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

Sample Menu

Main

Homemade Tacos (Chicken, meat, fish or vegetarian)

Main

Ceviche with patacones

Main

Empanadas (Chicken, meat, cheese or vegetarian)

Main

Casado (Rice, beans, mashed yuca, plantan, chicken, meat or fish)

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 travellers

Operated by Costa Rica Descents

Cancellation Policy

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

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveller Photos

Featured review

Brandie_K

We did this cooking class in mid August. It was amazing! Our guide was super informative, he took us on a tour of their organic farm and explained the process of making/growing different things. Then we made tamales from (almost) scratch, and they were simply delicious. They also made us coffee and dessert (pineapples cooked I’m not 100% sure how) but they were great. The atmosphere was wonderful, great music, everyone was in a great mood and really made our experience. Would do again and would recommend to others.

Reviews

5.0

57 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 57 reviews

La Fortuna organic Farm-to-table cooking class

Brandie_K, Aug 2023

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Hello, greetings! We are very pleased to know that you really liked our cooking class, we are to serve you . Ssee you on the next visit to Costa Rica Thanks

Great micro farm experience

Joy_E, Aug 2023

We had a great time at this class. We really enjoyed walking around the small garden/farm and getting a little intro to different plants/trees native to Costa Rica. We made empanadas and ceviche, I don’t know if we’ll ever make them at home, especially since the empanadas were deep fried, but it was fun to see how simple they were and was a great fresh lunch.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Hello, On behalf of the Costa Rica Descents cooking class staff, we are very pleased to know that your culinary experience was pleasant. Thank you for letting us be part of your memories during your vacation in Costa Rica. Best regards, Heylen

Great easy quick cooking lesson

Erika_M, July 2023

Great explanation of farm by Werner. Chef Melania was wonderful and the food excellent. Even accommodated a non-fish eater for the ceviche with a separate banana ceviche. Had a good time. Thanks!!

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Hello, Thanks for your comment, is a pleasure to know that your Costarican culinary experience was good! Best regrads, Heylen

Fun experience!

Claudia_N, Apr 2023

Jimmy and Gerlad were friendly and involved us in the menu choices. Jimmy explained Costa Rican typical foods. Price was great compared to other cooking class options.

Response from Host, May 2023

Hello: Thank you very much for your comment, for all of us at Costa Rica Descents It has been a pleasure to be part of your traditional gastronomic experience. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your learning about this important Costa Rican tradition as is our food. Best regads, Heylen - Costa Rica Descents

Verymuch recommend!

Kimberly_F, Apr 2023

This was such a nice experience. Our class was just my two friends and myself but we really had a great time with Kevin, Andrea and the gentleman who takes care of the garden. Watching Andrea cook on an open fire and having gluten free empanadas was such a treat.

Response from Host, May 2023

Hello: Thank you for your nice comment, it is a pleasure for all of us at Costa Rica Descents to know that your encounter with Costa Rican gastronomy was a pleasant experience, thank you for letting us be part of it. Best regards, Heylen - Costa Rica Descents

Fun evening for the family

Scott_S, Mar 2023

Learned how to make empanadas and ceviche in a small, friendly class. We also learned how to prepare and use local herbs and fruits. Great evening with the family and now my son can make us dinner.

Loved Farm-to-Table Class!

Jeffrey_W, Mar 2023

Wonderful experience…just what we were after as a family trying to experience the local cooking culture. Christopher and Melania were outstanding. Come hungry. We will be coming back on our next trip!

Not as expected

Jake_B, Jan 2023

“Farm to table” is misleading. We got a tour of the farm and then got into the kitchen where everything was picked for us. There were no vegetables ready to be picked (off season) which is fine, however we were under the impression we would be picking from the garden. When the cooking began they had the wrong meal prepped for us and basically did all the cooking for us. When showing us how to do certain things like peel an onion they did all the work for us. When bringing these problems to their attention they were understanding and did issue us a refund (still pending) so that was appreciated. However with the pace that the class was going at it seems like we would have watched them do all the cooking if we continued with the class. They mentioned that miscommunications happen when booking with 3rd party websites so this may be attributed to that. Based on other reviews it seems like we got the short end of the stick.

Lies

Amanda_S, Dec 2022

This whole experience is a lie. You do not go and pick any ingredients from a garden. You just chop up a few vegetables and call it good. There was no excitement. And they really need better lighting, you can barely see anything.

One word ….wow!!!!

Mary_E, Dec 2022

Man o man was this a fun and intimate experience! Melanie had us make ceviche, empanadas, pantecones and Freshly brewed coffee. She told us her chef secrets to make the food outstanding. Thank you dear Melanie. Christopher was our tour guide of the lovely gardens and farm animals. The baby pigs and yak who loved scratches it fell asleep. I learned to like my coffee black like my eyes, strong like my character and dark like my soul. Was it soul? Not sure. Nonetheless if you are looking for a wonderful cooking experience with a true chef please go. Tell them Maria and Kelly sent you.

Yummy Costa Rican food

Kailyn_A, Nov 2022

Yummy food, great chef. I would suggest finding a tour earlier in the day or if the facility did the tour inside with better lighting. Otherwise, great tour

Excellent from Beginning to End!

Katherine_R, June 2022

The entire experience was fun and lovely. Would go again, for sure! The people were warm and welcoming. We started with a wonderful garden tour, tried fresh picked ingredients, and learned how to squeeze sugar cane to make juice. We made tons of delicious empanadas from scratch, smashed and fried plantains, plantain chips, and a soursop smoothie! The wood stove was so neat to use and watching them just cut a plantain leaf down and dry it to use as a plate was cool! We learned so much and I can’t wait to try it at home for my family!

Response from Host, June 2022

Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us. We hope you get to make som delicious empanadas back home.