Costa Rica

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Appearance

Business dress: Men should wear a conservative dark suit. In warmer climates, a jacket is optional. Women can wear a dress or skirt and blouse for formal business meetings, but it is far more common for women to wear pants to work. Costa Ricans are much more formal and serious than other Latin Americans. Therefore, keep jackets on during business meetings.
Local people bathe frequently because of the heat, and guests are expected to bathe at least once daily.
Making a fist with the thumb sticking out between the middle and index fingers is obscene. This gesture is known as the "fig".
Most North American gestures will be understood is Costa Rica.
Don’t put your feet up on any furniture except items expressly designed for that purpose.
Fidgeting with your hands or feet is considered distracting and impolite.

Behavior

Costa Ricans are by far the most punctual people in Central America. North Americans are expected to be on time for appointments.
Since Costa Ricans allow themselves only a limited time for their midday break, everyone is expected to be on time for a business lunch.
Most business entertaining takes place in the evening, since lunch is the main meal of the day. Spouses are welcome at business dinners.
Gifts frequently exchanged on all kinds of special occasions.
If you are invited for dinner to a home, bring flowers, chocolates, scotch, or wine. Do not bring calla lilies; they are associated with funerals.
Have business cards, proposals, and other material printed in both English and Spanish.

Communications

Handshaking the common greeting. Abrazos (embrace of good friends) is not as common as in other Latin countries.
Titles are important and should be included on business cards. Address a person directly by using his or her title only. A Ph.D or a physician is called Doctor. Teachers prefer the title Profesor, engineers go by Ingeniero, architects are Arquitecto, and lawyers are Abogado. For persons who do not have professional titles it is common to call a gentleman Don (plus his firstname) and a lady Dona (plus her firstname). This is how children and subordinates refer to adults, and it is a sign of courtesy for people doing business with each other to refer to each other in this way unless otherwise requested by the person you are addressing.
Most Hispanics have two surnames: one from their father, which is listed first, followed by one from their mother. Only the father’s surname is used when addressing someone.
Costa Ricans call themselves Ticos (TEE-kos).
Politics are freely discussed because of the stability there.
Good conversation topics: children, history, art.
Bad topics: any personal criticism, religion.

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