Chocolate Making and Tasting at a Local Factory in San José
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
San Jose, Costa Rica
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Whether you're a chocolate snob or are happy to eat anything vaguely chocolate-related, this factory visit and tasting in San Jose will expand your palate. Learn how the humble cocoa bean is transformed into a bar of high quality chocolate, then try your hand at making your own bespoke goodies. With over 15 fillings and toppings, the combinations are endless.
- Learn about chocolate from experts and support a local business in San Jose with your visit
- Take home chocolates personalized to your tastes
- Enjoy a more personalized experience with a maximum of 8 travelers per tour
- Choose from several eco-friendly chocolate packaging options
Sample Menu
Dessert
Chocolate Tasting
Fresh cocoa fruit; dry and roasted cocoa beans; cocoa nibs; chocolates in different concentrations; cocoa drink.
What's Included
- Creative materials for eco-friendly packaging (boxes, wrapping paper, stickers, etc.) Inputs for personal use (caps, aprons, gloves) Equipment necessary to make chocolates (molds, spatulas, machines).
- SnacksComplete cocoa beans to bars tasting, more than 15 different fillings and toppings to convine with your chocolates creations, cacao drink and water
- Private transportation
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Tapir Chocolates10101 San José, San José, Barrio Escalante, 10101, Costa Rica
You can find our location as “Tapir Chocolates” in Google Maps, Waze or Uber. Black Gates with the door terracota. Is the Street 29, Av 7 & 9. Costarican direction: From "Parque Francia" 150mts North, is a white house, in front of Olmos Kinder Garden). Barrio Escalante, San José, Costa Rica.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.3:00 pm
What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Anny_T
I treated my bridesmaids and brother to a chocolate workshop and we had the best time! Our instructor was super knowledgeable and sweet! Definitely was one of the highlights of our trip and we all throughly enjoyed our chocolate as well ☺️
Reviews
4.9
based on 134 reviews
Shanasha_T, Apr 2026
Best experience in Costa Rica 🇨🇷!!
I learned so much about chocolate 🍫
We had a blast 😊🎊🎉🎈we even decorated our own chocolate boxes for our chocolates.
Katie_O, Apr 2026
Learning about the history of cocoa was interesting for me (my 12 year old would have skipped that part) but when we got to the testing and chocolate making he was all in. Letting you do the chocolate yourself, pick your toppings, and decorate your chocolate wrappers was a great experience. I would recommend it if you are looking for something smaller, more interactive and easy for kids to participate.
Kimberly_H, Apr 2026
This was such a great experience to for such a great price. The history, knowledge & making process was so well worth every penny. Thank You Mauricio!
Christelle_A, Apr 2026
Fantastic!! Educational, unique and fun. I would highly recommend it and it was perfect for my stay in SJO
Yoav_S, Apr 2026
Tiny place on a quiet street, 100% artisanal, like someone’s home. Amazing experience, friendly educational, super fun. And the chocolate is beautiful, delicious!
Richard_A, Apr 2026
A little tricky to find, but absolutely worth the effort. In a place like Costa Rica where so many activities are high-energy and physical, this was a perfect change of pace, relaxing, fun, and full of rich cultural insight. Mauricio was an incredible instructor, patient, engaging, and genuinely supportive throughout the experience. We loved every step, from learning the history of chocolate to crafting our own bars and even designing our own packaging. Such a unique, hands-on experience, and we’re so glad we did it.
tracy_g, Mar 2026
WOWWWW hands down this was the BEST thing we've ever done! Not only was our host super kind and informative but he made the overall experience really something more people should be talking about. He went above and beyond and it is definitely going to be something we remember for a lifetime. Our daughters are 4 and 8 and they had the best time too, we stayed super engaged, the whole experience moved seamlessly and perfectly and we're so beyond happy we booked this! Amazing experience!
Susan_K, Mar 2026
It is not actually a factory but rather small group training in how to make chocolate from bean to bar. The host is the owner o the boutique chocolate company. The actual factory is about 1 hour away. He is delightful and provides much historical information about the origins of chocolate. He takes as much time as the event requires and ours ran a bit long but he did not rush us at all. He also provides recommendations for restaurants in the area (he is a chef by training who became entranced by chocolate). His recommendations include all all types of food, including vegetarian and vegan options. The only confusing thing about the experience is that it is in a house in a residential area . When we went there was no Tapir Chocolates sign so we were not sure we were in the correct place. The location is in the middle of a block, and look for the house with the black bars and the bronze/terra cotta entry door. We had a lot of fun. He is also a wealth of information if, like me, you try to temper chocolate for holiday bon-bons or truffles! However, the other guests did not make candy at home and had an equally wonderful time !
Aurora_M, Mar 2026
Mauricio lead an educational and hands-on fun chocolate making experience, good for all ages probably suggest seven and up. We were able to see the CACAO fruit in all of its forms and taste each stage. we learned about the origins and how to properly temper chocolate to be able to make at home as well. Each participant had the opportunity to make two chocolate bars themselves including a huge variety of fillings and toppings. We even were able to design our own wrapper for our finished product. After being in the sun and doing lots of hiking every day, this was a super great way to end our Costa Rican Vacay. We give Mauricio and the TAPIR chocolate company ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ plus we got to bring our chocolate bars home!! Located in a great area for nearby restaurants after!
Shelley_C, Feb 2026
This was a fun and informative experience that I highly recommend. An interesting group from all over and the knowledgeable company owner teaching us and helping us make our own chocolate bars. We made our own chocolate souvenirs. Great fun!
Jessica_L, Feb 2026
this was such a fun and unique experience! it was very informative and definitely something id recommend
Jean_T, Feb 2026
This is a wonderful, interactive educational and fun activity! Forgot delicious! All age groups Mauricio was a fabulous instructor. So glad we did this!
Elizabeth_H, Jan 2026
This was a fantastic experience! We learned a ton about the history & cultural significance of chocolate. Tasting all the stages from fruit to seed to bar was fascinating. And we made chocolate bars! All with a very knowledgeable and friendly host in a scrupulously clean setting. Totally recommend.
Squirrel, Jan 2026
This tour was excellent. He was genuine in sharing his knowledge of the history of cocoa and chocolate making in Costa Rica. He was able to sense those who are more anxious when it came to following the steps for making our personal chocolate bars. He loved having questions brought forward and was complimentary to our questions. Overall great experience. Of course we lucked out and got basically a semi private class. 😊
Ken_F, Jan 2026
Very informative and hands on experience. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and fun to listen to. I would recomend this tour to anyone interested in chocolates!
Stacey_J, Jan 2026
Lovely host. Great authentic chocolate class and we got to taste raw cocoa fruit also which no chocolate class I have done before has ever offered. There was only 3 of us on this occasion so it was intimate and informative. The guide also spent a good deal of time after the tour giving us recommendations on local food and drink places to visit during our stay in San Jose.
Monica_C, Jan 2026
Our hosts were welcoming and incredibly knowledgeable. However, Viator listed this experience as having aacimum of 8 participants, and there were at least 20 people during our session. This made for a very slow process for actually making our chocolate bars. Cleaner group sizes a d organization would help greatly!
Christopher_C, Jan 2026
10/10 experience ! Mauricio is such a knowledgeable person and is very friendly. It was very informative along with the taste testing. We then got to create 2 of our own chocolate bars (1 with toppings of your choice & one with filling). Once finished you got to design your package for them to take home. Overall, I think it’s a great thing to experience to learn more about cocoa and the chocolate making process. Mauricio is such a great person.
Niro_W, Jan 2026
We did the experience with our teenage daughter. We learnt a bit of history and process of chocolate making followed by some tasting and finally putting it to action. It was well organized and we thoroughly enjoyed.
Sandra_K, Nov 2025
This was amazing. The instructor shared his passion for chocolate. I learned so much, had fun and walked away with 2 amazing chocolate bars. The neighborhood was cool and trendy with great restaurants.
Paula_M, Nov 2025
A wonderful way to spend our final evening in San Jose. Good activity for any age. Recommend it highly
LaWanda_C, Nov 2025
Mauricio was very knowledgeable and patient. The class was fun and we stayed engaged with each other.
Destiny_L, Nov 2025
We learned so much about the cocoa tree, seed, chocolate, it was so educational and so fun! Tasting the chocolate through every step of its process, then making delicious bars then creating my own wrapper! Beyond fun experience! My husband and I talked about the whole way home! Mauricio was the best host! We’ll be back!
Mike_G, Nov 2025
The instructors were knowledgeable interactive and fun. They were super informative and gave clear directions. It was a great time from beginning to end. Being able to take home the chocolate you’ve made was fantastic.
Jessica_H, Nov 2025
Excellent session to learn on the processes of growing cacao, readying the fruit for chocolate making and then making wonderful bars. Mauricio was excellent host, very knowledgeable, and the chocolate was divine.
Erin_H, Oct 2025
The experience was wonderful, I had a great time learning about the history of chocolate. The host was respectful and informative, helping as much as he can.
Jessica_C, Oct 2025
This was absolutely a very fun and personal event. We learned so much about chocolate making, and the cocoa bean. The best part was learning about the actual fruit and creating the Jessie Bar.
Michaela_D, Sep 2025
Amazing experience. We learnt so much about the product and process of the making. We left with 4 chocolates we made ourselves
Erin_T, Aug 2025
This class was awesome! They were very knowledgeable and were able to explain the making and history in multiple languages. We got a history of chocolate and cocoa. We were able to try the cocoa bean in various stages and make our own chocolate. We even got to decorate the boxes our chocolate was wrapped in. I highly recommend this class to everyone, including children!
vona013, Jul 2025
The instructor was very pleasant from the moment we walked in the door. It was a very informative and fun experience overall! Highly recommend as an activity if you are in Costa Rica!
From $57.50
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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