Blooms and Sweets

Flowers and chocolates are, of course, standard tokens of love on Valentine’s Day. Here’s an abbreviated list of options:

Biosfera Flores y Más in the western suburb of Escazú (289-6529) offers roses by the dozen in red, white and pink, as well as varied floral arrangements. A dozen roses wrapped in paper and tied with ribbon run ¢6,500 ($12.50). The shop also offers greeting cards and other small gifts.

Floristería Embrujos (228-6365) in Escazú features a large selection of roses as well. You can choose from red, white or pink varieties, as well as other bouquets of flowers. A dozen red roses sells for ¢12,000 ($23). Delivery is available at an additional cost.

Flor de Oro in the eastern suburb of Curridabat (280-0810) offers a dozen roses wrapped with a ribbon for ¢10,000 ($19), as well as a selection of varied arrangements starting at ¢8,000 ($15). If you’d like chocolates or a bottle of wine to accompany your flowers, Flor de Oro will pick these up for you and deliver them, for an additional cost. Florist Julieta León recommends you place your order at least one to three days ahead of time to guarantee delivery.

La Gardenia, with locations in San José (223-3232) and the eastern suburb of San Pedro (224-4527), offers plenty of rose and varied floral arrangements. A vase of a dozen roses runs ¢12,000 ($23) and a rose bunch with fruit costs ¢15,000 ($29). You can view floral arrangements online at www.lagardeniacr.com.

Floristería Marvin has four locations in the Central Valley: Paseo Colón, downtown San José (256-1056); the northeastern suburb of Moravia (240-4150); Curridabat (272-9098); and Heredia (237-5011). A dozen roses costs ¢10,000-12,000 ($19-23); delivery is extra.

Another floral option is to visit www.flowersdelmundo.com. With Flowers of the World, you can choose from many floral arrangements, as well as cakes and chocolates, and have them sent anywhere around the globe. This is a great option for those in long-distance love.

The site www.chocolatesdelmundo.com specializes in gourmet chocolates by Giacomín chocolate factory in Escazú. An assortment box including milk and dark chocolate, macadamia nut, marzipan, caramel and praline goes for about $24. For something with a little more kick, try the liqueur box of truffles filled with whiskey, rum, Cointreau or cognac, for $21.