Pitaya: Dragon Fruit Cactus Growing at Sueno Del Mar

These fruits are commonly known as "dragon fruit" as in the Chinese huǒ lóng guǒ, "fire dragon fruit", and lóng zhū guǒ, "dragon pearl fruit". The Vietnamese thanh long meaning "green dragon", the Malay buah naga, the Lao mark mang gohn, and the Thai kaeo mangkon or "dragon crystal". Other vernacular names are strawberry pear or nanettika fruit.

We are so lucky to have a pitaya cactus at our Bed & Breakfast in Playa Langosta.  It is one of the most rare fruits the tropics can bring us and is also delicious and healthy at the same time!

Pitayas contain slight amounts of calcium, iron, phosphorus, and other nutrients.

In our garden we grow Hylocereus costaricensis (Pitahaya roja or Red-fleshed Pitahaya, also known as Hylocereus polyrhizus) which is a red-skinned fruit with red flesh.

You need to be very alert and patient until finally the fruit grows and is ripe. But if you are not fast enough, a bird may be there waiting as well and they will eat the most delicious fruit even before you realize!

You will feel right at home at Sueno del Mar, our beachfront Bed and Breakfast located near Tamarindo, Costa Rica.