PreColumbian Gold Museum

Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Precolombino)

Costa Rica’s Golden Legacy, Hidden Underground. Located beneath the Plaza de la Cultura in the center of San José, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum houses one of the most spectacular archaeological collections in Latin America. This subterranean vault protects over 1,600 artifacts dating from 500 AD to the Spanish conquest.

National Theater (Teatro Nacional)

National Theatre (Teatro Nacional)

A Renaissance Masterpiece, Fuelled by Coffee.
Considered the most historically significant and architecturally beautiful building in Costa Rica, the National Theatre (Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica) is a masterpiece of Neoclassical design located in the heart of downtown San José

National Theater (Teatro Nacional)

National Theatre (Teatro Nacional)

A Renaissance Masterpiece, Fuelled by Coffee.
Considered the most historically significant and architecturally beautiful building in Costa Rica, the National Theatre (Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica) is a masterpiece of Neoclassical design located in the heart of downtown San José

Costa Rican Glossary

¡Upe!

OO-peh!
A common call to see if anyone is home or to get someone's attention at a house or small business. It's more polite than shouting 'hello?'

In a sentence: "He walked up to the pulpería and called out, '¡Upe!'"

¿Al chile?

al CHEE-lay?
A slang phrase meaning 'Really?', 'For real?', or 'Seriously?'. Used to express disbelief or to ask for confirmation.

In a sentence: "Q: 'I saw a jaguar on the trail.'
A: '¿Al chile?'"

Birra

BEE-rrah
Slang for 'beer.' Borrowed from the Italian word.

In a sentence: "It's hot today, I need a cold birra."

Bomba

BOHM-bah
Literally 'bomb.' In Costa Rica, this refers to a gas station.

In a sentence: "We need to stop at the next bomba to fill up the tank."

Brete

BREH-teh
Slang for 'work' or 'a job.'

In a sentence: "I have to go to brete early tomorrow morning."

Buena Nota

BWEH-nah NO-tah
Literally 'good note.' A phrase used to describe a person who is cool, kind, or has good vibes. It can also mean 'cool' or 'right on.'

In a sentence: "The surf instructor was really buena nota."

Cacique

kah-SEE-kay
Costa Rica's most popular brand of guaro, a clear liquor made from sugarcane. It's the go-to spirit for many local mixed drinks and shots.

In a sentence: "Can you make me a chili-guaro with Cacique?"

Casado

kah-SAH-doh
Literally 'married man.' It's the quintessential Costa Rican lunch plate, consisting of rice, black beans, a salad, fried plantains, and a choice of protein (fish, chicken, beef, or pork).

In a sentence: "I'm hungry, I'm going to order a casado with chicken."

Chepe

CHEH-peh
colloquial and affectionate nickname for the capital city, San José.

In a sentence: "We're heading to Chepe for the weekend to visit the museums."

Chunche

CHOON-cheh
A catch-all word for 'thing,' 'stuff,' or 'what-cha-ma-call-it.' Used when you can't 1remember the name of an object.

In a sentence: "Can you pass me that chunche from the table?"

Colones

co-LOH-nays
The Costa Rican Colón (₡), named after Christopher Columbus, is the official currency of Costa Rica, recognized for its vibrant banknotes that celebrate the nation's rich wildlife.

In a sentence: "Excuse me, how many colones is the casado con pollo?"

Empanada

em-pah-NAH-dah
A savory pastry, typically fried, filled with ingredients like cheese, beans, potatoes, or shredded meat. A popular and quick snack or breakfast item found in sodas and bakeries.

In a sentence: "I'll grab a cheese empanada and a coffee for breakfast."

Gallo

GAH-yo
Literally 'rooster.' In Costa Rican food culture, a 'gallo' is a small snack, similar to a soft taco. It's typically a corn tortilla topped with a small portion of a filling like shredded meat, potatoes, or picadillo.

In a sentence: "I'm not very hungry, I'll just have a gallo de papa (potato gallo)."

Gallo Pinto

GAH-yo PEEN-toh
The national breakfast dish of Costa Rica. It's a mix of rice and black beans, often cooked with onions, sweet peppers, and cilantro. Usually served with eggs and sour cream.

In a sentence: "I could eat gallo pinto for breakfast every day."

Guaro

GWAH-roh
The generic term for alcohol, but most often refers to Cacique, the national sugar-cane liquor of Costa Rica.

In a sentence: "Let's do some shots of guaro!"

Macho / Macha

MAH-cho / MAH-chah
Slang for a light-skinned or blonde person (macho for male, macha for female). It is not derogatory.

In a sentence: "My friend with the blonde hair is often called 'macha' by the locals."

Mae

my
The Costa Rican equivalent of 'dude' or 'bro.' Used informally and very frequently between friends, mostly by men.

In a sentence: "Mae, let's go grab a beer."

Pulpería

pool-peh-REE-ah
small neighborhood convenience store or corner shop that sells basic groceries, snacks, and drinks.

In a sentence: "I need to go to the pulpería to buy some eggs."

Pura Vida

POO-rah VEE-dah
Literally 'Pure Life.' The national motto of Costa Rica. It's a greeting, a farewell, and a way of life meaning everything's great, life is good, and you're thankful for what you have.

In a sentence: "Q: How are you? A: Pura Vida!"

Salado

sah-LAH-doh
Literally 'salty.' Used to describe someone who has bad luck or is in a tough situation. It means 'too bad' or 'you're out of luck.'

In a sentence: "You missed the last bus? ¡Qué salado!"

Soda

SOH-dah
A small, family-run, traditional Costa Rican restaurant. Sodas serve local dishes like 'casado' at very affordable prices. This is the best place for an authentic meal.

In a sentence: "We had lunch at a soda on the way to the beach."

Tico / Tica

TEE-ko / TEE-kah
A colloquial term for a native Costa Rican man (Tico) or woman (Tica). It comes from the local tendency to add '-ico' to the end of words to form a diminutive.

In a sentence: "The local Ticos are very friendly to tourists."

Tuanis

TWAH-nees
slang word meaning 'cool,' 'awesome,' or 'great.' Believed to be derived from spelling the English words 'too nice' in Spanish.

In a sentence: "That surf spot is tuanis!"

Getting Around
Costa Rica

From cloud forests to tropical beaches — choose your favorite transportation.

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Ground Transport

Shuttles, Taxis, Buses, …

Domestic Air

Domestic Flights

Water Transport

Ferries, Boat Tours, …

/ Transportation

Select Your Transport Mode

Travel Style

Master Costa Rica travel with our expert guide to getting around Costa Rica. From local flights to jungle shuttles and 4×4 rentals, we simplify your journey through paradise.

Search flights tips for getting around Costa Rica
Search for flights to Costa Rica Find Flights

Your gateway to the tropics

Find flights to Costa Rica (San Jose or Liberia)

Find Flights

Ground transportation tips for getting around Costa Rica
Ground Transport

The freedom on the open road

Taxis, Shuttles, Rental Cars, Rideshares and Busses

Ground Transport

Domestic flights tips for getting around Costa Rica
Domestic Air

Fast regional connections

Domestic Flights Carrier Guide and Regional Airports Directory

Domestic Air

Water Transportation tips for getting around Costa Rica
Water Transport

Explore hidden jungles, cross lakes and ocean wildlife

Ferries, Water Taxis and Boat Tours

Water Transport

Choosing Your Travel Style

Getting around Costa Rica can be very confusing so we’ve provided some tips that can help you explore your desired traveling style.

The Speedster

Fly from SJO to the Osa Peninsula, then take a boat to your lodge. Maximum time in nature, minimum in transit.

The Coast Hopper

Drive to Puntarenas, take the ferry to Paquera, and drive down to Santa Teresa. The perfect blend of land and sea.

The Turtle Finder

Head to La Pavona by bus or car, then board a jungle boat to reach the car-free village of Tortuguero where you can find sea turtle nesting grounds.
Tortuguero on Wikipedia

The 10-Day Sprinter

Combine an international arrival with 2 domestic flights to hit Arenal and Manuel Antonio without wasting days in traffic.

The Slow Nomad

Rent a 4×4 and follow the Pacific coast. Use ferries and gravel roads to find the hidden surf breaks in the Nicoya Peninsula.

The Budget Explorer

Utilize the “Directo” bus lines from San José. They are reliable, safe, and cost less than $15 to cross the country.

Local tips for getting around Costa Rica

Local Tips: Getting Around Costa Rica

Getting around Costa Rica can be very confusing so we’ve provided some tips that can help you explore your desired travel style.

The Speedster

Fly from SJO to the Osa Peninsula, then take a boat to your lodge. Maximum time in nature, minimum in transit.

The Coast Hopper

Drive to Puntarenas, take the ferry to Paquera, and drive down to Santa Teresa. The perfect blend of land and sea.

The Turtle Finder

Head to La Pavona by bus or car, then board a jungle boat to reach the car-free village of Tortuguero.

The 10-Day Sprinter

Combine an international arrival with 2 domestic flights to hit Arenal and Manuel Antonio without wasting days in traffic.

The Slow Nomad

Rent a 4×4 and follow the Pacific coast. Use ferries and gravel roads to find the hidden surf breaks in the Nicoya Peninsula.

The Budget Explorer

Utilize the “Directo” bus lines from San José. They are reliable, safe, and cost less than $15 to cross the country.

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