Comments on: Tattoos on Women in Costa Rica

By: Howard G. Workman

Howard G. Workman — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:39:08 +0000

Hey I am a retired teacher in the USA and I really have enjoyed your website.. My son and I will be down for a visit in late April and will stay in contact with this site to make arangements for a 2 day tour..I just spent a short trip there a month ago and wow it was great..I do have 1 question and I hope someone can answer it.. What city in Costa Rica has the biggest Gay population in Costa Rica.. I really want to live near the water, no further that 20 minutes from the ocean but which city would I most likely find gay people.Thanks…Howard G.Workman

By: gioconda

gioconda — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:35:21 +0000

I believe somehwere in some law or practice there is a restriction on tattoos, my father is a universitiy professor and he had commented on it when I got my tattoo (I’m costarican)… but believe me: it is nothing that is observed. Also: we are known very well for being welcoming of prettu much… everything. Depending on the place you visit and on the type of tattoos you have you might be getting a bit more attention that what you might like, but its not like you will feel freakish. Actually a huge amount of people in CR have tattoos, it is no longer tabu; planes are filled with people of all ages that have all sorts of piercing and tats. So really: dont worry, get on that plane and enjoy volcanos, mountains and parrots here, dont worry about your skin drawings … come to think about it: you might feel pretty comfy around some areas in which you will just be one more with a bunch of tattoos (university areas in the city, north pacific beaches)

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:17:31 +0000

If you have to ask… you are probably too young

By: Thor Dickinson

Thor Dickinson — Wed, 20 May 2009 01:04:15 +0000

Hi, I’m going down to visit Costa Rica this summer and was wondering if anyone knew the age limit for being tattooed down there. I’ve looked for the answer to this question everywhere and still cant find it. Im thinking of getting inked at the lovely Tattoo 506. Thank you for your help if you can find it!

By: Marzena

Marzena — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:38:50 +0000

I would like to leave a first hand comment here.
I am a 45 yrs old Canadian woman and I have a few tattoos including one covering my arm (shoulder to elbow) and a big one on my calf.
I have lived in a small town in Costa Rica for 3 yrs now and my experiences regarding tattoos have been great.
People stop me on the street admireing my tattoos, Que lindo, they say and ask if it hurt and how much it was. Sometimes they want to touch it. I am very open to that behavoiur, some Canadians might feel like their space is being invaded. I also have a pierced nose. If I see people looking at me disaprovingly, I just smile at them and they smile back (most of the time).
A smile goes a long way anywhere in the world.

By: Mario Alexander

Mario Alexander — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:51:36 +0000

Hello I´m 26 years old and costa rican and I think that I personally would prefer to have a lady with no tatoos BUT, my genartion and yourger kids are more into the tatooing althougt they are not very wide accepted yet, I dont know what will happen in the future but for now the ones that are haevily tatooed here are usually girls that go to rock bars or stuff like that. I hoped this helped ! BTW I like your blog !

By: Aimee Valle

Aimee Valle — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:32:02 +0000

It’s been so long since I’ve visited here!

I think the responses everyone has given are correct based on what I know of Costa Ricans in general. While “they might not do it that way” they seem very accepting of everyone. Heavy tattoos on a woman will get a few extra glances but nothing too unusual from anywhere else really.

When I visited last November I was there for the first time with my nose pierced. I’m not pierced up all over or tattooed but a few of the younger girls decided that they wanted their noses done too after seeing mine. Of course dad said, “not until you’re 18″ but that is what you’d expect from most places.

The younger folks will be more accepting or interested and generally overlook it more than older people but that’s the way with people everywhere.

By: Carol Chinchilla

Carol Chinchilla — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:41:38 +0000

Hi! I am a Costa Rican woman. I want to say that tattoos are becoming more common in Costa Rica and people is beginning to accept them too. I agree that some people is going to look at you with surprise or curiosity, but I am sure no one will hurt your feelings or be impolite. Also, I know Costa Rica gets lots of tourism and this means that people from different cultures and different customs visit us. For this reason, Costa Rican people are used to see and respect uncommon behaviours or ways to dress from other cultures.

By: Cy Bolinger

Cy Bolinger — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:44:25 +0000

Without a doubt, you have the most well-done, researched, web-site (blog-site too) about Costa Rica on the planet. I am preparing to retire to Costa Rica next year, 2008, and your site gets looked at just about every day.
In reply to the lady with the tattoos, I have declined hiring women in my business offices for large tattoos. I’m not sure this country (US) has accepted the art-form, at least not in business offices. As you said, neat little tattoos on arms, ankles and feet (maybe cleavage) are fine, but large body tattoos on bare arms, shoulders, neck or face are out of the question. This lady will definitely be looked at in CR as she would here (US). That being said, I’m sure she is a fine person and very attractive. Also, she is quite young and her generation is beginning to do the “tattoo thing”. I quite agree with you that Ticos and Ticas “will notice” but be quite polite about what they say. In my book they are 10 times more polite than we Canadians or Americans ever thought of being.
Cy Bolinger