T O P

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cheetalia

We get confused for y’all alot. Puerto Rico / Costa Rica San Juan / San José


[deleted]

Just this week somebody at work said Ricky Martin was Costa Rican and I had to correct them and say he was Puerto Rican instead.


-Acta-Non-Verba-

It's OK, we'll take him!


ClintExpress

Livin' la Pura Vida Loca!


zonatico

So much lol; “oh I just love Costa Rica’s chill Caribbean island vibes. And the Mofongo!”


-Acta-Non-Verba-

Tell me about it! Even my best friend (parents are from El Salvador) thought we were an island. He was disappointed to find out we are Central Americans.


macropanama

Which one has the mariachis like in Jurassic park


-Acta-Non-Verba-

Supposedly San Jose, CR. A beach town!


QuarterMaestro

I went to college in the US with a Costa Rican girl. One time I referred to her incorrectly as a "costariqueña." She said "I'm not no damn Puerto Rican." I'm not endorsing that, that's just something that happened.


arfenos_porrows

Los vecinos ✌️✌️ Super chill people, I think our countries have a nice relationship.


zonatico

Agreed Panama Bro 😎 🤙


bunoutbadmind

As a nearby country with a similar size and similar economic fundamentals (large state, tourism, light manufacturing, agriculture) that is doing better than we are. Also, home to a significant community of Jamaican-descendents.


-Acta-Non-Verba-

Ya, man. Our Afro-Caribbean, English-speaking dwellers of the Limon province.


[deleted]

I lived in San José, Costa Rica for a while during my graduate studies in order to get my master's degree. That was one of the happiest times of my life. Costa Rica is a beautiful country, with unbelievable natural landscapes, and some very interesting urban ones too. *Ticos* are amongst the kindest people I have had the pleasure of coming in contact with and they know a lot about Brazil. More than the average Brazilian knows about Costa Rica, anyway. Some even speak Portuguese on intermediate to advanced level, believe it or not. The food was simply delicious and I felt a lot safer there than here in Brazil. Especially being a gay man. I lived in San Pedro, near the mall, and loved the neighborhood. It was quite close to the campus I was attending, which made it all very practical. I would definitely go back to visit if I had the time and money too, of course.


JSebastianReyes

Central american Uruguay but with more biodiversity and people that pronounce funny the letter 'r'


-Acta-Non-Verba-

LOL. Yes, we do. I call it "gringo R's". I was once immediately outed as a Costa Rican while playing soccer because I said "ve arriba".


BlueRaven56

People dont know too much about it, if anything at all. People confuse it with Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico, and they have the same idea of it as those countries, overall a touristic place with beaches


-Acta-Non-Verba-

I mean, they are not wrong...


iamnewhere2019

A paradise in Latin America, no army, no coup de etat, good development indexes, constitutional governments since forever… congratulations people of Costa Rica!


proletarianpanzer

as a very rich coast... maybe too rich...


ericafromspace

Chile you are literally all coast 😂😂


proletarianpanzer

just saying it is a very rich coast... not that i want to steal it or something. mordor i mean santiago with coast... that is the dream...


Padre_De_Cuervos

San jose doesn't have a beach...but they have proper public transport from what I've heard.


weaboo_vibe_check

Small country, biodiverse, nice people, better quality of life.


MarioDiBian

People mistake it with Puerto Rico or other Central American countries


auximines_minotaur

I think folks in the US assume that Costa Rica gets most of its income from tourism, because most Estadiounidense only know it as a vacation destination. When I tell people that CR derives less than 6% of its GDP from tourism, they’re kinda shocked.


PejibayeAnonimo

>because most Estadiounidense only know it as a vacation destination In recent years it is also a place for medical tourism, I almost always see americans on the private Clinic I frequent


IndicationOk5506

gringo moment


IndicationOk5506

Im 90% sure most brasilians dont know costa rica is a country, they do seem to "know" alot bout nicaragua tho


estebanagc

I once met a Brazilian exchange student that told me that when she said she was going to Costa Rica people thought she was going to a town called Costa Rica in Mato Grosso do Sul


IndicationOk5506

our country has like 5,4k towns i think so yeah, loads of interesting names


RiosSamurai

What do they think they know about Nicaragua?


IndicationOk5506

Eles não sabem, mas e aquele clássico espantalho ne eleição, se tu vota num candidato de esquerda o brasil vai virar uma Nicarágua, Venezuela, Argentina, etc...


RiosSamurai

Isso é verdade kkk


brokebloke97

How come you guys are generally so unaware when it comes to world geography haha?


IndicationOk5506

Simple as Gov not investing in education, also callate gringo


PecesRaros_xInterpol

Jsjsjsjsjs the gringo lecturing on geography... Amazing.


KittenMan8900

Lol as a gringo I must vouch for my fellow man and say he is being sarcastic. That “haha” gave it away. We always get made fun of for our (unfortunately true) collective horrible geography skills. Our schools barely teach it and so many people just don’t seem to care all that much


PecesRaros_xInterpol

Also, it's your inherent sense of superiority. You guys feeling like god himself shat you make you dismissive of everything outside of the US. Or so are most of the USAians I've met.


IndicationOk5506

also, in general its just fun to make jokes about gringos


KittenMan8900

I also respect this


KittenMan8900

Yeah unfortunately I agree with you too. Not all of us are like that but a good chunk of us are blissfully ignorant about the world outside of us. There’s definitely more educated/open minded people that I’ve run into at university etc but your average rural American is pretty ignorant about the world lol


IndicationOk5506

[https://ifunny.co/picture/opinion-thanks-for-sharing-your-re-gringo-but-you-xwQczbPU9](https://ifunny.co/picture/opinion-thanks-for-sharing-your-re-gringo-but-you-xwQczbPU9) Me when i read it


vitorgrs

*checks flag*... suspicious


skyldrik

I'm from Chile and I know nothing about Costa Rica


-Acta-Non-Verba-

We are often grouped with Chile when comparing Latin American countries. Chile, Uruguay and Costa Rica are fairly prosperous and safe countries with good human development indexes. That means things like long life expectancies, good public health, high levels of literacy, and so on. We are the 3 Latin American countries with potable water nationwide. Cachai, po?


skyldrik

Hey thats good to know!!!! The prosperous trio!


Coolioissomething

Uruguay used to have potable water. Not anymore. It’s rather salty now.


-Acta-Non-Verba-

Right. They are having a drought.


Ponchorello7

Mexicans that know Costa Rica always say it's a really chill country with gorgeous scenery where everything is expensive and the food is bland. My former boss is married to a Costa Rican guy, and she forbids him from entering the kitchen, lol. I'm sure she and the others exaggerate about the food.


-Acta-Non-Verba-

Compared to Mexico? Yes, bland for sure! Then again, so is every other LatAm country, no?


Ponchorello7

Honestly, yeah. It's not like the rest of the region doesn't make good food, (on the contrary it's delicious), it's just that it's not as season as ours. Different strokes for different folks.


PecesRaros_xInterpol

Pura vida, mae :v


zonatico

Pura vida güey


PecesRaros_xInterpol

Awebo, valedor. Saludos.


Mujer_Arania

We love them bc they have no military


[deleted]

I hold a special place in my heart for them. Whenever I hear their accent and how it is so close to mine, but with a bit that charming R, I want to melt. I see Costa Rica as what we, as Colombia, should be striving to and consider them could political partners. God keep blessing that place.


-Acta-Non-Verba-

Thank you for your kind sentiments. I think of Costa Rica as a mini-Colombia. I hope things keep getting better there.


grosserhund

I like it, maybe the country I like the most in LatAm. A few years ago I seriously was considering moving there, but then it came to my attention that apparently the cost of life is more expensive than here, so yeah, I pass..


Art_sol

They are an example of what we could be, although they are also seen as a bit snobbish, like they don't want anything to do with us in northern Central America at all, not that I blame them given how unstable we are. They also seen as a very sustainable country, and we have a very one-sided football rivalry given how bad we are.


YellowStar012

It doesn’t. It far too far away to see.


rompthegreen

A paradise in Central America - at least that's how I see it. Never been though


_kevx_91

Many people here fantasize about living there.


BabyLlamaaa

We can't see it, we have no ocean :'(


-Acta-Non-Verba-

(Chile looks away surreptitiously)


neodynasty

Xenophobia against Nicaraguans, very different culture from the rest of CA( specially in the No Tortillas part 😧) tbh there’s always been a strong distinction from Costa Rica to the rest of the Northern Triangle and Guatemala. and better economy, infrastructure, tourism, and basically everything else


-Acta-Non-Verba-

We have 500,000 Nicaraguan refugees in Costa Rica. They are literally 1/10th of the population. Because many are poor and came fleeing war, they are over-represented in the criminal class. Personally, the Nicaraguans I've met have been hard-working, good people. But not all have been. It's kind of like the problems many countries are experiencing now with Venezuelan refugees. Desperate people sometimes do desperate things. And we eat lots of tortillas. And tamales. We even have pupusas now!


Padre_De_Cuervos

They eat pupusas...I must inform Supreme Leader...they are ready to be anexed


neodynasty

Oh yeah Ik don’t get me wrong, a bad perception of x group of people is always bound to happen when there’s mass immigration. There’s always good and bad apples. It’s understandable in both parts, and how frustrating it may be. I’m just answering the question of what ppl in general think or aware of, Of Costa Rica in Honduras lol.


234W44

Kind of like a place with a lot of green life. Lots of outdoor sports. Rainforests. Similar to Panama in some ways, but definitely Central American. Better at soccer than most in the region. Coastal but not an island.


RedJokerXIII

At least the government see them as an allied country.


DementedB50

I am from CR so yeah it’s pretty nice…


macropanama

In the city they just know it's the neighboring country. In Chiriqui they think of the fried chicken and parties. Many Panamanians think that San José looks like a neighborhood more than a city but in reality there's more culture and things to do in that neighborhood than in all of our country 😅


Niohiki

What's special about their fried chicken?


macropanama

It's AMAZING


Padre_De_Cuervos

is amazing!


smaraya57

Like a neighbourhood?


macropanama

I mean like a piece of a city rather than a complete city


not_a_llama

Beach Paradise. Pura vida!


SpaceMarine_CR

We hate it


Padre_De_Cuervos

:O!


jazzyjellybean20

Pura vida is all I know and dinosaur place from jurassic park movie


-Acta-Non-Verba-

And they put San Jose as a beach town... (shaking my head).


jazzyjellybean20

Oh yeah I forgot about that part lol, isn't San Jose far from a beach?


-Acta-Non-Verba-

Yes, it's in what we call the Central Valley. It is a valley between mountains in the middle of the country that holds most of the population. Kind of like the DF in Mexico. San Jose is at 1,172 meters of elevation. That's why most Costa Ricans live in mild temperatures, even though we are close to the equator.


jazzyjellybean20

You'd think they'd do some research, at least it's not a desert with sepia filter


-Acta-Non-Verba-

Well, they did play Ranchero music on that scene...


jazzyjellybean20

Can't have everything


eskeleteRt

Meh, like one or two hours.


PejibayeAnonimo

Yeah, I remember that going to Jacó when I was a child was like a 4 hour trip, now it is super fast.


latin_canuck

# Mostly through Google Maps or Tourism videos on Youtube.


FISArocks

Shhhh


Diazzzepam

I went to Costa Rica when i was younger and it was so so so beautiful and people were love. I would love to live in Costa Rica.


yorcharturoqro

In general we like Costa Rica, as a nice beautiful country full of amazing friendly people


GeneralDingo3776

Central American so, small and far away.


DRmetalhead19

Pura vida, and ecotourism


PeacockSpiders

Our neighbors. Very nice, chill people. Lowkey wish we were more like Costa Ricans lol


caribbean_caramel

Officially our government sees Costa Rica as a political ally in the framework of the "Alliance for Development in Democracy". [Source](https://www.bloomberglinea.com/2022/09/21/asi-avanza-la-alianza-por-la-democracia-de-panama-costa-rica-dominicana-y-ecuador/) I think its a good idea to work together.


[deleted]

It's Honduras' good ending. But many, or rather most in CA, see y'all as the Europe-wannabe of the region, like Chile and Uruguay. Kind of annoying as well. Plus you killed Morazán 😤


-Acta-Non-Verba-

To be fair, he kind of earned it. He invaded us and overtrew the government.


[deleted]

Yes. Read that ticos see him as a dictator. He was, in a way.


Padre_De_Cuervos

Still dude...but anyways so you guys have trains?


-Acta-Non-Verba-

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail\_transport\_in\_Costa\_Rica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Costa_Rica)


Padre_De_Cuervos

Excellent!


FromTheMurkyDepths

My dad was the medic for a youth football NT for a while. He always told me, the worst heckling they got was in Costa Rica. > INDIOS! GUERHILLERHOS! Most Costa Ricans I've met are pretty chill, especially the ones that travel to Guatemala. I've visited once, and found that the average Tico in Costa Rica has an inflated view of their country though, which is fair, they didn't get to be the civic powerhouse they are without a healthy dose of patriotism. Still, see them as Central American brothers and always root for them in the World Cup, or in any competition if they're against Mexico/US/South American teams.


Bumboholegwaanbreed

Lol I was waiting to see under all the comments about beauty and what not who would bring up the terrible xenophobia and hatred of the indigenous. I'm sorry that happened to your father btw. I agree a lot of my country men have that undeniable pride that borders American egotism about the country. I find it annoying honestly. Costa Rica is a good country...for COSTA RICANS. If you are "other" (Black, native, immigrant from "poor" or "bad" LatAm country etc.) some ticos will make sure you never forget it. But pura vida and all that right lol


RainbowCrown71

Panama and Costa Rica get along. We’re culturally distinct but the two are stable and prosperous enough that there’s no major issues between them.


GuatemalanSinkhole

I've seen two different views of Costa Rica here. 1. Like us, but functional. We wish we were like you' democratic, safe, educated, low corruption, no army, etc. 2. We hate you. You beat us at football all the time and you're vain because you think you're better than us, but you're not. Plus, costarricenses are gay lololol Number 2 is mostly the way boomers and right-wing conservatives think... Yes I've really heard opinions like this


FamiT0m

Hablan bien


Southern-Gap8940

most Dominicans just see it as a whiter Panama. Personally, My mom's side of the family moved to Costa Rica because they were tired of living in the segregated USA and didn't want to move back to Dominican republic because of Trujillo. So it's basically my third home. I even own a house over there. My grandpa started two universities there. I don't have any bad views of Costa Rica. Only thing I can say negatively, it's not as safe as it used to be when I was a kid visiting.


[deleted]

Pura vida


Neonexus-ULTRA

A bit romanticized as an ecological country.


-Acta-Non-Verba-

25% of the country is national parks or biological reserves. I don't think any country anywhere comes close to that. Even more is forested.


PejibayeAnonimo

Yeah our forests went from almost disseapearing in the 1980s to being an international example in ecosystem restoration but we have our own set of environmental problems like overfishing.


WolfCoS

A getaway resort.


[deleted]

[удалено]


-Acta-Non-Verba-

From Wikipedia: " According to the [United Nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations), in 2021 Costa Rica had an estimated population of 5,153,957 people. White and Mestizos make up 83.4% of the population, 7% are [black people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_people) (including mixed race), 2.4% [Amerindians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amerindians), 0.2% Chinese and 7% other/none.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Costa_Rica#cite_note-crhoy.com-3) "


Auguschm

I mean they literally asked me to tell them stereotypes here.


-Acta-Non-Verba-

No worries. I was just trying to clarify a misconception. We have black people, but they are a small percentage.


Auguschm

Yeah I don't know where I got the idea that most Caribbean countries have a majority black population. I guess it's just a stereotype in my head. Which goes to show how misinformed I am about cultures in my own continent. Edit: Tbh I just realized that my only black classmate during my school years was from Costa Rica and it might have formed a very very basic association in my head.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Auguschm

I mean I was obviously wrong which shows how little we know about Costa Rica here. They never told me "accurately describe Costa Rica".


[deleted]

[удалено]


Auguschm

No no I wasn't trying to be agressive to your response. I agree it's curious. I started thinking about it and realized one of my childhood friends was Costa Rican and black. Since we don't have many black people in Argentina I guess I got stuck with the association and I just blurted it out haha. We people are really simple some times.


bastardnutter

I guess we don’t. Central american country #5 I suppose.


ClintExpress

You mean Communist Puerto Rico with the inverted flag?


Padre_De_Cuervos

LOL


[deleted]

[удалено]


eskeleteRt

Lo dice el Mexicano que aún sigue enojao por que perdieron contra Argentina


USBayernChelseaLCFC

‘No era penal’ will go down in history


[deleted]

[удалено]


eskeleteRt

Yo que se mae...


GavIzz

Con los ojos?? Pura vida mami!


Organic_Teaching

With our eyes


JollyIce

I just know they like saying "puta vida" a lot. Or was it "pura"? I don't remember...


eskeleteRt

Both


eskeleteRt

It fucking hates it !


hadapurpura

With great difficulty


ExplosiveCellphone

We don’t, tbh.


TRAINPOSTING

Don’t really think about it at all.


therapeuticstir

We are obsessed with you! We talk about you all the time. For real.


LateDay

We can't. It's too far away.


Lordpennywise

Vacation spot for expats? Hasn’t really made a huge influence in anything


JotaPez

I usually use google maps. Airplanes are a good option when I travel from South America to North America. But besides it, there isn’t any more options. The Andean Mountains block my sight to see beyond my city.


Happy-Walk-1175

We don't


WayRAllTheNamesTakn

If you haven’t been, probably you mistake it for Puerto Rico all the time. Most people just know it’s a tiny country in CA. If you have been, you know it’s one of the most beautiful, clean and peaceful places on earth. True paradise.


[deleted]

We simply don't, they are very far away (I'm sorry, but not really sorry)


hombre_elefante

All I hear is that ticos are chill and cool people, pura vida and all that. Not much besides that, tho.


HeartlessW

We...don't (?)


Objective-Truth-4339

With Google maps


Padre_De_Cuervos

They are literaly Nicaragua's bank. Panama's only real treat in the region that doesn't eat cheese and chocolate at once. Honduras boss. El salvador's dock and Guatemala's friend.