Click here to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
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.
Secure, government-regulated transport with professional drivers and metered rates—providing reliable transportation across the country, from airport terminals to city streets.
Taxi Differences
In Costa Rica, official taxis are color-coded and strictly regulated. Knowing the difference between the Red Taxis and Orange Taxis is the key to a safe and fair-priced trip.
Red Taxi
“Taxis Rojos” — The Standard Option
Operate everywhere in towns and cities.
Must have a yellow triangle on the door with a license number.
Equipped with a taximeter called “El Maríá”.
Orange Taxi
“Taxis de Aeropuerto” — Airport Only
The only taxis allowed to pick up inside airport grounds.
Higher quality vehicles (often larger SUVs or vans).
Fixed rates based on destination zones.
How to Find a Ride
The process of finding a Red Taxi on the street or in town and an Orange Taxi at the airport are different.
Hailing (Red Taxi)
You can hail a Red Taxi on almost any busy street in San José or larger towns.
Look for a red taxi
Signal clearly with your arm as they approach.
If their roof light is on, they are available.
Check for the yellow triangle license on the door.
Airport Pickup (Orange Taxi)
Airport procedure is highly controlled for your safety.
Visit the official counter inside the arrivals hall.
Pay a fixed zone-rate and receive a voucher.
Ignore solicitors; go to the official Orange line outside.
Hand your voucher to the driver, no meter necessary
Taxi Stands (Paradas)
Official stands are reliable spots to find vehicles queued up and ready.
Always take the vehicle at the front of the line.
Found next to Central Parks and Cathedrals.
Located at major bus terminals and supermarkets.
Phone & Apps
If you aren’t near a main road, use technology or ask for help.
Ask your hotel/restaurant: “¿Puede llamar un taxi?”
Many “Coope-Taxis” can be messaged via WhatsApp.
🌿Local Tips
Always request “La María”
In Red Taxis, ensure the driver turns on the meter immediately. Say: “¿Puede poner la maría, por favor?”. If they refuse, get out and find another.
Airport Pricing
In Red Taxis, ensure the driver turns on the meter immediately. Say: “¿Puede poner la maría, por favor?”. If they refuse, get out and find another.
Small Change
Drivers often claim they don’t have change for large bills (10,000 or 20,000 colones). Try to carry 1,000 and 2,000 bills to avoid any inconvenience when paying.
Avoid “Piratas”
Unlicensed drivers (Piratas) often wait outside terminals. They lack insurance and regulated pricing. Stick to official Red or Orange cars for safety.
