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. 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. You don't hear the tico ending as much as you used to, though one of my last memories of my most recent trip was of the waiter at the airport caf telling me he'd be with me in a momentico . I find them the most friendly, polite and helpful people 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. 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.