The no nonsense dress code for Mongering non mongering tours

[frenchy]

I have read a long thread on the above mentioned subject as well as read elsewhere that although shorts are becoming a bit more common, they are still a beacon to stand out.
http://costaricaticas.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=38130
So can someone please just summarize it for me so that I know whether
1. It is common and acceptable to wear shorts for a bit of walking during the day in SJ? (walk to restaurant/grocery store etc?
2. is it common and acceptable to wear shorts and round neck T Shirts to HDR and Massage parlours during the day?
3. How about after sun down to above mentioned destinations? (taxi of course)
4.How about wearing shorts to volcanos and jungle tours? Are they gonna be very cold so one should wear a pant in any case?
5. Can one wear shorts during the inbound/outbound flight to SJO or even that is not preferable?

Merci muchos Amigos.

 

[Maquis47]

The no nonsense dress code for Mongering non mongering t

Wear shorts anytime and anywhere. Nobody cares. I wear them day and night. If you have $100 in ur pocket you can compete with a guy in a tux.

 

[elcajonins]

The no nonsense dress code for Mongering non mongering t

I have read a long thread on the above mentioned subject as well as read elsewhere that although shorts are becoming a bit more common, they are still a beacon to stand out.
http://costaricaticas.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=38130
So can someone please just summarize it for me so that I know whether
1. It is common and acceptable to wear shorts for a bit of walking during the day in SJ? (walk to restaurant/grocery store etc?
2. is it common and acceptable to wear shorts and round neck T Shirts to HDR and Massage parlours during the day?
3. How about after sun down to above mentioned destinations? (taxi of course)
4.How about wearing shorts to volcanos and jungle tours? Are they gonna be very cold so one should wear a pant in any case?
5. Can one wear shorts during the inbound/outbound flight to SJO or even that is not preferable?

Merci muchos Amigos.

To summarize - no one will care if you wear shorts and T-shirts, but you will stand out as a gringo tourist/monger. If you don't care about standing out, then wear shorts 7x24.

However, the nature of your questions seem to indicate a desire to blend in a little. In that case, wear shorts at mongering venues and jeans everywhere else. SJO can get a little chilly at night.

mh

 

[terry t]

The no nonsense dress code for Mongering non mongering t

I would NOT wear shorts to visit the volcanoes, its pretty cold up there. I personally never wear shorts anywhere I go in CR except the beach. But see plenty of people who do and it does not seem to have any affect on their trip.

 

[dave w]

The no nonsense dress code for Mongering non mongering t

I walk from just around the SL to the Coca Cola to catch my bus to Escazu 3 times a week and walk it back from the Coca Cola. Guys kind of generalize about the shorts thing. Kind of look kooky in the "dad shorts" with the knobby kinees and bellies. All depends what you are wearing and how YOU wear it. Don't get me wrong though. I go to the gym up the hill from the HLH and the cardio equipment is on the second floor with me looking directly down on the street. There are some hideous looking gringos I see walk by. Bad shorts, dad jeans, never worn or scuffed dad sneakers, comb overs just to name a few. Be honest with yourself.

 

[Soolvemet]

The no nonsense dress code for Mongering non mongering t

Warning about wearing shorts in the Del Rey. Expect a few chicas hands up your pants leg. : : :

 

[Herb Fithall]

The no nonsense dress code for Mongering non mongering t

So can someone please just summarize it for me so that I know whether
1. It is common and acceptable to wear shorts for a bit of walking during the day in SJ? (walk to restaurant/grocery store etc?
2. is it common and acceptable to wear shorts and round neck T Shirts to HDR and Massage parlours during the day?
3. How about after sun down to above mentioned destinations? (taxi of course)
4.How about wearing shorts to volcanos and jungle tours? Are they gonna be very cold so one should wear a pant in any case?
5. Can one wear shorts during the inbound/outbound flight to SJO or even that is not preferable?

Merci muchos Amigos.

1. Is it common? No, it isn't. In a week of being in SJO and the countryside, I saw no Tican that wore shorts. Is it acceptable? Yes. You'll be a gringo but most people already figured that one out without you wearing shorts.
2. Is it common? No, it isn't. However, nobody cares what you wear to an MP or HDR.
3. Same as #2
4. I would strongly suggest that you not wear shorts to any tour or excursion. One day I went white-water rafting in the morning and kept my shorts on when I went zip-lining shortly thereafter. Big mistake. CR is a tropical country and wearing shorts on a tour is an open invitation for the native insect population to bite the shit out of your legs. Go ahead, ask me how I know? Only the Lord knows what kind of insect(s) bit me but it was nothing like a bite from any thing I've experienced in California. I also got a 1st degree burn on my leg from repelling on the zip tour. Had I wore pants it wouldn't have been a problem. Don't do it.
5. Yes. Wear whatever you feel is comfortable on your trip down or back home. The lines, the hassles and TSA are enough to deal with.

This subject was of interest to me on my first trip down a few months ago. I've learned that the only way you can answer how to dress for CR is to determine how you see yourself. It's a value judgement. For instance, I dress well all the time for work, shopping, evening out, etc. I receive compliments on my manner of dress but I don't do it for the accolades. I do it because it's how I see myself as a focused, intelligent and capable black man. It's my "Id," so to speak. Only you can determine what your Id is. That's the value you place on yourself and how you want the world to see you. Some guys are OK with wearing shorts to church, I don't. Some guys are fine wearing a wife-beater, gym shorts, and flip-flops around CR. I don't and wouldn't be caught dead in such attire. I've seen crusted feet, Hawaiian shirts, guys with beer guts, etc. I wouldn't wear that but that's a reflection on them. Can you believe that some mongers made it a point to tell me in CR that my wearing a collared light colored button-up shirt and linen slacks with huarachis was too "dressy" to be hanging out in the evening at the SL? I didn't care. Follow your own Id and you'll be fine. It's your vacation after all.

 

[Taylor B]

The no nonsense dress code for Mongering non mongering t

I wore shorts the entire time and had no funny looks (that I saw). I never went in any nice restaurants either....I would have dressed appropriately if I had.

 

[Spaumarach]

The no nonsense dress code for Mongering non mongering t

Rover, Miamiheller, Seawub, Thirdworld, Redwarrior - Thanks a lot for your thoughtful replies. I did notice in you tube videos that almost every tico was wearing jeans. I did 2/3 folks in shorts but that was about it so I guess while in rome do as romans do is a better choice in case of CR.
Jett
Thanks a lot for detailed and to the point reply. I agree that how you look affects a lot how you are treated by others. And i certainly had completely forgotten about the insects part so thanks for reminding me that I will be in a tropical country. better to cover up and suck it up for a day than regret for days afterwards.
59Vette
You have the most alarming answer of all :mrgreen: I am picky about who gets to "handle" me down there so thanks a lot for reminding me what kind of "wild' X-perience I am heading for.

 

[Paddy Max]

The no nonsense dress code for Mongering non mongering t

if you wear shorts, be sure to use mosquito repellent. It is rainy season so the dengue skeeter is out. Not something to be overly concerned about, just take precautions.

 

[Fallon123]

The no nonsense dress code for Mongering non mongering t

My compromise would be zip-off cargo pants during the day and a bit dressier at night. And a shirt with a collar (or equivalent) all the time. But then that's me all the time wherever except on my lanai. OTOH it's doubtful you'd be denied entry or scorned mightily however you dress. Push comes to shove, SJO does have men's clothing stores.
Brother Jett's comments were spot-on; Thirdworld's just made me cringe from roughly the same types of memories.

 

[Emily H]

The no nonsense dress code for Mongering non mongering t

I saw no Tican that wore shorts.

Is that a female Tucan or are you making up words Jett?

Where is Spanky, he is the master at blending in.

 

[filmmaniac111]

The no nonsense dress code for Mongering non mongering t

And if you choose to wear shorts, dear God don't wear dark socks with them!

 

[adiavoy]

The no nonsense dress code for Mongering non mongering t

Where is Spanky, he is the master at blending in.

Why do I get dragged into this shit? Can't wait for Admin to finally ban your troll ass and all the fake accounts you created!

I'll comment as Paco has indicated I am the master at blending in. My thoughts are simple and its been alluded to already:

You are in a country full of brown people. If you are pasty skinned white guess what; you aren't going to blend regardless of how you dress. More so, if you are 50+ walking with some young woman who is dressed like a hooker the odds of you blending are even less. This isn't rocket science. Wear whatever the hell you want that you are comfortable in. If you are doing nothing but banging hookers you can wear a thong while slathered in Crisco provided you had $100 bills placed in easily viewable areas. With all that said, I would suggest looking at the weather report. San Jose isn't what I call a tropical city (its a shit hole to be honest) and is in fact in the mountains. So unless you are from the frozen tundra where the 60's and 70's is considered down right tropical I would suggest wearing some long pants. Then again, I am a guy that wore shorts in Medellin and lived to tell the tale. Medellin es una chimba! Oh wait.. he's dead sorry. Guess he wore shorts.

Is a Tican the Costa Rican version of the Fruit Loops mascot? Inquiring minds would like to know.

 

[Capricorn One]

The no nonsense dress code for Mongering non mongering t

And if you choose to wear shorts, dear God don't wear dark socks with them!

Unless they are over the knee socks. :roll: