Tico – This is the common term for a native of Costa Rica. The plural form is ticos.
Residents of Costa Rica almost always refer to themselves as Ticos, instead of using the more-formal Costa Rican. It is acceptable for foreigners who are familiar with or living in Costa Rica to use the term Tico. The feminine or female form is Tica.
We learned about this term before we came to Costa Rica, but we were too unfamiliar to use it. However, once we got here we learned about its usage. Ticos prefer the term.