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Costa Rican Problems Are Fixable, But It Will Take Integrity

The problems here are more self-inflicted than related to Costa Rica tourism. Attempts have to be made to treat raw sewage, and make tougher pollution controls on vehicle emissions, particularly buses. It should to be considered wrong to litter, since it hurts everyone. Litter is picked up in front of most peoples homes, but farms, both urban and rural along the public roads have ditches full of garbage and litter, that almost never gets picked up. Though an astonishing 28% of Costa Rica is parks, preserves, buffer zones and Indian reserves, more people are required to protect these lands from...

The Costa Rica Government Needs to Take More Responsibility

Each day from December to May many Josefinos (San Jose residents) routinely fill buckets with water in the early morning preparing for Aquaductos (the water company) to cut off the water from 7 am to 6 pm. There is enough annual rainfall, but their reservoirs are inadequate to carry them through the six month dry season and there are many broken water mains that take sometimes weeks to locate and fix. The answer for homeowners is to install a holding tank that fills overnight, but many Ticos haven't the means or space. Gringos who live in San Jose generally learn to cope and adapt just like th...

Costa Rica Eco Tourism vs. Poverty

Costa Rica eco tourism has gained an unchallenged reputation of being at the forefront of global ecotourism, a movement recognizing the effects that tourism has on the ecological, social, cultural and religious traditions of a country. The ecotourism doctrine reminds us that we are visitors, and to listen first and not brag about our wealth and the quality of life in our home country, to set examples of polite behavior and clean up after ourselves, to graciously accept what is given to us, to realize that the bargain souvenir we are buying for pennies is the result of long hours of work, and e...

Stay Safe, Especially in San Jose

Like any city, crime is worse today than yesterday. Still, San Jose would be considered one of the safer cities in Latin America. With weak social programs to head off criminals before they act, and the mixture of drugs and poor, crowded conditions, these crimes were inevitable. People are learning to hunker down with their possessions.

It is advisable to carry only what you need, you can photocopy your passport and leave the original in your safety deposit box, do not wear jewelry (as a tourist you don't need to impress anyone) and travel in pairs. In San Jose at night, especially in the poor...

The Oldest profession

Prostitution over eighteen years is legal in Costa Rica, pimping is not. Costa Rican sex tourism generates a lot of income, directly and indirectly, though the government tries to downplay it. Ticos generally look down on prostitutes, whereas tourists, away from home and friends, don't care. With a lack of genuine opportunities to make enough money to support their families, some Ticas enter the profession. The lion's share of Costa Rica prostitution is centered in San Jose, though it is also in the larger coastal towns and elsewhere. The money can be instantly gratifying, but irregular, and t...

Foreigners Living in Costa Rica

There are some sixty thousand ex-patriots, mostly from the US and Canada, and a smaller percentage of Europeans that live here year round. It is possible to obtain residency either as a retiree or a rentista with a guaranteed income, like a pension or an investment, while others qualify who have invested in Costa Rica tourism (like me). Most enjoy an easy way of life with the reduced cost of living, a wonderful climate, homes perched in the cool mountains overlooking San Jose, exploring Costa Rica in a new SUV, and easy access to the outside world with their internet and English language cable...

Tico Prejudices and Foreigners

The Mesita Central and Pacific coast population are clearly of strong Spanish descent. In the northwest province of Guanacaste however, closest to heavily indigenous populated Nicaragua, people tend to be shorter, darker skinned and have more Indian features. There are rising complaints about organized crime brought in by Columbian residents, and there is a constant supply of Dominican women working the male tourists. But there are some 400,000 Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica who receive the brunt of Costa Rican prejudices. Many were raised in a war zone and have had trouble assimilating to t...

The Wheels May Be Starting to Fall Off

Ticos are still a proud and resilient people but often today their smiling faces are a facade for suffering and deep rooted worries. As little as a generation ago, most were self-sufficient. Today, many families have lost their land in order to pay their bills and are having trouble making ends meet. Tico society is being undermined by both the cruel realities of the outside world, and population pressures from within. The importance of family co-operation can not be over-estimated. Grandparents, aunts and uncles live with and care for the children in large extended families while parents try ...

Tico Customs

Many Ticos lack some of the etiquette with strangers that we take for granted, like not holding a door open for you. Telephone manners are almost comical. When the phone rings, you pick it up and hear a voice asking you, "Quien habla?" (Who is talking?). It throws you off! But face to face, Ticos invariably take time to say hello, shake your hand, and make small talk before entering into any serious discussions. Projecting a good image is very important to Ticos. Other than beggars, Ticos are always well groomed and wearing cleanly pressed new looking clothes and polished shoes. Their fashion ...

More People Equals Less Land

Much of Costa Rica is gorgeous, and will remain that way. However, there are pockets of poverty and depressing shantytowns around San Jose, often filled with Nicaraguans. Cracks in the egalitarian democratic society have developed and are widening. Population pressure in the Mesita Central basin, especially around San Jose, is reducing the number of resources and lowering the quality of life given to the common Tico for so many centuries. Approximately twenty percent of Ticos live below the poverty line. It is no longer easy to raise a family. Today, San Jose has a third of the country's popul...