Costa Rica is awesome, and you all probably know the main reasons why. It has beautiful scenery highlighted by volcanoes and stunning beaches. It has an insane amount of wildlife. And so much of the country is both accessible and has been left wild, meaning this is one of the places to enjoy nature in its glory.

This article isn’t about those things. Rather, I want to focus on some cultural things you may or may not know about Costa Rica that will help you adjust to being here. Is this everything you should know? Of course not. But it encompasses some things that will affect the majority of travelers.

I’m organizing some of these into categories just for ease of use for me.

1. Pura Vida!

Pura vida is Costa Rica. Literally meaning “pure life,” it is ubiquitous here, and can be substituted for any number of things in conversational terms. (Think of it as aloha but even more.) If someone asks how you are, a response of pura vida means good to great. It can work as “you’re welcome”, or in place of “yep, got it”. It can be a greeting, a farewell, an excited utterance at seeing your first sloth, or a response to a roll call.

Wildlife and its protection

2. Critters in your room

Wildlife in Costa Rica is all around you. You can get close and personal. Sometimes, it gets close and personal to you. If you leave your window or door open in your hotel/lodge, it might get really personal. This can range from the normal array of bugs and spiders to coati, raccoon sorts of things. Birds can fly in. Lizards love it in your room. Make sure you leave openings closed if you don’t want visitors.

3. National Park restrictions

Costa Rica is known for its national parks. (It also has a TON of private reserves.) Single use plastics are forbidden in public national parks. And at many, snacks are also a no-go, even wrapped and sealed. (Monkeys love snacks.) Your backpack might be searched before entering a park, and those items confiscated. And even if it isn’t, please be careful not to allow such things to fall into the wrong paws.

Eating and drinking

4. Tap water in Costa Rica is safe

Unlike the overwhelming majority of Latin America, Costa Rica has tap water that is safe to drink thanks to the country’s focus on environmental protections. You can ask for a glass of tap water at a restaurant and it will be free. But just as with anywhere, mineral content and taste might be slightly different than what you’re used to. (There is an exception to this, on the Caribbean coast in Tortuguero National Park, where I was told not to drink the water.)

5. Coffee is great, but can be weak

Costa Rica is known for having some of the best coffee in the world. And it lives up to that. But it seems common practice here to perk it for less time than we do back in the U.S., so I often found it to be weak. And that was especially true when I added milk. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it will mean that it has less caffeine, and you might need an extra cup. Or three.

6. Soda doesn’t mean what you think

You’ll see signs all over for soda. But this doesn’t refer to Pepsi or Coke. In Costa Rica, a soda is a traditional cafe. Here you’ll find inexpensive and casual food options, typically of Costa Rican dishes.

7. Tip is generally included

If you are dining in, tip will often be included at a flat rate of 10%. Check for it on the bill. If for some reason it isn’t, that 10% is a good rule of thumb to add.

Other items you might find important

8. Don’t flush the toilet paper

This one is true all over Latin America and the Caribbean. Plumbing here isn’t what we are used to, and toilet paper can’t be flushed. You’ll find trash cans next to the toilet, and are expected to use those. Or you can do what I do (at least when at my hotel or Airbnb) and just shower after if needed so as not to have dirty toilet paper in my bathroom trash.

9. Travel times are overly optimistic

Part of this is logistical. Traffic in the cities can be very bad, especially in San Jose and Cartago. And in the mountains (or along the coasts) roads can be narrow and windy and you can get stuck behind a semi-truck. But part of this is also cultural. “We are just about there” can mean anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or so. On some bus rides, we were just about there for significant periods, meaning bathroom expectations have to be taken into account. Likewise, “a few blocks away” can mean a mile or so.

Costa Rica is a destination that just about everyone will love, especially those who prioritize experiences with nature. But these few cultural items are things you should know before you arrive, just as you should know a few words in Spanish and what the current exchange rate is. And then enjoy your trip. Pura vida!

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