Tortuguero Food: Top 5 Drinks & Dishes You’ve Got To Try

So, Tortuguero, Costa Rica, is really more than just a place for spotting turtles. It’s, like, actually also got a whole vibe going on with the local eats. And you know, while you’re out there cruising the canals and peeping the wildlife, finding a bit of yummy grub is just, you know, a must. Really, the town may be small, yet the flavors that are happening here, well, they are seriously mighty.

That is, forget just typical tourist traps. That being said, you’re more likely to get plates that come loaded with authentic Costa Rican tastes, from satisfying rice and beans dishes to some pretty darn delicious seafood caught just right off the shore. Alright, you ready to see what’s on the menu? That is, come with me as we explore, like, the top five food and drink picks you’ve just got to try when you visit Tortuguero. Very soon you will be like your friend, wanting more.

1. Gallo Pinto: A Breakfast Staple

Alright, starting off, there’s this seriously iconic Costa Rican dish known as Gallo Pinto, and really, it’s kind of, in a way, just, well, a breakfast must-try that you will see quite a lot of people enjoying when visiting Tortuguero. So, the name, that means something like “spotted rooster,” and really, this meal, well, typically shows off rice and beans which have been cooked up together with some spices. Actually, pretty often you’ll also see, like, onions, sweet peppers, and cilantro thrown right in there too for, you know, that little extra kick. That said, some Salsa Lizano (a super Costa Rican condiment) might also just, actually, be sitting on your table, so just throw it on top. It gives it an extra layer of savory taste that you will more or less fall in love with. I am right, no?

Actually, Gallo Pinto is not just, you know, any breakfast; rather it’s actually almost a piece of Costa Rican culture. It shows off just how flavorful and yummy the simplest meals actually can be. Typically, it’s eaten early in the day and often it will come with eggs, plantains, or some sour cream. That, you know, makes it kind of that filling start to the day. By the way, perfect before you take off and explore the canals of Tortuguero.

Many, many spots around Tortuguero serve Gallo Pinto, yet each family, each cook, just, they each put just, like, their own kind of stamp on the recipe. You know, locals might say their grandma’s recipe is the best in town, yet it’s, like, seriously fun to try different versions and see what flavors pop for you. And then you’ve found the best recipe for you, your very own.

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2. Casado: The Quintessential Costa Rican Lunch

So, if you’re cruising around Tortuguero at lunchtime, you actually really can’t go wrong by hunting down a Casado. In some respects, this, too it’s almost a classic Costa Rican meal, more or less featuring a bit of everything all at once on one plate. Right, “Casado” basically means “married man” in Spanish. Really, the meal, basically, it almost reflects what a wife might give her husband for lunch. That’s really cute, isn’t it? A bit sweet, huh?

Usually, a Casado will bring together rice, beans, plantains, a cabbage salad, and some kind of meat—whether it is chicken, fish, pork, or beef. Anyway, you might find some variations depending on, you know, what’s freshest and which ingredients can be bought on any given day. That being said, the usual parts of rice and beans always hang around. Just, it is the soul of, that is, the Casado. And you are, more or less, its heart!

Also, what makes a Casado great is the balance it has got going on. I mean, you have just the freshness of the salad paired right up against that rich protein plus just the little bit of sweetness from those plantains. It’s just the total Costa Rican food feel. Almost like just eating history.

Read our full review: Casado Costa Rica Full Review and Details

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3. Fresh Seafood: Caribbean Flavors

Of course, seeing that Tortuguero is perched up right on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, you would think, really, it’s almost a must to just totally load up on some seriously delicious seafood. Well, the freshness just cannot be matched. Often, that, you know, the seafood can actually be pulled right from the ocean in the morning and then, bam, served to you at lunch.

Oh, anyway, lots of spots there will make you full plates of red snapper, sea bass, and sometimes, if you’re lucky, maybe even lobster when it’s in season. So, it’s typically grilled or fried up. However, really you should see if they’ve got any prepared in a super yummy Caribbean sauce made with coconut milk, spices, and just a little bit of chili. It’s really not, just it is seriously magical.

Seafood that is seasoned up Caribbean-style often hits right with the right mix of spices. Yet the creamy coconut milk totally gives, is that, an added richness. You can have this kind of thing at basically any restaurant in Tortuguero. Plus, they all usually have their own kind of unique style of throwing it together. Very much how the seafood is so good depends so much on getting the ingredients super fresh. The kind you’ll be enjoying there!

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4. Agua de Sapo: A Refreshing Drink

Alright, let’s move away from, basically, the foods for a quick bit and jump right to a seriously refreshing drink to sip while, still, exploring around Tortuguero. It’s pretty cool that you can find this sweet limeade that they have labeled as Agua de Sapo (which kind of translates to “Frog Water”). It tends to be seriously popular with locals.

Agua de Sapo is more or less built with water, lime juice, and ginger and then is totally sweetened with, you know, either cane sugar or “tapa de dulce,” which is seriously unrefined whole cane sugar. You’re going to find that the kick comes from the fresh ginger. Very quickly adding some, just you know, spice and some depth, especially when Tortuguero’s humidity starts cooking you.

Actually, the cool blend that’s in Agua de Sapo helps with hydration. That said, its sweetness with that spicy ginger kick makes it that refreshing. In some respects, it’s more than just a drink. Well, I think it is really kind of a local cure-all! In other words, really you will be liking Agua de Sapo if you need to cool off quickly while out walking in the sun.

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5. Caribbean Rice and Beans: A Taste of the Coast

Really, any proper foodie tour is going to have to have rice and beans at some point, alright? Of course, Tortuguero, since it is right up on the Caribbean, does this style in just a special way. And in Costa Rica, that, you know, can actually just be super different! Generally, this dish is going to be made with coconut milk and seasoned with Caribbean spices.

The creamy and slightly sweet flavors mixed right with the rice and beans just makes each and every bite an island taste. Plus, usually they tend to throw this together with chicken or fish to kind of, sort of, make it a meal.

There are a bit of restaurants all across Tortuguero that will whip this up. But anyway, you just will want to see which spot locals keep telling you is their go-to spot. Any recipe that’s handed right down and been tweaked forever usually tells of some seriously tasty eating!

Read our full review: Caribbean Rice and Beans Full Review and Details

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