frerd
frerd

Kosher and Jewish Life in Costa Rica

TJT’s guide for kosher and Jewish travelers in Costa Rica. Information about kosher restaurants, cafes, shops, bakeries or delis, kosher near me location based (GPS) search, & Jewish points of interest, such as shuls, mikvahs, kosher and observant friendly hotels and Jewish community centers in Costa Rica, North America.

9

Kosher Eateries
7

Kosher & JOFY* Hotels
1

Jewish Communities
0

Kosher & JOFY* Vacation Rentals
1

Mikvahs
6

Synagogues

*JOFY - Jewish Observant Friendly, not necesessarily kosher.

Popular Placesin
Jaco Beach San Jose

About Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a rugged, rain forested Central American country with coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific. Though its capital, San Jose, is home to cultural institutions like the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, Costa Rica is known for its beaches, volcanoes, and biodiversity. Roughly a quarter of its area is made up of protected jungle, teeming with wildlife including spider monkeys and quetzal birds. Costa Rica was sparsely inhabited by indigenous people before coming under Spanish rule in the 16th century. It remained a peripheral colony of the empire until independence as part of the short-lived First Mexican Empire, followed by membership in the United Provinces of Central America, from which it formally declared sovereignty in 1847. Since then, Costa Rica has remained among the most stable, prosperous, and progressive nations in Latin America. Because Costa Rica is located between 8 and 12 degrees north of the Equator, the climate is tropical year round. However, the country has many microclimates depending on elevation, rainfall, topography, and by the geography of each particular region. Tourism in Costa Rica now earns more foreign exchange than bananas and coffee combined. A pioneer of ecotourism, Costa Rica draws many tourists to its extensive national parks and protected areas. In the sustainable tourism category, Costa Rica is ranked first in the World.

Jewish History, POI & Kosher Establishments in Costa Rica

The first Jews arrived in Costa Rica from islands in the surrounding Caribbean in the 19th century. Today, Costa Rica's Jewish population is approximately 2,500, though thousands of Israeli tourists visit the country each year. The first Jewish settlers in Costa Rica were Sephardim from Curacao, Jamaica, Panama and the Caribbean who arrived in the 19th century. Most of these Jews mixed with the local population and settled in Cartago, San Jose, and Puerto Limon. Although most no longer practice Judaism, some families still recognize their Jewish origins. Jewish life in Costa Rica today is very vibrant and caters to the 2,500 Jews in the country. All denominations of the community revolve around the Centro Israelita Sionista founded in 1930, which includes a WIZO, B'nai B'rith, La Sociedad de Damas Israelitas de Beneficencia, several Zionist and youth groups, and a social and sports club. Kosher food is readily available in San Jose with a kosher butcher shop, and a delicatessen run by Orthodox Jews that carries kosher products. There are two kosher hotels in Costa Rica, one in San Jose, and another in Camino Real. Until 2010, a kosher Burger King even existed in one San Jose shopping mall.
Costa Rica has become a popular Pesach vacation destination. Check out our Guide to Passover Programs in Costa Rica! Also, check out TJT's comprehensive Guide to Passover Programs!

If you are heading to Costa Rica for vacation then check out our blog post Costa Rica: A Slice of Central American Paradise for a guide to top attractions around the country.

Weather In Costa Rica

30 Mar

Shabbat Candlelighting Times for Loading...

Costa Rica

Please note:

Shabbat times on this page are based on the common Candle lighting formulas - in most locations it is 18 minutes before sunset. If you have any comments or questions regarding Shabbat Times on this page, please contact us

What Is *JOFY?

JOFY, or "Jewish Observant Friendly" Establishments are lodging establishments offering special services for Jewish Observant guests such as Shabbat meals, accommodation on lower floors and regular keys for the rooms. It can also be a NON KOSHER establishment located in walking distance from the local Shul, community or kosher restaurants area.

Please note - *JOFY does NOT mean that KOSHER food is served on the premises!

Are you a kosher establishment, restaurant, or tour operator looking to reach a wider audience? List your business for free