Costa Rican identity

Culture and food

Explore the traditional food, traditions, history, art and expressions that shape Costa Rica’s cultural identity.

Eight ways to know the country

Explore culture through lived experience

From food and language to memory, art and nature: choose a way in.

Costa Rican market and traditional food

Flavors and identityTraditional foodDishes, ingredients, regions and traditions of the Costa Rican table.

Costa Rican historical heritage

The country’s memoryHistoryFrom Indigenous societies to contemporary Costa Rica.

Costa Rican popular traditions

Living heritageTraditionsLiving heritage and practices across communities.

Costa Rican words and expressions

How we speakCosta Rican expressionsCosta Rican words, meanings, examples and usage context.

Costa Rican music and art

Rhythm and creationMusic and artCalypso, marimba, cimarrona bands, visual arts and contemporary creation.

Community celebration in Costa Rica

A shared calendarCelebrationsCivic, religious and community dates explained in context.

Coffee grown in Costa Rica

From farm to cupCosta Rican coffeeHistory, eight producing regions, processing and coffee culture.

Costa Rican biodiversity and tropical forest

Nature connecting usBiodiversityWildlife, plants, ecosystems and responsible observation.