Boyd, 56, who portrayed Peregrin “Pippin” Took, and Monaghan, 47, known for his role as Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck in Peter Jackson’s acclaimed film trilogy (The Lord of the Rings, 2001–2003) displayed an episode across several regions of Costa Rica. The show is produced by British company Dash Pictures and focuses on global culinary traditions.

According to the Tourism Institute (ICT), the episode was filmed in November 2024 and features locations including Nicoya (Guanacaste province), Alajuela province, Sarapiquí (Heredia province), and the capital city of San José.

In Nicoya, the duo attended "La Pica de Leña" a traditional wood-chopping festival with Chorotega roots dating back more than 500 years. While there, they sampled ancestral dishes such as arroz de maíz (corn rice) and chicheme, a corn-based beverage. They also served guests at a local restaurant and participated in a beachfront yoga session.

In San José, Boyd and Monaghan explored the bustling Central Market, where they tasted Costa Rican staples such as "gallo pinto," which they humorously described as “a perfect diet to fuel up for the journey to Mordor.” Other traditional dishes featured in the episode include fish ceviche, tuna, and plátano con queso (plantain with cheese).

The Costa Rica episode was sponsored by the ICT as part of a tourism promotion strategy aimed at British and European markets. The institute partnered with British communications and advertising agency FOUR for the project.

“This type of strategy allows us to reach a broad audience through two well-known actors who not only enjoy gastronomy but can deliver the message with humor, enticing and convincing viewers to visit and savor the diversity of our Costa Rican cuisine,” said Ireth Rodríguez, Head of Advertising at the ICT.

Billy and Dom Eat the World is available for free streaming on SBS On Demand and can also be viewed on Prime Video and Apple TV+.

Tourism remains one of Costa Rica’s most important economic sectors. In 2024, the country welcomed more than 2.6 million visitors by air, a 7% increase compared to the previous year.

Tourism also generated more than $5.4 billion in foreign exchange revenue in 2024, according to data from the Central Bank of Costa Rica.

ICT is the government agency responsible for promoting tourism and continues to support infrastructure improvements to accommodate growing international interest.