Costa Rica Travel Posts

Costa Rica Travel Guide – Talking with Ticos

By Patrick Brunelle ⋅ June 22, 2009 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

If you are traveling to Costa Rica, it is important you take a few minutes to read up on the best ways to communicate with Costa Ricans. If you already know some of the most important Spanish Phrases in Costa Rica, you will be in good shape. But what about being seen as a nice tourist, and not given a hard time by the locals.

Costa Rican Manners
Costa Ricans are also very polite people, and knowing a few of the customs will definitely be handy during your stay in Costa Rica.

1. If you enter someone’s home, please keep your shoes on, otherwise they will feel uneasy about you being in their home.
2. Just like anywhere, saying please and thank you are always appreciated.
3. Don’t tell people what to do, ask them if it is possible to do something. For example, if you want them to put the meter on in the taxi, don’t tell them to put it on, ask them if they have a meter, and they will put it on for you.
4. If someone asks you to stay for a Zarpe (one last drink), it is expected that you stay for a Zarpe.

Costa Rican Communication
Costa Ricans are as a whole quiet and respectful people. They make an effort not to take too much space, and ensure they never speak loudly, as that is often perceived as being rude and self centered. North Americans, more so that Europeans, seem to speak a few notches louder than the rest, especially in buses and restaurants, so keep your tone in mind when you speak.

Costa Rican Humor
Also, Costa Rican tend to make fun of themselves to get a laugh rather than ridicule others. I still remember the sound of crickets after one of my many jokes that would have been a hit in Canada. Eventually I got, and making fun of others here, although all in good fun, was a no go zone.