Tamarindo Costa Rica Culture
The Costa Rican people are affectionately known as "Ticos" (male) or “Ticas” (female). They are very generous, welcoming people. As with any country, the residents of the cities and the tourist zones have a cosmopolitan attitude and are curious about visitors. More traditional attitudes prevail in some of the provincial towns and a certain degree of “standoffishness” may be felt.
Language
South American Spanish is the primary language of Costa Rica, but is used interchangeably with European Spanish. Pronunciations can be mixed, so listen carefully, if you are a Spanish-speaker. English is spoken in many areas, especially those visited by tourists.
Education
Costa Ricans value education very highly and the country has a 98% literacy rate. There has been a recent emphasis on teaching English as a second language and now high school students cannot graduate without passing a verbal English test.
Family
Mothers are regarded as the leading family figures. Mother’s Day is a national holiday and everyone gets off work. Grandparents and the elderly are also highly respected.
Pastimes
1) "Football" (soccer): Most activity stops when the Costa Rican football team is on television. 2) Fiestas (rodeos): In fiesta season, most regular activity ceases in each town that holds one. The banks even close on a spot basis. 3) Politics: The Costa Rican people are quite proud of their democracy. It has been independent since 1821. They last had a civil war in 1948; the resolution of which led to the abolition of the national military. They now only have national police and coast guard.
Women
Although it is safe for women to travel in Costa Rica , some locals are unaccustomed to seeing women traveling alone. Males will see unaccompanied females as not spoken for and will traditionally "hiss" and express compliments. (This can happen anywhere in the world.) It is just a macho cultural thing and appropriate to ignore if unwelcome.
Dress
Costa Rican men are rarely seen in shorts or bright colors. Men in shorts are not seen as serious, particularly in business dealings. Men are also quite modest when it comes to swimming attire, as well. Women, on the other hand, may dress (and swim) with a little more style and daring.
Dancing
Costa Ricans love to dance! Males typically lead the dance...if you want to woo a “tica”, you would be wise to take a couple of salsa lessons first.
Other Central Americans
Nicaraguans are present in large numbers in Costa Rica. They perform many of the manual tasks, particularly in construction. Nicaragua is a more undeveloped country and its people are looking for work in countries like Costa Rica.
