Puerto Viejo Caribbean Cooking Class: Learn Rondón & Rice

Cook the dishes your Puerto Viejo host's grandparents made

A four-hour cooking class in Puerto Viejo where you prepare authentic Caribbean dishes (Rondón, rice and beans, or seafood in coconut milk) alongside Darshan, a local chef rooted in the community. You learn the history and cultural roots of each recipe, working with fresh ingredients and traditional techniques in a warm, informal setting. The class welcomes children from age 6 and is conducted in English or Spanish.

The experience

The class centers on a menu of recipes that have traveled through Darshan's family for generations. You choose which dish to cook: a slow-cooked Rondón with fresh seafood, banana, cassava and coconut milk; rice and beans with your choice of Caribbean chicken, fish in coconut milk, or shrimp in sauce; or seafood in coconut milk, sometimes sourced from local day fishing. Rather than watching a demonstration, you cook alongside the chef, handling the ingredients and techniques yourself from start to finish.

What sets this apart from a standard cooking class is the cultural layer woven through every step. Darshan shares the origin and history of each dish, connecting the food to Afro-Caribbean identity and the lived experience of Puerto Viejo. You're not just learning how to replicate a recipe at home. You're learning why these dishes matter and how they've been made in this place. The atmosphere is warm and familiar: more like cooking in someone's kitchen than attending a formal class.

The session runs four hours and includes snacks. It's wheelchair accessible, and children from age 6 can participate. Public transportation options are nearby if you're traveling without a car.

What’s included

• Instruction from a local chef.
• all ingredients and equipment for cooking.
• snacks during the class.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 04:00 and 12:00

AgesAdult (16 to 80 years) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 16 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Ranchotarzan

Is this one for you?The class runs four hours and involves hands-on cooking the whole time, so it suits someone who wants to actively make the food rather than watch it being prepared, and who has a morning or afternoon to spend in the kitchen.

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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 (6 to 15 years). Under 6: they can't be included in the booking.

What dishes can I choose to cook in this class?

You pick from three options: Rondón, a traditional Caribbean stew with fresh seafood, banana, cassava and coconut milk slow-cooked together; rice and beans paired with Caribbean chicken, fish in coconut milk, or shrimp in sauce; or seafood in coconut milk, which sometimes includes lobster if you book in advance and it's available from local fishing that day.

Do I need cooking experience to join this class?

No prior experience is required. Darshan teaches the traditional techniques as you work, and you cook alongside them throughout the four hours, so you learn by doing with guidance.

What makes this different from a regular cooking class?

This class is rooted in Darshan's family history and Afro-Caribbean culture. You learn not just how to prepare each dish, but its origin and significance to Puerto Viejo and the community, turning the cooking into a cultural experience rather than just a skill lesson.