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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!"

Looking For
a Ride?

Ground Transportation

Affordable Rides ♦ Scenic Routes ♦ Flexible Travel

Choosing the right transportation is key to exploring Costa Rica’s stunning beaches, vibrant towns, and lush rainforests. But with so many options available, it can feel overwhelming. So we created a comparison chart below — designed to help you quickly compare your choices at a glance and dive deeper into the details when you’re ready.

🌿Local Tip: Don’t stick to just one type of transport! The best Costa Rica trips often mix and match to make the most of your time and experiences.

Option

Best For

Benefits

Keep In Mind

Transportation Options

Taxi

Cost1: $$$$$
Convenience2: ★★★★★
Flexibility3: ★★★★★

Best For

On-demand travel, short trips, and direct airport runs.

Benefits

✓ Door-to-door service
✓ Fast and direct
✓ Regulated
✓ Available in most areas

Keep in Mind

💡Expensive for long distance
💡Hard to schedule
💡Unknown (metered) pricing

Rideshare

Cost: $$$$$
Convenience: ★★★★★
Flexibility: ★★★★★

Best For

On-demand travel, short trips, and tracking ride (safety)

Benefits

✓ Door-to-door service
✓ No need to park
✓ Good in populated areas
✓ Track your ride

✓ Upfront pricing

Keep in Mind

💡Expensive for long distance
💡Not good in rural areas
💡No airport pickup

Private Shuttle

Cost: $$$$$
Convenience: ★★★★★
Flexibility: ★★★★★

Best For

Premium, direct travel with a personal driver for groups and families.

Benefits

✓ Your own private driver
✓ Flexible schedule
✓ Door-to-door service

Keep in Mind

💡 Can be expensive
💡 Requires pre-booking
💡 Predetermined start/end

Rental Car

Cost: $$$$$
Convenience: ★★★★★
Flexibility: ★★★★★

Best For

Total freedom, families, and exploring remote areas.

Benefits

✓ Go anywhere, anytime
✓ Control your schedule
✓ Best for groups/families

Keep in Mind

💡 Most expensive option
💡 Navigating roads can be tricky
💡 Requires deposits and insurance

City Bus

Cost: $$$$$
Convenience: ★★★★★
Flexibility: ★★★★★

Best For

Getting around a single town or city on an extreme budget.

Benefits

✓ Extremely inexpensive
✓ Extensive city network
✓ Cultural experience

Keep in Mind

💡 Requires small cash (colones)
💡 Can be slow with many stops
💡 Navigating routes are tricky

Intercity Bus

Cost: $$$$$
Convenience: ★★★★★
Flexibility: ★★★★★

Best For

Long-distance travel between major towns on a budget.

Benefits

✓ Very affordable
✓ Country-wide network
✓ Relax and enjoy the scenery

Keep in Mind

💡 Fixed terminals and schedules
💡 Longer trips
💡 Comfort levels varies

1 Cost: This rating is a quick look at how much a transportation option will impact your wallet.
2 Convenience: This measures the overall ease and comfort of your journey from start to finish.
3 Flexibility: This rating is all about how much control you have over your own trip.

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