When your vacation is near its end, you realize that the memories you have collected during your trip will be hard to forget. And, when you have been to a beautiful country like Costa Rica, where nature is at its best, there is a lot to miss when back home. Before leaving Costa Rica after spending such a fantastic time here, it must be overwhelming for you to imagine that your next morning will not be the same. There will be no birds singing good morning songs, no energetic Costa Rican coffee to wake you up, and no exotic wildlife to cheer you up the whole day. That is where souvenirs come into play. Taking something from Costa Rica as a memory of your wonderful time here will not let you forget all these happy moments. By gifting these keepsakes to your family and friends, you can also share some of these memories with them.
Costa Rica is a country known for craftmanship, traditional cuisine, diverse indigenous artwork, fantastic coffee, delicious chocolates, and, of course, wildlife & rich culture. Are you planning to buy some authentic souvenirs from Costa Rica for your loved ones who couldn’t join you during your vacation? Well, it is undoubtedly daunting to find the best Costa Rican keepsakes for your family and friends as there are ample options that represent the traditional & cultural values associated with the country.
But it is also a fact that you cannot carry everything with you back home. That is why we have come up with this list of the best things to buy in Costa Rica: food items, handicrafts, and apparel. So, check out the list and buy something for everyone on your list as a memory of the unforgettable time you had in Costa Rica.
1. Coffee
Costa Rica is famous worldwide for its high-quality coffee. Hence, bringing some home for your near and dear ones is the only way to make them understand why you blabber so much about Costa Rican coffee. Also, it is comparatively easier to carry coffee as a gift for your Coffeeholic friends than other items, like heavy souvenirs, traditional liquor, or a piece of artwork.
If you want to buy the best coffee for you and your family & friends, please do not stick to the famous Britt coffee while buying coffee from Costa Rica. There are many more to choose from, like the small brands slowly gaining popularity in the market. You can also get different varieties of coffee to satiate your Costa Rican coffee cravings. The best way to buy the best coffee to take back home is to go on a coffee tour and purchase coffee from the plantation directly to get fresh, good quality, and non-adulterated coffee at the best price.
2. Chocolates
Are you visiting Costa Rica and have no idea how famous this country is for its delicious chocolates and incredible chocolate tours? Then you should make a note to try Costa Rican chocolates once during your vacation.
The history of chocolates in Costa Rica is quite fascinating, owing to which there is now a considerable number of cacao farms and chocolate brands in the country. Cacao fruit is used to make chocolates and is one of the prized possessions of the country. In Costa Rica, the cacao plantation tour is worth the time when traveling here on vacation. During this tour, you will learn many amazing facts about chocolates and how Costa Rican chocolate differs from others. You can also buy authentic chocolates made on the farms during your chocolate tour in Costa Rica and take them back home as a sweet token.
3. “Pura Vida” Souvenirs
Costa Rica greatly believes in Pura Vida life, sustainable development, and ecotourism. The country’s mantra, “Pura Vida,” i.e., pure life, can be seen on any product you can think of, in the form of prints or patterns. You can’t go wrong when purchasing Pura Vida souvenirs for your friends and family, whether colorful shirts, tie-dyed jeans, keychains, mousepads, or pens. All these items are affordable and are available on the local streets, beaches, and markets of Costa Rica, making it easy to purchase them for family and friends.
4. Guaro
For your drinkers’ gang and everyone on your list who loves to try different drinks from around the world, the traditional liquor of Costa Rica is an ideal option for a keepsake. Guaro (AKA Cacique) is a sugarcane-based alcoholic drink that tastes like rum or vodka and is available in different sizes, enabling you to carry Guaro bottles back home conveniently as a gift.
Guaro is also perfect to buy for yourself if you love experimenting with your drinks. It blends into cocktails perfectly, so you can easily replace vodka with Guaro to make pleasant drinks.
Moreover, you can enjoy this alcoholic drink in different ways, like Chiliguaro, which is Guaro mixed with fruit juices, or Miguelito shots, which is Guaro mixed with club soda and lime. If you want to enjoy Guaro on a hot sunny day, you can pour it into a refrigerated coconut, and your refreshing drink is ready.
5. Salsa Lizano
You must have noticed the distinct taste of Costa Rica while enjoying traditional Costa Rican meals during your vacation. If you want to introduce your friends and family to the flavors of Costa Rica, a Salsa Lizano bottle (a famous sauce used in preparing traditional Costa Rican dishes) will be the best purchase. The exceptional taste of local dishes like Casados and Gallo Pinto is because of this flavorful, spicy sauce. Almost all the local dishes of Costa Rica are spiced up with the unique flavors of Salsa Lizano.
Chiefs in Costa Rican use several naturally grown vegetables and spices to prepare Salsa Lizano, making it absolutely fine to include in your daily meals. And, if you want to buy it for someone as a gift to share your flavorful experience of Costa Rica, you can get sauce bottles easily from any supermarket in the country.
Final Words
It would not be fair to say goodbye to Costa Rica without exploring its specialty and bringing back some authentic gifts and keepsakes from Costa Rica. The products we have mentioned are perfect for bringing back home as a memory of your trip to Costa Rica as they represent Costa Rican culture, tradition, and values and are unique to the country. So, explore the list with the nice stay in luxury villa in Costa Rica and start your shopping the moment you plan to return to your home.
