From the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean coast to the Sabanero (cowboy) culture in Guanacaste. Costa Rican culture is full of a unique blend of smaller cultures that together make up the country that is, Costa Rica.

Costa Ricans or Ticos as they like to call themselves have a very expressive characteristic which are responsible for the excuses to always have a fiesta or carnival that run through the country at every opportunity possible. By visiting these displays of Costa Rican culture it is a great opportunity for sampling of the local cuisine. With street stalls ahoy, it is never difficult to get a taster of the country’s typical Tico food, enjoy the beats of the Latin tune, or be more intrepid and watch a typical bull fight.

The mood changes along the Atlantic cost, with a more mellow melody of chilled out reggae, Calypso music and Patois spoken by the locals. Although indigenous tribes are scarce in Costa Rica, much of their history and relic are preserved in museums around the country.

Costa Rica is very popular for its biodiversity and stunning scenery. Looking beyond the ecotourism there is a whole world out there with hidden pockets of cultural treasures that are waiting to be discovered.

The three main symbols of Costa Rica are the flag, the motto and the shield. They are huge parts of the country’s past and will always remain as a part of the country.

The Flag
It was designed in 1848 by the First Lady, Pacifica Fernandez Oreamuno with the idea of the French Revolution in mind - freedom, equality and brotherhood – and the colours of the French National Flag. It consists of 5 stripes with each one of its own meaning.
The blue represents the sky, opportunities, logical thinking and ideals of religious and spiritual desires. White means happiness, wisdom, power and beauty of the sky, the driving force for peace in Costa Rica. Red represents the kindness of the Ticos, their love to live, their blood shed for freedom and their liberal attitude.

The Motto
“Pura Vida” means “Pure Life” and represents the state of happiness, peace and tranquility that brings the freedom to Costa Rica.

The Shield
The ex-President, Jose Maria Castro Madriz first designed the creation of the shield on September 29th 1848. It has been redesigned twice as in 1906 all the war elements were removed and in 1964 two stars were added as the provinces of Limon and Puntarenas were formed. The changes represent the peacefulness of Costa Rican people and their culture much more than the previous design.
The two branches on the coat of arms symbolise peace in the country. The 7 stars above the volcanoes stand for the 7 provinces of Costa Rica and the volcanoes signify the country’s mountain range system that surrounds the Central Valley. The two oceans represent the water surrounding us: the Atlantic and the Pacific. The merchant ships represent the cultural and commercial exchange between Costa Rica with the rest of the world and the rising sun characterises the prosperity of the country.