Top Costa Rica Cooking Classes

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

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Farm to Table Cooking Class

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

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

2-Hour Cooking Class in Nosara

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

Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience

Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo

2 hours 45 minutesFree Cancellation

Price varies by group size

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.

Learn how to make tortillas and other traditional Costa Rican dishes

Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Private cooking class in organic farm at La Fortuna

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

Authentic Coffee and Chocolate Tour at North Fields

Sample a wide variety of Costa Rican flavors while learning about the country's cultural heritage on this San Jose walking tour. You'll shop for fruits and veggies at the Mercado Central and Mercado Borbón, visit the National Theater and Morazan Park, and try local treats including traditional picadill, a hands-on cooking class with artisanal chocolate empanadas, and specialty coffee at Mr. Sloth Coffee Shop.

Special Offer

San Jose: Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour including Markets

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Hands-On Costa Rican Bread Making Workshop in Monteverde

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

Ten la oportunidad de vivir y ser parte de una experiencia autentica y rural de la producción de café, caña de azúcar y cacao de los costarricenses, además de conocer como esta ha influido en el desarrollo económico y social de Costa Rica. Podrás vivir una experiencia sensorial, de cada uno de los productos además de deliciosas degustaciones de los productos que realizaremos juntos Esta es una vivencia brindada por personas apasionadas y amantes por el café, que les gusta su trabajo y que poseen una excelente relación con la naturaleza y su entorno.

Authentic experience of Coffee, Cane and Caco inside the forest

Set in the shadow of the Arenal Volcano, the San Carlos region is Costa Rica's agricultural heartland, famous for its cattle, dairy, and volcanic soil crops. This 3-hour class takes place inside an authentic family home, offering a genuine look at northern Costa Rican home cooking. Rather than watching a demonstration, you dive straight into hands-on techniques, kneading corn masa, pressing fresh tortillas, and assembling a traditional Casado. To maximize your active cooking time, your host prepares time-consuming foundation steps (like slow-braising the beef) in advance, ensuring a seamless, engaging, and culturally rich culinary experience. -Learn the stories and cultural traditions behind San Carlos's regional cuisine - Learn to prepare classic Costa Rican Dishes -Discover practical cooking techniques from a local host in a relaxed setting -Share a complete multi-course meal and dessert around your fellow participants.

La Fortuna Authentic Hands On Cooking Class with local host

3 hoursFree Cancellation

5% savings

from

USD 70USD 67

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

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

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 Hiking, Sloth Sanctuary & Llanos de Cortes Waterfall Tour

12 hoursFree Cancellation

Price varies by group size

Chocolate and wine are both shaped by fermentation and place. This guided tasting brings their stories together in a surprising way. Taste three South American wines alongside artisanal tree-to-bar chocolates. Discover how each wine changes what you notice in the chocolate. Fruit, spice and earthy notes emerge, disappear and sometimes become something completely unexpected. There is a story behind the pairing, too. Cacao is native to the Amazon. Wine arrived in Latin America from Europe. Today, both are grown and transformed across the continent. At Cacao Huasi, we bring them together for an interesting and delicious conversation. Enjoy the tasting overlooking the Caribbean, with plenty of time to taste, talk and compare. It is a unique Puerto Viejo experience for couples, date nights, celebrations and curious food lovers.

Wine & Chocolate Pairing Experience in Puerto Viejo

Wine & Chocolate Pairing Experience in Puerto Viejo

1 hour 15 minutesFree Cancellation

Explore two great Mesoamerican traditions together: artisanal mezcal and craft chocolate. Taste three traditional mezcals alongside carefully selected chocolates, discovering how fermentation, smoke, fruit, spice and cacao interact as sunset approaches over the Caribbean. With no prior tasting experience required, this experience invites curious travelers and food enthusiasts alike to enjoy a relaxed and informative session, uncovering the complexity of these two Mesoamerican treasures. Who Is This Experience For? Curious travelers Chocolate lovers Mezcal enthusiasts Food and drink explorers Couples and friends looking for a unique tasting experience Anyone interested in traditional food cultures and artisanal production No previous tasting experience is required.

Mezcal and Chocolate Pairing Experience in Puerto Viejo

1 hour 15 minutesFree Cancellation

Pura Vida Cooking Class in La Fortuna from Farm to Table

4 hoursFree Cancellation

3-Course Tropical Fusion Cooking Class

4 hoursFree Cancellation

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Must-Dos in Costa Rica

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What are people saying about Costa Rica

Chocolate Making and Tasting at a Local Factory in San José

Ashley_O, Sept 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, Sept 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 cooking class in organic farm at La Fortuna

Janette_S, July 2026

This was such an...

This was such an educational and personal experience. Hugo was so excited to show us everything. We vacationed during the rainy season, so I am sure some the farm was not at its peek, yet we were not disappointed at all. We 100% recommend this welcome into their family for a night learning about their culture. We also have plans to (attempt to) recreate the meal when we get home.

Private Native Caribbean Cooking in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Janelle_G, July 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, June 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, June 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, June 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 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)!