Top Costa Rica Cooking Classes

During this immersive experience, you'll not only indulge in the deliciousness of Costa Rican food but also gain insights into local agricultural products and other ingredients that define Costa Rica's cuisine.There’s no better place to experience local cuisine than the Central Market, a 120-year-old building full to the brim with typical Costa Rican food and drink. It’s here that we’ll also buy the ingredients for our cooking class. Learn to prepare classic Latin American dishes such as ceviche and empanadas, picadillos, all while sipping on mojitos, sodas, and tropical drinks. There’s no better way to experience the flavour of a country than by going from market to kitchen, and we hope by the end, you feel like an authentic Costa Rican foodie! After your class, head back to your hotel with a stomach full of food and a head full of memories for you and your family that will last a lifetime.

Special Offer

Authentic Costa Rican Cooking Class & Central Market

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

You will be able to participate in part of the preparation process. Also will learn the details of the traditional way of cooking caribbean meals, and to select fresh ingredients that are locally produced to elaborate this meals. We will be speaking about the history and culture of the town. If anyone has a dietary restrictions, please inform it in advance to accommodate everyone. Vegetarians and Vegans are welcome.

Private Native Caribbean Cooking in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Immerse yourself in the culinary culture of Costa Rica during a small-group cooking class. Learn about the flavors, ingredients, and cooking techniques specific to Costa Rican cuisine from your instructor. Get your hands dirty as you prepare several authentic recipes — from crispy Carimañolas to buttery cassava dishes — all while sipping on a refreshing Guaro Sour. Enjoy a true taste of Costa Rica beyond the restaurant scene. - Learn more about Costa Rican cuisine than you would just eating out - Small group size allows for a more personalized and experience - Ideal for foodies, adventurous travelers, or anyone who loves to create in the kitchen - Enjoy unlimited drinks while you cook, and share stories with fellow travelers

3h Cooking Class in San José with 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Special Offer

2-Hour Cooking Class in Nosara

Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience

Immerse Yourself in the Vibrant Flavors of Costa Rica Experience hands-on cooking at Arenal Puesta del Sol, nestled in the lush landscapes of La Fortuna. This culinary adventure is designed to connect you with the essence of local culture, blending traditional techniques with the freshest ingredients straight from the garden. A Meal to Remember Once your dish is ready, gather with other participants to enjoy your creations while taking in the stunning views of the majestic Arenal Volcano. Savor the fresh flavors, celebrate your efforts, and take home recipes to recreate these beloved dishes in your own kitchen. Whether you’re an experienced cook or a curious beginner, this class promises a delightful blend of learning, culture, and flavor. With options for both meat lovers and vegans, it’s a feast for every palate. Let the vibrant cuisine and warm hospitality of Arenal Puesta del Sol inspire your taste buds and soul.

Experience the Authentic Costa Rican Cuisine in La Fortuna

Price varies by group size

Explore and swim under the Rio Celeste and Llanos de Cortés waterfalls, without the pressure of getting there on your own, with this group activity package. Enjoy a seamless experience that covers your itinerary, optional transportation, park fees, and lunch, meaning you can relax and immerse yourself in the day's activities. Along with the waterfalls, hike through Tenorio Volcano National Park and visit a sloth sanctuary.

Rio Celeste Waterfall - Rio Celeste & Llanos de Cortes Waterfall Tour - Native's Way Costa Rica Tours & Packages

Rio Celeste Hiking, Sloth Sanctuary & Llanos de Cortes Waterfall Tour

12 hoursFree Cancellation

Price varies by group size

Ceviche & Empanadas Cooking Class

Our project aims to help you discover the secrets of this cuisine. To learn to cook alongside a passionate chef, who will take pleasure in explaining to you in English or Spanish, and to help you master the techniques and specialties of this dear country. Empanadas, plátanos, picadillo de gallo, frijoles molidos, tamales. Vegetarian or not, you are welcome for this new experience. It's a 3-hour course with the preparation of a dish and a juice that's a little out of the ordinary.

Guided Cooking Class with a Local in Samara

3 hoursFree Cancellation

Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo

2 hours 45 minutesFree Cancellation

Price varies by group size

Pura Vida Cooking Class in La Fortuna from Farm to Table

4 hoursFree Cancellation

We believe that a healthy and prosperous life starts with what we eat; also, gastronomy and family recipes connect us as human beings. Eleven years ago we decided to switch our farm from a "traditional" crops to organic ones to improve our own health. In this experience we'll walk through our organic farm with the last bits of sunlight looking for the fresh ingredients we'll need to prepare a delicious dinner and share our culture with you. We hope that, besides providing a delicious foodie experience, what we do inspires more people to care about the source of their food and protect our planet. We have veggie and vegan options. Please do let us know if you have any other allergy and/or dietary restriction.

Private cooking class in organic farm at La Fortuna

3-Course Tropical Fusion Cooking Class

4 hoursFree Cancellation

Chocolate Making and Tasting at a Local Factory in San José

Hands-On Costa Rican Bread Making Workshop in Monteverde

Foodies and anyone with a sweet tooth will love this chocolate-themed activity. See cacao trees growing before touring the chocolate-making kitchen. Learn all about what it takes to turn cacao into a bar of chocolate, and even have a go at grinding the beans and separating the shells yourself. Make some chocolate to take home with you and share with your friends–if you don’t eat it all first.

Hands on chocolate making class. From bean to bar, Puerto Viejo

Explore the rich coffee heritage of Costa Rica at Hacienda La Chimba. This engaging 1.5-hour tour takes you through a historic coffee estate where tradition meets culture. Begin your journey at the Coffee Museum House, where captivating antique photographs unveil the significance of coffee in shaping the nation. Wander through lush gardens and working plantations, crossing the scenic Koi Fish Bridge and visiting a charming colonial-style chapel. Conclude your adventure with a unique coffee tasting session, savoring Hacienda La Chimba's high-altitude Arabica coffee in three distinct processes—washed, natural, and honey. Perfect for coffee lovers and families seeking an authentic cultural experience.

San Jose Hacienda La Chimba Coffee Experience Tour

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

5% savings

from

$60$57

Discover Caribbean flavors with Darshan, a local chef with deep roots in Puerto Viejo. Their culinary knowledge has been handed down for generations since their ancestors came to this land, turning each recipe into a journey through time and Afro-Caribbean culture. In this practical class, you will learn how to prepare authentic dishes with fresh ingredients and traditional techniques that you can apply in your home. Rather than a cooking class, it is a cultural experience: ✔️ You will cook alongside the chef in a warm and familiar atmosphere ✔️ You will know the history and origin of each dish ✔️ You will live a direct connection to local identity through flavors Ideal for those looking for authentic experiences, human contact and real gastronomic learning. It's not just cooking, it's Caribbean soul in every bite!

Brad frut - banana! You'll learn how to make chips, gate jacks.

Learn to Cook Like a Caribbean in Puerto Viejo

4 hoursFree Cancellation

Chocolate Experience in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos

If you are looking for a pleasant place connected with nature where you can enjoy with your family or friends and spend an unforgettable experience, Agroecoturística Don Jorge specializes in Chocolate and Coffee, which includes tours of the trails of cocoa and coffee plantations, you will find diversity in flora. and birds, visit the waterfall, cane processing and finally the chocolate workshop where you can make your own chocolate bar. Our motto "From the seed to the palate". We are waiting for you to enjoy a family farm

Chocolate and Coffee Tour Farm Don Jorge

A unique Puerto Viejo date night or celebration: a 90-minute guided tasting of four aged rums and four local chocolates, with cacao tasted at three stages of its journey. Relax on our deck overlooking the Caribbean and discover surprising flavour combinations together as the sun sets. Perfect for couples, birthdays, anniversaries, or anyone looking for a memorable and different evening experience.

Rum and Chocolate Pairing Experience in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Cooking and Salsa Dance Lesson Combo

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

If you’re looking for a way to connect with the local people in Costa Rica, taking a cooking class in a private home is ideal. Your hosts will teach you about their culture, traditions, and cuisine, and give you a tour of their organic garden. Learn to cook dishes such as marinated shredded chicken and rice, followed by traditional desserts and washed down with a freshly prepared mojito.

Cooking with a Costa Rican familiy

Chocolate and Coffee Tour Farm Don Jorge

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What are people saying about Costa Rica

KatherineJob_h, Oct 2026

Intimate family property, historical tour

This was a true authentic chocolate and coffee tour with our knowledgeable and charismatic guide, Fabricio. We had such a great time learning about the origin of coffee and cacao. We also looked out for wildlife and local plants. Next we squeeze some sugar cane for mocktail/cocktail making before finally heading to the hut to sample some locally harvested and roasted coffee and to make our own chocolates. It was a very personal experience and we had such a good time. There is a great waterfall only a short distance from the hut which you can sometimes swim in - we had this to ourselves. We would highly recommend if you’re looking for an authentic, family led tour. Thank you!

Chocolate Making and Tasting at a Local Factory in San José

Ashley_O, Sep 2026

Exceeds Expectations

This was a phenomenal experience- we still talk about it almost a year later (I’m traveling for another trip and realized I didn’t finish my review). It was a small group (4) and an incredibly hands on experience. I would do it again in a heartbeat, we had so much fun.

Pura Vida Cooking Class in La Fortuna from Farm to Table

Joscilynn_K, Sep 2026

We had such a wonderful...

We had such a wonderful experience with this cooking class! From beginning to end, everything was organized, welcoming, and so much fun. Dionis was an amazing guide and made the experience enjoyable and informative. You could tell he genuinely cared about making sure everyone was having a great time and getting the most out of the experience. Alice, our chef who helped us throughout the cooking class, was absolutely wonderful! She was patient, helpful, and made cooking everything feel easy and enjoyable. We loved getting hands-on and actually learning how to prepare the food instead of just watching someone else do it. It was such a fun way to experience a little more of the Costa Rican culture and food. The entire experience was relaxed, fun, and something we will definitely remember from our trip to Costa Rica. Everyone was so kind and welcoming, and the food was delicious! We truly couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I would absolutely recommend this cooking class to anyone visiting Costa Rica! If you have the opportunity to take this class, definitely do it. Dionis and Alice were both amazing, and they made an already great experience even better. 🇨🇷❤️

Farm to Table Cooking Class

Kaleigh_F, Aug 2026

Must do for food lovers!

Andres was our instructor and he was absolutely incredible. The activity starts with a tour of the farm (pet the baby goats!). Andres explained the different fruits and plants that are important to Costa Rica and how they are used or prepared. What follows is an absolutely incredible cooking experience. We made civeche, chicken fried rice, and empanadas. The food was absolutely delicious and we had so much fun with our instructor. 10/10!!!

Private Native Caribbean Cooking in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Janelle_G, Jul 2026

Second time taking the class!

This was my second time taking a group to the cooking class, and each time, it has been fantastic! It's such a personal way to learn about the region, the culture, and have some out-of-this-world food! Both groups I've taken have been high school-aged, and they are always raving about the experience afterward. If you're wondering if you should give it a try, don't think twice!

Chocolate Experience in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos

Amanda_D, Jun 2026

Must do activity !

We loved Los Suenos Adventure Park so much we came back another day to do their chocolate experience. This was an informational tour as well as interactive. Mary was our tour guide and she did a wonderful job with keeping this tour engaging with the information she provided. Mary was so impressive with the way she explained the necessary steps it takes to make chocolate from a cocoa bean. Once you get the plant/bean tour you get to step into the kitchen where they break down how to actually make the chocolate and this is where it gets interactive. Jordan, along with Mary, then assist with all the steps necessary to go from bean to chocolate. During this time you are eating and trying the different process of chocolate throughout. We were so blown a way with how fun this experience was and how memorable our time was! Definitely a must do experience.

Coffee, Chocolate and Sugarcane Tour La Fortuna

Kimberly_P, Jun 2026

I ended up being solo on...

I ended up being solo on the tour, it didn't stop me and my tour guide Jason from having a good time. The tour was not rushed, very informative, and Jason was very knowledgeable on everything we spoke about. I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants a laid back tour. Oh and you'll get full off drinking coffee, eating chocolate, cacao fruit, and drinking sugarcane juice.

Ceviche & Empanadas Cooking Class

Haley_M, Jun 2026

An Unforgettable Experience in Costa Rica!

This cooking class was hands down one of the highlights of our entire wedding week in Costa Rica! From the moment we arrived, we felt like family. We were greeted by the sweetest host, who immediately made us feel at home. Before we even started cooking, he took my wife and me to see a sloth living in one of their trees and introduced us to their wonderful rescue dogs. We were so touched to learn about the incredible work they do fostering and helping dogs find homes all over the world. The class itself was amazing. We learned how to make delicious tropical drinks, fresh ceviche, and authentic empanadas from scratch. Every step was explained in a way that was easy to follow, and you could truly feel the passion and love that went into teaching. The food was absolutely incredible and some of the best we had during our entire trip! What made this experience so special wasn’t just the food, though. It was the warmth, hospitality, and genuine care that our chef and hosts shared with us. It felt less like a cooking class and more like being welcomed into someone’s home and culture. I honestly can’t recommend this experience enough. It was fun, interactive, delicious, and filled with memories we’ll cherish forever. As two wives celebrating our wedding week in Costa Rica, this became one of our favorite experiences of the entire trip, and one we’ll never forget. Thank you for making us feel so welcome and creating such a special memory for us. ❤️🇨🇷 Pura Vida! 🌴🍹🥟🦥🐾

Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience

Kim_M, May 2026

My favorite activity from my trip

I loved this experience so much. Chela is an amazing woman who loves to share her knowledge and love of food with others. She is so engaging and passionate about what she does. And she is doing so many good things in her community. She was hands on and let us do most of the cooking. This is 100% worth doing.

Volcano, Waterfalls, Zipline, Hot Springs Full Day Tour

Andrea_A, Apr 2026

Literally Everything!

Fernando was an awesome guide. Thoughtful, informative and kind. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our excursion. We enjoyed great coffee, saw beautiful birds, iguanas and a sloth that showed out!!! It was moving soooo much lol. We’d definitely do it again in a heartbeat! Thanks, Fernando!

Hands-On Costa Rican Bread Making Workshop in Monteverde

Jennifer_A, Mar 2026

Amazing food made by a wonderful and funny family

We love doing local food tours but had never done a cooking class before today. My husband loves baking/cooking and we thought it was be amazing to not only eat local, but learn how to make it ourselves as well. Yolanda and Orlando were our teachers and they were fantastic throughout. We ended up with a private class which was also pretty cool. The empanadas were incredibly delicious, especially with sugar cane water and The bread was a perfect way to wrap it up. We even had extra that will make great snacks/breakfast tomorrow. The farm itself is beautiful, with stunning views. I can’t wait to get home and try to make these ourselves now. Thank you so much for this unique experience and for opening your homes to us!!

Hands on chocolate making class. From bean to bar, Puerto Viejo

Naomi_P, Feb 2026

Deep dive into chocolate!

Everyone in our group adored this experience! We all adore chocolate and it was wonderful to learn about the history of cacao and how our consumption of it has changed over hundreds of years. Ansel's love for the cacao tree and passion for chocolate is beautiful to witness and she has created the perfect experience for people who love to learn (and eat chocolate)!