Costa Rica Dietary Concerns

While adjusting to a Costa Rican diet, it’s not unusual for travelers to have diarrhea and stomach aches. You can avoid indigestion by avoiding tap water, foods washed in tap water, and ice. Drink bottled water—unlike locals, travelers sometimes aren’t immune to the tap water. The water in Costa Rica is generally safe in large cities and touristed areas, but check with authorities before drinking. Places you should be careful about the water are: Parque Nacional Corcovado, parts of the Osa Peninsula, and the Northern Caribbean. Veggie-eaters should watch out, as foods washed with tap water can make you sick.

In general, vegetarians and vegans shouldn’t have a hard time finding meals. While there may not be exclusively vegetarian restaurants (although a growing number of vegetarian establishments are springing up), most offer rice and beans (staple foods), fresh fruits, and cooked vegetable dishes. When asking for a vegetarian dish, be sure to stress vegetariano; just asking for a dish sin carne might give you a dish with a meat other than beef.

The The Vegetarian Resource Group’s website, at www.vrg.org/travel, has a list of organizations and websites that are geared toward helping vegetarians and vegans abroad. They also provide a restaurant guide. For more information, visit your bookstore or health food store and consult The Vegetarian Traveler by Bryan Geon (Warwick Publishing, $13). Vegetarians will also find resources on the web; try www.vegdining.com or www.vegetariansabroad.com to start.

Travelers who keep kosher can contact synagogues in larger cities for information on kosher restaurants. Your own synagogue or college Hillel should have access to lists of Jewish institutions across the nation. If you are strict in your observance, you may have to prepare your own food on the road. A good resource is the Jewish Travel Guide, edited by Michael Zaidner (Vallentine Mitchell; US$20). There are resources and a restaurant guide at http://shamash.org/kosher. Those looking for halal restaurants can visit www.zabihah.com.