Greeting etiquette

Men and urban women should greet each other with a handshake. Upper-class women may kiss both male and female friends on the cheek. Women in rural areas may greet one another by placing one hand on the upper arm of the other. A warm embrace shared by close friends and relatives is known as an abrazo.

When meeting someone for the first time, they are addressed by their official title or Señor, Señora, or Señorita. When meeting someone for the first time, people use usted (the formal version of "you") rather than the more familiar form, t. In small groups, it is customary to greet and say goodbye to each individual. When passing someone on the street, one says "Adiós," which means "Good-bye" in other contexts. Before a meal, or even when passing a table of diners in a restaurant, it is customary to say Buen provecho ("Enjoy your meal").

On Saturday afternoons and Sundays, visitors are common, and they are frequently unannounced. Guests are frequently served juice, soda, or coffee, as well as sweets. Even the most impoverished people will share what they have to make a visitor feel welcome. If a visitor does not want to eat, the host may wrap up some food to send home with the visitor. When invited to someone's home, punctuality is not valued; people frequently arrive well after the stated time.