Local Tips

Food and Dining

There are a few dozen restaurants in town for you to explore. To help you get started, here are some options we recommend:

Lunch (walking distance):

1. Restaurante Riviera, Deli, Cafe y Gastrobar: In front of CIC.
2. Kaoba Coffee & Garden: 600m from CIC.
3. Restaurante de Pastas y Risotto Cangrejo Rojo: 900 m from CIC.
4. Lita Caribbean food: 850 m from CIC (Typical Costa Rican Caribbean food)
5. Restaurante Kiantis: 900 m from CIC (Typical Costa Rican)

Fine Dining

Places clos to the recommended hotels (or a short Uber away):

1. Restaurante Il Cavallino(Italian)
2. Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant (Indian)
3. El Novillo Alegre Belén(Argentinian)
4. El Rodeo Estancia Boutique Hotel & Steak House
5. Isabella's Costa Rica

Other Places of Interest

In addition, here are some other locations you may find useful during the conference:

• Supermarket: Auto Mercado Belén. Located right next to the CIC Convention Center. Open every day from 7 am - 10 pm. On Sundays it closes at 9 pm.
• Pharmacy: Fischel Automercado Belén: Located next to the CIC Convention Center, next to the AutoMercado Supermarket.
• Medical care: In Costa Rica, pharmacists are permitted to prescribe certain medications. For immediate assistance, you may visit the nearest pharmacy. If you need to go to a larger hospital, pharmacy staff can help by calling 911 or providing basic emergency care. Some general hospitals in the area are:
  • Hospital Cima: https://hospitalcima.com/en/home/
  • Hospital Clínica Biblica: https://www.clinicabiblica.com/es/sedes/santa-ana
  • Hospital Metropolitano: https://metropolitanocr.com/en/en-hospital-metropolitano/
• Shopping malls:
  • Multiplaza Escazú
  • City Mall Alajuela
  • Avenida Escazú

For World Cup Fans

If you are a football fan and would like to catch some of the World Cup games happening during GECCO, these are some options for sports bars:

1. La Deportiva Charlies Bar
2. Cheers Coyote
3. Brasa Sports & Grill
4. Hooligan's • Santa Ana (a bit further away, but in a lively area)

Note on Public Transportation

Finally, please note that public transportation in Costa Rica can be unreliable. Ride-sharing services are widely used instead. Also, be mindful of rush hour, especially between 6–9 a.m. and 4–7 p.m.