A General Overview of Costa Rican Norms and Customs

As with all countries, Costa Rica has its own set of norms and customs, based on centuries of tradition and social development. Ticos are very proud of their customs, traditions, roots, and history.

One great norm is that Costa Ricans are extraordinarily friendly to visitors and tourists, even to the extent of sharing a holiday meal with them or inviting them to family gatherings.

There are other customs that have developed around Costa Rica’s identity as a country where tourism plays an important economic role and the service industry provides employment and opportunities for thousands of people.

Understanding Costa Rican norms and customs can make the experience of visiting or relocating to Costa Rica much more enjoyable. Many foreigners discover that adapting to local traditions is just as important as understanding practical matters such as housing, transportation, and immigration requirements.

Our article on living in Costa Rica as an expat discusses some of the everyday adjustments foreigners experience after moving to the country.

When visiting Costa Rica, as with any country, it’s polite and sometimes obligatory to follow local customs. It will certainly endear you to the people of the country to at least try.

Tico Time

This is a custom that took me a long time to get my head around, and even after 15 years in the country, it can be somewhat frustrating.

“Tico time” is what Costa Ricans have instead of strict punctuality. If someone says they’ll meet you in a bar or café at 2 p.m., in other countries you can expect someone to be there at around that hour. In Costa Rica, that could mean your friend will show up later.

It is part of the fabric of Costa Rican society that there really shouldn’t be any need to rush around trying to make a deadline when the sun is shining and life is short.

In many informal social situations, a relaxed attitude toward punctuality is not necessarily considered disrespectful or rude. However, expectations vary from person to person, and punctuality remains important in professional settings, government appointments, and other formal commitments.

A friend of mine told me:

“When I first got here, people were late so often, I thought it was my poor command of the Spanish language that was leading to confusion. When I mentioned it to a Tico friend, he told me that Ticos will be on time for a doctor’s appointment or to get to work on time, but for social occasions, forget it. It’s up to you to factor in the possible lateness. If you mean 3 p.m., say 1:30 p.m. Then there’s more of a chance of you arriving at the same time!”

Although this is initially exasperating, especially if you are someone like me who relies on punctuality to get everything done in a day, it is just easier to go with the flow and understand that different social expectations exist.

However, try to avoid being late yourself. For every nine Ticos who might turn up fashionably late, there will be one who, like you, insists on punctuality.

This relaxed approach to everyday life is also something foreigners encounter when choosing where to settle. For example, our guide to living in Atenas explores the atmosphere of a traditional Costa Rican town and how it differs from life in larger metropolitan communities.

Costa Rican Slang

As all countries have slang in their language, it’s best to try to pick some of this up.

It’s always a bonus to know some authentic words that you’ll hear Costa Ricans say, so you can better understand conversations and local culture.

You don’t have to use every expression yourself, but like idioms in English, it’s useful to know what they mean when you hear them, as they rarely can be understood by translating each individual word.

Can you imagine someone who is not a native English speaker trying to translate expressions such as “Between the devil and the deep blue sea” or “A stitch in time saves nine”?

Some examples of Costa Rican slang include:

Tico / Tica

This simply means “Costa Rican.” A Tico is a Costa Rican male, and a Tica is a Costa Rican female.

This nickname is commonly associated with the Costa Rican tendency to use diminutives, particularly the suffix -tico.

Pura Vida

You will hear this everywhere.

It literally means “pure life” and is used in greetings and farewells. It’s also used as “thank you,” “you’re welcome,” or simply to express that everything is going well.

The phrase has become closely associated with Costa Rica’s national identity and relaxed approach to life.

The Costa Rican Tourism Board frequently uses Pura Vida to describe the country’s culture and way of life.

Tuanis

A favorite word of mine, this simply means “cool” or “great.”

Use it when you’re impressed by something or when you’re simply saying to another person that a situation is okay.

If your Costa Rican Spanish is limited, this and “Pura Vida” can cover all manner of deficiencies.

The word tuanis is commonly associated with the English expression “too nice,” although its precise linguistic origin is debated.

Mae

Pronounced approximately “mah-eh,” this is the Costa Rican equivalent of “dude” or “mate.”

It’s a very common informal expression used when speaking with friends or referring to another person.

Although traditionally associated with men, its use is not necessarily limited to males.

Money and Currency in Costa Rica

The currency in Costa Rica is the colón, named after Christopher Columbus, whose name in Spanish is Cristóbal Colón.

The notes are printed with their numerical denomination, so recognizing their value is relatively simple. However, Costa Ricans themselves often use nicknames that have been given to different denominations.

For example, un rojo (a red one) is a 1,000-colón bill because of its red color.

You may also hear someone refer to 5,000 colones as un tucán (a toucan), a nickname associated with an older version of the 5,000-colón bill that featured a toucan.

The designs of Costa Rican banknotes have changed over time, but some of these familiar expressions remain part of everyday language.

For official information about Costa Rican currency, exchange rates, and banknotes, visit the Central Bank of Costa Rica.

Tipping in Costa Rica

Restaurants

Tipping in Costa Rica is different from what many North American visitors are accustomed to.

Under Costa Rican legislation, restaurants and other establishments providing qualifying table service must include a 10% service charge.

This charge is established under Law No. 4946 and its amendments.

The amount is considered payment for table service, and customers are not required to leave an additional tip.

However, you can always leave a few extra colones if you think the service deserves it. Additional gratuities are voluntary.

If you’re going to tip in dollars, check the currency exchange rate when considering how much to leave.

Ubers and Taxis

Tipping taxi or ride-hailing drivers is not obligatory in Costa Rica, although passengers can provide an additional amount if they are satisfied with the service.

Part of the reason many tourists and new residents prefer app-based transportation is that they can see an estimated fare before beginning the journey.

With traditional red taxis, the fare is calculated using the regulated taxi meter, commonly known as the maría.

The meter continues running during traffic congestion, which can make the final cost higher than expected.

Costa Rica’s addressing system can also be confusing to newcomers, as directions are frequently based on landmarks rather than conventional street addresses.

However, many taxi drivers are honest, competent, and familiar with the areas where they work.

If you’ve had a good journey in a red taxi, you can always tip a little extra, but it’s not expected.

Tour Guides

This will depend upon how long you spend with a tour guide and where.

If you spend an entire day with a guide, a gratuity of approximately $6–$7 was once a common personal recommendation, although the appropriate amount depends on the nature of the experience, group size, and level of service.

Higher-end tours or private experiences can warrant a larger tip.

If you’re taking a tour bus, a small gratuity for the driver is also appreciated.

These amounts are suggestions rather than legally established requirements, and tipping remains voluntary.

Cafés and Casual Establishments

Often, these places are too informal for a customary tipping system, particularly where customers order directly at a counter.

As you might see in the United States, there will sometimes be a tip jar next to the cash register.

The staff will appreciate it if you leave some coins or a small-denomination bill, but there is no obligation to do so beyond any legally applicable service charge.

Hotel Bars

If you’re staying at a hotel, you may be able to charge drinks or other purchases to your room rather than pay for them immediately.

If you’re paying by the drink, or are a day guest at the hotel bar, you can leave an additional gratuity if you consider the service deserving.

As with restaurants, it is important to check whether the bill already includes a service charge before deciding whether to leave an additional tip.

For more information about customary tipping practices, see the Costa Rican Tourism Board’s official visitor information.

Eating Customs and Etiquette

If you are dining formally or with someone’s family, there are a few customs that you should observe in the name of good manners.

Buen Provecho

If you are dining and there is a host, it is polite to wait until the host indicates that everyone can begin eating.

You will often hear the words Buen provecho, which approximately translates to “Enjoy your meal,” much like the French expression bon appétit.

This phrase is also commonly used when greeting someone who is already eating.

It is a simple but useful expression that can make everyday interactions more comfortable.

The Head of the Table

As in most cultures, the head of the table is often the seat of the host.

So unless you’ve been offered the seat, it’s best not to take it.

A friend of mine told me about a time when she was invited to dinner by the family who owned her house.

Her husband jumped into the seat at the end of the table and spent the night receiving deathly looks from the old matriarch, who saw that seat as belonging solely to her son.

It was only the next day that someone explained it to them, and she was mortified.

Not every Costa Rican family observes the same seating arrangements, of course, but allowing your host to direct you to a seat is a simple gesture of respect.

Guachimanes: The People Who Watch Your Car

Guachimán is a term you’ll encounter throughout Costa Rica.

These are people who watch parked vehicles or assist drivers with parking and reversing in exchange for a small amount of money.

The term is derived from the English expression “watchman.”

Some are informal parking attendants who appear in busy commercial areas, near restaurants, or outside public establishments.

Others work regularly in the same area and can be recognized by their reflective vests.

Some are opportunists and will show up just before you return to your car, claiming that they have been watching it for you.

It’s up to you whether you want to tip them, assuming you are not using a regulated parking service with an established fee.

However, there are more regular guachimanes who wear reflective vests to protect themselves from traffic at night and to let drivers know they are there.

If you consider that they are hoping for a relatively small amount of money, it doesn’t hurt to pay them, especially if they are found somewhere you park regularly.

I generally give the guachimán about 500 or 600 colones and leave it at that.

Of course, payment to an informal parking attendant should never be confused with a guarantee that your vehicle or belongings will be protected.

For more practical recommendations, see our article on safety tips for living in Costa Rica.

Although these customs should be observed, if for no other reason than as a sign of respect for the locals, it is important to remember that Costa Rica is a very relaxed country—hence “Tico time.”

Don’t worry about getting any of the customs confused.

Another Costa Rican custom is an endless willingness to help by explaining things.

Someone will always put you right!