Costa Rican Drink Recipes

This post may contain affiliate links.

With an abundance of fresh fruit in Costa Rica, it’s no surprise that fresh juices are popular in Costa Rica. As is coffee, agua dulce and of course cocktails. A complete guide to Costa Rican drink recipes.

About Costa Rican Drinks

Costa Ricans love to make and drink jugos naturales, or fresh homemade juices. They are abundant everywhere in the country, and it is rare to go to a tico home and not be offered fresh juice, coffee, or agua dulce.

Which is funny because if you know even a little about me, you know that I love to drink cold water. Ever since I was a tiny girl I would guzzle water like it was the most finite resource in the world.

So often when I go to Costa Rican homes to visit people and they ask me what I want to drink, I will ask for ice water. And let me tell you from experience, this is a bit of an insult. People always beg me to drink something other than water, as if only asking for water is a poor reflection on the host- like it’s an inability for them to provide a fancy drink.

Related post: Costa Rica Water- Is It Safe To Drink?

Over the years my hosts know to expect that I will want water and some other type of drink, but I do find it interesting that water is not a good drink for receiving guests. 

This is not to say that Costa Ricans don’t drink water- it’s just that there is such a point of pride in providing a fresh, homemade natural juice to their guests. 

Related post: Guide To Costa Rican Fruit

How To Order Traditional Costa Rican Drinks

You will generally have both coffee and juice with breakfast- first coffee and then a natural juice (usually homemade orange juice). 

Lunches in restaurants and sodas (such as casados will generally come with fresh juice included in the price. The afternoon is for drinking coffee or agua dulce. 

Natural juices are very rarely if ever, made with a juicer. Instead, the fruit is blended with water and then strained through a fine mesh colander before mixing with sugar and more water. You will usually find that Costa Rican cocktails are made with fresh juices.

Related post: Costa Rica Foods to Try

There are two type of jugos naturales- en agua and en leche. The natural juices in water are referred to as aguas frescas in Mexico, but the way we make them and consume them is the same. 

On a restaurant menu, you will usually see the different types of fruit available and then you can just order the drink as a fresco natural or as a batido de which is in milk. So you might have a fresco de mango, which is mango juice, or a batido de mora which is essentially a blackberry shake. These are also known as Costa Rican smoothies.

Expect to pay between $2-3 for a natural juice, and expect to fall in love with them! I will note that cooks in Costa Rica tend to be quite heavy-handed with the raw cane sugar, so if you are diabetic it’s good to indicate that when ordering.

Related post: Saving Money In Costa Rican Restaurants

Looking for Costa Rica cocktails? Try our guide.

Great Costa Rican Drinks

Costa Rican Juices

Note: Many of these can be converted into Costa Rican homemade ice cream.

Passion Fruit Juice-Sweet, tart, and refreshing, this Costa Rican passion fruit juice recipe is the perfect tropical cooler for a summer night! It only requires three ingredients and is a great way to get more fresh fruit in your life!

Pineapple Juice – If you like getting caught in the rain, then this one is for you!  Before the summer wraps up, here is a classic Costa Rican pina colada recipe to enjoy. 

Mango Juice – This three-ingredient Costa Rican jugo de mango (mango juice) recipe only requires two large mangos, water, and a bit of sugar. Naturally vegan and loaded with vitamins and minerals, this refreshing mango juice is a delicious tropical treat.

Blackberry Juice – Costa Rican Blackberry juice is packed with antioxidants and beyond delicious. No juicer, easy to make!

Tamarindo Juice -This refreshing homemade tamarindo juice from Costa Rica is packed with vitamins and flavor. One of the most popular juices in Costa Rica and easy to make at home- no juicer needed!

Check out our guide to Traditional Costa Rican food.

Costa Rican Smoothies

Blackberry Smoothie – Blackberries and cream blended together for a delightful smoothie found in most Costa Rican restaurants and homes. 

Other Costa Rican Traditional Drinks

Costa Rican Coffee – Traditional Costa Rican café chorreado is made using Costa Rican ground coffee and a simple drip method where hot water is poured through a coffee sock propped on a chorreador. It’s a cup of coffee you must experience! Want your own chorreador? We’ve got them in stock.

Costa Rican coffee is a great accompaniment to gallo pinto, a casado, or a tres leches cake or arroz con leche (rice pudding).

Agua de pipa– take a swift machete chop to the edge of a green coconut and you have coconut water, one of the easiest drinks to find at roadside stands, beach bars and along the beach in Costa Rica.

Agua de sapo- no, it’s not frog water, it’s a brown sugar, lime and ginger concoction that you simply must try.

Agua dulce– this warm sweet water goes with any baked good on a cold, rainy day.

Costa Rican Cocktails

There are a myriad of Costa Rican alcoholic drinks, many of which I outline in this post. Favorites include guaro sour, craft beers, Bloody Mary, vino de coyol, pina coladas, rum punch, the pura vida cocktail (pura vida means “pure life”) and more.

And don’t forget Cacique guaro, arguably the national drink of Costa Rica.

Related post: Check out our Costa Rica food guide here.

Costa Rican Egg Nog- Rompope – Egg nog seems to be a universally loved drink at Christmas time, and the Costa Rican version is as delicious as any other. This is often served during Christmas in Costa Rica along with popular Christmas recipes such as Christmas cake, roasted pork leg and homemade tamales.

Costa Rican Piña Colada Fresca – If you like getting caught in the rain, then this one is for you!  Before the summer wraps up, here is a classic Costa Rican pina colada recipe to enjoy. 

Don’t forget to check out our guide to Costa Rican beaches!

Bacardi Rum Punch Recipe–Rum punch is the perfect cocktail recipe for parties- luaus, New Year’s Eve, summer patio gatherings, game day and more. This easy recipe has instructions for both single-serve and pitcher.

Pin it!