TELEPHONE ETIQUETTE: Telephone etiquette in Costa Rica does not demand that the caller identify himself immediately. A person may call and ask to speak to a member of the household without first identifying himself. And, in fact, if the person with whom they desire to speak is unavailable, the caller may hang up without leaving a message or his/her name.

GREETINGS: Constitute a very important part of the etiquette in Latin America, and you may find them a bit different than to what you are accustomed. The following are a few hints:

When entering into a group of friends or family, it is important that you separately acknowledge and greet each person.

Upon first greeting:

Men - shake hands

Women - grasp forearms lightly

Men and women - shake hands

STREET ETIQUETTE: When walking with someone, it is customary in Latin America to always walk abreast, and never in single file. It is also common to see mothers and daughters walking arm in arm. If a man is accompanying a woman, he should walk on the street side of the sidewalk.