Best Gastronomic Experiences To Have In Costa Rica

There are so many unique experiences to have while visiting Costa Rica. There are opportunities to marvel at nature deep in a rainforest, witness an arriba on a moonless night, dance the night away at a local fiesta, and indulge in a number of gastronomic experiences that will create a taste memory you will never forget.

Cold pipa on a hot day

A pipa is what Costa Ricans call a coconut. This ultra hydrating, naturally abundant, and delicious beverage from the earth is one of the most satisfying drinks you can have on a hot day in Costa Rica. It is likely that you will spot a pipa vendor patrolling the beach with a cooler full of icy ones waiting to be cracked open. Pipa sellers are masters with a machete and can lop the top of the pipa clear off so that you can enjoy the fresh liquid inside. Say no to the plastic straw that will be offered along with your pipa though, as there is a big movement to get rid of plastic straws and other single-use plastics in Costa Rica.

A made to order empanada

Gallo pinto for breakfast

Gallo pinto is a staple in the traditional Costa Rican diet. This perfect marriage of rice and beans is typically served at breakfast and is one of the best dishes to fuel your day. It is even better served up with eggs, sweet plantains, queso fresco, and a homemade tortilla. This divinely delightful breakfast can be found at any local soda, most restaurants that have a full breakfast menu, and nearly all hotel or resort restaurants. This is the perfect plate to add a little salsa Lizano too.

Coffee from the source

Costa Rica is internationally recognized for its coffee. With multiple coffee growing regions, nearly 70,000 coffee farmers, and dozens of highly rated organic and sustainable coffee brands, drinking a cup of Costa Rican coffee while in Costa Rica is an experience for the books. What’s even better is having a cup of freshly brewed coffee at the coffee farm which you just toured.

A pejibaye with mayo

Pejibayes are a highly nutritious, filling, and favorite snack in Costa Rica. A pejibaye (pay-hee-by-yay) is the fruit from a peach palm tree. This is one of the most widely available fruits in Costa Rica, along with bananas, papayas, plantains, and pineapples. In order to enjoy this mouthwatering treat, they must be boiled for several hours in order to soften and then peeled and de-seeded. The taste and consistency is similar to a sweet potato and is best served with mayonnaise.

Treat yourself to the best snack in Costa Rica

Christmas tamale

A cherished family tradition in Costa Rica is the production, distribution, and consumption of the Christmas tamale. These scrumptious bundles of flavor are a labor a love. The typical tamale contains some type of meat mixed with spices, potatoes, and vegetables surrounded by cornmeal dough and then wrapped in banana leaves, tied with string, and placed in a pot of boiling water to cook. Every family has their own traditional recipe. During the holidays, you can enjoy these savory envelopes of Christmas goodness at a local soda and also sometimes at the farmer’s market and from street vendors.

Fresh ceviche and an icy brew at the beach

The secret ingredient in Costa Rican ceviche is ginger ale. This mixed with fresh squeezed limes, cilantro, peppers, onions, cucumbers, and freshly and locally caught fish makes for the perfect late afternoon boca (snack) to enjoy the beachfront with an icy cold Costa Rican beer. Oftentimes, ceviche is also served with homemade tortilla or plantain chips. After a long day of adventuring, there are few things finer than kicking back and enjoying the late afternoon on the beach with this perfect combo.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.