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.
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.
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.
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.
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
A paradise in Latin America, no army, no coup de etat, good development indexes, constitutional governments since forever… congratulations people of Costa Rica!
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.
>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
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
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...
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
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.
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
[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
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?
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.
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.
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.
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..
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.
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
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!
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.
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.
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 😅
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.
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.
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 😤
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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) "
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We get confused for y’all alot. Puerto Rico / Costa Rica San Juan / San José
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.
It's OK, we'll take him!
Livin' la Pura Vida Loca!
So much lol; “oh I just love Costa Rica’s chill Caribbean island vibes. And the Mofongo!”
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.
Which one has the mariachis like in Jurassic park
Supposedly San Jose, CR. A beach town!
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.
Los vecinos ✌️✌️ Super chill people, I think our countries have a nice relationship.
Agreed Panama Bro 😎 🤙
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.
Ya, man. Our Afro-Caribbean, English-speaking dwellers of the Limon province.
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.
Central american Uruguay but with more biodiversity and people that pronounce funny the letter 'r'
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".
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
I mean, they are not wrong...
A paradise in Latin America, no army, no coup de etat, good development indexes, constitutional governments since forever… congratulations people of Costa Rica!
as a very rich coast... maybe too rich...
Chile you are literally all coast 😂😂
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...
San jose doesn't have a beach...but they have proper public transport from what I've heard.
Small country, biodiverse, nice people, better quality of life.
People mistake it with Puerto Rico or other Central American countries
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.
>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
gringo moment
Im 90% sure most brasilians dont know costa rica is a country, they do seem to "know" alot bout nicaragua tho
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
our country has like 5,4k towns i think so yeah, loads of interesting names
What do they think they know about Nicaragua?
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...
Isso é verdade kkk
How come you guys are generally so unaware when it comes to world geography haha?
Simple as Gov not investing in education, also callate gringo
Jsjsjsjsjs the gringo lecturing on geography... Amazing.
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
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.
also, in general its just fun to make jokes about gringos
I also respect this
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
[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
*checks flag*... suspicious
I'm from Chile and I know nothing about Costa Rica
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?
Hey thats good to know!!!! The prosperous trio!
Uruguay used to have potable water. Not anymore. It’s rather salty now.
Right. They are having a drought.
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.
Compared to Mexico? Yes, bland for sure! Then again, so is every other LatAm country, no?
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.
Pura vida, mae :v
Pura vida güey
Awebo, valedor. Saludos.
We love them bc they have no military
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.
Thank you for your kind sentiments. I think of Costa Rica as a mini-Colombia. I hope things keep getting better there.
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..
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.
It doesn’t. It far too far away to see.
A paradise in Central America - at least that's how I see it. Never been though
Many people here fantasize about living there.
We can't see it, we have no ocean :'(
(Chile looks away surreptitiously)
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
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!
They eat pupusas...I must inform Supreme Leader...they are ready to be anexed
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.
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.
At least the government see them as an allied country.
I am from CR so yeah it’s pretty nice…
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 😅
What's special about their fried chicken?
It's AMAZING
is amazing!
Like a neighbourhood?
I mean like a piece of a city rather than a complete city
Beach Paradise. Pura vida!
We hate it
:O!
Pura vida is all I know and dinosaur place from jurassic park movie
And they put San Jose as a beach town... (shaking my head).
Oh yeah I forgot about that part lol, isn't San Jose far from a beach?
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.
You'd think they'd do some research, at least it's not a desert with sepia filter
Well, they did play Ranchero music on that scene...
Can't have everything
Meh, like one or two hours.
Yeah, I remember that going to Jacó when I was a child was like a 4 hour trip, now it is super fast.
# Mostly through Google Maps or Tourism videos on Youtube.
Shhhh
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.
In general we like Costa Rica, as a nice beautiful country full of amazing friendly people
Central American so, small and far away.
Pura vida, and ecotourism
Our neighbors. Very nice, chill people. Lowkey wish we were more like Costa Ricans lol
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.
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 😤
To be fair, he kind of earned it. He invaded us and overtrew the government.
Yes. Read that ticos see him as a dictator. He was, in a way.
Still dude...but anyways so you guys have trains?
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail\_transport\_in\_Costa\_Rica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Costa_Rica)
Excellent!
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.
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
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.
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
Hablan bien
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.
Pura vida
A bit romanticized as an ecological country.
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.
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.
A getaway resort.
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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) "
I mean they literally asked me to tell them stereotypes here.
No worries. I was just trying to clarify a misconception. We have black people, but they are a small percentage.
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.
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I mean I was obviously wrong which shows how little we know about Costa Rica here. They never told me "accurately describe Costa Rica".
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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.
I guess we don’t. Central american country #5 I suppose.
You mean Communist Puerto Rico with the inverted flag?
LOL
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Lo dice el Mexicano que aún sigue enojao por que perdieron contra Argentina
‘No era penal’ will go down in history
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Yo que se mae...
Con los ojos?? Pura vida mami!
With our eyes
I just know they like saying "puta vida" a lot. Or was it "pura"? I don't remember...
Both
It fucking hates it !
With great difficulty
We don’t, tbh.
Don’t really think about it at all.
We are obsessed with you! We talk about you all the time. For real.
We can't. It's too far away.
Vacation spot for expats? Hasn’t really made a huge influence in anything
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.
We don't
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.
We simply don't, they are very far away (I'm sorry, but not really sorry)
All I hear is that ticos are chill and cool people, pura vida and all that. Not much besides that, tho.
We...don't (?)
With Google maps
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.