Monteverde Costa Rican Cuisine Cooking Class: Farm-to-Table

Cook five traditional Costa Rican dishes and eat them the same afternoon

A hands-on cooking class on a family farm in the Monteverde area where you prepare and taste traditional Costa Rican recipes with a live guide in English or Spanish. The class runs about four and a half hours, includes all ingredients and equipment, a personalized apron, and round-trip transport from Santa Elena or Monteverde hotels. Children from age 4 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Traditional Costa Rican cooking class

• Arrive at family farm near Monteverde
• Receive apron and hair cover
• Participate in cooking traditional recipes
• Prepare dishes like achiotada chicken and vigorones
• Enjoy tasting prepared dishes with natural drinks

The experience

You arrive at a family farm in the hills around Santa Elena and Monteverde, where the family who runs the place walks you through the whole process of making traditional Tica cuisine, from prep to plate. The class is held in a well-equipped kitchen area, and each participant gets a personalized apron and hair covering. You'll work through several recipes in a single session: achiotada chicken, chicken with vegetables, rice with chicken, vigorones (pork meat), rice and beans with Caribbean chicken, tortillas, meat pot, chorreadas, and prestiños. The family provides all the ingredients and utensils, so you show up ready to cook.

After you finish cooking, you sit down and eat what you've made, paired with a natural drink made from seasonal fresh fruit, coffee, chocolate, or aguadulce. The whole experience (instruction, cooking, and lunch or dinner) takes about four and a half hours. Round-trip transport from your hotel in Santa Elena or Monteverde is included, and the class runs with a minimum of two people.

What’s included

• All ingredients and cooking utensils.
• personalized apron and hair covering.
• lunch or dinner made from the recipes you prepare.
• natural drink with seasonal fresh fruit, coffee, chocolate, or aguadulce.
• round-trip transport from Santa Elena or Monteverde hotels.
• live guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 16:00

AgesAdult (11 to 60 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 16 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Destination Services Costa Rica

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so choose the language you're comfortable with when you book. The class works for families with children from age 4, and for solo travelers or groups. The minimum is just two people, so you won't feel pressured to join a crowd.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What recipes do I actually cook during the class?

You prepare achiotada chicken, chicken with vegetables, rice with chicken, vigorones (pork meat), rice and beans with Caribbean chicken, tortillas, meat pot, chorreadas, and prestiños: a range of traditional Costa Rican dishes that represent Tica home cooking.

Is the guide fluent in English, or do I need Spanish?

The guide speaks both English and Spanish, so you can choose the language that works for you when you book.

Does the class include the meal, or do I cook and then leave?

You eat what you cook. The class includes lunch or dinner depending on the time you book, served right after the cooking is done.