Time and time again, I’m reminded by clients that Costa Rica doesn’t use addresses—at least not in the Western sense. While surprising at first, this cultural quirk has become second nature to me after 18 years of living here.
Recently, a client called in a panic because he didn’t know how to share his address with his family, friends, or even his VPN provider. After we had a good laugh, I explained his Tico-style address:
“300 metros norte del rotolo de AyA, casa chalet, pintado crema con columnas de madera, mano derecha, San Isidro, Atenas.”
Translated, that’s:
“300 meters north of the water company sign (AyA), chalet-style house, cream-colored with wood columns, right-hand side, San Isidro, Atenas.”
In Costa Rica, addresses rely on landmarks, cardinal directions, and physical characteristics like house colors or trees. It’s not uncommon to hear something like: “200 meters from the church, blue house with the white fence.”
Take the mango tree in Atenas’ Barrio San José Sur. Many addresses reference it, even though it’s just a tree in the middle of the road. The same applies to San Pedro’s iconic fig tree (higuerón), used as a landmark for countless directions.
Costa Rica’s address system has even been immortalized in Hollywood. The 1947 movie Carnival in Costa Rica includes a scene where a taxi driver jokes about a gringo claiming all houses in the U.S. are numbered—and that one day Costa Rica will follow suit. Spoiler alert: It hasn’t, and it probably never will!
This unique system is part of the charm that makes living here so special.
If you want to experience Costa Rica’s cultural subtleties in a fun way, take an hour and a half to watch Carnival in Costa Rica.
Adapting to Costa Rica’s unique address system can take some time, but these tips will help you feel more confident navigating daily life:
Costa Rica’s delivery system operates differently than what many expats are accustomed to. Instead of relying on numbered addresses, delivery drivers often depend on detailed, landmark-based instructions.
Be ready to share descriptions like “300 meters north of the church, blue house with the red door.”
Many drivers will contact you directly via WhatsApp to confirm these directions, so having photos of your house or a pinned location from navigation apps, like Waze or Google Maps is incredibly helpful in Costa Rica due to their accuracy with local landmarks and roads.
Sharing a pinned location is often the easiest way to help your guests find their way.
Understanding Costa Rica’s address system may feel unfamiliar at first, but embracing this cultural difference is part of the adventure. With a little creativity and patience, you’ll quickly adapt to life in paradise.
Ready to take the next step? Explore our luxury property listings to find your dream home in the world’s best climate and start living the lifestyle you’ve worked so hard to achieve.
Real Estate Broker
+506-8854-7721
Dennis@pldatenasrealty.com
The leading full-service brokerage specializing in luxury residential real estate in Atenas, Costa Rica.
Our team provides personalized guidance and support through every step of the home buying journey.
