Costa Rican Culture

Are Costa Ricans Friendly Towards Americans?

Yes! They are very friendly and hospitable towards anyone visiting their country. Most Costa Ricans are open-minded, no matter what background you come from. Their country is much like America-with many different ethnic groups pretty much harmonized together where racism isn't a huge issue. Democracy, peace, and personal liberty are the foundation of this nation.

Costa Rica is generally a land of courtesy and gentleness. There is a widespread disdain and repulsion to militarism, reflected in the nation's pride in the fact that they have no army and have more teachers than policemen. Unlike some Latin American countries, Costa Ricans do not generally drop by someones home to visit unannounced unless they are good friends. They are also reasonably punctual- if you are an invited guest, it is proper to bring a small gift and show up on time. To be polite, they sometimes invite a visitor to come and stay but do not expect them to accept the invitation. To counter this, many locals will decline an invitation initially in order to determine if it is sincere.

When greeting, women and relatives greet one another with a kiss on the cheek. If unacquainted, women may pat each other on the arm. Men shake hands. It is considered rude not to greet everyone of the same sex in a small group. In rural areas, people greet each other when passing on the street, even if unacquainted. Generally, an acknowledgement of some sort is appropriate.

Their fun-loving and family-oriented way of life, combined with the stunning natural landscape of Costa Rica makes this the perfect destination for buying real estate- whether it be a summer retreat, retirement home, or whatever your pleasure! Costa Ricans are very proud of where they live because of its infinite beauty and varied ecosystem and are happy to "show off" their land to anyone who is interested.

Expect to be welcomed!