Cartago, Costa Rica
INSTITUTO TECNÓLOGICO DE
COSTA RICA
About ITCR
 Founded in 1971
 Also known as “ITCR”
or “TEC”
 Type: public
 Programs:
Undergraduate &
graduate
 Website:
www.tec.ac.cr
(Spanish only)
About ITCR
 Total Enrollment:
6,000- 6,999
 Total Staff:
900-999
 History:
Created by Costa Rica
Law No. 4777
 President: Julio Calvo
Location
 Location: Cartago,
Costa Rica (24 km.
east of the capital:
San José)
 Satellite Locations:
San José, San Carlos
(Costa Rica)
Mission Statement
"Contributing to the integral
development of the country, by means of
the formation of human resources,
research and extension; keeping the
scientific-technical leadership, the
academic excellence and the strict
attachment to the ethical, environmental
and humanists norms, from a state
university perspective of quality and
competitiveness at national and
international level"
Undergraduate Programs
 Business
 Information






Technology
Education
Mathematics
Sustainable Tourism
Construction
Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Computer Engineering
•Industrial Design
•Environmental Engineering
•Biotechnology Engineering
•Agro business Engineering
•Architecture and Urbanism
•Business Administration
•Agronomical Engineering
Graduate Programs
 Masters Degree in:
 Business Administration
 Computers
 Education
 Production Technology
and Natural Resources
 Occupational Health and
Environmental Hygiene
 Project Management
 Modern Manufacturing
Systems
 Local Economic
Development with
Emphasis on Tourism
 Electro mechanic
Engineering
 Doctorate Degree:
 Natural Science
Academic Calendar
 Programs are offered in periods of :
 Semestres (classes last for periods of 6 months)
 Quatrimestres (periods of 4 months)
 Trimestres (periods of 3 months)
 Bimestres (periods of 2 months)
 For exact dates of classes, visit:
http://www.tec.ac.cr/estudiantes/calendario_inst/Pagin
as/calendario_2012.aspx
Admission/ Choosing Courses
 Based on Admission
Exam
 Guidelines for specific
areas of study can be
found at:
http://www.tec.ac.cr/es
tudiantes/Paginas/Plan
esEstudio.aspx
Accommodations
 3 options:
 Home stays: students live with families in Cartago –
furnished homes with food/laundry provided
 Apartments: students live with other students of ITCR
– apartments are usually unfurnished
 Residencias Estudiantiles: housing provided by ITCR
for students with financial need and of good academic
standing – furnished residences
About the City of Cartago
 The capital of the
Cartago province
 Population: 156, 600
inhabitants (2008)
 Founded in 1563
 Was the capital of
Costa Rica until 1823
Transportation
 Cartago has a small
airport, so it is best to fly
into San Jose and get
transportation into
Cartago.
 Buses: buses are cheap
and leave every 30
minutes from San Jose
into Cartago
Transportation
 Car Rental: Cars can be
rented at the airport and
driven into the Cartago
(this is probably more
expensive and less
convenient, however)
 Train: trains are a
comfortable option to get
right into the city of
Cartago
Once in Cartago
 Taxis: a good way to get
around in Cartago; all are
orange in color.
 Public buses: a cheaper,
but less convenient way to
get around the city.
Money
 Costa Rica’s currency is the colón
 Currently the exchange rate is 1 dollar: 500.69
colones
 Be mindful of the exchange rate! You can
check it on sites like:
 Coinmill.com
 Banks are usually open Monday-Friday, and
U.S. dollars can be exchanged from colones
here
Weather in Cartago
 Climate is relatively mild
 Rainy, cloudy most of the
time
 Mild temperatures:
 Coldest month (temperatures
between 50°F and 60°F):
January
 Warmest month (temperatures
average around 80°F): May
 Months with the most
rainfall: May and June (over
250mm.)
 November-April: the “dry
season”
Food
 A restaurant is located at ITCR and is open
Monday-Thursday from 8:30am- 8:00pm and
Friday from 8:30am-4:00pm
 Try to local cuisine like:
 Gallo Pinto- the national dish- fried rice and black beans
 Arroz con pollo or arroz con atun – rice with chicken or
tuna
 Horchata- a cinnamon flavored drink
 Tres leches- dessert made of three-layered flan
Health Matters
 Vaccinations that are recommended for travelers
to Costa Rica:
 Hepatitis A
 Hepatitis B
 Typhoid
 Also, it is recommended to take prescription antimalaria drugs if traveling to the Límon Province
of Costa Rica
 For more health information, go to cdc.gov
What to bring?
 Passport!
 Clothes for all seasons
 Prescription
medications
 Credit card
 Identification and
copies of identification
 Outlet converters
What to do??
 Visit:
 Basilica de Nuestra
Señora de los Angeles
(pictured at right)
 Irazu Volcano – close to
Cartago and is the
largest in Costa Rica
 Orosi Valley – located
12km from Cartago,
surrounded by beautiful
mountain landscapes
What to do??
 Visit:
 the Ruins of Cartago
(archaeological sitepictured at left)
 Turrialba- right outside of
the city, best rafting in
Costa Rica
 Lankaster Botanical
Gardens- in Paraiso
(40km from Cartago),
Central America’s largest
collection of orchids
Contacting ITCR
 For more information, you can contact the
university at:
 E-mail: infoportal@itcr.ac.cr
 Phone: 2552-5333
 Apartado 159-7050 Cartado, Costa Rica
 Website: www.tec.ac.cr
Helpful Resources
 www.cdc.gov
 www.wikitravel.org/en/cartago
 www.anywherecostarica.com
 www.costarica.com