Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Tingo Trail
You can only be a gringo for so long in Manuel Antonio before you either truly embrace the
Tico lifestyle or you pack up and go home. It doesn't happen suddenly but subtle changes
start to add up and before you know it you have tan lines from your flip flops and you don't
remember the last time you wore long pants. You laugh at things that used to totally piss
you off and road rage is a distant memory. Don't panic though; it's a natural part of being in
this magical place. There's absolutely nothing wrong with having complete disregard for the
clock or traffic laws when everyone else is on the same page. It just means you've finally
become a Tingo!
YOU KNOW YOU'RE A TINGO WHEN…
Getting around
“You see the only parking spot for miles, so you cross the double yellow lines, dodge the
oncoming traffic and go for it.” - Letty Anderson
“You stop in the middle of the road to chat with a friend and no one honks their horn because
you're blocking traffic.” - Mike Preston
“You calmly accept if someone passes you on a blind curve or cuts ahead in a queue.” - Ya-
hoo Costa Rica Living Group
“You see a car with its back-up lights on slowly backing out of a parking space, and you
walk behind it anyway.” Rob Rowntree
“You learn to drive around dogs laying in the middle of the road instead of honking your
horn and screaming at them.” - Susie Krasberg
“You tell your friends from North America how to get somewhere in the most complicated
way, yet to you it makes sense. 'After you see the yellow cabina, turn right, at the Super
turn left go up the hill, back down, follow it around to the 2nd gate. NOT the metal gate, the
wooden thingy one. We're down the concrete steps (not the tile steps) almost bottom right,
next to the other casa.'” - Jeff Ralston
Keeping time
You start to do tomorrow the things you have to do today!” - Ezio Laveriotti
