• Costa Ricans are famous for observing tico time, known locally as "la hora tica." Costa Ricans habitually arrive late, often by 15 minutes or more, to dinner, appointments, and get-togethers (anything but school, the movies or the appointments at the public health clinics, for which they line up hours in advance). Many Costa Ricans do not view late arrivals as rude – and their tardiness is not meant to offend – so it's best to adjust your expectations and tell your friends to arrive earlier than you'd like.
• Similarly, the word ahora, which is Spanish for "now," means "later" or "tomorrow" in Costa Rica. If someone tells you they'll meet you "ahora" or are leaving "ahora mas tarde," it's best to clarify exactly when you'll see each other.

Pronouns

• Costa Ricans are known to use terms of endearment to refer to others. They "address" the person with whom they are speaking more often than is done in English, and they do it in a way that English speakers might consider slightly offensive. It is common that women will be called mamita , madre, mi hijita , (little mother, mother, my little daughter, all roughly corresponding to "honey"). They love to use salient physical characteristics as nicknames. Common ones are gordo (fatty), flaco (skinny), macho or macha (Costa Rican for fair-skinned or fair haired), negro (dark-skinned), chino (it doesn't matter if you're Asian or just have slightly slanting eyes, your name is Chino), gato (blue or green eyes). Gordo and negro are commonly used as terms of endearment, regardless of appearance. Whatever you get called, keep in mind that it comes out of love and it's not meant as an insult.
  

Family Houses

• In general, Costa Rican families are very tightly knit. Many households are multigenerational – grandparents, parents and grandchildren comprise a common family unit, but great-grandchildren, cousins, and other close family members may live together, as well. Children often live at home until they get married. It is important to note that there is little to no social stigma associated with living at home, even for adults in their 20's, 30's or 40's who have steady jobs.
  

Cordiality

• Costa Ricans are very cordial, and will always greet you with a smile and a friendly Hola! Always make sure to say hello, goodbye, thank you, good morning/evening, etc, otherwise it can be considered rude. It is common to say hola and adios to friends and acquaintances with a light cheek-to-cheek kiss on the cheek – or an air kiss accompanied by a kissing sound. Note that women kiss women and women kiss men, but men do not kiss men; instead, they either shake hands or give each other a one-armed hug. In formal or business settings, a firm handshake is the typical greeting.
• Burping is seen as extremely rude, especially during meals. If you must, always cover your mouth and say "excuse me".

Dress Code

• Costa Rica doesn’t have a strict dress code so comfortable and casual is best for the entire country. That being said, it's not common to see women wearing very short shorts or skirts in the city, as they may attract unwanted attention.
  

Culture and Religion

• Costa Rican culture is historically machista, or male-dominant – similar to 1950's America. For example, women traditionally take care of household chores, while men strive to be the breadwinners. Women are expected to dress nicely, and men don't hesitate to show their appreciation with whistles and verbal compliments.
  However, Costa Rica has changed over the last several decades. While machismo and gender differences still exist, sexism and gender inequality are no longer as acceptable as they once were. Women often work outside the home, earning salaries equal to their male counterparts. New laws have been passed to stop sexual harassment.
• Costa Rican culture is very courteous, and confrontation and accusations are usually considered impolite. It's uncommon for a Costa Rican to get angry in public, even when complaint is warranted. In fact, Costa Ricans are taught from a young age to protest peacefully, and civil unrest is almost always expressed in planned, organized marches. Additionally, most locals loath to say "no", instead promising "maybe." Keep in mind that a maybe is not an attempt to lie or mislead; it's simply the Costa Rican way of not hurting a friend's feelings. To blend in, try not to stir the pot or get offended when a maybe turns out to mean no; just adjust your expectations and interpret "puede ser" the way a Costa Rican would.
• Costa Rica is a Catholic country, and religious values are respected, if not always observed. Topics such as pre-marital sex and abortion are generally avoided. Costa Ricans are very polite, so be sure not to put your feet on furniture; always say please and thank you, and try not raise your voice in anger, at least in public. Typically, small towns and rural areas are more conservative than big cities, especially those in the Central Valley. Beach towns, which are frequented by tourists and expats, are also more liberal than other parts of Costa Rica. The best tactic is to err on the side of caution at all times, or at least until you have discovered what behavior is acceptable in your town.
• Costa Rica has one of the smallest migration rates of the world. Only 3% of its inhabitants live outside of the country. That says a lot about the social culture of Costa Ricans. They are very family oriented and always tend to come back home. It also speaks volumes about the country itself. Costa Rica is a gorgeous country to live in, it’s safe, and the people are friendly. You can also see that it is a popular place to live in when you look at the number of immigrants. With about 420,000 immigrants, almost 10% of the population are foreigners. The most immigrants come from Nicaragua, Colombia, and United States.