Deb15July

I drink ALOT of water. I read that water in many places in CR is fine to drink, but that the recommendation is to stick with bottled water. Well it seems that the cost of doing that could add up quickly. Any advice from you Fodorites?

colibri

Ive spent a total of nine weeks there at many tourist places, friend's homes and off the beaten track lodgings. Only at Tortuguero were we advised to fill our bottles from the water coolers on cabin porches.

You'll find that most frequent travelers to Costa Rica drink the water, eat salads, fruits, drinks without any trouble at all.

volcanogirl

We've eaten and drunk everything we want with no problems. We've only stayed two places where the water couldn't be drunk - at both Bosque del Cabo and in Tortuguero, they told us not to drink out of the tap, but they supplied water for us to fill our bottles like colibri mentioned. Never had any problems and have been to CR many times. I drink a ton of water too - have been sick in Mexico twice, but never in CR.

sylvia3

If you must drink bottled water (for taste?), buy a few cheap large jugs (not the single servings).

Continental_Drifter

We drank the local water when on the property where we rented a cottage because they had a reverse osmosis system on property. We did not avoid ice in drinks, produce or salads etc., but we did purchase a case of bottles at the Super and drank that out of convenience.

Deb15July

sylvia3,
I prefer to drink tap water when it's safe. The place I usually go to the beach in Florida has awful tasting water and I always buy several gallon jugs while there.

My concern is with being out doing things and not wanting to carry a gallon jug. Carrying a water bottle that can be refilled during the day is most convenient. I'm a little skittish because I spent about 12 days in the Seattle area this past July. They had a major heatwave and we were out doing things all day most days. I didn't drink the amount of water that I usually do. Two days after I got back I passed out at work and it turned out my blood pressure was very low because I was dehydrated. My meds had made the BP too low because the volume of fluids in my body was drastically reduced from the normal level.

Aren't you glad I gave that interesting medical information.

volcanogirl

The water we've had in CR has tasted good, not funky tasting, so I think you're good to go. If you want to buy bottled water, it's pretty cheap at the grocery stores, but probably not necessary.

dcorey

Most places in CR have safe water but a few areas where it is not safe, pay attention to the warning and stick to bottled. We buy one small bottle each and then gallon jugs and refill as needed. If it is hot and you are sweating, you need to drink. Your kidneys will reduce output when sweating a lot. I hate sweating a lot, I drink lots of water when I do and if I am not going to the restroom as normal, then I know I am probably on the dehydrated side. I drank non bottled water where safe. and did not get ill. As careful as I am, almost obsessed, I get sick on the west coast of Mexico almost every trip I take. Going in Feb. Wish me luck

kencolian

We liked the tap water in CR. No problems drinking it. We used our refillable bottles from home.