Travel Spanish for Costa Rica

What Spanish is spoken here?

Costa Rican Spanish mostly uses 'usted', but also voseo with 'vos'. It sounds soft and polite, with its own slang. Its hallmark is 'Pura Vida' – greeting, thanks and a whole outlook on life all at once. Costa Ricans call themselves 'ticos'.

Country & culture

Costa Rica is an ecotourism paradise with cloud forests, volcanoes and beaches on both the Pacific and the Caribbean. Around a quarter of the country is protected nature reserve, ideal for sloths, toucans and zip-lining. The laid-back 'Pura Vida' attitude is everywhere you go.

History in brief

The region was sparsely settled by indigenous peoples, without any great civilisation. Columbus landed on the Caribbean coast in 1502. After the Spanish colonial era, Costa Rica became independent in 1821. In 1948 the country abolished its army and invested in education and nature conservation instead.

Country & people

• About 5.3 million inhabitants (2025).
• A stable presidential democracy with no army of its own (abolished in 1948).
• One of the wealthiest and most stable economies in Central America, with a strong middle class.
• Eco-tourism, high-tech and medical-device exports, services as well as coffee and pineapple.

Food & drink

• Gallo pinto — Rice with beans, the classic breakfast.
• Casado — A plate of rice, beans, salad, plantain and meat.
• Olla de carne — A hearty beef stew with root vegetables.
• Ceviche — Raw fish marinated in lime with coriander.
• Café costarricense — High-quality highland coffee, often brewed in a 'chorreador'.
• Agua dulce — A hot drink made from dissolved cane sugar.
• Imperial — The iconic local beer with the eagle logo.

Useful words & slang

• „¡Pura vida!" — All good! (greeting, thanks, way of life)
• „tico/tica" — Costa Rican (nickname)
• „mae" — mate, dude
• „tuanis" — cool, great
• „¡Qué chiva!" — How cool! / Brilliant!
• „soda" — small, simple eatery serving home cooking

Example sentences from the app

• „¿Dónde tomo un taxi del aeropuerto?" — Where do I get a taxi from the airport?
• „Lléveme al centro de San José, por favor." — Take me to downtown San José, please.
• „¡Hola! ¿Cómo está? — ¡Pura vida!" — Hi! How's it going? – Great!
• „¿Cuánto le debo?" — How much do I owe you?
• „¿Aceptan dólares o solo colones?" — Do you take dollars or only colones?
• „¿Hay una soda aquí cerca?" — Is there a soda nearby?
• „Un casado, por favor." — One casado, please.
• „¿Qué lleva el gallo pinto?" — What's in the gallo pinto?
• „¿Es picante?" — Is it spicy?
• „La cuenta, por favor." — The bill, please.
• „¿La propina ya está incluida?" — Is the tip already included?
• „Un café, por favor." — A coffee, please.
• „Un fresco natural, por favor." — A fresh juice, please.
• „¿A qué hora sale el bus para La Fortuna?" — When does the bus to La Fortuna leave?

Travel tip

The dry season (December to April) is ideal, as many tracks turn to mud in the rainy season.