AMIGOS in Costa Rica

History of AMIGOS in Costa Rica 

The year 2024 marks the 42nd year of AMIGOS working in Costa Rica. Over this period, our projects have changed dramatically in response to Costa Rica’s relative successes in its economic, political, environmental, and health conditions. While we used to partner with governmental organizations and focus on public health issues, we have shifted our approach to building leadership skills in local youth, facilitating cultural exchange, and promoting an ethos of environmental conservation and civic engagement. 

AMIGOS has been working in Pérez Zeledón, in the southern part of the country, since 2003 implementing conservation-themed projects. From 2003–2011, we have collaborated with communities in the region and held leadership workshops for youth. Starting in 2012, we changed our model for the Perez Zeledón summer project and combined homestays and service projects in local communities with volunteer work in the country’s famous national parks. Youth from Costa Rican communities along with AMIGOS volunteers completed trail maintenance projects in the parks while learning about important conservation topics and participating in fun recreational activities to facilitate cultural exchange. Then in 2018, we launched the Palmares summer project which combined the community component of AMIGOS programs with weekend leadership camps. We hope to continue these programs in Costa Rica once the COVID-19 situation stabilizes around the globe. 

In 2021, we launched our first gap program in Pérez Zeledón. The model combined our years of knowledge in the region and approach to community involvement with rigorous safety measures for COVID-19. In the summer of 2021, we also launched three new summer projects, one in the central region and the other two in the Caribbean region. 

In 2022, we continued with our group travel models from 2021 and have added two additional programs. We included a new program in the southern region of the country, which includes Pérez Zeledón, and we incorporated the homestay component in one our Caribbean projects.   

In 2023, we continued with the group travel model for most of our projects and have a mixture of projects with and without homestays. This year there will be three projects that will visit Pérez Zeledón as part of their stay. We also set up a six-week homestay project in Los Santos. 

We have worked to build strong ties with new partner organizations and look forward to working with them for years to come. 

COUNTRY OVERVIEW  

PRE-COLONIAL, COLONIAL, & POST-COLONIAL HISTORY  

The Pre-Columbian Times: 

Costa Rica’s history starts with the movement of tribes southward from North America during the last Ice Age between 13,000 and 17,000 years ago. The first evidence of human settlement in Costa Rica comes from around 10,000 BCE (12,000 years ago). These 12,000-year-old settlements found in 2016 by the Reventazón River are the oldest evidence of human life found in Central America. Between then and the European arrival in the 15th century, Costa Rica was home to at least 25 indigenous groups. Each group had its own culture and way of living.  

In the territory occupied by Costa Rica, sedentary life and agriculture were consolidated around the year 800 CE.  In this period, agriculture was complemented by hunting, fishing, and gathering. The craftsmanship was diversified and there was development of the main settlements, which had aqueducts, roads, bridges, houses, and temples. 

The Arrival of the Spanish and the Colonial Era: 

In the early sixteenth century, the territory of Costa Rica was home to some 400,000 Indigenous people, most of which were in the North Pacific and the Central Valley. The east coast was the realm of the Caribs, while the Borucas, Chibchas, and Diquis resided in the southwest. Some fled, while many others perished from the deadly smallpox brought by the Spaniards. Having decimated the indigenous labor force, the Spanish followed a common policy and brought enslaved people from Africa to work the land. The Indigenous population quickly decreased to 120,000 individuals in 1569 and 10,000 in 1611, mainly due to epidemics brought from Europe, but also due to the ill treatment by the conquistadors.  

At first, the control of the local population by the conquerors was difficult, due to the political fragmentation of the Indigenous tribes and conflicts between the Europeans themselves. However, since 1570, the Spanish civil and ecclesiastical authorities significantly extended their influence, at least in the central highlands and the Pacific region, since the Atlantic would remain largely unconquered due to its remoteness, difficult climate, and Indigenous resistance. Costa Rica, which was part of the “Captaincy General of Guatemala”, was a rather poor and isolated province. The only wealth the settlers had were its fertile soil and favorable climate, which allowed them to engage in agriculture in the Central Valley. From the nineteenth century, the desire of Costa Rica to procure a stable relationship with the world market is achieved with the production and exportation of coffee, which became the crux of the capitalization of agriculture. 

Independence and the Beginning of Democratic Life: 

Costa Rica obtained its independence on the 15th of September 1821 and adhered itself to the Federal Republic of Central America. However, the Federal Pact was dissolved de facto between 1838 and 1839, and each province declared its independence. It is in this context that Costa Rica became a republic in 1848.  

Along with other Central American countries, Costa Rica participated in the war against William Walker in 1856. Walker was an American filibuster who had planned to take over Central America, mainly to export enslaved people and to profit from the prospects of an interoceanic canal. During the battle of Rivas, Nicaragua, on the 11th of April 1856, Costa Rica's national hero, Juan Santamaría, stood out for his heroic efforts. Today, Costa Rica commemorates this on April 11, Juan Santamaria Day. 

Early on, Costa Rica adopted a policy in favor of education with the aim of ensuring the survival of democratic institutions. Free and compulsory education was established in 1869. During the second half of the nineteenth century, the country experienced a social and economic transformation through the expansion of coffee exports and the institution of universal suffrage in 1889. The leaders adopted a liberal educational reform that benefited all Costa Ricans and strengthened the country’s democratic pillars. 

The Birth of the Second Republic and the Abolition of the Army: 

The new constitution was reformed during the Calderón Guardia presidency (1940-1944). This gave rise to what is called the Second Republic, which we still into this day. The new constitution created an independent electoral power (the Tribunal Supremo Electoral or Supreme Electoral Tribunal) responsible for ensuring the transparency of future elections. During this time, President José Figueres decided to abolish the army, given that it incurred unnecessary expenses and not guarantee stability. 

The Commitment to Peace: 

For over 60 years, Costa Rica has had no army, instead relying on the instruments that international law provides for solving disputes between nations. The abolition of the army has allowed the financing of education, health, and access to potable water and electricity. Since 1949, elections take place regularly every four years and political change is part of the values and political principles of Costa Rica. The country's commitment to unarmed peace was confirmed in 1983, when President Monge declared the perpetual, active and non-armed neutrality of Costa Rica in armed conflict. In 1987, President Oscar Arias Sánchez received the Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution to the peace accords that put an end to the armed conflicts in Central America. 

Sources: Molina Jiménez, Iván; Palmer, Steven. History Of Costa Rica: Brief, Updated and Illustrated. San Jose, Office of The University of Costa Rica, 1997. 

“History of Costa Rica.” Centralamerica, www.centralamerica.com/costa-rica/history/.  

The Costa Rican Embassy to Belgium. “History: Costa Rica Embassy.” History | Costa Rica Embassy, https://costaricaembassy.be/very-brief-overview-of-costa-ricas-history/  

GOVERNMENT  

Costa Rica is a democratic, free, and independent republic. Its government is popular, representative, alternative, and responsible, exercised by three supreme powers which are distinct and independent of each other: Executive Power, Legislative Power and Judicial Power. 

The Executive Power is composed by the President of the Republic, two Vice Presidents, and a Cabinet of Government chosen by the President. The President of the Republic is, simultaneously, Head of Government and Head of State. The President and Vice Presidents are elected every four years by direct vote of all citizens over 18 years. There have been uninterrupted elections since the current Constitution in 1949. The current President is Mr. Rodrigo Chaves Robles, who took office on May 8th, 2022. His presidency period is from 2022 to 2026.  

Administratively, Costa Rica is divided into seven provinces which are subdivided into 83 cantons and these, in turn, into 463 districts. The cantons are ruled, with limited capabilities, by a Mayor and a Municipal Council; both the Mayor and the Council are popularly elected. 

Sources: The Costa Rican Embassy to Belgium. “Government: Costa Rica Embassy.” Government Structure | Costa Rica Embassy, https://costaricaembassy.be/government-structure/  

ECONOMY  

Costa Rica is also a global leader for its environmental policies and accomplishments, which have helped the country build its Green Trademark. The pioneering Payments for Environmental Services (PES) program has been successful in promoting forest and biodiversity conservation; making Costa Rica the only tropical country in the world that has reversed deforestation. The combination of political stability, social contract and steady growth has resulted in one of the lowest poverty rates in Latin America and the Caribbean, where the proportion of the population living below the World Bank’s upper middle-income line (US$6.85 per person per day in 2017 PPP) decreased slightly from 15.6 to 13.7 percent between 2010 and 2019. 

Despite Costa Rica’s strong health system and timely crisis response, the pandemic took a heavy toll on its economy. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted 4.1 percent in 2020, the largest drop in four decades, driven by sharp declines in investment and private consumption. One out of five workers were unemployed by the end of 2020. Despite strong mitigation efforts, incomes of the bottom 40 percent declined 15 percent last year and an estimated 124,000 people fell into poverty, lifting the poverty rate to 13 percent in 2020. The crisis also interrupted Costa Rica’s incipient fiscal consolidation built on important reforms in 2018 and 2019. Additional spending needed to respond to the crisis, combined to a sharp decline in revenues, resulted in 8.5 percent of GDP deficit, and the recession pushed the debt-to-GDP ratio to 67.4 percent by end-2020. 

A strong economic performance in 2021 and spending discipline enabled a faster than expected fiscal consolidation and started to improve labor market and social outcomes. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) recovered 7.8 percent in 2021 after the largest drop in four decades in 2020. A strong rebound in manufacturing, particularly of medical equipment, and a gradual recovery in services and agriculture lifted GDP above pre-crisis levels. The poverty rate (US$6.85, in 2017 PPP) declined quickly to 14.3 percent in 2021 as the economy recovered. However, new external pressure, including high international energy and food prices and tighter financing conditions, are starting to slow down economic activity. 

Sources:  

World Bank. “The World Bank in Costa Rica.” World Bank, https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/costarica/overview#1. 

GEOGRAPHY  

As a stable and prosperous nation, Costa Rica is both a biodiversity hotspot and ranked among the world leaders when it comes to tackling environmental issues. Costa Rica accounts for only 0.03 percent of the earth's surface, yet it contains nearly 6 percent of the world's biodiversity. Its natural wealth, both in species and ecosystems, is partly explained by its geographical position. Situated between the North and South America, Costa Rica has served as a bridge for countless species of animals and plants for thousands of years. Another factor to consider is the broad expanse of both coasts: Caribbean coast (255kms) and Pacific coast (1103 kms). The mountain range also provides numerous microclimates.  

The system of national parks and reserves covers an area of 1342 hectares or 25.6% of its land area. These areas include islands, beaches, rain forests, active volcanoes, hot springs, caves, river canyons, and waterfalls. The services these ecosystems provide to humanity are abundant. On one side are environmental services: wood, timber, plants, barks, roots, leaves, seeds, fruits, flowers, to name a few, which have fueled culture, industry, and scientific research. On the other side are environmental benefits: control of erosion caused by rain and wind, water protection, soil, fixation and carbon storage, which mitigate the greenhouse effect, and biodiversity.  

Costa Rica is considered among the most progressive nations on Earth with respect to climate change. On February 24, 2019, the Government of Costa Rica announced their National Decarbonization Plan, which aims to create a completely green economy in terms of transportation, energy, construction, agriculture, and land usage by 2050. 

Costa Rica’s environmental credentials are impressive: more than 98 percent of its energy is renewable, forest cover now stands at more than 53 percent after painstaking work to reverse decades of deforestation, and around a quarter of the country’s land has been turned into protected parks and reserves. 

Sources: Costa Rica: Environmental Issues, Policies and Clean Technology in https://www.azocleantech.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=554 and Plan Nacional de Descarbonización - Dirección de Cambio Climático (cambioclimatico.go.cr)  

FOOD   

If there were two words that would sum up Costa Rican food, then those two words would be “rice” and “beans”. Pretty much every traditional meal comes with them. Alongside your rice and beans, you may see sweet plantains, fried eggs, avocados, meat, fish, cilantro, tomatoes, fresh fruit, and anything else that grows local and fresh! Costa Rican fare is nutritionally well rounded, and nearly always cooked from scratch with fresh ingredients. 

Below you will find an overview of some of the most famous and common Costa Rican dishes in Pérez Zeledón.  Please always remember to be appreciative of the food that is offered to you. Many people across the globe may not have access to as many food options as you may be used to. AMIGOS expects volunteers to immerse themselves in the local culture and to adapt to the local diet and lifestyle to the greatest extent possible. 

Gallo pinto: black beans and rice with cilantro, onions, garlic, salt, and Salsa Lizano (hot sauce); common for breakfast and dinner 

Platano frito: Fried plantains (sweet ones are called maduros and savory, smashed ones are called patacones) 

Casados: a one-plate meal that includes black beans, rice, a meat, fried plantains, and one or more side dishes. 

Picadillo: diced cooked vegetables such as potatoes, green beans, carrots, zucchini, with or without meat. 

Fruta: fruit (such as pineapple, papaya, watermelon, bananas).  

Sopa: soup  

Arroz con pollo/camarones: rice with chicken or shrimp 

Ceviche: popular seafood dish with fish or shrimp that is tossed with lime and lemon juice 

Trucha: trout, often served with yucca and vegetables. 

Arroz con leche: rice pudding 

Sources: “Culture Of Costa Rica.” Centralamerica, www.centralamerica.com/costa-rica/culture/.  

Firestone, Matthew; Miranda, Carolina A; Soriano, César G (2010). Costa Rica. Footscray, Vic.: Lonely Planet. pp. 49–52. 

Mead, Rowland (2005). Costa Rica. New Holland: London. pp. 28–31. 

Van Velzer, Ryan. “Costa Rican Cuisine.” Costa Rica, www.costarica.com/culture/costa-rican-cuisine. 

TRADITIONS  

Costa Rica is a very diverse country with a rich mix of traditions and customs. The following are some examples:                                                        

• Soccer, Mejenga or bola, in Costa Rica, is the most beloved national pastime. Today, six leagues currently form the Costa Rican Soccer Federation. First division soccer is the country’s most popular and hosts 12 teams. Many Ticos from Pérez root for either La Liga (Alajuela) or Saprissa (from San José).  
• When you enter someone’s home, it may be a good idea to take your shoes off to be polite. When visiting people’s house, you should remove your shoes and wear flip-flops inside the house instead of going barefoot. It is considered rude to place your feet on the furniture.  
• Costa Ricans generally take pride in their appearance and dress well.  
• When greeting one another, a side cheek kiss is common (right cheek touching right cheek). Women kiss women, and women kiss men, but men do not kiss men. Instead, they either shake hands or give each other a one-armed hug. In formal or business settings, a firm handshake is the typical greeting. However, this practice has changed since the beginning of COVID-19 and people now greet each other from far or with an “elbow shake”. 
• Tico time or “la hora tica” is generally observed by many Ticos. Ticos can sometimes arrive late (often by 30 minutes or more) to meals, appointments, and get-togethers. Many Ticos don’t view late arrivals as rude, and their tardiness is not meant to offend.  
• Many Ticos in communities where you will live grow coffee, caña (sugar cane), or other crops. They refer to their farmland as “la finca.” Definitely ask community members about what they grow, how they process it, and where they sell or export to learn as much as you can about their work.  
• Costa Ricans celebrate civic holidays with parades that involve school bands and local folklore group parades.  

As a volunteer, you will be a guest in someone else's community, which represents a unique opportunity to experience and learn about Costa Rican culture. As a guest, please try to reflect a sincere appreciation for everything that your host community has to offer and let them know that you are thankful for their support. 

COUNTRY-SPECIFIC SLANG  

Every country has its own set of idioms, mannerisms, and phrases. There are even language differences from one community to the next. No need to worry though; your Spanish classes at the beginning of your program will serve you very well and will allow you to interact with locals. Below is a list of regional vocabulary that you should learn. For those of you who want to go above and beyond, check out the link below the vocabulary list for some websites with interactive learning tools.  

*Usted and Vos – For “you,” many Costa Ricans use either usted or vos. Usted is generally more widely used outside the Central Valley, vos is mostly only used in the capital. Costa Ricans also mix using usted, vos and tú within a relationship, which is itself a sign of closeness. For example, an abuela might sometimes refer to a baby as usted, or usted can be used between novios. Look at the following for conjugations of vos: http://study-spanish-language.com/grammar/conjugating-vos/. More vocabulary practice: http://www.languageguide.org/spanish/vocabulary/ or https://www.duolingo.com/course/es/en/Learn-Spanish-Online  

RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION  

We encourage you to learn more about Costa Rica by looking into these resources. Remember that there are many sides to any story, and every culture and country is complicated with many perspectives. We recommend researching on your own or asking your project staff if you have any questions about the topic. 

• Information about Costa Rica’s indigenous population and territories: https://www.puravidauniversity.eu/territorios-indigenas-costa-rica/ 
• “Reaching for a Zero Emission Goal” By Paul Rubio: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/21/climate/costa-rica-zero-carbon-neutral.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FCosta%20Rica 
• www.ticotimes.net 
• http://www.pbs.org/edens/costarica/ 
• www.nacion.com