www.CostaRicaTicas.com

When I first did research on coming to CR in 1997 I read over and over no shorts in the city. Back in the days of the Brothers some Americans came down every month to pick up their interest payments and did not give a damn about culture or how they dressed. They just thought how smart they were and how much money they were making. Well guess who had the last laugh. They went broke. I have also been informed that females had to wear dresses as late as the 70's in the city. Not even long pants. Always remember as an American you are a guest in CR and should respect this fact. It does not matter how fat your wallet is you are still a guest and should be polite . If you ever argue you lose automatic so avoid this as well. Please represent the USA in the best possible way. Avoid confrontation and as stated before talk in a non loud voice and try to be polite and most of all have fun and return. Pura Vida, Uncle H. P.S. I have never seen a grown man who looks good in a tank top.

Please......no wifebeaters.

No offense, I was just being a smartass.

I don't walk around after dark in San Jose, not unless I can avoid it. But thanks, if I do I will make sure to wear long pants or jeans.

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Man I'm living life like a great white shark swimming with minnows! It's all about panocha, great scotch, fine cigars, loud-ass rock music and speed, speed, speed - plus spending as much time as possible in paradise on earth, Costa Rica!

When I was in SJ last fallI found that the locals do frown upon the wearing of shorts downtown. How do I know more than a handful of professional looking ticos gave me a look followed by a quick glance at my shorts when I was walking around checking out the various shops. This was in a polite kinda way of them telling me that I was dressed inappropriatly they realizing that I probably was not aware of the way things worked. I did not catch on right away but it dawned on me on a cool rainey day when I went out wearing levis this time and there were no looks or such. So there is a cultural norm here and shorts are not accepted. It really never dawned on me before. When it gets hot a good option are those light weight pants they sell in the sporting good stores that have the zip off lower legs. They are fairly cool than when you get to the gultch you can just zip off the legs

You Americans are not above such condescending behavior yourselves you know! When I used to go to Los Angeles every May for the E3 electronics expo, I got a lot of funny looks while I was wading through the surf at Santa Monica in my swim trunks and my blinding arctic tan. They looked at this crazy Canadian very funny, I can tell you! 65 degrees is not cold!

In the past there was topics regarding shorts, the loud hawwian shirts Americans wear and the gold chains . I try and blend in as much as possible and be as respectful in my dealings with the Ticos', it is their cultural moreas. When I first started going down about 18 yrs ago it was a no, no wearing shorts. But over the years its' become acceptable at least in San Jose. AM Costarica did an article on wearing short many years ago and explained that it was not culturaly acceptable. I always pack dress shoes and pants in case I end up going some place upscale.
Flaco

I have noticed, also, there are no joggers in the streets of San Jose. Given all the parks, you would think there would be more. To get to the point, I don't think any gym wear is allowed. I haven't seen one sweat suit, or anyone wearing sweats (long pant and long shirt kind) anywhere. Thus I would surmise that any exercise wear is dressing down to an unacceptable level here, in public.

I did see some people doing martial arts in the park once, wearing exercise clothes. That's about it.

I was going to go to Mas o Menos to grab some snacks in my sweats and thought better of it.

What do you expect from regular working folks? They dress up for work. If you are here on vacation and wearing shorts, the ticos are prolly not looking at you because you have shorts on. They are looking at you walking around all the whore houses in San Jose. Their opinion of you is prolly based on the fact that they think you are just some random sex tourist rolling around downtown. Again, if you are going somewhere that warrants you wearing something else other than shorts and such, then you should dress accordingly. Whether you want to believe it or not there is a HUGE undertone of distaste for gringos. Especially men who are down here for the sex tourism. But if y'all wanna keep thinkin it is your shorts go ahead........ Ignorance is bliss......... Again, this is just my humble opinion.........

the DR

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“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity"

No. if you are exercising its perfectly acceptable. idk about walking around in sweats as a fashion but i see men and women at savannah park wearing spandex, exercise wear all the time.

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im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

I am sorry, I wasn't clear. I was talking about wearing exercise clothes while not engaged in exercise and going into stores, eating in restaurants, walking around the streets shopping. I don't think you can wear those clothes anywhere like in USA. In the USA, I see people in the malls wearing gym clothes because it's comfortable and in college towns the students wear pajamas everywhere. That was a nightmare when I was in high school, where I came to school or went to the mall in my pajamas, but it's cool fashion wear with college students.

Granted most of us come to CR for that, it's a small representation of the overall tourist in CR. Of all the people that have told me about their CR trip, none were for sex, most were ecotourist, followed by missionary work, fishing, beach related activities, zip lining, seeing the volcano, learning Spanish, medical tourism and looking for a place to retire.

I personally wear jeans or pants on about a daily basis.

I live and work here in Costa Rica on a full time basis. At one point I would wear shorts and flip flops to the office but that is just not very professional. Today it is pants only. When on vacation and visiting the beach, I will wear shorts and flip flops.

If you are in San Jose and on vacation, wear what you find comfortable! It is your vacation, don't worry about dress codes.

Me personally, I find San Jose to be cold by mid afternoon (I live on the beach and it is much hotter on a daily basis there) so I wear pants and jeans as a comfort thing.

Gotta admit that the poorly dressed will not be alone. What percentage of guys in the Del Rey on any given day look pretty kooky and out of place anywhere other than there? Would 50% be high? 70 maybe? hmmm

We have lost it - our society has become one whereby no one is ever "wrong", everyones feelings have to be validated, nothing is ever anyones fault - "Its my money, and I'll wear what I want" And they have the right to refuse service -

Was not all that long ago that many places kept blue blazers for those who showed up without one - you ever see pictures of guys during the depression - look the next time and see how many were wering a suit and tie. And no, I don't want to return to the dress code of then

For Christs phucking sake, is it so difficult to put on a nice pair of Dockers, or nice jeans, a collared shirt, and closed toed shoes when you are going to a nice restrauant - I guess for some it is

You have the right to wear whatever you wish but just know that others - especially in what is a conservative latin society at heart (CR) - will judge you by what you wear.

We do it ourselves - the sterotype asshole American monger in the DelRey has been discussed and posted ad naseum - bad thing is more than a few fit it.

I think its important to clarify one point that was made in the OP's post - I think a place has the right to refuse service b/c someone is poorly dressed, for any reason other than race color et al - however, once the restrauant has seated you (accepted you as a customer) there is zero tolerance on my part for them treating you, and your party with anything but the utmost respect. Can't have it both ways ( the manager speaking with one of the waiters:

"Si Carlos, we seatee los cochinos Americonos para fuckee con them este noche, y givee mal servico - y fuche que pesta, you lookee at la puta with them- buenas tetas, amigo, Verdad" )