Costa Rica Vibes (2024)

You can find us chasing seriously good vibes around Costa Rica while helping you do the same. Need help planning your Costa Rican travels? You've come to the right place!

26/06/2023

Are you planning you planning to visit Costa Rica in August?

This time of year is the peak of the green season. But, don’t let that stop you! There are still plenty of fun activities to do!

Plus, it is usually one of the cheapest times to travel around the country.

We created this guide to give you all the best tips on Costa Rica in the month of August. So, let’s get to it!

Should You Visit Costa Rica in August?

Yes! You should always visit Costa Rica no matter what time of year.

I know that is not really the helpful answer you were hoping for.

But let me explain…

Pros

Prices are low

Costa Rican children are back at school, so there are fewer local travelers

You can expect lush green scenery that makes for beautiful pictures.

It’s turtle nesting season!

Cons

The rain can be bad at times

You might have to skip certain activities due to the rain

You might have some overcast days (but hey…less chance of a sunburn!)

Our Opinion

Costa Rica in August is so hit or miss.

When writing this post, I looked through some of our old pictures to get a better idea of years past. From my pictures, the weather is really all over the place.

I have some pictures of perfectly sunny days and some pictures of absolute washout weather.

In all the time we have been living in Costa Rica we experienced the worst weather ever in August. That was in 2017 but, it was because a tropical storm hit and caused serious destruction on roads across the country.

We were at the beach for a few nights with my dad and it took us two days to drive home.

It was horrible.

However, I also had a friend visit a few years ago in August. When looking at those pictures they are mostly all sunny and nice.

So, basically, I am zero help. I think you just need to travel and hope for the best. Plus, have some activity options for those total washout days (I’ll get to some ideas later on in this post).

Costa Rica Weather in August

In August, the rainy season is in full swing.

Sunrise will be daily around 5:27 am

Sunset is daily around 5:50 pm.

Let’s go through every area of Costa Rica in August to give you a better idea of what to expect.

Guanacaste

In Guanacaste (the northwest corner of the country just below Nicaragua), you can expect dry hot days and an afternoon rain storm which will last about an hour. This area notoriously has very mild rainy seasons.

Also, August is turtle nesting season around the country. Guanacaste has two good places for spotting female turtles laying their eggs. These are Playa Grande near Tamarindo and Playa Ostional near Nosara.

Nicoya Peninsula

The Nicoya Peninsula is usually a bit rainier than Guanacaste, but not too bad. You can expect afternoon rainstorms to last about an hour or two.

Days should be sunny and warm, but occasionally you may have some overcast weather.

Central & South Pacific

The Central and South Pacific are known for hot days and warm evenings. In the afternoon you will likely have rain for an hour or two, sometimes longer.

Usually, these are just rain showers, but sometimes they can be really heavy rains with thunder and lightning.

We like to get up early, enjoy the day, take a little afternoon siesta during the rain, and head back out for the epic Pacific coast sunset views.

Keep in mind that the mosquitos tend to be bad here once the sun sets.

Central Valley

The Central Valley area consists of the capital city, San Jose, and the surrounding hills and valleys. This area tends to always be a bit cooler than the coastal towns. Usually, daytime temperatures are in the mid-70s °F and evening temperatures in the mid-sixties.

Typically, the rain will roll in around 2pm and last for an hour or two. Sometimes these are torrential rain storms with thunder and lightning and sometimes these are just steady rains.

Also, we have experienced that sometimes if there is a very heavy rain it is almost impossible to drive for a few hours because the streets can get flooded.

But, check out the pictures above. Look how beautiful the Central Valley area is when everything is nice and green. It always feels a bit like Switzerland to me.

Northern Mountains

In La Fortuna, you will likely have sunny days and good Arenal Volcano views (especially in the morning). In the afternoon or early evening, you might experience a rainstorm for an hour or two.

I was talking to someone from La Fortuna recently and they said that they believe that the best Arenal Volcano views are usually in July and August. I found this surprising, but maybe they are right.

In Monteverde, you can expect that there will probably be constant rain. I feel like this is part of the charm of this area though. Just bring plenty of rainproofing gear!

Caribbean Coast

It is now time to shine for the Caribbean coast! This coast has an opposite rainy season from the rest of the country. So, you can expect zero rain here at this time of year.

The days are hot and sunny and the evening temperatures are also usually in the mid 70’s.

Just so you know, it doesn’t happen often, but this side of the country is the most likely area to get hit by a tropical storm.

So, if that happens you will of course have less than ideal weather.

What to Pack for Costa Rica in August

Rain Jacket – I have the Venture 2 jacket from Northface and I really like it. I’ve had it for about four years now and it is holding up just fine. It is lightweight and has zippers under the armpits if you need a little extra air. In Costa Rica, even when it is raining it is still warm out, so having a breathable rain jacket is essential.

Bug Spray – You can always buy bug spray in Costa Rica. If you are bringing a checked bag and would like to bring some yourself, remember that aerosol cans are not allowed in luggage and we always put our bug spray in a large zip lock bag. You don’t want it to leak and have all your clothes covered in bug spray.

Waterproof Backpack – A good waterproof backpack is one of those things we finally recently invested in and I have no idea why we didn’t do it sooner. Having a day pack that you can use for hiking or other fun activities and not have to stress that all your belongings might get soaked is essential.

An Umbrella – We usually never use umbrellas here except for in San Jose. So, totally your call on this one. I personally prefer just to use my rain coat.

A good sun-blocking hat – Yes, maybe it might be a bit overcast on certain days, but that doesn’t mean that the sun is not still super strong. I like this one from Columbia. It is breathable, blocks the sun, is great for hiking, and doesn’t look too nerdy (just a little nerdy).

A filtered water bottle just to block out any additional bacteria – I am a ride-or-die fan of the Lifestraw water bottle.

Motion sickness pills (for boats and for curvy drives) – You can always buy some motion sickness pills in Costa Rica, but I suggest just bringing some Dramamine with you. If you think you might find yourself out on a boat, sometimes the waves can be worse during the rainy season.

Sunscreen – Because, sun in Costa Rica is strong!

Games (for when you’re stuck inside) – Even just a deck of cards will open up tons of game possibilities.

For clothing, we suggest items that are quick-drying and lightweight. Personally, sometimes it is just to hot and humid to want to wear a rain jacket even in heavy rains. In this case, I like to wear some sporty shorts, and a tshirt and just deal with the rain. It’s more comfortable.

For footwear, there are a few things I suggest.

Keens- Keen makes nice hiking shoes that are designed for getting wet.

Tevas- I always wear Teva flip-flops because they have a stable sole (this is kind of essential in Costa Rica) and are fine in the water. Just note, I feel like their sizes run a bit small. You may want to size up.

At most hiking places which are really muddy they have rubber boots which you can rent. I definitely suggest doing this. So, make sure to bring your socks.

For more packing tips check out our complete Rainy Season Packing Guide.

The Best Places to Visit / Places to Avoid

If you don’t want heavy rain, I would avoid Monteverde and the mountains around San Jose (Cartago, Orosi, San Gerardo de Dota).

Also, if you are planning to rent a car to get around, I would suggest avoiding very remote areas, especially if they have dirt roads.

As I mentioned before, for the best weather head to the Caribbean side of the country.

Fun Activities at this Time of Year

You can still do almost any activity at this time of year. We just suggest getting up early and enjoying the day before the rain rolls in.

Sometimes hiking can be a bit of a muddy adventure. As I mentioned above, a lot of hiking areas will offer rubber boots to rent. I suggest taking them.

I can show you what we were faced with when we visited Rio Celeste and opted not take the rubber boots haha.

I’m never making that mistake again! We were completely covered in mud by the end.

One activity I really like to do in Costa Rica in August is zip lining. You don’t have to worry about hiking through mud and you also get a chance to see the country from above while everything is green and lush.

Tortuguero National Park

I think that a visit to Tortuguero National Park is an absolute must-do activity in August.

Tortuguero is a remote town located in the northern part of the Caribbean coast, not too far from the Nicaragua border.

It is only possible to get here by taking a boat. I feel like this completely adds to the charm of it.

Anyway, the Tortuguero National Park is a Green Sea Turtle nesting zone.

Each night these turtles come to shore to lay their eggs. If you don’t know anything about Green Sea Turtles, they are huge! They can weight sometimes between 300 and 350 pounds!

If you visit at this time of year, you can take an evening sea turtle tour with a guide and experience this firsthand.

In my opinion, this is a must-do activity. It is by far one of the coolest things I have experienced in all my time living in Costa Rica.

Activities in the Rain

If it is raining all day while we are traveling in Costa Rica we tend to do a few different thing.

– Stay at your hotel or villa and play games. We always bring a deck of cards.

– If you are in La Fortuna, head to the hot springs. I mean, you’re going to get wet in the water anyway. This is great as long as there is no lightning.

– Work on your photography skills. Thomas loves to bring the camera outside and try to capture some cool rainy pictures.

– If you are in San Jose, head to the museums, the mall, or the cinema. I know you didn’t really come all the way to Costa Rica to go to the mall and see a movie, but sometimes you’ve just got to stay entertained.

– Head to a restaurant where you can have a long leisurely meal and some drinks.

– If you are staying at a villa, sometimes we like to go to the grocery store and just cook elaborate meals.

– Read a book. I always bring my Kindle when traveling. Sometimes it’s nice to sit inside and read with the sound of the rain.

– Just deal with it and get out to do fun things anyway. A little water won’t kill you.

Booking Transportation

We always suggest renting a car for your travels in Costa Rica because it will give you the most flexibility for getting around.

If visiting Costa Rica in August, it is a good idea to rent a 4×4 vehicle. This is especially important if you are staying in Monteverde, Nosara area, any other remote town, or in an accommodation on a steep hill.

The reason I say this is because the roads aren’t always the best in certain parts of the country. During the rainy season, dirt roads can become more difficult to navigate.

Also, keep in mind that certain areas involve river crossings. For example, near Nosara, near Puerto Jimenez, and on the back road between Mal Pais and Montezuma there are river crossings.

During the dry season, this usually isn’t too much of a problem because the water level is low enough. However, during the rainy season, the water level can get high. There is a good chance you won’t be able to cross the rivers.

We always suggest renting your car with our favorite local rental car company, Adobe.

In August, rental cars tend to be way cheaper than they are during the high season. Plus, we have a 10% discount plus other great perks for you! You can find out all about it here.

Booking Hotels

For hotels, we like Booking.com. Many of the listings offer free cancellations up to a certain date. This will allow you to book early and cancel if your plans change. Just keep track of the cancellation deadline!

We also really like VRBO when booking condos, houses, and villas. This is a good option because you can rent a place with a kitchen to cook your own meals. VRBO also has some listings with free cancellation.

In August, it is important to pay attention to the location of the accommodation you would like to book.

A lot of beach towns have houses up in the hills on steep dirt roads. These can be difficult to navigate.

So read reviews before booking anything or message the owner and ask about road conditions if you can’t figure out the location from the maps.

Holiday & Festivals

August 2nd – This is the day of the Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles. It is Costa Rica’s most significant religious celebration.

On this day, devout followers embark on a pilgrimage, either walking or crawling on their knees, towards the Los Angeles Basilica in Cartago.

They gather there to pay reverence to La Negrita, the revered black Virgin of Costa Rica, and pray to her for the fulfillment of their wishes.

August 15 – Mother’s Day. This is not a national holiday that people have off from school or work, but it is an important day in Costa Rica. Family is really important to Ticos.

You might see a lot of large families gathering at the beach to have all-day barbecues and fun family bonding time.

Travel Tips for Visiting Costa Rica in August

Please keep an eye out for flash flooding. It, unfortunately, does happen and can be really scary. If you notice a stream or river instantly turn muddy, that means it’s time to get out ASAP. A flash flood is likely coming.

Also, keep in mind that things can be slippery after a rainstorm. Typically, places don’t have the same security levels that you might be used to in your home country. It is up to you to use your discretion.

For example, at waterfalls, there is often not any fencing around the base or top of the falls. In the past, people have gotten killed and seriously injured by getting to close to the edge and slipping.

So, what do you think? Is August the perfect time to visit Costa Rica for you? If you have any questions about planning your trip, just leave them in the comment section below. We are always happy to help you out!

The post Costa Rica in August: Complete Guide to Weather and Planning appeared first on Costa Rica Vibes.

Costa Rica in August is peak rainy season. Even with rainy weather, there are still plenty of fun things to do. Discover how to plan your trip.

21/06/2023

Reserva Natural Cabo Blanco is located on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica near Montezuma, Mal Pais, and Santa Teresa. This stunning national park is the perfect place to spend the day hiking.

Along the trails, you will see a variety of wildlife and plants. At the halfway point of your hike, you will be treated to a pristine white sand beach with turquoise waters that is only accessible to hikers.

When we first visited Cabo Blanco we were pleasantly surprised by the reserve. However, there were a few things we wish we knew and planned for before visiting.

For example, we were not prepared for the oppressive heat here.

We created this detailed guide to visiting Reserva Natural Cabo Blanco so you can be completely prepared for your visit.

Let’s get planning!

Reserva Natural Cabo Blanco: Important Info

Opening Hours

The Cabo Blanco Reserve is only open from Wednesday until Sunday from 8 am until 4 pm. In other words, it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Cost

It costs $12 per person to enter the reserve. If you are a Costa Rican resident it is around $5 to enter.

Directions

From Montezuma just head south. You literally just drive south until you can’t drive any further.

If you are visiting the reserve from Santa Teresa or Mal Pais you will have to head west as though you are heading towards Montezuma and then head south.

There is another road, but it involves a river crossing which is impossible during the rainy season.

We have done it a few times and really don’t recommend trying it, especially with a rental car.

Here is a screenshot so you can see what I mean. You will likely have to take the route highlighted in blue. The other route is the one with the river crossing.

Once you arrive at the entrance to the reserve you still have about a mile more to drive before you will reach the parking lot. This road is a bit rough.

Thomas was about to turn around because he didn’t believe me that the reserve could possibly be down this poorly maintained road.

It is. Just keep going.

Also, just note that this entire area is mostly unpaved. We definitely suggest a car with 4-wheel drive to get around in this area.

↪FIND OUT HOW TO GET UP TO 10% OFF YOUR CAR RENTAL IN COSTA RICA!

If you would like to enter Cabo Blanco Reserve in your GPS or in the Waze app, just search for “Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve” and the reserve will come up.

Parking

There is a parking lot located next to the ranger station which you can use for free. Just be warned, I think they have had some problems with people breaking into cars recently. One of the rangers working told us to leave nothing of value in the car and that they are happy to store anything important in their ranger station.

There were two guys working while we were there and one was paying careful attention to the parking lot, but you never know!

Facilities

There is a bathroom at the ranger station. There is also a place where you can fill your water bottle with drinking water.

If you hike to the beach there is an outdoor shower and a spot with potable water.

There was no sign at the faucet stating the water was potable, but we asked the head of the Cabo Blanco volunteer program who we happened to meet while we were there. She told us it was drinkable water.

We filled our water bottles from it and didn’t get sick, so it must have been fine!

What to wear

We both wore sport shorts and cotton shirts.

We both wore sneakers, which were much-needed.

If you can, we suggest wearing your bathing suit under your clothes. You will probably want to go swimming once you arrive at the beach or at least will want to jump under the outdoor shower.

There wasn’t a bathroom for you to change at the beach.

I also suggest wearing shoes like Keens. There were a few spots where we had to cross a stream and it was a pain to take our sneakers off every time.

Actually, after the first one I was like “Forget this!” and just walked through all the streams with my sneakers on.

What to bring

Everything! We saw some people just hiking with a water bottle in their hand and Thomas was over there with his huge day pack.

We probably went a bit overboard but we brought rain jackets (we should have left those in the car), the drone (we need cool shots for this site and Thomas is obsessed with it), binoculars (I’m happy we brought those), three water bottles (we needed those), snacks (bring food because once you get to the beach you will be starving), sunscreen, and bug spray

Amount of time you need

If you plan on hiking all the way to the beach I would give yourself at least five or six hours.

It took us about two hours to the beach and two hours back.

We spent about an hour relaxing on the beach, but I think we both would have been happy to stay there longer.

Best time to visit

Mid-December through mid-April is the dry season here. It is very unlikely that you will have rain if you visit during that time of year. However, this also means that the reserve could be very full of other tourists. Plus, the temperatures tend to be really hot.

During the rainy season (mid-April through early December) you may experience afternoon rain storms to help you cool down.

Just start your hike early and it should be no problem.

We once visited during early August and were surprised by how good the weather was. The trails were also very dry for the most part.

The biggest downfall is that it was probably a lot more humid than if you visit in the dry season because there had been some rain recently.

History of Reserva Natural Cabo Blanco

If you are interested in the history of the reserve there are several detailed boards at the start of the hike which explain everything. For now, I’ll give you a brief overview.

In the early 1960’s a Swedish man named Nicolas Wessberg and his Danish wife Karen Mogenson moved to the area.

He was interested in preserving the natural state of the area so he purchased 1,250 hectares of property which he turned into the reserve.

They also purchased the land that is run as a reserve along the beach in Montezuma.

I just found this out while doing some research, but apparently, Wessberg was assassinated in 1975 while showing support for the creation of Corcovado National Park. I’m going to have to do some more research on Wessberg and report back on what I learn.

He was very influential in supporting preserved land throughout Costa Rica and it would be interesting to learn more of his story.

Wildlife at Cabo Blanco

The reserve protects a variety of wildlife and several species of trees in the tropical forest.

Some of the animals you might see include; white-tailed deer, howler monkeys, white face monkeys, coyote, and coatis. If you are really lucky you might get to see margays.

The Cabo Blanco nature reserve also protects a variety of fish marine mammals, and marine birds (including brown bo***es and pelicans).

The Hiking Trails at Reserva Natural Cabo Blanco

On the map, you will see that there are two trails that are each one kilometer long which you can turn into a nice little loop if you are looking for a shorter hike. These trails are labeled Danish Trail and Regreso.

From the end of either of these trails, you can continue on to the beach. It is another 4km (2.4 miles) out to the beach.

This means if you want to go to the beach and back you will be walking 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) in total.

The trails towards the start of the hike were very well maintained. As we got closer to the beach there was more brush blocking the trail in some places.

However, we did meet some nice women who were part of the Cabo Blanco volunteer program. They were in the process of clearing the trails with machetes.

You can expect to see a lot of wildlife along the hike including monkeys, armadillos, anteaters, and coatis.

The Beach at Reserva Natural Cabo Blanco

When you (eventually) arrive at the Playa Cabo Blanco on the very southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula you will feel like you have arrived at paradise.

The beach has a lot of stones in some spots, but it it is the perfect beach to walk (not that you probably want to do any more walking after your hike).

There are several picnic tables, an outdoor shower, and potable water. We also discovered a hammock that is a permanent fixture here. The hammock is located to your right when you get to the beach area.

The water was calm and we saw several people swimming.

Our Experience

I think I have only ever said this one other time on this site and that was in the Nauyaca Waterfall Guide, but guys, this hike was intense! I wouldn’t say it is overly strenuous, but it is just long and so humid.

The first time we visited, we started the hike a bit later than we should have. I think we finally started walking around 10 am.

First off, I need to say that the two guys working at the ranger station were so nice. They were extremely helpful in explaining everything too us. We talked to them in Spanish which is usually a struggle for us, but they talked slowly so that we both understood everything.

The first trail we did was the Danish Trail. We then came to a stream and you better believe Thomas and I were there full on dunking our heads in it.

Along this trail, we continued to cross the stream in various parts. We took every opportunity we had to soak our heads. It helped so much.

After one kilometer we came to where the Swedish Trail to the beach starts. At this point, we thought we would only go halfway and then turn around.

This part of the hike was rough! It was almost all uphill.

Luckily every time I thought, “I can’t do this anymore. I’m turning around” the trail would even out for a bit.

Once we got to the middle part of the trail it started to go downhill. We decided we had come that far, we could make it to the beach. The second two kilometers on the Swedish trail were mostly downhill.

We were so ready to just sit when we arrived at Playa Cabo Blanco. It was nice to be greeted by an outdoor shower and drinkable water.

You better believe I took my shoes off and jumped immediately under that shower.

We then found a picnic table to hang out at for a while. Thomas flew the drone and I chilled out for a bit.

We could have stayed at that beach all day, but after about an hour we started to head back so we could get back before the reserve closed for the day. The hike back seemed so much easier!

We ended with the Danes Trail to get a little variety on our trip.

Helpful Tips for Visiting Cabo Blanco Costa Rica

– Start your hike as early in the day as possible. It gets hot hot hot! Plus they told us at the ranger station that we needed to head back from the beach by 2 pm to get back by 4 pm when the reserve closed. If you want ample beach chilling time you will need to start early enough.

– They will not give you a paper copy of the map at the ranger station, but there is a nice laminated copy you can look at before you start hiking. Make sure you bring your phone and take a picture of the map before you start your hike.

– These are listed on the map, but just as a backup, there are two emergency number you should be aware of during your hike. You will be a bit remote and it is good to have these numbers just in case.

The number for the tourist area: (506) 2642 0312

The number for the ranger house: (506) 2642 0094

– If you are interested in spending an extended period of time in the area, the Cabo Blanco Reserve is always looking for new volunteers. For more info, you can email the head of their volunteer program at: [email protected]

What to do After Visiting Reserva Natural Cabo Blanco

If you are heading back to Montezuma, we suggest stopping at the Cabuya cemetery on your drive back. It will be about ten minutes into your drive on the right side of the road.

This cemetery is only accessible during low tide, so you will have to try and time things out correctly.

Also, definitely look out for the giant Banyan tree on the left side of the road. This is about 15 minutes into your drive. You can pull your car off onto the side of the road to check it out. It’s definitely a cool sight!

If you do the entire hike you will likely be so hot after. All we could talk about for the last 45 minutes of our walk was which cold beer we were going to order at Butterfly Brewing Company.

This awesome craft beer spot is located in Montezuma and is home to some of our favorite craft beer in Costa Rica. They also serve tasty food.

For more ideas, check out our complete guide to the Montezuma area.

Hopefully, this helped you out in planning your visit to Cabo Blanco Reserve. Let us know if you have any questions in the comment section below. We are always happy to help you out!

The post Reserva Natural Cabo Blanco: Hiking and Pristine Beach appeared first on Costa Rica Vibes.

Reserva Natural Cabo Blanco in Costa Rica is the perfect place to spend the day hiking surrounded by wildlife with a white sand beach backdrop.

19/06/2023

A Costa Rica copo is a shaved ice treat that is enjoyed by both children and adults throughout the country on hot days, usually at the beach.

We created this guide to explain exactly what is in this version of Costa Rican ice cream, tell you a bit about why it is sometimes referred to as a “churchill,” and give you info on where to buy one or make your own.

What is a Costa Rica Copo?

A copo is a treat that is often enjoyed on a hot day in Costa Rica. It is made with shaved ice, powdered milk, condensed milk, flavored syrup (the traditional syrup is the kola flavor), and sometimes vanilla ice cream on top.

It’s basically like the Costa Rican version of a snow cone.

Usually, we would refer to this as a copo, but in the Puntarenas area it is always called a Costa Rica Churchill. We have also heard it referred to as a granizado before as well.

In our opinion, this treat is a little too sweet for our liking. I usually ask for mine without condensed milk to cut back on the sweetness.

So, if you aren’t a huge fan of sugary things, I suggest you do the same.

Where did the name “Churchill” come from?

Now I can’t really say if this info is true. But this is what Costa Rica copo legend says…

The original “Churchills” were first concocted in the coastal city of Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

In the 1940s, a local entrepreneur by the name of Joaquín Agüilar Ezquivel, would often order a snow cone with a unique blend of ingredients at the local ice cream shops.

The ice cream vendors found the ingredients to be odd but good and thus christened the concoction “Churchill” in honor of Ezquivel.

Apparently, he bore a striking resemblance to the British prime minister, Sir Winston Churchill.

Where can you buy a copo?

Copo vendors can usually be found walking along beaches pushing their carts.

In the cart they have a large block of ice, a tool to shave it, the toppings, a variety of syrup flavors, cups, and spoons.

You can’t often also find them at farmer’s markets.

And if you are driving past Playa Caldera (near Puntarenas), you’ve got to stop for a Churchill. There is a whole line of vendors with stalls selling them.

Copo Recipe

Are you interested in bringing a little bit of the culture into your home with a Costa Rica copo?

We’ve got you covered!

Ingredients

1 cup of shaved ice

4 tablespoons of snow cone syrup

2 tablespoons condensed milk

3 tablespoons powdered milk

Instructions

First, you will need to get shaved ice. I have tried this in my blender, but it started making weird noises and wasn’t really doing much. So, I stopped that before I broke it haha. Instead, I found putting small ice cubes in a large zip lock bag and banging/ rolling them with my rolling pin worked.

Or, maybe you can just save yourself the drama and buy pre-shaved ice.

Next, put half of your shaved ice in a tall glass. Add half of the condensed milk, powdered milk, and syrup on top. Layer the rest of the ice on top and finish with the rest of the toppings.

You can also add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top if you want to get real crazy.

Other Delicious Costa Rican Treats

Personally, I find Costa Rican desserts to be notoriously too sweet for my liking, but you might disagree.

Another common treat on a hot day (so basically every day in the beach towns) is a visit to Pops. Pops is an ice cream shop that has locations all throughout the country.

Thomas is a big fan of their mint cappuccinos. I can’t eat or drink their stuff. It is wayyyy too creamy for me.

So, if you have stomach issues, proceed with caution.

They now have decent icy juice options though, which you can get made with water rather than milk. I suggest going with that if you are a little concerned about lactose overload.

Or, if you are on the beach and need a refreshing option, there are almost always people selling fresh coconuts to drink. Yum!

Costa Ricans also love tres leches cake as a sugary dessert option. This is made by cooking a white cake, poking holes into it, and pouring in condensed milk, evaporated milk, and heavy cream. Again, this is so so sweet mostly because of the condensed milk.

I’m not sure why Costa Ricans love condensed milk so much, but I’ve even seen people just straight-up drinking cans of condensed milk in this country.

It cracks me up.

I guess we all have our weird cultural food quirks that we don’t realize are weird to other people.

What do you think? Are you going to try a Costa Rica copo while traveling the country? We think you definitely should! Even if you find it to be too sweet, it is a good way to get a taste of the country’s culture (pun definitely intended).

The post Costa Rican Copo: A Shaved Ice Treat appeared first on Costa Rica Vibes.

A Costa Rica copo is a shaved ice treat that is enjoyed by both children and adults throughout the country. It is also referred to as Churchill or a granizado.

Address

Website

http://www.costaricavibes.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Costa Rica Vibes posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Costa Rica Vibes:

Costa Rica Vibes