Tortuguero · Food

A handful of small kitchens along the main sand path doing rice and beans, chicken, fried fish and casados. Most are family-run and cash-only, and dinner service finishes early — well before 21:00.

The village's long-standing Caribbean restaurant, at the north end and attached to a small lodge, cooking coconut-milk rice and beans, chicken and fish. Worth putting your name down in the afternoon if you want dinner.

There is no supermarket — the pulperías sell basics, water, snacks and beer at prices that reflect a boat delivery. Bring anything specific from Cariari or San José, and bring cash: card acceptance is patchy.

Caribbean rice and beans here is cooked in coconut milk and is the dish to order. If you book a lodge package your meals are almost always included, which means eating every one of them on the far bank — check that before committing if you wanted the village kitchens.