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Overview

Culinary Tour of Costa Rica

Traditional masks seen on your cultural excursion in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is a great destination to enjoy culture, natural wonders, and of course the beaches. This program offers a variety of excursions and exclusive gastronomic experiences unique to each destination!

View of Monteverde during your culinary vacation in Costa rica.Enjoy amazing views of the Central Valley, surrounded by coffee plantations at your luxury accommodations. Then, travel to northern lowlands and relax at the hot springs, nestled at the foot of the imposing Arenal Volcano.

Finally, transfer to the beach and enjoy the pacific coast, with its extensive white-sand beaches backed by evergreen forest. It is the ideal place to conclude your vacation, with days full of rest, relaxation and sun, with many optional activities to pass the time.


Costa Rica Culinary Vacation Trip Details

Your Costa Rican Cooking Vacation will include market visits, cooking classes, and excursions to gastronomic producers who represent the country’s most significant exports. You will learn the secrets of traditional Costa Rican cuisine as you take in the splendor of your environment.

7-Night Cooking Vacation in Costa Rica

Coffee beans enjoyed on your trip to Costa Rica.Day 1: Naranjo

  • Welcome to Costa Rica! Make sure to book a flight arriving in the early afternoon. After arriving at Juan Santamaria Int’l Airport (SJO), a guide will meet you and take you to your first hotel.
  • Your drive through the Central Mountain Range will take approximately 1 hour; it will offer you a first look at the diversity that the country has to offer, including the beautiful Naranjo Coffee Plantations.
  • After check-in at the hotel, enjoy the rest of the day and evening at leisure. You will be situated amidst the growing coffee region of Llano Bonito de Naranjo. The intimate lodge boasts a unique experience combining nature, culture, and of course, coffee.

cooking in a local's home during your Culinary Adventure in Costa RicaDay 2: Naranjo

  • Wake up surrounded coffee plantations and a beautiful view of the central valley. You will be pleased with this delicious Costa Rican breakfast, starting with the aroma of fresh coffee, the perfect ingredients to start the day with before diving into the history and culture of this ancient beverage.
  • After breakfast, visit the Don Carlos Coffee plantations, where you will learn the traditional methods for transforming the small reddish fruits into a fine coffee export worldwide. 
  • In the afternoon, enjoy a visit to a local’s home and learn how the best Costa Rican food is prepared, using the traditional method.
  • This authentic Costa Rican gastronomic experience takes place at the home of Doña Elida, located  just 5 minutes from your accommodations.
  • When you arrive, you will be welcomed into the kitchen by your host and she will share her secrets for preparing a delicious Costa Rican meal. 
  • At the end of the class, you will dine together with your host and indulge in your culinary creations. Enjoy cooking with Doña Elida and do not forget that knowing a community’s food forms the heart of its culture!

Arenal volcano in Arenal National ParkDay 3: Naranjo – Arenal Volcano

  • Breakfast.
  • At mid-morning, check out and continue your journey with a land transfer to the northern lowlands.
  • This route will take you through different towns, such as Zarcero, San Carlos and Florencia. In addition, along the way you will enjoy the beautiful scenery, which includes amazing views of the mountains and one of the major sources of revenue in the area: the agriculture. Depending on the season, you will be able to observe crops of pineapple, bananas, and sugar cane.
  • Arrive at La Fortuna Village in late afternoon, where you will be greeted by the impressive sight of the Arenal Volcano.
  • In the evening, you will visit the Arenal Volcano National Park. Enjoy the most extraordinary view of the Arenal Volcano on a hike along its base and flanks. For this tour, you will enjoy access to one of the park’s most extraordinary trails to the 1968 lava flows. Witness the landscape’s lingering memory of Arenal’s first 20th century eruption, as well as some other areas in the process of regeneration. The “Colada 68” trail will take you on the best route in the entire Arenal Volcano area, as you will hike directly over flowing lava and walk across rocky outcroppings. You will feel the power and serenity of nature, enjoy amazing views of the Arenal Lake and the Monteverde mountains, and even enjoy onsite contact with the local flora and fauna. This is also a great chance for some birdwatching and animal encounters. (Recommendations: light clothes, hiking shoes, sun lotion, repellent, camera, binoculars and raincoat).

Chifrijo eaten during your culinary vacationDay 4: Arenal Volcano

  • Breakfast.
  • After breakfast you will be picked up in the hotel lobby to visit the Arenal hanging bridges. The Mistico Hanging Bridges tour is an eco-tourism attraction located within a 618-acre reserve of primary forest. Located only 25 minutes from most of the hotels in Arenal, this is the perfect place to discover the wonderful secrets of the forest; the density of its biodiversity makes this wildlife sanctuary a special place to admire the myriad species living amongst the vibrant flora and fauna. You will hike along the primary rainforest canopy on trails and hanging bridges varying in length and height.
  • Lunch on your own.
  • This afternoon you will enjoy your second cooking class.  Do you love unique experiences and traditional cuisine? Then you will love learning more about authentic Costa Rican dishes. Upon arrival at the “Finca”, a knowledgeable farmer will be waiting to take you to the farm and collect the organic herbs, fruits, and tubers for preparation. Before finishing the tour of the Farm, we will go to the troja to taste the sugar cane and the famous “guaro de caña”. You will work together to prepare part of a traditional dinner with the help of a professional cook.
  • At the end of the night, we will have a delicious traditional, family-style buffet dinner.

Transfer to the beach to enjoy your final days in Costa Rica.Day 5: Arenal Volcano – Manuel Antonio

  • Breakfast and check out.
  • Today you will continue your journey to the beautiful and paradisiacal beaches of the Costa Rican Pacific, which are known throughout the world for their impressive combination of tropical forests and multicolored sand.
  • You will experience two unforgettable days where you can relax and enjoy your 3-night stay at the selected hotel.

Jungle view in Costa Rica.Day 6: Manuel Antonio

  • Breakfast
  • This morning you will visit the Manuel Antonio National Park, widely considered one of the most beautiful national parks in Costa Rica. This natural paradise combines the magic of its crystal-clear beaches and coral reefs with the lively tropical rainforest.
  • In 1972, Manuel Antonio was established as a protected area by visionaries who decided to preserve one of the most stunning and bio-diverse areas in the world for future generations. Although it is the country’s smallest national park, it possesses a vast acreage of very humid tropical forest where many species of flora and fauna coexist in different habitats. These habitats include mangroves, marine environments, islands, and a large lagoon.
  • The Park is located approximately 20 minutes from most of the hotels of Manuel Antonio. Once you are inside the main gate, keep your camera handy, as you will be walking through the rainforest along 1.5km of easy-access trails for an estimated duration of 3 hours. Your experienced naturalist guide is equipped with a high-powered spotting scope, which will help you to observe the abundant flora and fauna in their natural habitat.
  • Leisure time: Lunch and dinner on your own.

ceviche from a cooking class during your culinary vacation.Day 7: Manuel Antonio

  • Breakfast.
  • Transfer to your third cooking class. There are so many unique experiences to enjoy while you are staying at Manuel Antonio. After spending some days on this paradise and having marveled at its ocean and participated in its nature and adventure activities, it is time to sample a dining space entirely dedicated to the region’s authentic flavors. Costa Rica boasts a wide variety of cuisine, known for being tasty and fairly mild.
  • During this hands-on cultural cooking class, you will immerse yourself in the fascinating side of Costa Rica’s food heritage and its sustainable practices, creating a gastronomic experience that you will never forget. The tour starts with a short 15 minutes’ drive from your selected hotel to the Quepos Village, in town; you will visit either the Central Market or the farmers market (one of the bigger ferias in the area, available only Fridays or Saturdays). The guide will provide an introduction to the hundreds of products grown locally, and explore the market’s cultural significance. Most of the people at the feria are locals out doing their daily routines, picking out an enormous variety of fruits, produce, dairy products, seafood, and meats for their families.
  • You will continue on to a picturesque rural village called Londres, located at only 20 minutes’ ride from Quepos. Here you will arrive at a private farm where you will be greeted in an open-air dining area by the local cooking instructors who will lead you through the corral and organic garden to pick up ingredients such as vegetables and other spices for your meal.
  • Once all the ingredients have been collected, you will participate in one of the best parts of this tour. It is time to share the history and major recipes from the region’s gastronomic culture through a hands-on cooking experience.
  • Traditionally, the Central Pacific Coast has been the epicenter of artisanal fishing. So, its cuisine is related to seafood. Ceviche is one of the main dishes enjoyed in this region, but you will also enjoy the process of making corn tortillas by hand, cooking the rice the old-fashioned way, and preparing a delicious chicken in a hearty tomato sauce. You will also learn to cook “picadillos,” minced meats with veggies and spices combined, and much more.
  • When everything is ready, enjoy your meal together and don’t forget to try the local dessert! You will have leisure time to take a nap while you enjoy the sounds of nature, explore the ranch, or, depending on the season, have a dip in the refreshing waters of the Naranjo River.

Day 8: Departure

  • Return to the SJO International Airport. On the way, admire various landscapes.
  • Please consider that you should arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before your flight, so it is suggested you book a flight departing in the afternoon.

Costa Rica Food Tour Details

Included in the 7-Night trip to Costa Rica

Accommodations

7-Night accommodations in a 4* or 5* hotel

Food & Beverages

  • Daily breakfast

Classes & Instructors

The classes selected for your Costa Rican Culinary vacation are focused on recreating traditional dishes through authentic methods. Your first class will take place at the personal lodgings of a local chef, who will teach you the basics of Costa Rican home cooking using classic regional ingredients. Your next two classes will take place at local farms, where you will have the chance to gather your ingredients from the garden before cooking in the open air.

Excursions

  • Regular Half Day Don Carlos Coffee Estate Tour 
  • Private Half Day Experience Costa Rica Through its Food
  • Shared Half Day Arenal 1968 Park Hike Tour
  • Shared Half Day Arenal Hanging Bridges Natural History Tour
  • Private Cooking Class & Sugar Cane Workshop
  • Shared Half Day Manuel Antonio National Park Tour
  • Private Half Day Local Flavor Experience Tour

Transfer Details

  • Private arrival transfer from San Jose airport to your hotel
  • Private departure transfer to San Jose airport

We recommend you book flights that arrive and depart in the afternoon, so as to account for transfer times.

Miscellaneous

  • Sales tax

Accommodation Information

Chayote Lodge

Chayote Lodge is a unique lodging concept launched in 2015 with the goal of creating accommodations that merge nature with luxury and bring tradition into modernity. Featuring 12 spacious bungalows boasting private balconies overlooking the surrounding vista. taking inspiration from the region’s rich history of coffee cultivation, every corner of the property resembles an element of the typical coffee picker’s lifestyle and history. Chayote Lodge integrates the most noteworthy elements of coffee tradition into is architecture and design. For example, the bungalows were built to resemble traditional Coffee Receiving Stations, locally referred to as Recibidores.

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Arenal Kioro

Nestled at the heart of Costa Rica, the Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites and Spa is located near the base of the splendid Arenal Volcano, surrounded by lush rainforest and hot springs. The awe-invoking natural-wonders are matched only by the hotel’s luxury services. The all-suite hotel is complimented by its spa services and excellent facilities. Enjoy time in the pool or on the terrace, and take advantage of the hotel’s private hot springs. The rooms are fully equipped with air conditioning and television, as well as windows offering unobstructed views of the Kioro’s fabulous property and the volcano itself.

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Parador Resort and Spa

The Parador Resort and Spa is the premier beach resort in Costa Rica, offering full services and luxury accommodations, as well as multiple private pools and beach amenities. Abundant wildlife and nature surround you as you enjoy the property’s many offerings, from the pickleball court to a fully equipped game room. Rejuvenate at the award-winning spa and visit one or more of the resort’s variety of different restaurants during your 3-night stay in Manuel Antonio.

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Flavors of Costa Rica Pricing and Tour Dates

Find pricing and dates for our culinary vacation in Costa Rica below, and contact us to book your trip.



2024 Costa Rica Culinary Vacation Low Season Pricing:
August through November

7-Night Costa Rican Cooking Vacation

US$3080 per person based on double occupancy

  • Add US$1000 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)

30% deposit due to confirm booking.

Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!

 

2024 Costa Rica Culinary Tour High Season Pricing:
December

7-Night Costa Rican Cooking Vacation

US$3460 per person based on double occupancy

  • Add US$1180 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)

30% deposit due to confirm booking.

Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!

 

2025 Costa Rica Culinary Tour Pricing:

7-Night Costa Rican Cooking Vacation

US$3460 per person based on double occupancy

  • Add US$1180 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)

30% deposit due to confirm booking.

Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!

 


2024-2025 Flavors of Costa Rica Tour Dates

2024-2025
Our Flavors of Costa Rica Culinary Vacation is available year round for a minimum of 2 people. Please inquire for availability.

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We Can Help Plan The Best Costa Rica Food Tour

Delicious lunch on a Costa Rica food tour.

Travel to paradise on a Costa Rica food tour and discover why this is one of the most popular destinations in the world!

Our cooking vacations in Costa Rica will help you take full advantage of the country's bountiful landscapes and amazing culinary traditions, as well as its stunning beaches and jungles. We can design a tour custom built for you and your tastes.

Contact us for more information!

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