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Farm to Table Cooking Class

Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
La Fortuna, Costa Rica
High interest
Booked 3 times today.
  • 2 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9
·
· David_B ·
Mar 2026
Such a fun activity! My kids loved it and they even did something special for my daughter. Our translator Miguel was great and Melania was so sweet. We also had a wonderful male chef but I don’t remember his name. Highly recommend especially with teens. Very family friendly!
· Christy_M ·
Jun 2026
This was a fun and delicious night. We learned a lot about the organic farming before everyone was involved in some aspect of preparing a dinner. The dinner adapted to gf, df, and vegetarian diets. This was a family favorite for us.

Overview

Learn to cook Costa Rican food made from local organic ingredients right from the farm where your class is held. You can help collect the seasonal produce from the fields, then you’ll get back to the kitchen. You’ll not only learn to cook in an open wood-fire kitchen, but you’ll hear stories about Costa Rican culture, too.
  • Easy to locate departure point
  • Learn all about the farm and produce from your guide
  • Keep costs down with this small group tour
  • After you cook, you’ll sit down to enjoy your meal together

What's Included

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Costa Rica Descents Adventure Company
    Via 702, Provincia de Alajuela, La Fortuna, 21007, Costa Rica

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Christina_K
The Chef was sooo great!! Going out into the farm and seeing the crops, plants and animals and learning more about them was extremely educational in the most fun way! Then going step-by-step together to make an incredible dish was a lot of fun and I can’t recommend this enough! My partner doesn’t know how to cook but he did so well and had a great time learning and participating! I plan to recreate what we made back home. The chef was great to talk to and made this a special activity and I appreciated learning so much from him! We will definitely come again when we return to Costa Rica!

Reviews

4.9
based on 658 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Sort by: Most insightful

You won't regret it

Christy_M, Jun 2026
This was a fun and delicious night. We learned a lot about the organic farming before everyone was involved in some aspect of preparing a dinner. The dinner adapted to gf, df, and vegetarian diets. This was a family favorite for us.

Fun and interactive

Sami_M, Jun 2026
We had a great time and enjoyed the food and experience! The food was tasty and our guide was fun and informative

Foooooood

Nicholas_B, Jun 2026
I’m not if it’s different when not raining but for us it was so we didn’t pick any foods (I don’t think you do anyways) we still went out though and got to see things. The class itself was awesome, My wife and I cook a lot and we still learned so much from this class. The guide/host Andres was phenomenal. Friendly, funny, relatable. A GOOD teacher. Would recommend to anyone it’s not too long, not too quick, the food is great and overall it’s just a beautiful experience. Please give this a shot!

This experience was...

Marcus_F, Jun 2026
This experience was incredible! My fiancé and I felt very at home, hanging out and having a good time with friends! We were also amazed at how much of the cooking we had to actually do. We made everything from scratch, it was great!!! Highly recommend!!!!

This was one of our...

Cole_C, Jun 2026
This was one of our favorite things we did in La Fortuna! Miguel and his mother chef Melania were the nicest people and so welcoming. Miguel took us on a tour of their farm where we picked fresh ingredients and learned about each plant and animal. We went back to the kitchen area and Melania led us through the cooking class and explained each ingredient and even told stories about her cooking. This was truly such a special experience I would highly recommend to anyone traveling to La Fortuna.

Yummy food, but the overall experience felt rushed

Jeremy_B, May 2026
My family and I were really excited about this tour, but honestly, it fell a bit flat for us. It was raining heavily the day we went, so I feel like our farm tour portion was rushed and cut short. The cooking class itself had 10 people, which felt a bit too crowded for this kind of experience. Seemed like he was struggling to find things for everyone to do in order to participate. Because of the group size and the timing, the actual cooking part felt very rushed as well. We didn't really do much of the actual cooking, per se—it felt more like food prep. We were also told at the very beginning that we would be making patacones, but we never did, which was disappointing. On the positive side, the food we did make (chicken and rice, ceviche, and empanadas) was really yummy! We especially enjoyed making the empanadas from scratch. Our guide was also very nice and worked well with the group, but again, the overall pace just felt hurried. If you're looking for a deep, hands-on cooking experience, this might not quite hit the mark, but the food at the end is great.

Unique and fun experience!

Hannah_B, May 2026
This was such a cool experience! I love to cook, but my mother does not enjoy it as much, however we both really enjoyed this cooking class. Andres made the evening lighthearted and fun. We got to tour the garden where some of our ingredients for the dinner were from. The food we made was delicious, and I appreciated Andres's thought and care that went into making and styling the food. We were with some other people we didn't know, however Andres was good at facilitating everyone working together and getting to know each other. We all enjoyed each others company and conversations together.

Be cautious

Harper_P, Apr 2026
Paid 45 dollars a person for a meal that took 3.5 hours to make and cost probably 50 American cents. Do not recommend.

Great family activity

David_B, Mar 2026
Such a fun activity! My kids loved it and they even did something special for my daughter. Our translator Miguel was great and Melania was so sweet. We also had a wonderful male chef but I don’t remember his name. Highly recommend especially with teens. Very family friendly!

Family cooking class

Matthew_M, Mar 2026
Short walk around the farm to see all of the produce. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff answered all of our questions. Preparing the different stages of the meal was fun for the entire family.

We had a great time with...

Jonathan_B, Mar 2026
We had a great time with Austin. He walked us through the small farm explaining the different plants and animals and then we cooked a lovely lunch. So much fun.

Well worth it!

Steve_A, Mar 2026
This was a good way for an initial entry into learning about Costa Rica's culture, farming, and culinary arts. Andres, our guide and head chef, was very informative and helped us create a delicious meal.

The food tasted great,...

Casey_N, Mar 2026
The food tasted great, but as a chef, the sanitation was a major concern. We were asked to shred parboiled, rare chicken on surfaces that were only wiped with a dry cloth afterward. Also, be aware this is a communal 'one-pot' style class rather than individual stations. Since everyone handles the shared ingredients with their bare hands, I was very worried about cross-contamination with people I didn't know. A fun concept, but the hygiene protocols definitely need an update for guest safety.

My friends and I had a...

Morgan_W, Mar 2026
My friends and I had a great time at this cooking class. Our instructor was very knowledgeable and kind. The only thing we wish we knew before was that the cooking class took way longer than the time shown on viator. Our class started at 5 and ended at 8:30pm. Overall the food was great, but was a little bit smaller portions than anticipated.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re glad to hear you and your friends enjoyed the class and the overall experience. We also appreciate your comments, as they help us continue improving and setting the right expectations for future guests. It was a pleasure having you with us!

Watch and learn, not cook and learn

Dawn_B, Feb 2026
This was more of a watch the owners cook. The participants chop certain things, but cooked nothing. All I did was squeeze lemons and shred pre-cooked chicken. Also, nobody was made to wash their hands prior to start chopping. Compared to other classes I have been to, this one was lacking in participation involvement. Too pricy for the simple food that was prepared.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We truly appreciate your honesty. We’re sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations in terms of participation. Our goal is always to create an interactive and engaging cooking experience, and we regret if it felt more observational than hands-on during your visit. We also take hygiene standards very seriously, and your comment regarding handwashing is important to us. We will review this internally to ensure our procedures are clearly communicated and followed at all times. Your feedback helps us improve, and we genuinely value it. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a better experience in the future. 🌿👩‍🍳

This was a fun class, the...

Rebecca_M, Feb 2026
This was a fun class, the farm walk was very informative. Recommended you wear shoes that can get muddy.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you for your review. We’re glad to hear you had a fun time in our Farm to Table Cooking Class and enjoyed the informative farm walk. It’s a great way to learn more about the ingredients before bringing them into the kitchen. We also appreciate the helpful tip about wearing shoes that can get muddy — that’s always a good idea for the farm portion of the experience. We hope to welcome you again soon.

Fantastic experience....

Kyle_S, Feb 2026
Fantastic experience. Andres is the best! We couldn't recommend this enough. Absolutely a must if you are visiting to experience Costa Rican culture

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you very much for sharing your feedback with us. We’re delighted to know you had such a fantastic experience and felt immersed in Costa Rican culture. Your recommendation truly means a great deal, and we’re grateful you chose to join us during your visit.

Best farm to table cooking class in La Fortuna

Kokyee_L, Feb 2026
My friends and I booked this tour the night before and it completely blew our expectations! Tito was our guide and chef. Before we made food, he took us around the farm and showed us all the different plants and animals. We even planted a tree together. Tito created a very engaging and friendly atmosphere making the cooking class very fun for us!! Highly recommend Tito and this class!!

Response from Host, Feb 2026

It means a great deal that you chose to share your experience with us. We’re delighted to hear the class exceeded your expectations and that you enjoyed exploring the farm before getting hands-on in the kitchen. Creating an engaging, welcoming atmosphere is something we truly value, and it’s wonderful to know you felt that throughout the experience. We sincerely appreciate your recommendation and are grateful you joined us.

Highly Recommend!

Christina_K, Feb 2026
The Chef was sooo great!! Going out into the farm and seeing the crops, plants and animals and learning more about them was extremely educational in the most fun way! Then going step-by-step together to make an incredible dish was a lot of fun and I can’t recommend this enough! My partner doesn’t know how to cook but he did so well and had a great time learning and participating! I plan to recreate what we made back home. The chef was great to talk to and made this a special activity and I appreciated learning so much from him! We will definitely come again when we return to Costa Rica!

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you so much for this wonderful review. We’re delighted that you enjoyed exploring the farm, learning about the crops and animals, and then bringing everything together in the kitchen step by step. It’s especially great to hear that both of you felt comfortable participating and had such a fun time cooking together. The best compliment is knowing you plan to recreate the dishes back home. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you again on your next visit to Costa Rica.

You should try this!

Larri_L, Feb 2026
This was so fun! I loved how everyone was able to prep and cook the foods together, and the walk about the farm was very informative as well.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

What a pleasure to hear you had so much fun! We’re delighted you enjoyed cooking together and exploring the farm. We hope to welcome you back for another hands-on and memorable experience!

Best meal I had in Costa...

Ambiance_A, Jan 2026
Best meal I had in Costa Rica! We walked around the farm and learned about all the plants and smelled their leaves and said hello to all the animals. Our group was small and we all had different tasks to prepare the meal. Very engaging and the chef was very nice and knowledgeable.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the farm-to-table cooking class and that it was engaging and fun. Exploring the farm, learning about the plants, and preparing a delicious meal together are exactly the experiences we aim to create. We hope to welcome you back soon for another memorable visit!

Andreas was an incredible...

Jenna_F, Jan 2026
Andreas was an incredible host. He introduced himself to us and introduced us to every other individual in the group to create a good social setting. He gave us the details as to what we were going g to make for dinner, then gave us a tour of the farm. He was very knowledgeable and answered any questions we had about the farm. He prompted us to feed the animals and even allowed us to hold the baby goats (adorable). Then he had us try the sugar cane raw then then pressed some into a juice for us to also try. Afterwards, we made a delicious meal of fried rice, empanadas, and Costa Rican ceviche. The group acted as sous chefs, prepping all the ingredients while Andreas handled the frying of the rice and empanadas. It was a great learning experience, quality dinner, and rewarding social gathering. I would highly recommend!

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled that you enjoyed the farm-to-table cooking class and had such an interactive and social experience. It’s fantastic that you got to explore the farm, meet the animals, and taste the fresh sugarcane juice. We’re delighted that the meal and group experience made your visit memorable. Your recommendation means a lot to our team, and we hope to welcome you back for another hands-on and enjoyable adventure!

Nelson family

Barbara_N, Dec 2025
Lara made it special for the whole family. We cooked empanadas for dinner the next day using her recipe and techniques. The teenagers could make them start to finish. Yummy and fun.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so happy to hear the whole family enjoyed the cooking class and had fun making empanadas afterward. It’s wonderful to know it was both delicious and memorable for everyone!

Amazing Dinner, Tour, and Class

Katherine_S, Dec 2025
This cooking class was so fun. We had a great little tour of the farm and farm animals and then learned how to make some incredible dishes. I can’t wait to go home and make them again. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Feb 2026

We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed every part of the experience, from the farm tour to the cooking itself. It’s great to know the dishes inspired you to recreate them at home. Thank you for your recommendation and for taking the time to share your feedback.

Fun Event -taking a break from the rain.

Robin_L, Nov 2025
Excellent choice for a rainy day in LaFortuna- we had a lot of fun! Food was excellent and we learned a few good cooking tips from Manuel. He was funny entertaining and we loved the Costa Rican food. Farm tour was interesting but not necessary.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you for sharing! We’re glad you had fun, enjoyed the food, and picked up some great cooking tips. We appreciate your visit and feedback!

Great cooking class!

Kate_S, Nov 2025
This was my favorite activity we booked in La Fortuna! The experience started with a short tour of the farm with our guide. He was super nice and knowledgeable, and we got to meet some of the farm animals. We then moved on to the cooking portion, where we shared kitchen duties with another couple. I can honestly say this was one of my best meals in Costa Rica. The food was so fresh and fulfilling. Our guide chatted with us a bit and shared his recommendations for activities and other restaurants to try during our stay, and offered up his own tips on how to recreate the meal at home. I cannot recommend this cooking class enough!

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to know this was your favorite activity in La Fortuna. It’s great that you enjoyed the warm farm experience, meeting the animals, and sharing the cooking with others. Knowing that it was one of the best meals you had in Costa Rica truly means a lot to us. We’re happy your guide made the experience even better with helpful tips and local recommendations. Thank you for recommending the class so highly — your words help others discover this special experience. We hope to welcome you again on your next visit to Costa Rica! Warm regards, Costa Rica Descents 🌿🍽️🐐

Great experience

Alisha_M, Oct 2025
Great cooking class with a family, couldn’t go into the garden because of the weather. Good organisation with friendly people

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Hello, Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the cooking class and found the team friendly and well organized. Hopefully next time the weather will allow you to explore the garden as well! We truly appreciate your visit and hope to welcome you back for another memorable experience. Kind regards, Costa Rica Descents Team

Local, Fun, Informative, and Delicious!

Susan_A, Sep 2025
This was a fantastic lesson in Costa Rican farming and cooking. It was the best thing we did in LaFortuna.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Hello, Thank you for sharing your experience. We are delighted to know that the cooking class was the highlight of your time in La Fortuna. Your kind words mean a lot to us. Best regards, Costa Rica Descents

Can’t wait to do the class again!

Tara_F, Sep 2025
This was absolutely the best experience I’ve had in a really long time! Our guide was knowledgeable, personable, and fun! And the food? CHEF’S KISS. I highly recommend!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Dear Guest, Thank you very much for sharing your experience. We are delighted to hear that the Farm to Table Cooking Class was such a memorable experience for you, and that you enjoyed both the guidance and the food. Your kind recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to welcoming you again on your next visit to Costa Rica. Best regards, Costa Rica Descents Team

More Spectating Than Cooking

Nina_L, Aug 2025
The experience was advertised as 2 hours, but ours stretched to 4. It began with what was supposed to be a quick 10-minute farm tour, but that turned into over an hour in the heat, with the instructor not seeming to notice how uncomfortable the group was. Back in the kitchen, we each only chopped one vegetable while the instructor handled nearly all the cooking and cleaning. By the 2-hour mark our meal was ready, but instead of wrapping up, the instructor kept adding activities—making juice, leading a dance, heating a banana leaf, and more. These extra steps dragged the class on unnecessarily and left us feeling more like spectators than participants. This experience could be greatly improved by keeping to the advertised 2-hour schedule, shortening the farm tour, and giving guests more hands-on cooking time.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Hello, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your detailed feedback with us. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you experienced during the class and that it did not meet your expectations. Your observations regarding the duration, balance between activities, and the level of guest participation are very valuable to us, and we will take them into consideration to improve and provide a better experience in the future. Best regards, Costa Rica Descents 🌿

From $45.00

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 27 days in advance.

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