Restaurants and Bars in the Costa Ballena

International dining and typical Costa Rican meals
From fine international dining to typical Costa Rican meals, your palate will be pleased. Fusion cuisine is very much “in vogue.” It includes preparing traditional or exotic recipes with all the fresh fruits and crispy vegetables that our area offers. Fresh fish is available at many restaurants in Costa Ballena and the South Pacific; ask for the special of the day!
Typical Costa Rican meals are generally wholesome and reasonably priced. Gallo Pinto, the national fried rice and black beans dish, is served as a breakfast. At lunch, the Gallo Pinto becomes a Casado: rice and beans supplemented with cabbage and tomato salad, fried plantains, and meat, fish, or chicken. Beware of black beans and chicharrones (crackling in fried lard), which might be too much for delicate stomachs.
The Olla de Carne is a good alternative if you are hungry for a substantial soup. It is cooked with root vegetables, meat, plantains, and coriander. Ceviche is a refreshing, healthy snack in the afternoon. Our last recommendation is to try a Sopa de Mariscos (seafood soup) in a fish restaurant. Delicious!
Nonalcoholic beverages like smoothies and juices are outstanding for their taste; ask which fruits are available. They will ask you if you want it “en agua” or “en leche”, prepared “with water” or “with milk”. Imported drinks may be expensive, so you might be better off trying the local Costa Rican drinks. "Cerveza" (beer) is a very popular drink, and the most widely available brands are Bavaria, Imperial, and Pilsen. Wines are usually imported from Chile or Argentina. Don´t forget to enjoy a “cafecito”. At some of the typical places, you can have it “chorreado”, manually filtered.
DISCOVER AND ENJOY
If you...
look for more information about Costa Ballena, but are intrigued? Let’s start at the beginning! Take a tour of Costa Ballena.
I don´t know anything about Sierpe, but are you intrigued? Take a tour of Sierpe.
I don´t know anything about Osa Peninsula, but are you intrigued? Take a tour of Piedras Blancas National Park.
I don´t know anything about Osa Peninsula, but are you intrigued? Take a tour of Marino Ballena National Park.
Check out our Current Issue >
Need help planning your next trip to Costa Rica? We look forward to serving you!
Email: carlos@ballenatales.com
Phone: + (506) 8946-7134
Ballena Tales is an essential free digital magazine in Costa Rica, valid for travelers, residents, and investors covering Costa Ballena in the Canton of Osa in the South Pacific of Costa Rica. It is a fully bilingual, bi-monthly, and full-color digital magazine.
The magazine introduces the reader to the life of the local community, with interviews of pioneers, writers, and artists, as well as extensive information on restaurants, hotels, experiences, natural attractions, and wildlife of the South Pacific of Costa Rica.
We are not just a magazine; each edition (print and digital) is linked to a robust web platform; the editions are published online, and the advertorials are included in our blog and the brand in the commercial directory. We also add links to the advertising company's website and social networks. At this time, the openings of digital publications in all their expressions exceed 80 thousand openings, and the advertised brands have a global reach.
We have a loyal audience of over 8,000 readers in the South Pacific's Costa Ballena region who will view your news in each printed edition.
We prioritize our readers' satisfaction by delivering a variety of engaging content while showcasing the value of our advertisers' brands.

Kayak & SUP, Baru River
This tour can be done with or without a guide on a kayak or Stand-up Paddle Board, as it is super mellow and easy.
Pineapple Tours Kayak & SUP, Mangrove Tour
Pineapple Tours Kayak & SUP, Mangrove TourMangrove tour duration: 3-4 hours, $65 per person 2 person minimumTour departure time is based off the high tideLEVEL – BEGINNER (All Ages)CHANCE TO SEE: Herons, Hawks, Ospreys, Falcons, […]

Piedras Blancas National Park
Piedras Blancas National Park has a surface of 143 km2; it is located in southern Costa Rica, and it belongs to the Osa Conservation Area.
Not even in a million years
Food containers that endanger your health By Leonie Ruhland A bunch of kids is innocently enjoying yummy fruits out of a Styrofoam box under the shade of a palm tree. What they don’t know is […]
Playa Ventanas opened its windows again
By Dagmar Reinhard The public access to one of the most beautiful beaches along the South Pacific coast was interrupted two years ago, when a bridge was washed away by the heavy rain, leaving a deep […]
Welcome to Surf in the South Pacific
Pacífico Sur-F By Cheme In recent years, national surfing has been booming, especially because in 2014 our local surfers have placed our country Costa Rica at a high-level in the international ranking. Surfers from all […]
Osa SUP Paradise
By Cheme Stand up paddle SUP, is a sport that can be practiced in calm waters and at sea. Costa Ballena and the South Pacific region offers a lot of beautiful places for this sport. There […]
Bi-cantonal Commission Osa-Golfito
By Carlos Leon The last board meeting of the Chamber of Tourism of Osa (CATUOSA) took place in the new Hostal del Mar in Golfito. Among the numerous participants, was Golfito’s Chamber of Tourism, represented by Elberth […]
Ongoing events in Sierpe
By Claudia Langguth Edition number 40 of Ballena Tales Magazine is dedicated to the events in the South Pacific of Costa Rica, and we have events in Sierpe de Osa every single day. Scarlett macaws, […]

Captivated by Playa Cativo Lodge
By Dagmar Reinhard The boat was waiting for us at Golfito’s dock where we boarded Captain Alan’s boat to cross the serene waters of Golfo Dulce to a large bay surrounded by tall palm trees. […]
The Ojoche trail along Ojochal
By Leo and Leonie German volunteers But why Ojoche? The (Brosimum Ojochealicastrum)is a tree that gave its name to the village of Ojochal, a place where this species was abundant; however, today there are very few of […]
Aha! + Adventure = Freedom
By Perry Gladstone This is my Freedom Fighting Formula, and it works like crazy. Adventure is the bridge that takes you from your old story of who you were to a great, new story. Aha! is […]
What to do, Where to eat, and Where to stay…
- Activities and Tours
- Whale Watching Tour
- Natural Attractions
- Marino Ballena National Park
- Restaurants
- Hotels and Accommodations
South Pacific Costa Rica Beaches,
Looking for business directories, maps or other printouts? We’ve got that too!
Dare to Discover and Enjoy…
Check out…
Need help planning your next trip? Let us help you with your Costa Rica vacations!
Email: carlos@ballenatales.com
Phone: +(506) 8946 7134