Costa Rica launches culinary reality show to promote gastronomy tourism

The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) has launched the second season of the reality program ‘Costa Rica, un país de sabores por descubrir’ (Costa Rica, a country of flavors to discover). The competition features six gastronomy students, aged 20 to 26, who will compete by preparing traditional Costa Rican dishes.

The competition phases include preparing regional specialties such as various ‘picadillos’, Caribbean fish with patacones, and a final round featuring ‘rondón limonense’ and ‘confried cake’. The initiative aims to promote national gastronomy as a key driver for tourism, encouraging both domestic and international travelers to explore the country through its diverse culinary traditions and local products.

Beyond cultural promotion, the program is part of a strategic effort to strengthen the national brand and stimulate economic activity within local food supply chains and the hospitality sector.