Costa Rican Directions: Finding Your Way
The "Coca-Cola' and the "old fig tree' may not sound important, but they're both integral parts of the Costa Rican address system, as I quickly learned. When I first moved here I understood the theory of Costa Rican directions but not the practice. A Costa Rican address often begins with an important landmark, such as the former Coca-Cola bottling plant, which is now a major bus station, or the old fig tree that fell down years ago. Since most streets have no common name and houses are not numbered, this system is practical and easy to use.
FAQs
How do Costa Rican addresses work?
Until very recently, Costa Rica did not have a traditional address system. Instead, locals used directions from landmarks to explain location. Directions to a friend’s house might be explained as “100 meters north of the supermarket, 100 meters east and 25 meters west, the blue house on the left.” (100 meters = 1 block) In 2010, the country began implementing an address system in San Jose – and there are plans to expand throughout the Central Valley.
Last updated: Oct 22, 2023