Costa Rica culture has indigenous, European, Afro-Caribbean and Asian roots and has a great Spanish influence, its language is Spanish. It is a mestizo and multi-ethnic country. Nowadays we can say that it is a multilingual and pluricultural society where people from other countries have arrived and have established themselves permanently.
The Costa Ricans or "Ticos" as they call themselves are very friendly and kind, and this has influenced people to decide to stay and live, they make them feel at home.
The tico has become famous for its phrase "PURA VIDA", pure life is a way of saying hello, a way of saying yes, a way of giving thanks, a way of saying that someone is very well. In general terms, the "Pura vida" takes a meaning according to the occasion and the moment. It has become a phrase of the daily life.
Costa Rican gastronomy is a juicy mixture of indigenous, Spanish and African influences melting into a mestizo cuisine with strong aroma and flavor. Asian, Italian, Indian, Colombian dishes, and Cuban food among others can be found in our gastronomy due to the pluricultural heritage. It is very easy to get seafood because nearness to the sea. Sea food is prepared with national and international recipes.
Arts contain writers such as Maria Isabel Carvajal "Carmen Lyra" and Carlos Luis Fallas; painters with a deep regional root like Francisco Amighetti, and internationally known Rafa Fernandez.
Costa Rica has a strong artistic tradition in stone with pre-Columbian roots such as stone sculptures, jade and ceramics. This legacy has been continued with quality sculptors like Jorge Jiménez Dereida, a resident in Italy known internationally for his sculptures of marble spheres.
Some curious traditions of the Costa Rican people are to eat “gallo pinto” for breakfast. This is a combination of rice and beans seasoned with natural spices of the country. Or the very famous “arroz con pollo” which is rice with chicken and is very common in important celebration. On Christmas the tamales cannot be forgotten. Tamales are elaborated with a kind of corn dough, pig meat, rice and some vegetables.
One of the most deeply rooted religious tradition in Costa Rican culture is a pilgrimage called the “Romería”. Every August 2 people walk from any point of the country to Cartago city where the Los Angeles Basilica is located, in honor of the virgin of Los Angeles.
In Costa Rica the Independence Day eves are celebrated every September 14th, it is a national night party that people celebrate with parades of lanterns and it is to commemorate the arrival of the torch that announced the news of the independence of Spain. On September 15th, a traditional parade of bands of primary and secondary schools is celebrated with great enthusiasm.
Costa Rica is a country with agricultural origins, its main economy was based on agriculture for many decades and its coffee is known worldwide and very famous. Nowadays this small great country has taken an important step towards ecotourism and the high technology industry.
Visit Costa Rica a country without an army is waiting for you to share its culture!
Costa Rica, place of encounter with whales. These large mammals visit the warm waters of the South Pacific to reproduce. They travel from their feeding areas in North and South America.
If you are waiting the next Costa Rica’s summer season, you may be missing out the more intense Pura Vida experience happening now, in the green and rainy season. Forest comes alive in rainy season.
One of the reasons that people travel to Costa Rica is of pristine landscapes. Hiking in Costa Rica means to enjoy the wildlife along the mountains, jungle or the forest discovering new adventures.
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