Costa Rica Local Custom Tips by Helga67 Top 5 Page for this destination

Cowboy

There is still a lot of farmland with lifestock in the north of Costa Rica. The man on the pic is a typical farmer of these regions and is called a cowboy like in the US.

Bananas

Bananas represent one third of Costa Rica's export. Big companies such as Delmonte, Dole and Chiquita have banana plantations and factories in Costa Rica. Most banana plantations can be found in Eastern Costa Rica.

Tico/Tica

Tico is the nickname for the Costa Ricans. It is derived from their habit to diminutive words (words end with tico or tica). The Ticos and Ticas (females) are descendants of the Spanish colonists who first arrived in the 16th century. They are catholic and speak Spanish.

In contrary to other Latin Americans, Ticos are very friendly, polite and discrete.

Money and tips

The currency used in Costa Rica is the colon. Anno 2005 one US dollar is about 465 colones. However, it is easy to pay with US dollars, they are widely accepted. Only in local small shops or small restaurants, you will need some colones.

Credit cards, especially Visa, are also accepted almost everywhere.

Don't bring travellers cheques, because of the long queues at the bank.

You can change your US dollars at the bank, at the hotel and there are some ATM's in the bigger cities where you can withdraw money.

All restaurants and hotels already add 10% service. No tips are necessary but if the service is excellent you can also give an extra tip.

If you tip someone, it is common to give 1 dollar or 500 colones.

Climate

Costa Rica has a warm and dry season from December to April, and a rain or 'green' season from May to November. During the rain season there are usually heavy showers in the afternoon. Best to plan your excursions in the morning.

All year round the sun rises at 6 am and sets at 6 pm.

Costa Rican rocking chairs

People in Costa Rica live outside. You will always find them in the garden or on the porch chatting with friends and family or just watching what is going on on the streets. I guess that's why you will find many rocking chairs in Costa Rica. You will see them everywhere. At the homes of locals and, of course, in the hotels.
There is nothing more relaxing than sitting in your rocking chair and enjoying the simple life of Costa Rica ... Pura Vida

Painted oxcarts

In the old days wooden oxcarts were used for the transportation of coffee beans. But it was not until the beginnning of the 1900s that someone started to paint the wheels of this means of transportation. Another 10 years later the whole cart was painted in bright colours. The town of Sarchi is specialised in this technique. Now that no longer oxcarts are used, the people of Sarchi make miniature oxcarts for the tourists.

Costa Rica

In 1502 Christopher Columbus came ashore on this part of the world. He was greeted by Indians wearing golden jewelry and called the country Costa Rica (rich coast).

Afro-Caribbeans

5% of the population is Afro-Caribbean. The first ones came to Costa Rica at the end of the 19th century for the construction of the Atlantic railway. Many stayed and settled at the East Coast. They kept their language (Jamaican English), belief and traditions.