Costa Rica Information

Tico Culture

The inhabitants of Costa Rica like to call themselves Ticos or (for women) Ticas, an abbreviation of 
Hermaniticos and Hermaniticas - little brothers and little sisters; an affectionate nickname popular throughout 
Central America.

Within the country the population density varies from one region to another. In the heavily-populated Meseta Central 
an average 300 people live in each square kilometer; in the sparsely populated coastal regions the average is only 
20 people per square kilometer. 

More than half of all Costa Ricans live in cities, a trend which is typical in Latin America. The average age of 
its population, however, remains a serious problem: 60 percent of all Ticos are younger than 25 and almost 50 
percent are younger than 20. This means that thousands of new jobs have to be created each year - no small task 
in times of recession.

Demographics

The native Indian inhabitants of Costa Rica now number approximately 15,000 and make up 0.5 percent of the 
population, as opposed to 100 percent in 1502. Descendants of the numerous Indian tribes now call themselves 
Indigena (indigenous), but are mostly of mixed race following 500 years of contact with the white inhabitants. 
The word "Indio" is considered by many to be an insult.

Whites and Creoles descended from the original white settlers make up 87 percent of the population. This group 
also includes mestizos, descendants of mixed white and Indian parentage, who now make up seven percent of the 
population. 

Blacks and Mulattos

Descendants of the 10 million African slaves brought to Costa Rica in the 18th and 19th centuries now make up 
approximately three percent of the population. 

To this day 100,000 black and mulatto descendants still live in the Atlantic region. Despite the growing influence 
of the white population, the majority of Spanish-speaking inhabitants and the growing numbers of tourists, many of 
these black inhabitants still speak patois, a fascinating mixture of Spanish and English. Rice and beans, name 
(a spice made of roots that flavors many of their native dishes) and pan bom characterize their cuisine.

This minority, whose indigenous culture is unfortunately gradually disappearing, favors calypso and reggae music. 
They wear their hair in dreadlocks, and adhere to Rastifarian sects imported from Jamaica or the Obeah religion 
of the Caribbean. They often consume alcohol excessively and smoke ganja, or marijuana. In addition to the 
Indigenas, whites, mestizos, blacks and mulattos, Costa Rica is also home to thousands of Asians. Most of the 
Chinese and Indians now living in the country arrived during the 19th century as migrant workers, and many today 
run ethnic restaurants.

Another 250,000 foreigners have chosen Costa Rica as their long-term residence. These include pensioners from the 
United States and Canada who come to the country to enjoy the mild climate along the coast or in the highlands, 
the high standard of living and the many affordable leisure activities available to them. Smaller groups of 
Italian farmers (for example, in San Vito), German coffee planters and other European and North American hotel 
owners round out the population.

Religion

The Roman Catholic faith has dominated Costa Rica ever since the arrival of Spanish missionaries during the colonial 
era. The majority of the population (89 percent) remain Catholic, eight percent are Protestant and three percent 
adhere to other religions and sects. Ticos are, however, not as dependent on traditional religion as their Mexican 
neighbors. Their long democratic tradition and their disinclination to tolerate dictators and demagogues may account 
for the difference.

With the exception of a brief interlude in the 19th century, the Church has steadily lost influence in Costa Rica 
since the 18th century.

Protestant religious observance is barely noticeable in daily life. About onehalf of Costa Rica's 40,000 Protestants 
are black and live on the Atlantic coast. Their beliefs often combine elements of Afro-Caribbean religion.

Language

The official language of Costa Rica is Castellano (Spanish). The vast majority (Sa7 percent) of the population 
speaks the Costa Rican variety of Spanish, which has lost some of the grammatical forms of the language of the 
Spanish nobility and substituted expressions from indigenous and Afro-Caribbean dialects.

Blacks living along the Atlantic coast speak patois, a mixture of English and Spanish which bears great similarity 
to the pidgin English spoken in Jamaica. Few of the indigenous people of Costa Rica have retained their languages. 
Of the native population, only the Bribri, the Boruca and the Cabecar, who live in the Cordillera de Talamanca, 
speak their original languages.

Characteristics and Leisure Activities

Although it is dangerous to make generalizations about the common mentality or characteristics of a people, a 
journey through Costa Rica demonstrates certain traits. Most Ticos are extremely polite and like to maintain a 
polite distance. A sus ordenes! and Para servirle! (at your service) are two of the most often heard phrases and 
imply more than just a polite formality. Hospitalidad, or hospitality, takes top priority. Guests enjoy many more 
privileges and far more freedom than their hosts. The natural consequence of such an attitude is a very careful 
selection of guests.

The background of such hospitality is the unwritten law of the Ticos: Quedar biers - behave yourself well. An 
important maxim in Costa Rica is to make a good impression and it is almost universally followed.

Costa Ricans spend a great deal of time at home. Home is central to their lives, and their homes are very well 
taken care of. The saying "my home is my castle," or "mi casa es mi castillo," could have been invented in Costa 
Rica.

Costa Ricans are much more family oriented than their North American or European neighbors. Social occasions, 
such as the popular Sunday picnic lunch, usually involve large family gatherings. The only events that take place 
outside the family circle are the Sunday promenade through the town center and the weekend dances where young 
people gather. Single children usually live with their parents until their marriage, and they contribute a 
significant part of their earnings to their parents for room and board. Pre-marital sex is frowned upon and usually 
takes place in the darker corners of city parks, in cars borrowed from richer friends and in the dark anonymity of 
the cinema.

Part of the Costa Rican sense of hospitality and politeness expresses itself in the cheerful readiness of the native 
residents to be helpful to foreign guests. These attempts at courtesy can sometimes be irritating, especially when 
asking directions. A Tico would rather make something up than admit to a foreigner that he also doesn't know his way 
around. It is important in all situations to save face. Loss of face can lead to emotional outbreaks among Costa 
Ricans.

Costa Ricans are also extremely selfcritical, both individually and collectively. However, criticism from outsiders, 
especially from foreigners, is often not well accepted. It is better to avoid critical remarks and, when that is 
absolutely impossible, to formulate words of criticism in a polite and diplomatic way. The customary practice of 
keeping a polite distance is also very important in maintaining control over emotions. This is often not possible 
without a little help. According to a statistical report published in 1995, Costa Ricans resort to tranquilizers 
more often than any of their Latin American neighbors. Unfortunately, drivers in Costa Rica's major cities do not 
appear to use tranquilizers. Aggressive, offensive driving is the rule of the streets. Risky passing maneuvers and 
nerve-jangling use of the horn characterize native driving habits.

Poco a poco and despacio, despacio "little by little" and "not so fast" or "never too much at once" - are the 
sayings that often determine the pace of life in Costa Rica. Beneath such gentle warnings is a democratic and 
conservative attitude that favors the status quo over any kind of rash change. In leisure activities, unlike the 
attitude in public offices and businesses, time is generously dispensed.

When things occasionally go wrong the almost universal response is a shrug of the shoulders and the expression 
"Quien sabe," which translates to "who knows," a form of expression which is prevalent throughout the Latin 
American world. It is based on the supreme confidence that somewhere, someone will worry about the problem - 
hopefully not for another day or two.

A favorite response to almost any problem is "manana" (tomorrow). The national philosophy dictates that you should 
never rush ahead. Tomorrow is another day and problems seldom go away. Great value is placed on public and private 
festivities and visitors are often pleasantly surprised to be invited by a total stranger to a fiesta.

First time social or business meetings, whether accidental or planned, always end with an exchange of tarjetas 
(business or visiting cards). Unlike Europeans and Americans, who regard such exchanges as routine, Costa Ricans 
see them as a sign of respect and trust.

Men and Women

The relationship between the sexes in Costa Rica has evolved over 500 years in which Spanish and native Indian 
cultures became intertwined and inseparable. These cultures have given birth to expressions such as machismo and 
marianismo, which have entered even the international vocabulary of sexual relationships. Although the sharply 
defined roles of the sexes are changing among the younger generation, especially among the educated middle class, 
most Ticos still maintain macho values. "Este hombre es muy macho," (this man is very macho) is universally held 
to be a compliment. The opposite, borrowed from the moral integrity of the Virgin Mary, is the woman who offers 
herself for her husband, children and home. The more beautiful, delicate and vulnerable she appears, the closer 
she comes to the Costa Rican ideal for women.

The clear division of roles between the sexes is easily observed at family picnics in the city's parks. The women 
do what Costa Ricans call chinear - they fuss over their husbands continuously and anticipate their every wish. 
The husbands, meanwhile, enjoy themselves and condescend to making the occasional compliment or bestowing short 
bursts of attention upon their children.

Despite this public appearance of domestic harmony and romantic bliss, violence is on the rise in Costa Rican 
families. According to a study published in 1994, one out of three people admits having experienced violent 
outbreaks at the hands of their father. Jealousy and lack of respect can turn a volatile macho, especially under 
the influence of alcohol, into an unpredictable and dangerous man within seconds.

Before marriage, flirting is trumps. Dando cuerva (make eyes at someone) is a popular pastime. Young men call out 
provocative expressions like mi amor, machita or guapa (pretty), and both sexes in Costa Rica indulge in the sport 
of flirting. In fact, Ticos and Ticas are world champions at flirting; they have turned it into a high art and 
practice it regardless of age.

Young Ticas with long black hair, wearing skin-tight jeans, often with kneehigh leather boots, seem to ignore the 
remarks of their admirers. In reality, they never miss a word and know how to value such gallantry. For foreign 
women, especially if they are blonde and longlegged, the chorus of whistles can eventually become tiresome and 
annoying.

Flirting is often successful and can easily go beyond innocent remarks. Many married Costa Rican men have affairs 
with unmarried, divorced or widowed women. Wives, on the other hand, are expected to be eternally faithful to 
their partners and to tolerate the affairs of their husbands, as long as they bring home the paycheck and observe 
their duties at home. Extramarital sexual adventures account for the fact that 25 percent of all children born in 
Costa Rica are illegitimate, and five percent have no idea who their biological father is.