Do Costa Ricans refer to themselves as ticos or ticas, or is that only a term by which others refer to them? Is it a "politially correct" term, or do some Costa Ricans dislike it?

I don't think it's a question of political correctness. It's more a matter of being formal or informal.

Costa Ricans refer to themselves as Ticos/Ticas, based on the historic way they have of forming the diminutives of nouns. Other Spanish speakers would change "un momento" into "un momentito" (a little moment). A Costa Rican might say instead "un momentico." So much for the grammar lesson.

I do know upper-crust Costa Ricans who say, "There are Ticos and there are Costa Ricans. I'M Costa Rican."

That said, you'll see La Nacion, the largest and most prestigious Spansih-language newspaper, sometimes refer to the "Tico president" or "Tico highways." And The Tico Times does it in their stories too. It just looks odd to me in a formal news story.

I don't think anyone is offended if someone else calls them Ticos. (Costa Ricans usually cut a lot of slack with visitors.) It just sounds funny to me coming from a foreigner, and I don't use the term in conversation with someone I don't know.

But that's only my two-colones worth.

Jeff hit the nail on the head, I believe. Ticos/Ticas may call themselves by those terms (as you can read in their newspapers) but a more polite term for a visitor to use (at least at first) is Costa Rican: Costaricense (sp?) and pronounced "costa ree sense eh"? Feel free to correct my Spanish pronunciation!

No, that's the correct way to pronounce it. I would stick to that term because it just sounds more "pc" and there is no need to accidentially offend anyone. Although, I do not see Tico/Tica as offensive. Have a lovely time! We're going in mid-August (wooohoo)

I'm curious why you would need to call the locals anything along these lines? I've spent alot of time in Mexican, for example, and can't think of a single occasion when I needed to refer to local folks using any kind of a 'term'.

Sorry, I did not mean that post to sound critical in any way, was truly just trying to imagine a situation when it would come up during your trip.

I really can't think of a situation in which I would use the term on a trip to CR. It is used so much on this board that I wondered about it.

It's almost the equivalent of Costa Ricans using the term "gringo." I know many people who use it in casual conversation to refer to people from the U.S.; others expand their meaning to include Canadians and Europeans too. In Costa Rica, at least, I don't think the word has the political connotations that it does other places in Latin America. I'm not offended when someone refers to me that way, but it just sounds too odd coming from someone who doesn't know me.

My Costa Rican friends refer to themselves as Ticos / Ticas all the time and use the terms with pride. They jokingly call me a 'gringo' [which I'm not.]

I think we should think less about political correctness and more about treating the countries and cultures we visit with respect and understanding. It astonishes me sometimes even on the tours I lead within north america how some travellers are so clueless and insensitive to the cultural situations and customs in the places they visit.

Jerry

Very nicely put Jerry, I heartily agree.

Tico is also just a name/nickname in general, I believe. Even my daughter's idol Nicklolodeon's Dora the Explorer, has a friend named Tico.

Steve

Actually, when we were in CR the term "tico" was used frequently. In many conversations comparing customs, foods, etc would come up. "Do Ticos generally celebrate more Christmas Eve or New Years Eve?" for example. It was quite fascinating to get a little insight on their traditions, etc.
Also, it is Costarricense (with 2 r's)--that would apply to either male or female (just add an "s" to make it plural!)

Beautiful! Got it now, thank you.

I stayed for almost a month this summer in CR. I lived with a local family who often referred to themselves and others as "Ticos." It didn't seem like an offensive term at all and I'm sure no one would be offended by you using it.