Costa Rican People

The vast majority of Costa Rican people are White, mainly of Spanish descent. Less than 2% of the population is Black, except in the thinly populated Caribbean province of Limón. Here, about 33% of the inhabitants trace their ancestry to either the early days of slavery in Costa Rica or to the immigration of labor forces from Jamaica to build the railways and work the banana plantations in the late 1800's.

Indigenous Tribes

A small number of Indians remain, making up less than 1% of the population. Note that the literal translation of Indian is indio which is an insulting term to Costa Rica's indigenous inhabitants. They prefer the term indigena, which means native inhabitant.) Estimates of the Indian population vary from 5,000 to 30,000- the higher end is the most likely if one includes non pure-blooded Indians. Many Indians have integrated to the extent that they are more or less indistinguishable from other Costa Ricans. Small populations of culturally distinct tribes include the Bribri from the Talamanca area near the south-eastern coast and Panamanian border, the from the Talamanca area near the south-eastern coast and Panamanian border, the Borucas in the southern Pacific coastal areas and the in the southern Pacific coastal areas and the Guayami straddling the Panamanian border. Other groups- the Chorotegas, Cabecares, Terrabas and others- have been wither assimilated into the Costa Rican way of life or wiped out soon after conquest. straddling the Panamanian border. Other groups- the Chorotegas, Cabecares, Terrabas and others- have been wither assimilated into the Costa Rican way of life or wiped out soon after conquest. There are 22 Indian reservations in Costa Rica but, for the most part, these are of little interest to travelers who often may not even know they are within a reservation. A few reservations discourage visitation and a few have perhaps a store selling some local crafts (along with the usual country-store items like cans of sardines and bottles of soft drinks). As with other Caribbean Blacks, many of them speak a lively dialect of English. They were actively discriminated against in the early 1900's, not even being allowed to spend a night in the highlands, but since the 1949 constitution, they have had equal rights.

Ticos

The Costa Rican People call themselves Ticos or Ticas (male and female). It is easy to make friends with a Tico, but is much more difficult to form deeper relationships. I have met. Visitors are constantly surprised at the warmth of the Costa Rican people. This is still a very family-oriented society, however, and the friendliness and politeness tends to form somewhat of a shell over their true personalities. It is easy to make friends with a Tico, but is much more difficult to form deeper relationships. Because of the overwhelmingly European populations, there is very little indigenous cultural influence. And because the country was a poor subsistence-agriculture nation until the middle of the 19th century, cultural activities have really only blossomed in the last 100 years. And because the country was a poor subsistence-agriculture nation until the middle of the 19th century, cultural activities have really only blossomed in the last 100 years. Costa Rica is famous for its natural beauty and friendly people, rather than its culture. Ticos consider San José to be the cultural center of the country, and it is here that the most important museums are found. It is also the center of a thriving acting community, and theater is one of the favorite cultural activities in Costa Rica.