Costa Rica Time Zone

One of the most common questions we've been asked is: what time zone is Costa Rica in? Sandwiched between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south, Costa Rica is located in the Central Standard Time (CST) zone (UTC -06:00). Costa Rica does not observe Daylight Savings Time so the time remains the same year round.

But even more prominent than Central Standard Time, Costa Rica operates on Tico Time! Tico is a commonly used term for natives of Costa Rica, meaning locals or ticos.

Things happen at a much slower pace in Costa Rica - no one is in a hurry. So take your time, relax, and enjoy your stay - after all, your'e on vacation! And more than that, you're on Tico Time.

Pura Vida!

Ed & Connie