YES, Costa Rica is vegan-friendly! And I also recommend it for an epic adventure, a relaxing getaway, or even a honeymoon! For us, it was all of the above!
We had our wedding one week in Los Angeles, the reception in Wichita the next week, and within two days we were off to Costa Rica on a post-wedding high!
I did a little food prep before the trip to make sure we were covered if ever stuck on the road or in between meals.
Snack 1: Trail mix – Almonds, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), raisins, and peanuts.
Snack 2: Lara bars – lemon is my favorite
Snack 3: Plant protein powder – mix with water and go! I recommend a few weeks before the trip to go to Whole Foods or another natural food store and purchase a few sample protein packs to determine which one is your favorite. Protein powder can be pricey so make sure you like it before you buy the big container. The small sample packs are nice to take on trips too.
From wedding fun to jungle vacay!
Look at the photo bombers on our first photo from our honeymoon! LOL
The food in Costa Rica is right up my alley. I love anything with beans and rice which is served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Fresh fruit and vegetables are in abundance. Plus, there are always plantain chips and guacamole!
A traditional Costa Rican breakfast looks a little something like the photo below but you can find oatmeal, fruit, and smoothies for something a little closer to your usual.
Costa Rica has their fair share of meat dishes too, so you will have to be ok with your vegan food being near meat. You will see a lot of buffets at the resorts!
This photo below is another delicious look at a meal you will find in Costa Rica. There will always be a big pot of black beans and rice for you to scoop from at the buffet or it will be available to order at every restaurant!
One of my favorite things about Costa Rica is the wildlife and how awesome the people in Costa Rica are with the animals and insects that reside there. They are so proud and knowledgeable so you are sure to learn so much if you take a tour.
Here are the tours we took!
Keep an eye out! Throughout Costa Rica, you will see these little coatis (photo below, a relative of the raccoon, so cute), sloths chilling in the trees (living the life), monkeys in the jungle and by the beach, and Iguanas everywhere!
Can you spot the monkey?
We stayed at the Nayara Resort and Spa in La Fortuna near the Arenal volcano (photo below). It was wonderful and we will definitely stay at this resort if lucky enough to travel back to Costa Rica one day. Not only was the resort beautiful but the customer service was above and beyond. After just one day they know you by name, they are prompt with their services, they are always happy to help you with a smile on their face! There are multiple restaurants on the premise that offer different cuisines from around the world. All with vegan options! Plenty of fresh fruit smoothies or pina coladas to go around!
Nayara Resort Spa and Gardens
Address: 702 road 21007, Provincia de Alajuela, La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Phone: +506 2479 1600
The photo below is of a hot spring resort we took a quick day trip to from our hotel. It’s just 20 minutes away from Nayara and it was so fun and relaxing. This is a man-made pool but with natural springs. They have a restaurant and bar on the premise so you can make a full day of it if you choose too!
EcoTermales Hot Springs
Address: 3.5 Km Este de la Iglesia Católica, La Fortuna, San Carlos, 21007, Costa Rica
On a tour around the Arenal volcano, we found hiding spots for spiders, we stopped to watch the ants at work, (moving leaves that were 10 times their size) and learned about the growth among the volcanic ash that had occurred since the last eruption.
Imperial beer from Costa Rica tastes really good after a long hike. Luke caught me really enjoying my first sip!
If you decide to go to Costa Rica for whatever reason, add some nature to your trip. There will be plenty of time for chilling by the pool, so get out there and zip line, try real Costa Rican food outside of your resort, and take advantage of the delicious coffee. Even gas station coffee tastes like heaven in Costa Rica!
This is me about to go on my first long zip line through the jungle! Amazing, scary, fun, and wonderful! Sky Adventures as seen above.
We used Costa Rican Vacations to help us plan our trip. They provide hotel pickups, transfers, and confirm everything for you before the trip. The drivers and tour guides were very professional, nice, and always happy to help answer questions.
If you want to get the feel for real Costa Rica living then try an Airbnb! Use my code to sign up and get $40 off your stay!
Pura Vida – Pure Life – A Costa Rica Slogan!
Please leave me comments and questions!
Have you been to Costa Rica? What was your favorite part?
Thank you so much for reading! Cheers!
Justine
