Central American provinces\u2014Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua\u2014while Belize was British and Panama still belonged to what is now Colombia. Costa Rica was briefly part of Agust\u00edn Iturbide\u2019s Mexican Empire, and later of the United Provinces of the Americas (between 1823 and 1839). The capital was moved from Cartago to San Jos\u00e9 in 1824, following a brief civil war between supporters of the Mexican Empire\u2014based in the former capital\u2014and the emerging bourgeoisie in favor of the United Provinces, based in San Jos\u00e9. Although the recently independent states formed a federation, disputes over border demarcation compounded previous conflicts. Consequently, the Costa Rican province of Guanacaste, located in the north of the country, was annexed by Nicaragua. In 1838, by which time the Federation had long since ceased to function de facto, Costa Rica officially withdrew from it, asserting its sovereignty.
\n(Source: Wikipedia).<\/p>\n
WHEN DID COFFEE GROWING BEGIN IN COSTA RICA? AND NOW?<\/strong><\/h4>\nRI<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nA short history of coffee in Costa Rica :<\/strong>\u00a0It is said that the English were the ones who introduced coffee to Costa Rica.<\/p>\nAt first, Costa Ricans didn\u2019t see the plant\u2019s commercial potential; at the time, they used it only as a decorative element in their patios. As the years went by, a law required Ticos to grow at least two coffee plants on their property\u2026<\/p>\n
As early as 1830, many\u00a0fincas<\/em>(coffee) were mainly planted in the central valley, where the climate was ideal at altitudes of 1,200 m and above, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 28\u00b0C . Coffee was transported to the port of PUNTARENAS in the famous colorful ox carts. Coffee became one of the country's most important resources.\u00a0The Coffee Barons (Cafetaleros)\u00a0<\/em>built the neoclassical buildings that were so fashionable at the time in San Jos\u00e9.\u00a0Th\u00e9\u00e2tre National*.\u00a0<\/strong>Today there are some 80,000 coffee growers, but more than\u00a095 beneficios\u00a0<\/em>(processing centers). Yields are the best in the world. Despite the collapse in prices in recent years, coffee is still\u00a0to 4th place in the economy\u00a0<\/strong>behind tourism, bananas and pineapples.<\/p>\n*The National Theatre\u00a0<\/strong>in neoclassical style, was built (inaugurated in October 1897) thanks to a tax on coffee exports. The magnificent coffee allegory is also featured on the 5-colon banknote (no longer in circulation).<\/em><\/p>\nFrom harvest to cup:\u00a0<\/strong>from November to March* the\u00a0picking\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>In contrast to other countries, Costa Rica produces only top-quality coffees (among the best in the world), and only perfectly ripe fruit is picked. One of the disadvantages of this method is the need to make several passes, as not all cherries from the same plant are ripe at the same time. After picking, you need to\u00a0separates\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>This operation is carried out using a machine with a rotating drum (\"d\u00e9pulpeuse\"). Once the kernels\u00a0separated and washed\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>comes the\u00a0drying\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>This can be done either in the open air, using the sun's rays, or using an industrial system, in large drums where hot air from wood-fired ovens is propelled through the drums. The grains are then\u00a0roasted\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>i.e. burnt (it is said that the benefits of roasted coffee were discovered by chance after a fire in Africa burnt down wild coffee trees...),\u00a0roasting\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>is fundamental to the quality of the drink. Great art...
\n* which is why the long school vacations were decided around this time. Children used to be able to take part in the harvesting work.<\/em><\/p>\nIn Costa Rica:<\/strong> Grano de Oro\u00a0<\/em>This is what Costa Ricans call coffee beans. Indeed, these\u00a0Grains of Gold\u00a0<\/em>These brought them wealth and, consequently, development.
\nIn general, the\u00a0cherry\u00a0<\/em>contains a\u00a0double bean\u00a0<\/em>But especially in Costa Rica, \"nature's kingdom\", the cherry sometimes produces a single seed, called a \"cherry seed\".\u00a0\u00a0caracoli\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0\". Some roasters seek them out for their customers, who particularly appreciate coffee roasted exclusively with\u00a0caracoli,\u00a0<\/em>which, it is said, exude a unique aroma... Rarity brings with it a corresponding price, even if some\u00a0fincas\u00a0<\/em>can produce up to 30%. The ideal altitude for coffee plants is between 1,200 and 1,800 meters; the shrub thrives particularly well in volcanic soil. Although the plant prefers warmth, it does not like direct sunlight; this is why it thrives in the Central Valley, where the sun is rarely very strong due to heavy cloud cover.
\nIn the Central Valley, flowering occurs 9 days after the first rains (March\/April). The \u00abcherries\u00bb reach maturity 8 to 10 months after flowering, depending on the altitude. Sometimes\u2014but only at high altitudes\u2014coffee trees bloom 2 to 3 times a year. In Costa Rica, the fruits (beans or cherries) are picked by hand.<\/p>\nThe country stands out as an exception in Latin America; it is the only country where, following agrarian reform, this natural resource is being cultivated by 33,000 small farmers. Organic farming has become increasingly common in the country in recent years.
\nCosta Rica ranks 10th in the world, producing 150,000 metric tons per year. In 2005, coffee brought in 300 million USD for the country, making it the fourth-largest source of revenue.<\/p>\n
\n- What do we (also) do with coffee?<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0The roots of coffee trees are uprooted after 20 to 30 years to renew the plantation; this wood is highly sought after by restaurants and roasteries, and the branches are also used to fuel the kitchen stoves for plantation workers. After composting, the pulp is used in the fields to improve soil structure. For the past few years, trials have been underway to use pressed pulp as fuel for coffee drying ovens.
\nCoffee tree wood is also used to make items for tourists\u2014some decorative, some practical\u2014such as decorative paper, jewelry, and giant pencils. Coffee liqueur and all kinds of sweets, often combined with chocolate, are among the many coffee-based products.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n
\n- The first cosmetics to use the flower of the coffee tree were created in Costa Rica:\u00a0<\/strong>\"Fleur de caf\u00e9\" is a cosmetics line created in Costa Rica from an original idea by Charlotte Robert. After extensive research with international and Costa Rican specialists, Charlotte has developed the world's first three products called \"Mountain Blossom\": an eau de toilette, a body lotion and a mist, all scented with the delicate jasmine-like essence of the coffee flower. These products are on sale in Costa Rica's \"good souvenir stores\", at the\u00a0Libreria Internacional<\/em>\u00a0or by mail order.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
\n- The benefits of coffee:<\/strong>\u00a0(according to La Nation, June 04, 2005)\u00a0\u00a0Caf\u00e9 rico para la salud!\u00a0<\/strong>\"\u00a0Caffeine helps protect against colon cancer, diabetes and Parkinson's disease\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u00bbA French researcher highlights the health benefits of coffee. Drinking coffee may delay the onset of Parkinson's disease and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and colon cancer.\".
\nDrinking 3 to 4 cups a day reduces the likelihood of developing Parkinson\u2019s disease by 2 to 5 times. This conclusion applies to men, since the study was conducted on 8,000 men over a 20-year period.\u00a0The protective compound appears to be caffeine. As for women, a study of postmenopausal women (the stage of life when Parkinson\u2019s most often appears) showed that caffeine helps this group, while it has a negative effect on women taking hormone therapy, increasing their risk of the disease.
\nThese analyses also highlighted the fact that moderate coffee consumption helps prevent type 2 diabetes and colon cancer; in this case, the benefits are thought to be due to another compound: polyphenols. Thus, coffee drinkers (who consume little or no sugar) may reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by 15 to 60 %. By drinking about 4 cups a day, the risk of colon cancer is reportedly reduced by 24%, as polyphenols are antioxidants. Caffeine is found in coffee, of course, but also in tea and chocolate. Costa Ricans consume an average of 4 kg of coffee per year.
\nContrary to some common misconceptions, coffee does not raise blood pressure, cause heart disease, or lead to gastritis. On the contrary, coffee contains substances that help relieve pain (particularly migraines).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n
\n- The main Arabica-producing countries :<\/strong>\u00a070% of world production is Arabica (in thousands of tonnes)
\nBrazil :\u00a0<\/strong>1 320 -\u00a0Colombia:\u00a0<\/strong>450 -\u00a0Mexico :\u00a0<\/strong>325 -\u00a0Guatemala\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0: 235 -\u00a0Ethiopia :\u00a0<\/strong>210...\u00a0Nicaragua :\u00a0<\/strong>60
\nCosta Rica :\u00a0<\/strong>150, i.e. 10th in the world, but the country ranks 1st for yield (900 kg per ha). The country exports 9 tenths of its production.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nWHY ARE TICOS CALLED THAT?<\/strong><\/h4>\nTicos were and still are in the habit of ending their words with the suffix \"tico\": chuiquito petit garcon becomes chiquitico petit gar\u00e7on...<\/p>\n
ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN COSTA RICA? NUCLEAR?<\/strong><\/h4>\nCosta Rica is virtually self-sufficient in energy at 80 %. Electricity production: 80% hydroelectric, 12% geothermal, the rest wind-powered. There is no nuclear power.<\/p>\n
WHEN DID THE CREATION OF PROTECTED AREAS BEGIN? WHY?<\/strong><\/h4>\nCosta Rica's geography has given rise to a multiplicity of ecosystems, from mangrove swamps and coastal rainforests to sub-alpine meadows. The Central American isthmus has served as a bridge between the living species of North and South America, encouraging the mixing of species according to complex filter logics defined by local climatic and orographic conditions. Despite its small size, Costa Rica benefits from an exceptional biodiversity of flora and fauna, thanks to its position on this Central American isthmus. According to the GEO report (MINAE, 2003): \"Costa Rica is one of the 20 countries in the world with a very high diversity of species expressed in total number of species per line unit. As a result, it could be the country with the greatest species diversity in the world, essentially thanks to its geographical position between North and South America.\" Costa Rica is home to an exceptional avifauna: over 2OO species of migratory birds from Alaska and Australia winter here, and almost 850 species have been recorded on the ground. There are some 237 species of mammals and 361 species of reptiles and amphibians. Plant biodiversity is also very high, with over 10,000 species of vascular plants (green plants with conductive tissues) inventoried, and new ones discovered every year. Orchids alone number some 1,300 species.<\/p>\n
Focus on biodiversity<\/h4>\n
However, prior to the 1980s, this rich diversity of flora and fauna was not yet fully appreciated. Environmental conservation was far from being a major concern. In the 1880s, this biodiversity first attracted the interest of North American scientists and researchers drawn to this still-pristine natural environment.<\/p>\n
Despite the government\u2019s early environmental awareness, it was particularly difficult to enforce the few environmental regulations that existed. The reason was the farming practices that were standard in the country at the time. \u00a0Costa Rica\u2019s emergence on the global economic stage in the second half of the 19th century was driven by the local coffee industry and, later, by the rapid growth of the banana industry. Thus, the country\u2019s massive deforestation began with the agricultural boom. The proportion of deforested land rose from 36 % in 1960 to 58 % in 1977 to 68 % in 1984, reaching, in 2000, 89 % (Fournier, p. 14). Even today, many farmers, herders, and residents make their living from forestry. While some practice slash-and-burn agriculture and gather firewood, others are drawn to the economic benefits that forestry provides.<\/p>\n
The creation of SINAC<\/h4>\n
Thus, on the one hand, the government encouraged deforestation by allowing farmers to settle on land covered by natural forest, and on the other hand, it sought to preserve wildlife, which led\u2014at the initiative of the United States\u2014to the creation of protected areas as early as the 1960s, the 1988 Biodiversity Law, and the establishment in 1989 the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), which has since become the Ministry of the Environment and Energy.<\/p>\n
However, in the face of the growing threat posed by deforestation, more than 27 % of the country\u2019s territory has been set aside for protection, including 13 % as part of the national park system, in order to safeguard the country\u2019s various habitats as well as its flora and fauna.
\nUntil then largely unknown, Costa Rica was not yet a subject of interest, except among scientists. It wasn\u2019t until the 1980s\u2014and particularly the year 1985\u2014that attention began to turn toward this small Central American country.<\/p>\n
Founded in 1956, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT)\u2014which is responsible for tourism promotion and development\u2014widely promotes Costa Rica\u2019s image abroad through numerous public relations and destination marketing efforts in North America. The ICT reaped the rewards of its work in the mid-1980s, when the country\u2019s tropical natural environment became a key factor in the decisions of many visitors and began to play a role in the tourism sector through ecotourism.<\/p>\n
Thus, with its stable political image, the growing presence of North American citizens, and the existence of vast protected natural areas, Costa Rica has everything it needs to position itself in the ecotourism market. Costa Rica is easily adapting to tourism, capitalizing on the growing global enthusiasm for travel.<\/p>\n
HOW MANY VOLCANOES ARE THERE IN COSTA RICA? HOW MANY ARE ACTIVE?<\/strong><\/h4>\nIn Costa Rica, every mountain has been or is a volcano. There are more than 400 of them, about 100 of which have been identified and studied by OSVICORI (ICE).
\nThere are 5 active volcanoes in Costa Rica (as of September 17, 2014): Po\u00e1s, Arenal, Rinc\u00f3n de la Vieja, Turrialba, and Iraz\u00fa. The Arenal volcano is gradually entering a dormant phase. It has not emitted any lava flows since 2011. (However, experts say it is not extinct.).<\/p>\n
WHERE AND WHEN TO SEE TURTLES?<\/strong><\/h4>\nWHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE HUMPBACK WHALES?<\/strong><\/h4>\nWHEN TO SEE THE RESPLENDENT QUETZAL?<\/strong><\/p>\nYou can observe it at its best between March, May and June.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Vous vous posez des questions sur le Costa Rica? Voila les r\u00e9ponses aux questions les plus fr\u00e9quentes que nos voyageurs nous posent. POURQUOI N’Y A-T-IL PAS D\u2019ARM\u00c9E AU COSTA RICA? L\u2019arm\u00e9e au Costa Rica a \u00e9t\u00e9 abolie en 1949 par le nouveau pr\u00e9sident \u00e9lu d\u00e9mocratiquement Jose \u00ab\u00a0Pepe\u00a0\u00bb Figueres.\u00a0 L\u2019\u00e9lection de Figueres fait suite \u00e0 la […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4074,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-actualites-au-costa-rica-fr"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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![\"San](\"https:\/\/d2ijz6o5xay1xq.cloudfront.net\/account_5373\/CostaRicienSanJos_0d8443802631bedf6c5afb0f16523ce5_800.jpg)
<\/picture><\/figure>\nCosta Rica was discovered in 1502 by Christopher Columbus during his final voyage to the Americas (\u00abAh, what a rich coast!\u00bb he exclaimed).<\/p>\n
However, the Spanish colonial administration did not truly take root in Costa Rica during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Instead, it focused on colonizing areas such as Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru\u2014where large and wealthy civilizations (the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas) already existed\u2014in order to exploit the gold.<\/p>\n
Subjugating these great civilizations was relatively easy. This was because they were already in decline and were organized into a pyramidal hierarchy (so all that was needed to subjugate the civilization was to replace the leaders at the top of the organization\u2014the local chieftains and indigenous priests).<\/p>\n
In addition to gold, the Spanish colonizers were also seeking sugar. They would find it in Cuba, where they imported Black slaves from the West Indies. In this context, Costa Rica had neither a well-organized indigenous population (estimated at 400,000 people, divided into scattered clans and tribes), nor gold, nor coastlines suitable for sugarcane plantations (there were a huge number of mosquitoes on the Caribbean coast). The region has therefore always been considered a remote and wild province.<\/p>\n
The country\u2019s economic development did not begin until the 18th century, with the emergence of coffee\u2014and later bananas\u2014as primary export commodities (a widespread economic trend in Latin America). As a result, there are no cities or Spanish colonial architecture here, as there are in other Latin American countries.<\/p>\n
WHY DO WE LEARN FRENCH AT SCHOOL IN COSTA RICA?<\/strong><\/h3>\nFrance has always had a strong influence in Costa Rica. This link is due to historical circumstances, and numerous agreements and conventions have been put in place between the two countries.<\/p>\n
IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN THE FRENCH FLAG AND THE COSTA RICA FLAG?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Costa Rican flag was inspired by the French flag. It was designed by Ms. Fernandez Pacifica.
\nBlue: sky; white: purity; red: the blood of all Costa Ricans; white: freedom; blue: the sea<\/p>\n
WHERE DO THE NATIVES LIVE? ARE THEY OF MAYAN ORIGIN?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe indigenous peoples of Costa Rica have two different origins:
\n\u2013 The first group, located in the northwestern part of the country (present-day Guanacaste), came from the north (Mexico) and were called the Chorotega (the name is thought to derive from the ancient village they occupied in Mexico, \u00abCholula3\u201d or \u201cChlouteca\u201d). They are believed to have arrived around the 8th century due to conflict with the Olmecs. The more warlike Olmecs were expanding their territory, prompting the Chorotegas to flee southward and into the rest of Central America. The basis of their economic activity was maize (in addition to cacao, cotton, tobacco, and numerous other fruits). Their rectangular houses were arranged around a central plaza. Society was organized into three classes: priests and warrior nobles, commoners, and prisoners of war and slaves. This society was organized into clans. They practiced human sacrifice as part of their rituals.<\/p>\n
\u2013 The second group, who came from the south and from Colombia and were of Chibcha origin, settled in the Talamanca Cordillera and the Central Valley. They were known for their skill in working with gold and other metals. They settled further north in Costa Rica to engage in trade (Costa Rica being considered a bridge between north-south migratory flows). Although considered less warlike, they were nonetheless skilled in the art of war. Women also participated in this art (see the \u00abbiritecas,\u00bb Boruca Indians, related to the Amazons). They had close ties to the indigenous communities of Chiriqu\u00ed in Panama. Their houses had a conical shape and were called \u00abpalenques.\u00bb They were also known for their pottery. They were well-organized and often settled in strategic locations at the confluence of two rivers (see Guayabo). The population is moving northward and toward the Atlantic.
\nToday, the vast majority of indigenous communities have become acculturated and have lost their languages and traditions. Only the Maquenques in the north near Guatuso, and the BriBris, Borucas, and Diquis in the south on either side of the Talamanca Range live in isolated regions and have preserved certain customs and traditions.<\/p>\n
IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN THE FRENCH FLAG AND THE COSTA RICA FLAG?<\/strong><\/h4>\nCosta Ric Flag<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Costa Rican flag was inspired by the French flag. It was designed by Ms. Fernandez Pacifica.
\nBlue: sky; white: purity; red: the blood of all Costa Ricans; white: freedom; blue: the sea<\/p>\n
IN WHAT YEAR DID COSTA RICA BECOME INDEPENDENT AND IN WHAT CONTEXT?<\/strong><\/h4>\nIn 1821, Costa Rica issued a joint declaration of independence with four other Central American provinces\u2014Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua\u2014while Belize was British and Panama still belonged to what is now Colombia. Costa Rica was briefly part of Agust\u00edn Iturbide\u2019s Mexican Empire, and later of the United Provinces of the Americas (between 1823 and 1839). The capital was moved from Cartago to San Jos\u00e9 in 1824, following a brief civil war between supporters of the Mexican Empire\u2014based in the former capital\u2014and the emerging bourgeoisie in favor of the United Provinces, based in San Jos\u00e9. Although the recently independent states formed a federation, disputes over border demarcation compounded previous conflicts. Consequently, the Costa Rican province of Guanacaste, located in the north of the country, was annexed by Nicaragua. In 1838, by which time the Federation had long since ceased to function de facto, Costa Rica officially withdrew from it, asserting its sovereignty.
\n(Source: Wikipedia).<\/p>\n
WHEN DID COFFEE GROWING BEGIN IN COSTA RICA? AND NOW?<\/strong><\/h4>\nRI<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nA short history of coffee in Costa Rica :<\/strong>\u00a0It is said that the English were the ones who introduced coffee to Costa Rica.<\/p>\nAt first, Costa Ricans didn\u2019t see the plant\u2019s commercial potential; at the time, they used it only as a decorative element in their patios. As the years went by, a law required Ticos to grow at least two coffee plants on their property\u2026<\/p>\n
As early as 1830, many\u00a0fincas<\/em>(coffee) were mainly planted in the central valley, where the climate was ideal at altitudes of 1,200 m and above, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 28\u00b0C . Coffee was transported to the port of PUNTARENAS in the famous colorful ox carts. Coffee became one of the country's most important resources.\u00a0The Coffee Barons (Cafetaleros)\u00a0<\/em>built the neoclassical buildings that were so fashionable at the time in San Jos\u00e9.\u00a0Th\u00e9\u00e2tre National*.\u00a0<\/strong>Today there are some 80,000 coffee growers, but more than\u00a095 beneficios\u00a0<\/em>(processing centers). Yields are the best in the world. Despite the collapse in prices in recent years, coffee is still\u00a0to 4th place in the economy\u00a0<\/strong>behind tourism, bananas and pineapples.<\/p>\n*The National Theatre\u00a0<\/strong>in neoclassical style, was built (inaugurated in October 1897) thanks to a tax on coffee exports. The magnificent coffee allegory is also featured on the 5-colon banknote (no longer in circulation).<\/em><\/p>\nFrom harvest to cup:\u00a0<\/strong>from November to March* the\u00a0picking\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>In contrast to other countries, Costa Rica produces only top-quality coffees (among the best in the world), and only perfectly ripe fruit is picked. One of the disadvantages of this method is the need to make several passes, as not all cherries from the same plant are ripe at the same time. After picking, you need to\u00a0separates\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>This operation is carried out using a machine with a rotating drum (\"d\u00e9pulpeuse\"). Once the kernels\u00a0separated and washed\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>comes the\u00a0drying\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>This can be done either in the open air, using the sun's rays, or using an industrial system, in large drums where hot air from wood-fired ovens is propelled through the drums. The grains are then\u00a0roasted\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>i.e. burnt (it is said that the benefits of roasted coffee were discovered by chance after a fire in Africa burnt down wild coffee trees...),\u00a0roasting\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>is fundamental to the quality of the drink. Great art...
\n* which is why the long school vacations were decided around this time. Children used to be able to take part in the harvesting work.<\/em><\/p>\nIn Costa Rica:<\/strong> Grano de Oro\u00a0<\/em>This is what Costa Ricans call coffee beans. Indeed, these\u00a0Grains of Gold\u00a0<\/em>These brought them wealth and, consequently, development.
\nIn general, the\u00a0cherry\u00a0<\/em>contains a\u00a0double bean\u00a0<\/em>But especially in Costa Rica, \"nature's kingdom\", the cherry sometimes produces a single seed, called a \"cherry seed\".\u00a0\u00a0caracoli\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0\". Some roasters seek them out for their customers, who particularly appreciate coffee roasted exclusively with\u00a0caracoli,\u00a0<\/em>which, it is said, exude a unique aroma... Rarity brings with it a corresponding price, even if some\u00a0fincas\u00a0<\/em>can produce up to 30%. The ideal altitude for coffee plants is between 1,200 and 1,800 meters; the shrub thrives particularly well in volcanic soil. Although the plant prefers warmth, it does not like direct sunlight; this is why it thrives in the Central Valley, where the sun is rarely very strong due to heavy cloud cover.
\nIn the Central Valley, flowering occurs 9 days after the first rains (March\/April). The \u00abcherries\u00bb reach maturity 8 to 10 months after flowering, depending on the altitude. Sometimes\u2014but only at high altitudes\u2014coffee trees bloom 2 to 3 times a year. In Costa Rica, the fruits (beans or cherries) are picked by hand.<\/p>\nThe country stands out as an exception in Latin America; it is the only country where, following agrarian reform, this natural resource is being cultivated by 33,000 small farmers. Organic farming has become increasingly common in the country in recent years.
\nCosta Rica ranks 10th in the world, producing 150,000 metric tons per year. In 2005, coffee brought in 300 million USD for the country, making it the fourth-largest source of revenue.<\/p>\n
\n- What do we (also) do with coffee?<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0The roots of coffee trees are uprooted after 20 to 30 years to renew the plantation; this wood is highly sought after by restaurants and roasteries, and the branches are also used to fuel the kitchen stoves for plantation workers. After composting, the pulp is used in the fields to improve soil structure. For the past few years, trials have been underway to use pressed pulp as fuel for coffee drying ovens.
\nCoffee tree wood is also used to make items for tourists\u2014some decorative, some practical\u2014such as decorative paper, jewelry, and giant pencils. Coffee liqueur and all kinds of sweets, often combined with chocolate, are among the many coffee-based products.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n
\n- The first cosmetics to use the flower of the coffee tree were created in Costa Rica:\u00a0<\/strong>\"Fleur de caf\u00e9\" is a cosmetics line created in Costa Rica from an original idea by Charlotte Robert. After extensive research with international and Costa Rican specialists, Charlotte has developed the world's first three products called \"Mountain Blossom\": an eau de toilette, a body lotion and a mist, all scented with the delicate jasmine-like essence of the coffee flower. These products are on sale in Costa Rica's \"good souvenir stores\", at the\u00a0Libreria Internacional<\/em>\u00a0or by mail order.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
\n- The benefits of coffee:<\/strong>\u00a0(according to La Nation, June 04, 2005)\u00a0\u00a0Caf\u00e9 rico para la salud!\u00a0<\/strong>\"\u00a0Caffeine helps protect against colon cancer, diabetes and Parkinson's disease\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u00bbA French researcher highlights the health benefits of coffee. Drinking coffee may delay the onset of Parkinson's disease and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and colon cancer.\".
\nDrinking 3 to 4 cups a day reduces the likelihood of developing Parkinson\u2019s disease by 2 to 5 times. This conclusion applies to men, since the study was conducted on 8,000 men over a 20-year period.\u00a0The protective compound appears to be caffeine. As for women, a study of postmenopausal women (the stage of life when Parkinson\u2019s most often appears) showed that caffeine helps this group, while it has a negative effect on women taking hormone therapy, increasing their risk of the disease.
\nThese analyses also highlighted the fact that moderate coffee consumption helps prevent type 2 diabetes and colon cancer; in this case, the benefits are thought to be due to another compound: polyphenols. Thus, coffee drinkers (who consume little or no sugar) may reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by 15 to 60 %. By drinking about 4 cups a day, the risk of colon cancer is reportedly reduced by 24%, as polyphenols are antioxidants. Caffeine is found in coffee, of course, but also in tea and chocolate. Costa Ricans consume an average of 4 kg of coffee per year.
\nContrary to some common misconceptions, coffee does not raise blood pressure, cause heart disease, or lead to gastritis. On the contrary, coffee contains substances that help relieve pain (particularly migraines).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n
\n- The main Arabica-producing countries :<\/strong>\u00a070% of world production is Arabica (in thousands of tonnes)
\nBrazil :\u00a0<\/strong>1 320 -\u00a0Colombia:\u00a0<\/strong>450 -\u00a0Mexico :\u00a0<\/strong>325 -\u00a0Guatemala\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0: 235 -\u00a0Ethiopia :\u00a0<\/strong>210...\u00a0Nicaragua :\u00a0<\/strong>60
\nCosta Rica :\u00a0<\/strong>150, i.e. 10th in the world, but the country ranks 1st for yield (900 kg per ha). The country exports 9 tenths of its production.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nWHY ARE TICOS CALLED THAT?<\/strong><\/h4>\nTicos were and still are in the habit of ending their words with the suffix \"tico\": chuiquito petit garcon becomes chiquitico petit gar\u00e7on...<\/p>\n
ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN COSTA RICA? NUCLEAR?<\/strong><\/h4>\nCosta Rica is virtually self-sufficient in energy at 80 %. Electricity production: 80% hydroelectric, 12% geothermal, the rest wind-powered. There is no nuclear power.<\/p>\n
WHEN DID THE CREATION OF PROTECTED AREAS BEGIN? WHY?<\/strong><\/h4>\nCosta Rica's geography has given rise to a multiplicity of ecosystems, from mangrove swamps and coastal rainforests to sub-alpine meadows. The Central American isthmus has served as a bridge between the living species of North and South America, encouraging the mixing of species according to complex filter logics defined by local climatic and orographic conditions. Despite its small size, Costa Rica benefits from an exceptional biodiversity of flora and fauna, thanks to its position on this Central American isthmus. According to the GEO report (MINAE, 2003): \"Costa Rica is one of the 20 countries in the world with a very high diversity of species expressed in total number of species per line unit. As a result, it could be the country with the greatest species diversity in the world, essentially thanks to its geographical position between North and South America.\" Costa Rica is home to an exceptional avifauna: over 2OO species of migratory birds from Alaska and Australia winter here, and almost 850 species have been recorded on the ground. There are some 237 species of mammals and 361 species of reptiles and amphibians. Plant biodiversity is also very high, with over 10,000 species of vascular plants (green plants with conductive tissues) inventoried, and new ones discovered every year. Orchids alone number some 1,300 species.<\/p>\n
Focus on biodiversity<\/h4>\n
However, prior to the 1980s, this rich diversity of flora and fauna was not yet fully appreciated. Environmental conservation was far from being a major concern. In the 1880s, this biodiversity first attracted the interest of North American scientists and researchers drawn to this still-pristine natural environment.<\/p>\n
Despite the government\u2019s early environmental awareness, it was particularly difficult to enforce the few environmental regulations that existed. The reason was the farming practices that were standard in the country at the time. \u00a0Costa Rica\u2019s emergence on the global economic stage in the second half of the 19th century was driven by the local coffee industry and, later, by the rapid growth of the banana industry. Thus, the country\u2019s massive deforestation began with the agricultural boom. The proportion of deforested land rose from 36 % in 1960 to 58 % in 1977 to 68 % in 1984, reaching, in 2000, 89 % (Fournier, p. 14). Even today, many farmers, herders, and residents make their living from forestry. While some practice slash-and-burn agriculture and gather firewood, others are drawn to the economic benefits that forestry provides.<\/p>\n
The creation of SINAC<\/h4>\n
Thus, on the one hand, the government encouraged deforestation by allowing farmers to settle on land covered by natural forest, and on the other hand, it sought to preserve wildlife, which led\u2014at the initiative of the United States\u2014to the creation of protected areas as early as the 1960s, the 1988 Biodiversity Law, and the establishment in 1989 the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), which has since become the Ministry of the Environment and Energy.<\/p>\n
However, in the face of the growing threat posed by deforestation, more than 27 % of the country\u2019s territory has been set aside for protection, including 13 % as part of the national park system, in order to safeguard the country\u2019s various habitats as well as its flora and fauna.
\nUntil then largely unknown, Costa Rica was not yet a subject of interest, except among scientists. It wasn\u2019t until the 1980s\u2014and particularly the year 1985\u2014that attention began to turn toward this small Central American country.<\/p>\n
Founded in 1956, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT)\u2014which is responsible for tourism promotion and development\u2014widely promotes Costa Rica\u2019s image abroad through numerous public relations and destination marketing efforts in North America. The ICT reaped the rewards of its work in the mid-1980s, when the country\u2019s tropical natural environment became a key factor in the decisions of many visitors and began to play a role in the tourism sector through ecotourism.<\/p>\n
Thus, with its stable political image, the growing presence of North American citizens, and the existence of vast protected natural areas, Costa Rica has everything it needs to position itself in the ecotourism market. Costa Rica is easily adapting to tourism, capitalizing on the growing global enthusiasm for travel.<\/p>\n
HOW MANY VOLCANOES ARE THERE IN COSTA RICA? HOW MANY ARE ACTIVE?<\/strong><\/h4>\nIn Costa Rica, every mountain has been or is a volcano. There are more than 400 of them, about 100 of which have been identified and studied by OSVICORI (ICE).
\nThere are 5 active volcanoes in Costa Rica (as of September 17, 2014): Po\u00e1s, Arenal, Rinc\u00f3n de la Vieja, Turrialba, and Iraz\u00fa. The Arenal volcano is gradually entering a dormant phase. It has not emitted any lava flows since 2011. (However, experts say it is not extinct.).<\/p>\n
WHERE AND WHEN TO SEE TURTLES?<\/strong><\/h4>\nWHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE HUMPBACK WHALES?<\/strong><\/h4>\nWHEN TO SEE THE RESPLENDENT QUETZAL?<\/strong><\/p>\nYou can observe it at its best between March, May and June.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Vous vous posez des questions sur le Costa Rica? Voila les r\u00e9ponses aux questions les plus fr\u00e9quentes que nos voyageurs nous posent. POURQUOI N’Y A-T-IL PAS D\u2019ARM\u00c9E AU COSTA RICA? L\u2019arm\u00e9e au Costa Rica a \u00e9t\u00e9 abolie en 1949 par le nouveau pr\u00e9sident \u00e9lu d\u00e9mocratiquement Jose \u00ab\u00a0Pepe\u00a0\u00bb Figueres.\u00a0 L\u2019\u00e9lection de Figueres fait suite \u00e0 la […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4074,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-actualites-au-costa-rica-fr"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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The Costa Rican flag was inspired by the French flag. It was designed by Ms. Fernandez Pacifica.
\nBlue: sky; white: purity; red: the blood of all Costa Ricans; white: freedom; blue: the sea<\/p>\n
WHERE DO THE NATIVES LIVE? ARE THEY OF MAYAN ORIGIN?<\/strong><\/p>\n The indigenous peoples of Costa Rica have two different origins: \u2013 The second group, who came from the south and from Colombia and were of Chibcha origin, settled in the Talamanca Cordillera and the Central Valley. They were known for their skill in working with gold and other metals. They settled further north in Costa Rica to engage in trade (Costa Rica being considered a bridge between north-south migratory flows). Although considered less warlike, they were nonetheless skilled in the art of war. Women also participated in this art (see the \u00abbiritecas,\u00bb Boruca Indians, related to the Amazons). They had close ties to the indigenous communities of Chiriqu\u00ed in Panama. Their houses had a conical shape and were called \u00abpalenques.\u00bb They were also known for their pottery. They were well-organized and often settled in strategic locations at the confluence of two rivers (see Guayabo). The population is moving northward and toward the Atlantic. The Costa Rican flag was inspired by the French flag. It was designed by Ms. Fernandez Pacifica. In 1821, Costa Rica issued a joint declaration of independence with four other Central American provinces\u2014Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua\u2014while Belize was British and Panama still belonged to what is now Colombia. Costa Rica was briefly part of Agust\u00edn Iturbide\u2019s Mexican Empire, and later of the United Provinces of the Americas (between 1823 and 1839). The capital was moved from Cartago to San Jos\u00e9 in 1824, following a brief civil war between supporters of the Mexican Empire\u2014based in the former capital\u2014and the emerging bourgeoisie in favor of the United Provinces, based in San Jos\u00e9. Although the recently independent states formed a federation, disputes over border demarcation compounded previous conflicts. Consequently, the Costa Rican province of Guanacaste, located in the north of the country, was annexed by Nicaragua. In 1838, by which time the Federation had long since ceased to function de facto, Costa Rica officially withdrew from it, asserting its sovereignty. A short history of coffee in Costa Rica :<\/strong>\u00a0It is said that the English were the ones who introduced coffee to Costa Rica.<\/p>\n At first, Costa Ricans didn\u2019t see the plant\u2019s commercial potential; at the time, they used it only as a decorative element in their patios. As the years went by, a law required Ticos to grow at least two coffee plants on their property\u2026<\/p>\n As early as 1830, many\u00a0fincas<\/em>(coffee) were mainly planted in the central valley, where the climate was ideal at altitudes of 1,200 m and above, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 28\u00b0C . Coffee was transported to the port of PUNTARENAS in the famous colorful ox carts. Coffee became one of the country's most important resources.\u00a0The Coffee Barons (Cafetaleros)\u00a0<\/em>built the neoclassical buildings that were so fashionable at the time in San Jos\u00e9.\u00a0Th\u00e9\u00e2tre National*.\u00a0<\/strong>Today there are some 80,000 coffee growers, but more than\u00a095 beneficios\u00a0<\/em>(processing centers). Yields are the best in the world. Despite the collapse in prices in recent years, coffee is still\u00a0to 4th place in the economy\u00a0<\/strong>behind tourism, bananas and pineapples.<\/p>\n *The National Theatre\u00a0<\/strong>in neoclassical style, was built (inaugurated in October 1897) thanks to a tax on coffee exports. The magnificent coffee allegory is also featured on the 5-colon banknote (no longer in circulation).<\/em><\/p>\n From harvest to cup:\u00a0<\/strong>from November to March* the\u00a0picking\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>In contrast to other countries, Costa Rica produces only top-quality coffees (among the best in the world), and only perfectly ripe fruit is picked. One of the disadvantages of this method is the need to make several passes, as not all cherries from the same plant are ripe at the same time. After picking, you need to\u00a0separates\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>This operation is carried out using a machine with a rotating drum (\"d\u00e9pulpeuse\"). Once the kernels\u00a0separated and washed\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>comes the\u00a0drying\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>This can be done either in the open air, using the sun's rays, or using an industrial system, in large drums where hot air from wood-fired ovens is propelled through the drums. The grains are then\u00a0roasted\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>i.e. burnt (it is said that the benefits of roasted coffee were discovered by chance after a fire in Africa burnt down wild coffee trees...),\u00a0roasting\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>is fundamental to the quality of the drink. Great art... In Costa Rica:<\/strong> Grano de Oro\u00a0<\/em>This is what Costa Ricans call coffee beans. Indeed, these\u00a0Grains of Gold\u00a0<\/em>These brought them wealth and, consequently, development. The country stands out as an exception in Latin America; it is the only country where, following agrarian reform, this natural resource is being cultivated by 33,000 small farmers. Organic farming has become increasingly common in the country in recent years. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ticos were and still are in the habit of ending their words with the suffix \"tico\": chuiquito petit garcon becomes chiquitico petit gar\u00e7on...<\/p>\n Costa Rica is virtually self-sufficient in energy at 80 %. Electricity production: 80% hydroelectric, 12% geothermal, the rest wind-powered. There is no nuclear power.<\/p>\n Costa Rica's geography has given rise to a multiplicity of ecosystems, from mangrove swamps and coastal rainforests to sub-alpine meadows. The Central American isthmus has served as a bridge between the living species of North and South America, encouraging the mixing of species according to complex filter logics defined by local climatic and orographic conditions. Despite its small size, Costa Rica benefits from an exceptional biodiversity of flora and fauna, thanks to its position on this Central American isthmus. According to the GEO report (MINAE, 2003): \"Costa Rica is one of the 20 countries in the world with a very high diversity of species expressed in total number of species per line unit. As a result, it could be the country with the greatest species diversity in the world, essentially thanks to its geographical position between North and South America.\" Costa Rica is home to an exceptional avifauna: over 2OO species of migratory birds from Alaska and Australia winter here, and almost 850 species have been recorded on the ground. There are some 237 species of mammals and 361 species of reptiles and amphibians. Plant biodiversity is also very high, with over 10,000 species of vascular plants (green plants with conductive tissues) inventoried, and new ones discovered every year. Orchids alone number some 1,300 species.<\/p>\n However, prior to the 1980s, this rich diversity of flora and fauna was not yet fully appreciated. Environmental conservation was far from being a major concern. In the 1880s, this biodiversity first attracted the interest of North American scientists and researchers drawn to this still-pristine natural environment.<\/p>\n Despite the government\u2019s early environmental awareness, it was particularly difficult to enforce the few environmental regulations that existed. The reason was the farming practices that were standard in the country at the time. \u00a0Costa Rica\u2019s emergence on the global economic stage in the second half of the 19th century was driven by the local coffee industry and, later, by the rapid growth of the banana industry. Thus, the country\u2019s massive deforestation began with the agricultural boom. The proportion of deforested land rose from 36 % in 1960 to 58 % in 1977 to 68 % in 1984, reaching, in 2000, 89 % (Fournier, p. 14). Even today, many farmers, herders, and residents make their living from forestry. While some practice slash-and-burn agriculture and gather firewood, others are drawn to the economic benefits that forestry provides.<\/p>\n Thus, on the one hand, the government encouraged deforestation by allowing farmers to settle on land covered by natural forest, and on the other hand, it sought to preserve wildlife, which led\u2014at the initiative of the United States\u2014to the creation of protected areas as early as the 1960s, the 1988 Biodiversity Law, and the establishment in 1989 the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), which has since become the Ministry of the Environment and Energy.<\/p>\n However, in the face of the growing threat posed by deforestation, more than 27 % of the country\u2019s territory has been set aside for protection, including 13 % as part of the national park system, in order to safeguard the country\u2019s various habitats as well as its flora and fauna. Founded in 1956, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT)\u2014which is responsible for tourism promotion and development\u2014widely promotes Costa Rica\u2019s image abroad through numerous public relations and destination marketing efforts in North America. The ICT reaped the rewards of its work in the mid-1980s, when the country\u2019s tropical natural environment became a key factor in the decisions of many visitors and began to play a role in the tourism sector through ecotourism.<\/p>\n Thus, with its stable political image, the growing presence of North American citizens, and the existence of vast protected natural areas, Costa Rica has everything it needs to position itself in the ecotourism market. Costa Rica is easily adapting to tourism, capitalizing on the growing global enthusiasm for travel.<\/p>\n In Costa Rica, every mountain has been or is a volcano. There are more than 400 of them, about 100 of which have been identified and studied by OSVICORI (ICE). WHEN TO SEE THE RESPLENDENT QUETZAL?<\/strong><\/p>\n You can observe it at its best between March, May and June.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Vous vous posez des questions sur le Costa Rica? Voila les r\u00e9ponses aux questions les plus fr\u00e9quentes que nos voyageurs nous posent. POURQUOI N’Y A-T-IL PAS D\u2019ARM\u00c9E AU COSTA RICA? L\u2019arm\u00e9e au Costa Rica a \u00e9t\u00e9 abolie en 1949 par le nouveau pr\u00e9sident \u00e9lu d\u00e9mocratiquement Jose \u00ab\u00a0Pepe\u00a0\u00bb Figueres.\u00a0 L\u2019\u00e9lection de Figueres fait suite \u00e0 la […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4074,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-actualites-au-costa-rica-fr"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Bribris](\"https:\/\/d2ijz6o5xay1xq.cloudfront.net\/account_5373\/DSC_2464_4462946c3e3279b2729c69c077775c4c_800.jpg)
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\n\u2013 The first group, located in the northwestern part of the country (present-day Guanacaste), came from the north (Mexico) and were called the Chorotega (the name is thought to derive from the ancient village they occupied in Mexico, \u00abCholula3\u201d or \u201cChlouteca\u201d). They are believed to have arrived around the 8th century due to conflict with the Olmecs. The more warlike Olmecs were expanding their territory, prompting the Chorotegas to flee southward and into the rest of Central America. The basis of their economic activity was maize (in addition to cacao, cotton, tobacco, and numerous other fruits). Their rectangular houses were arranged around a central plaza. Society was organized into three classes: priests and warrior nobles, commoners, and prisoners of war and slaves. This society was organized into clans. They practiced human sacrifice as part of their rituals.<\/p>\n
\nToday, the vast majority of indigenous communities have become acculturated and have lost their languages and traditions. Only the Maquenques in the north near Guatuso, and the BriBris, Borucas, and Diquis in the south on either side of the Talamanca Range live in isolated regions and have preserved certain customs and traditions.<\/p>\nIS THERE A LINK BETWEEN THE FRENCH FLAG AND THE COSTA RICA FLAG?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Costa](\"https:\/\/d2ijz6o5xay1xq.cloudfront.net\/account_5373\/drapeau-costa-rica_6e9c0425df5a6477a5437e9f29845359_800.jpg)
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\nBlue: sky; white: purity; red: the blood of all Costa Ricans; white: freedom; blue: the sea<\/p>\nIN WHAT YEAR DID COSTA RICA BECOME INDEPENDENT AND IN WHAT CONTEXT?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n(Source: Wikipedia).<\/p>\nWHEN DID COFFEE GROWING BEGIN IN COSTA RICA? AND NOW?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Costa](\"https:\/\/d2ijz6o5xay1xq.cloudfront.net\/account_5373\/GrainsCaffincaFortuna_85bbc9df6bf576ea03fa962b14efe705_800.jpg)
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\n* which is why the long school vacations were decided around this time. Children used to be able to take part in the harvesting work.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIn general, the\u00a0cherry\u00a0<\/em>contains a\u00a0double bean\u00a0<\/em>But especially in Costa Rica, \"nature's kingdom\", the cherry sometimes produces a single seed, called a \"cherry seed\".\u00a0\u00a0caracoli\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0\". Some roasters seek them out for their customers, who particularly appreciate coffee roasted exclusively with\u00a0caracoli,\u00a0<\/em>which, it is said, exude a unique aroma... Rarity brings with it a corresponding price, even if some\u00a0fincas\u00a0<\/em>can produce up to 30%. The ideal altitude for coffee plants is between 1,200 and 1,800 meters; the shrub thrives particularly well in volcanic soil. Although the plant prefers warmth, it does not like direct sunlight; this is why it thrives in the Central Valley, where the sun is rarely very strong due to heavy cloud cover.
\nIn the Central Valley, flowering occurs 9 days after the first rains (March\/April). The \u00abcherries\u00bb reach maturity 8 to 10 months after flowering, depending on the altitude. Sometimes\u2014but only at high altitudes\u2014coffee trees bloom 2 to 3 times a year. In Costa Rica, the fruits (beans or cherries) are picked by hand.<\/p>\n
\nCosta Rica ranks 10th in the world, producing 150,000 metric tons per year. In 2005, coffee brought in 300 million USD for the country, making it the fourth-largest source of revenue.<\/p>\n\n
\nCoffee tree wood is also used to make items for tourists\u2014some decorative, some practical\u2014such as decorative paper, jewelry, and giant pencils. Coffee liqueur and all kinds of sweets, often combined with chocolate, are among the many coffee-based products.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n
\nDrinking 3 to 4 cups a day reduces the likelihood of developing Parkinson\u2019s disease by 2 to 5 times. This conclusion applies to men, since the study was conducted on 8,000 men over a 20-year period.\u00a0The protective compound appears to be caffeine. As for women, a study of postmenopausal women (the stage of life when Parkinson\u2019s most often appears) showed that caffeine helps this group, while it has a negative effect on women taking hormone therapy, increasing their risk of the disease.
\nThese analyses also highlighted the fact that moderate coffee consumption helps prevent type 2 diabetes and colon cancer; in this case, the benefits are thought to be due to another compound: polyphenols. Thus, coffee drinkers (who consume little or no sugar) may reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by 15 to 60 %. By drinking about 4 cups a day, the risk of colon cancer is reportedly reduced by 24%, as polyphenols are antioxidants. Caffeine is found in coffee, of course, but also in tea and chocolate. Costa Ricans consume an average of 4 kg of coffee per year.
\nContrary to some common misconceptions, coffee does not raise blood pressure, cause heart disease, or lead to gastritis. On the contrary, coffee contains substances that help relieve pain (particularly migraines).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\nBrazil :\u00a0<\/strong>1 320 -\u00a0Colombia:\u00a0<\/strong>450 -\u00a0Mexico :\u00a0<\/strong>325 -\u00a0Guatemala\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0: 235 -\u00a0Ethiopia :\u00a0<\/strong>210...\u00a0Nicaragua :\u00a0<\/strong>60
\nCosta Rica :\u00a0<\/strong>150, i.e. 10th in the world, but the country ranks 1st for yield (900 kg per ha). The country exports 9 tenths of its production.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nWHY ARE TICOS CALLED THAT?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN COSTA RICA? NUCLEAR?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
WHEN DID THE CREATION OF PROTECTED AREAS BEGIN? WHY?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Focus on biodiversity<\/h4>\n
The creation of SINAC<\/h4>\n
\nUntil then largely unknown, Costa Rica was not yet a subject of interest, except among scientists. It wasn\u2019t until the 1980s\u2014and particularly the year 1985\u2014that attention began to turn toward this small Central American country.<\/p>\nHOW MANY VOLCANOES ARE THERE IN COSTA RICA? HOW MANY ARE ACTIVE?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Rincon](\"https:\/\/d2ijz6o5xay1xq.cloudfront.net\/account_5373\/volcan_afc43ff15486955fcdbe986baf1a6596_800.jpg)
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\nThere are 5 active volcanoes in Costa Rica (as of September 17, 2014): Po\u00e1s, Arenal, Rinc\u00f3n de la Vieja, Turrialba, and Iraz\u00fa. The Arenal volcano is gradually entering a dormant phase. It has not emitted any lava flows since 2011. (However, experts say it is not extinct.).<\/p>\nWHERE AND WHEN TO SEE TURTLES?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Turtle](\"https:\/\/d2ijz6o5xay1xq.cloudfront.net\/account_5373\/Tableaudespontesdetortuescopy_c689b9f8fedef1493f07c569daa1e26a_800.jpg)
<\/picture><\/figure>\nWHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE HUMPBACK WHALES?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"whale](\"https:\/\/d2ijz6o5xay1xq.cloudfront.net\/account_5373\/tableaudesbaleinesbosses_94ac1e5a7757e1b71cd55a4868b9a041_800.jpg)
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