Since vegetarianism is so popular, it comes as no surprise that I have had many vegetarians on my monthly relocation/retirement tours. Vegetarians always ask me what kinds of foods are available for them in Costa Rica. On all of my monthly tours I make it a point to visit a weekend farmer’s market called a feria. Virtually every kind of fruit and vegetable is found at our outdoor markets. There are even some varieties of fruits and vegetables you don’t see in the States or other parts of the world. A few of our larger famers market are five or six blocks in lenght and have hundreds of stands where products are sold. Besides vegetables and fruits, yogurt, eggs and other foods are sold widely. My tour participants really enjoy touring the feria and are truly amazed with what we have here.

Vegetarians will be happy to know that supermarkets also sell a wide variety of fruits and vegetables along with cheeses, whole wheat and vegetable pastas and soy products. Virtually every major supermarket has a small health food section where vitamins and soy-based foods are on display. Every year more and more of these items are made available as Costa Ricans become more health conscious.

I should a about all of this since I have been a vegetarian for almost 40 years and lived in Costa Rica for the last 30 years. I have never had a problem getting meatless dishes in most restaurants or finding all of the foods I need. There is even a chain of vegetarian restaurants in Costa Rica called Vishnu. The country is not only a nature lovers paradise but a paradise for vegetarians, too. So if you are a vegetarian thinking of living or retiring your dietary needs should not be an obstacle.