“Business is Pura Vida”
First Impressions of Costa Rica
During my first days in Costa Rica, the word that keeps coming to mind is “welcome.” Everywhere from our mama tica to small local Panaderia owners, people greet us with smiles, a warm buenos días, and pura vida attitude that Costa Rica is famous for. Daily life feels slower and more personal than what I am used to in the US, with more time spent talking, sharing food, and really getting to know one another. That focus on relationships has shaped both my cultural experiences and my first look at Costa Rican business.
Visit to Bici Chocolate
One highlight this week was visiting Bici Chocolate, an artisan chocolate project in the mountains near San Isidro de Heredia, about 25 minutes from San José. The business offers hands on, bean to bar experiences where visitors learn how cacao is transformed into chocolate and even help power special bicimáquinas (bike powered machines) to grind and process the cacao. The founders emphasize high quality, small batch products made from real cacao, avoiding agrochemicals and focusing on sustainable ingredients.
From a business perspective, Bici Chocolate blends tourism, education, and manufacturing in a way that reflects Costa Rica’s emphasis on ecotourism and value-added agriculture. The interaction with the owners felt informal and relational: we were encouraged to ask questions, share opinions on flavors, and talk about our own backgrounds before ever discussing prices or sales. That people first approach contrasts with the more efficiency driven transaction focused feel of many U.S. businesses.
Cultural Activities and Local Customs
Outside of company visits, cultural activities have already shown how important community and hospitality are in Costa Rican life. Shared meals, whether a plate of gallo pinto or a simple afternoon coffee, are treated as chances to connect rather than something rushed between other obligations. Even casual interactions in markets or shops come with polite greetings and small talk, which creates a sense of familiarity very quickly.
Staying with a local host family adds another layer to this experience, as family is a central pillar of Costa Rican society and extended relatives often live close by or gather frequently. Conversations during dinner have helped me practice Spanish and understand local traditions, like major festivals and holidays. These moments are just as educational as our company visits because they reveal the values behind the country’s business culture.
Business Etiquette: U.S. vs. Costa Rica
Early on, several differences between doing business in the US and in Costa Rica stand out. In Costa Rica, building trust and personal relationships tends to come before jumping straight into the “agenda” of a meeting, and small talk is not a distraction but an essential part of business etiquette. There is respect for punctuality, but there is also more flexibility about exact start times and a willingness to let conversations go longer if they are going well.
Communication also feels more formal and courteous at the beginning. In contrast, many U.S. workplaces tend to move quickly toward action items, to‑do lists, and measurable outcomes. Experiencing companies like Bici Chocolate within this “pura vida” framework is already reshaping how I think about what it means to run a successful, relationship‑centered business.
