What did you buy in Costa Rica?

Old Nov 12th, 2011, 07:53 PM
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What did you buy in Costa Rica?

Kids visited, and one son said, he'll make us a list of what to buy. This made me think...

Usually we bring edible things unless something "speaks" to us. I am not talking about real purchases, nothing expensive or requiring shipping. Nor anything breakable!

Examples of what we usually buy: candy, cookies, sauces in plastic bottles, jams if we find in plastic jars, mixes for dipping or baking, spices (everybody in the family cooks), coffee, cacao.

Care to share what we can bring from Costa Rica?
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Old Nov 12th, 2011, 07:56 PM
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Our itinerary, if it makes a difference (on a tour):
San Jose
Sarapiqui
Arenal
Punta Leona
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Old Nov 12th, 2011, 08:52 PM
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Usually I just bring back lots and lots of coffee and also some Lizano sauce. Suggest getting from grocery stores, much cheaper than the airport and bigger variety. I've also bought several masks, love them.
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Old Nov 12th, 2011, 09:11 PM
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The only things that were actually made in Costa Rica were the aforementioned coffee and the Linzano (you can buy it in plastic squeeze bags). I bought some molas (from Panama) and some glass beaded frog keychains (from Guatemala I think). Costa Rica really isn't the greatest for shopaholics.

I am headed for Peru/Bolivia next...shopper's heaven!
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Old Nov 12th, 2011, 09:13 PM
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Coffee plus wood crafts.
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Old Nov 12th, 2011, 09:13 PM
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The Boruca masks are a matter of taste. Not to mine, unfortunately.
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Old Nov 12th, 2011, 09:40 PM
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Coffee, of course. But we also bought all kinds of earrings as gifts for daughter and neices. I have only one or two pairs I wear frequently: a clay pair with a jaguar on each, and a wooden pair. Also have some wooden bracelets. I also like a cute little basket woven from pine needles ( I wish I had purchased a larger one) Got all of these at a little art/craft store on the road from Arenal to San Ramon.

Things that are nice, but $$ are the wooden place mats. I have 4, but hardly use them. My DH got suckered into buying one of those rocking chairs and had it shipped home: it now sits in our garage. Other things that DH HAD TO HAVE are some pottery jars, not expensive, but now just dust collectors.


I always get some sort of charm on each trip we go on. I have a monkey charm from CR.
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Old Nov 13th, 2011, 03:21 AM
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Wooden arts and crafts Sarchi

www.govisitcostarica.com › ... › Alajuela › San Jose Highlands
Sarchi, known throughout Costa Rica for its beautiful and intricate arts and crafts.

dokaestate.com best #1 working coffee plantation

Lizano sauce packs well makes great cheap gifts...
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Old Nov 13th, 2011, 07:56 AM
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Coffee, lizano, cafe rica (coffee flavored liquor), lots of great cookies (chiky, cocanas, recreo, too many to list!), chocolate covered coffee beans, guava and mora jellies, vanilla. Can't think of any "mixes/spices" packets. Most items like that are prepared fresh from local ingredients. Enjoy your shopping! Lisa in CR
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Old Nov 13th, 2011, 11:28 AM
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I forgot, also bought a bottle of Nicaraguan rum at the duty free store.
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Old Nov 13th, 2011, 05:00 PM
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I actually love my small carved jicara half made by the Malekus--an aboriginal tribe in Costa Rica. They have colorful painted ones but mine just has black painted on it. I have it hanging in my sunroom--wish I would have bought another--they were only $10--and every one is different. We bought it at a roadside stand on our way back to Arenal from the Rio Celeste. Easy to pack and no worry about them breaking.
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Old Nov 13th, 2011, 05:06 PM
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One more thing I love: a mobile I bought at a spa in Puerto Viejo. It is made of preserved sea grape leaves, shells, drift wood etc. Very Zen.

As you can tell, we shop alot on trips
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Old Nov 13th, 2011, 05:10 PM
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We love all the wood carvings and have a beautiful wooden bowl. If you did want to splurge, they have awesome rocking chairs that you can have shipped. As far as food, it's coffee and Lizano salsa. I also love their fried plantain chips.
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Old Nov 13th, 2011, 07:04 PM
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There are some nice chocolates at the airport Britt stores but they didn't make it onto the plane.

If anyone is staying at Finca Rosa Blanca, there is a Britt outlet at their administrative offices, just where you turn off from the main road. Lots of the tat that they sell in their airport stores (jewelry made from shells and wood items). Plus a fair price on large bags of their coffee. Berni from Pura Vida was quite impressed that I'd found it.
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Old Nov 14th, 2011, 06:45 AM
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postcards and chocolate coffee beans.
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Old Nov 14th, 2011, 07:27 AM
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Small Boruca masks, wooden jewelry, 1820 coffee, small paintings from local artists, mola (bags and wall hangings), colorful tile trays with typical countryside scenes or with animals/birds.

Found sets of uniquely designed hand drawn postcards - 1 set with coffee themes, 1 set with food - really colorful and fun, have matted and framed sets of them. Great daily reminder of my favorite country!
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Old Nov 14th, 2011, 02:43 PM
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We bought coffee from a small co-op coffee grower and 1820.

More importantly, We managed to sneak 1 coconut thru customs (1 of 4) and 2 bottles of Cuban rum.
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Old Nov 14th, 2011, 06:55 PM
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We've started buying 1820 coffee in the huge bags for ourselves, smaller bags for gifts. It is way cheaper than Britt and just as good. Wooden bowls can be pricey, but are beautiful. Also the wooden wine bottle rests. I have a few coffee mugs that I am quite fond of, some pottery pieces (from Guayitil near Santa Cruz in Guanacaste), and from Sarchi we had a small oxcart and a leather rocking chair shipped. Love them both! Our grandkids like the little 3-wooden animal puzzles. We've also bought the small handpainted wooden coffee cups for them. There are also some really good coffee table photographic books available for sale here and there. They make nice keepsakes.
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Old Nov 15th, 2011, 09:34 AM
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Sorry I didn't come to check the thread earlier - but now I find lots of ideas, thank you all!
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Old Nov 15th, 2011, 09:42 AM
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MichelleY, when did you buy the pine needle basket?

I got several from Tarahumara Indians in Mexico visiting the Copper Canyons, 1 or 2 years later tossed them all - despite being in a hallway without sun, they faded, and just lost the look.
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