Tico time

When you visit Costa Rica, you might come across a term known as “tico time.” It is related to the “pura vida” way of life that dominates Costa Rican culture. It often means that Ticos are not always the most punctual in their personal lives. For example, if you are meeting a friend for lunch, you may agree to meet at 12:00pm, but you might not actually meet until 12:30 or later. If you are throwing a party that starts at 8:00pm, expect people to show up between 8:00pm and 12:00am. It also refers to the pace at which Ticos tend to work. When you need to do errands, like go to the bank or get a haircut, you can often expect to wait in line for quite a while.

On the one hand, Tico Time reflects a wonderful aspect of Costa Rican culture and way of life. People are generally very respectful of each other and do not stress or sweat over a bad situation. This contributes to the happiness of the country and the Pura Vida spirit that many people come to love.

On the other hand, it can be a bit frustrating for foreigners, and even Ticos themselves. If you are accustomed to everything running on time and/or on a strict schedule, Tico time may be very frustrating. Tico Time is less prevalent in the capital city of San Jose in the Central Valley due to business culture and US influences, but it is a different story on the coast. People who live near the beach tend to be very laid-back, "pura vida," and very happy to run on Tico time.

If you are a foreigner visiting or living in Costa Rica, it’s best to embrace Tico time as a way of life. Otherwise you might find yourself unnecessarily stressed out or frustrated.