North Americans are often aghast at the cultural attitudes of the Ticos about punctuality. It is said in Costa Rica that if you arrive on time to a scheduled meeting you are “early.”  If you arrive thirty minutes late you are “on time.”  And only if you arrive MORE than thirty minutes late are you, well, “late.”

There are some practical reasons for this, which are especially true in San Jose, as well as everywhere else. For instance, the traffic is at times absolutely atrocious (as are the roads in many areas) and getting from Point A to B takes about double the time you’re probably used to.

You are probably thinking well maybe, BUT you have to take all that into account and leave early enough so as to anticipate delays and still be punctual.  For those of you thinking that, what follows is good advice.  If you are going to come down here with that attitude, please stay home!!!

We just don’t think that far ahead down here.  We would rather burn our brain cells on other more important matters. Just look at my friend Mack in the picture above.  Does he look like he is worried about making it on time to his next scheduled meeting?  Of course not!!  He is engaged in a much more worthy pursuit, like kicking back with a cold Imperial.

An area where “Tico Time” is most evident is the never ending wait for the bill (or cuenta) when you complete your meal at virtually any restaurant in the country.  Now we  gringos are used to receiving the bill (or having it shoved down our throats) even before we have tasted the last morsel.  Not in Costa Rica, however.  If you are waiting to receive the bill get ready to wait a long long time.

Why is this?

Well in Costa Rica it is considered rude and socially unacceptable to bring the bill before being asked. In Costa Rica culture all social problems are resolved by talking it through for hours after finishing the meal.  Therefore, if you want the bill you have to say, repeat after me, “la cuenta por favor.”

And please always say please, because the culture here is very polite.  “Gracias” and “por favor” are always expected and appreciated.

Another phrase you might hear in Costa Rica regarding time is “hay mas tiempo que vida.”  That means that there is “more time than life,” which is great thought to always carry with you, wherever you are…

It signifies a focus that is more on the living than on the time which it occupies.

Pura Vida!