Costa Rica Is Back, Greener and More Intense

Costa Rica recovered 40 percent of the tourism market during the pandemic thanks to a wise strategy and sanitary protocols. The destination also achieved the recovery of airlines to 30 percent.

Cruise passengers returned as well, and the country has positioned itself well, which has helped. During the pandemic, Costa Rica's forests and beaches got a break.

They bet on forests, beaches, and beneficial wellness tourism. Today, tourism contributes 6.5 percent to the gross domestic product.

They started with the creation of natural parks, then in the 80s, they began with the recovery of forested areas, and to date, they have recovered 55 percent of the land.

The Costa Rican government has a National Tourism Development Plan that is updated every five years, which has kept up the good pace in nature conservation.

Most nationalities visiting Costa Rica are Americans, Canadians, and Mexicans. Although in recent years, Spain and Germany have rebounded. The supply of rooms in the Central American country totals 15,000 rooms.

Undoubtedly, one of the attractions most mentioned by tourists is its people. As Costa Ricans know, the " Ticos " welcome tourists with open arms. They know the importance of having a pleasant experience, are cordial, and give special treatment.

The difference between European tourists, who come from far away, and those from the North and South American continents is the number of days of stay. Mexicans, for example, repeat the destination and change the experiences as they make shorter trips with specific circuits. Europeans, on the other hand, make longer stays.

The recommendation is to have "gallo pinto" for breakfast: a mixture of rice and beans to which you can add meat, eggs, or sausages. At lunchtime, depending on the area, ceviche or snapper, or tuna, with products that come from corn such as rosquillas (dough volcanoes), tanelas (sweet pies), typical products of the area of Guanacaste (beaches and surf) and for dinner a good chifrijo, a mixture of rice and beans and pork crackling with pico de gallo, and beer is very tasteful.

Finally, Cocos Island is a place ideal for nature lovers and diving, located 4 hours away, and is a unique beauty. It was the island inspired to write Jurassic Park. You will find adventure tourism: hiking, new waterfalls, and new rivers.

And if you are visiting Mexico City and want to enjoy a Costa Rican lunch or dinner, go to any of the Carajillo restaurants. There the gastronomic offer consists of the following:

And by his side is chef Juan Arroyo, the creative mind and culinary ingenuity behind the restaurants. The two of them came up with this menu:

Starter: Grilled ayotes, turmeric mayonnaise, sesame, cashew nut, mayonnaise, and cilantro.

Dessert: Custard ice cream with strawberry, suspiro with cocoa nibs, cream with lemon zest, strawberries macerated with mezcal and tarragon.