Costa Ricans are usually very polite, quick to shake hands or place a kiss on someone´s cheek and they tend to use formal Spanish. Family is also very important, and it is considered polite to ask about how their family is doing.
If you are invited to someone´s home, take a hostess gift such as flowers, chocolates or something special from your home country. If you are offered food, try to eat it even if you are not hungry. Costa Ricans don´t like to say no and will avoid answering no, just saying ¨gracias¨.
Dress code in San José is more formal than in the countryside. People usually don´t wear shorts outside the beach areas and they use leather dress shoes, instead of tennis shoes, unless they are doing sports.