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Country Guide > Central America > Costa Rica | |
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Social Profile Food & Drink Restaurants in towns and cities serve a variety of foods including Chinese, French, Italian, Mexican and North American. Food is satisfactory, from the most expensive to the cheapest eating places (which are generally found west of the city centre). Food sodas (small restaurants) serve local food. Common dishes include casado (rice, beans, stewed beef, fried plantain, salad and cabbage), olla de carne (soup of beef, plantain, corn, yuca, nampi and chayote), sopa negra (black beans with a poached egg) and picadillo (meat and vegetable stew). Snacks are popular and include gallos (filled tortillas), tortas (containing meat and vegetables), arreglados (bread filled with same) and pan de yuca (speciality from stalls in San José). There are many types of cold drink made from fresh fruit, milk or cereal flour, for example, cebada (barley flour), pinolillo (roasted corn) and horchata (corn meal with cinnamon). Imported alcoholic and soft drinks are widely available. Coffee is good value and has an excellent flavour. Nightlife San José especially has many nightclubs, venues with folk music and dance, theatres and cinemas. Shopping Special purchases include wood and leather rocking chairs (which dismantle for export), as well as a range of local crafts available in major cities and towns. Local markets are also well worth visiting. Prices are slightly higher than in other Latin American countries. Best buys are wooden items, ceramics, jewellery and leather handicrafts. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1800/1900. There may be variations between areas. Special Events For a complete list of special events for 2005, contact the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of special events celebrated annually in Costa Rica: Dec 2004-Jan 2005 Fiestas del Fin del Año (week-long festivities). Jan International Tennis Tournament, San José; Festival of Alajuetila. Feb-Mar Orchid Show, Cartago. Mar Día del Boyero (Day of the Oxcart Driver), San Antonio de Escazú; National Craft Fair, San José; South Carribean Music Festival, Puerto Viejo. Mar 19 San José Day. Apr 11 Juan Santa Maria’s Day. Jun 29 Feast of St Peter and St Paul. Aug Arrival of Pilgrims, Cartago. Aug 2 Virgin of Los Angeles Day. Oct Carnival Week, Puerto Limón. Social Conventions Handshaking is common and forms of address are important. Christian names are preceded by Don for a man and Doña for a woman. Normal courtesies should be observed when visiting someone’s home and gifts are appreciated as a token of thanks, especially if invited for a meal. For most occasions casual wear is acceptable, but beachwear should be confined to the beach. Tipping: Tipping is not necessary but is accepted if the service was particularly outstanding. Restaurants add a 23 per cent service charge to the bill. |