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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!"

Planning

Plan Your Perfect Costa Rican Experience

Your complete guide to exploring the land of “Pura Vida”. From lush rainforests to pristine beaches, your journey starts here.

Selecting Your Season and Dates

Costa Rica is great year-round, but has two main seasons:

Green Season (May – November): Lush landscapes, fewer tourists, and lower prices. Mornings are typically sunny with afternoon showers. A fantastic time for wildlife viewing.

Dry Season (December – April): Expect sunny skies and peak tourist crowds. It’s perfect for beach days and hiking, but book in advance!

Choosing Your Destinations and Activities

To help you find the perfect destinations, we’ve tailored some suggestions based on your desired experience.

First-Time

First-timers can seek out the ultimate Costa Rican experience: a journey that combines volcanoes, cloud forests, and beaches for a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation.

Itinerary

Adventure

Adventure lovers will find no shortage of excitement, with thrilling activities ranging from surfing and ziplining to traversing hanging bridges, rafting, kayaking, and surfing.

Itinerary

Relaxation

For ultimate tranquility, escape to a serene beach getaway, soak in restorative hot springs, or find peace in a secluded bungalow nestled amidst the lush jungle and its vibrant wildlife.

Itinerary

Wildlife

Explore Costa Rica’s rich ecosystems for an unparalleled wildlife adventure, with opportunities to see monkeys, sloths, colorful frogs and vipers, toucans, and nesting sea turtles.

Itinerary

Book Flights and Transportation

Book your international flights to SJO or LIR and arrange your local transport, whether it’s a rental car, shuttle, or bus tickets.

[tp_cheapest_ticket_each_day_month_shortcodes origin=”LAX” destination=”SJO”]

First-Time

First-timers can seek out the ultimate Costa Rican experience: a journey that combines volcanoes, cloud forests, and beaches for a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation.

Read More

Adventure

Adventure lovers will find no shortage of excitement, with thrilling activities ranging from surfing and ziplining to traversing hanging bridges, rafting, kayaking, and surfing.

Read More

Relaxation

For ultimate tranquility, escape to a serene beach getaway, soak in restorative hot springs, or find peace in a secluded bungalow nestled amidst the lush jungle and its vibrant wildlife.

Read More

Wildlife

Explore Costa Rica’s rich ecosystems for an unparalleled wildlife adventure, with opportunities to see monkeys, sloths, colorful frogs and vipers, toucans, and nesting sea turtles.

Read More

Choosing Your Destinations

To help you find the perfect destinations, we’ve tailored some suggestions based on your desired experience.

Pick Your Destinations

Select your regions based on your travel style. Will it be the volcanoes of Arenal, the cloud forests of Monteverde, or the beaches of Guanacaste?

Plan Your Activities

Fill your itinerary with adventure. Choose from ziplining, surfing, hiking, wildlife spotting, or simply relaxing in natural hot springs.

Book Flights and Transportation

With your plan in place, book your international flights to SJO or LIR. Arrange your local transport, whether it’s a rental car, shuttle, or bus tickets.

Arrange Accommodations

Book your hotels, eco-lodges, or vacation rentals. Accommodations can fill up quickly, especially during the dry season, so book well in advance.

Pack your Bags and Prepare

Gather your essentials: lightweight clothing, rain gear, hiking shoes, sunscreen, and insect repellent. Review safety tips and make copies of your important documents.

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