Cooking with a Costa Rican Family: An Insight into Local Traditions and Customs

Experience the warmth and hospitality of a Costa Rican family as you join them in their kitchen. Learn about local traditions and customs while cooking delicious traditional dishes.

Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Ceibo Arenal Home - After booking our experiences, you will arrive at our kitchen where you will be very welcome and where you will share a good time with an authentic Costa Rican family.
    After introducing ourselves and getting to know each other over a refreshing drink, we will take you on a tour of our organic garden, where you will learn about…
What's Included
  • Lunch included
  • Tea and coffee provided
Meal Options
  • Chicken rice - Shredded chicken, a special marinade sauce, Vegetables, spices are added to the rice mixture.
  • Typical desserts - Organic fruit honeys
Additional Information

Our humble family of five hails from Costa Rica, composed of Lidiana, Eddie, our boys Aaron, Edison, and our dear daughter-in-law Tiffany. We live with our three feline companions and a canine pal. Each day we push to enhance our lives, holding steadfast to our goals as a Costa Rican family and farming folk – to preserve and share our cultural…

Location
Ceibo Arenal Home
Personally I wait for you with pleasure, in our parking I give you the indications of the whole experience and I put them at your disposal. It is our pleasure to serve you.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(35 Ratings)
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37tamm
Feb 5, 2025
Lidiana and family are fantastic, great food and experience - Lidiana and her family were so great! The whole family was inviting and seemed genuinely excited to have us there. Aaron took us around their property where we picked fresh ingredients and learned a little bit about some of the native plants. We prepared, cooked and ate a traditional Costa Rican meal and they even made us mojitos! It was fun to cook foods that I had never cooked before.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T6869pssams
Dec 17, 2024
Wholesome and Delicious fun with a wonderful family! - My wife and I are very glad we booked this cooking class with Lidiana and her son Aarón! They welcomed us into their comfortable outdoor kitchen. We were then given a tour of their lovely garden where we collected some herbs and vegetables for the meal. We even got to see the baby sloth that lives in their backyard! We learned how to make some very delicious arroz con pollo, fried plantains, and yuca hash browns paired with a delicious mojito using a syrup infused with mint from the garden. The best part however was the dinner conversation. It was so nice to talk and connect with one another. After dinner, Aarón took us on a night tour of their yard where we spotted several different frogs and sleeping birds. Highly recommend this tour if you’re looking for great food and great company!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janna_k
Dec 13, 2024
Fantastic experience! - This was so much fun! My friend recommended it and I was not going to do it because I’m not that into cooking, but this experience was so much more than that! We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Lilliana and Aaron and they were so hospitable and welcoming. We started with a tour around the property with Aaron telling us all about the plants and animals (sloth, toucans) and we picked a few things for dinner. Then the cooking - mostly chopping and learning how to make the dishes…everything was SO tasty and fresh and wonderful. We loved talking to them and then after dinner, we got a nighttime tour and saw the red eyed tree frogs, bullfrogs, cricket frogs, iguanas, toads…so cool! Highly recommend this experience!!
Review provided by Viator
Venture305533
Aug 17, 2024
A Cost Rican Cooking Experience that Should Not be Missed - The Brothers, Aaron and Edison, made our first Costa Rican cooking experience a memorable one. It started with a walk around their property, where we selected the organic ingredients for the salad and some veggies. Their property overlooked the volcano and was just beautiful. We also learned about the plants around. We then all joined in to chop, prepare and cook the wonderful chicken rice and veggie dish. My 11 year old son truly enjoyed taking part in the entire experience. After desert, the brothers took us on an evening frog tour around their ponds, which was so full of life and frogs, My son was so happy. This 3 hour experience with this warm family should be on all visitors list when visiting the Fortuna area of Cost Rica. We are so happy we decided to cook with these two talented brothers.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jamiebr9339bt
Jun 15, 2024
10/10 recommend! - This was my second time attending the cooking class with Lidiana and her family, and I would go again and again! A beautiful, friendly family who opened their home, garden and hearts to us. They took time to explain everything to us and show us the way they live. Amazing experience. 10/10 recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katie_s
Jun 7, 2024
Unique organic cooking experience with a gracious family ❤️ - The family is so welcoming! They were social and we felt very welcome in their home and garden. They spoke excellent English and were happy to communicate what and why we were using certain ingredients. The organic garden is a beautiful walk and we enjoyed the fun frog discovery tour in the dark. The only thing that would make it better would be to receive a link to the recipes we made! We are ready to try these at home. Loved it and for sure recommend to couples, families… anyone who wants to experience a little local flavor with a wonderful family working together to create a great experience for all.
Review provided by Viator
Shonnaw
May 21, 2024
Delicious foods, gracious hosts, and wonderful overall experience. - Aaron and Edison were our hosts for the evening. The tour of the organic farm was great! We learned what herbs and vegetables they grew and got to taste them as well. There were a couple varieties of herbs that looked completely different than what we have in the states - but taste the same. They were the Cilantro and the spinach. We learned to make Arroz con pollo (can't wait to get the recipe - so yummy!), yuca hashbrowns (OMG!), fried plantains, refried beans and a pineapple & sugar cane dessert. Not to mention the mojitos made with fresh mint. Bonuses we weren't expecting - a baby sloth in one of their trees, several species of frogs, and the view of Arenal Volcano was postcard perfect from their property. I highly recommend booking this adventure!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Xiscom2014
May 14, 2024
Fantastic and original experience - Fantàstic evening watching the sunset in their private garden. We saw 2 sloths, mother and son, several toads and frogs. We recollected some herbs and veggies for the salad. We cooked together, they showed us some tricks and tips and we do feel confident to cook this again home. The whole experience was a celebration of life and nature. Can't recommend it enough. Their passion for life is contagious. One feels more alive and full of joy afterwards. Pura vida
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Venture09209996038
Apr 13, 2024
Delicious food! - Amazing time! Felt very welcomed. Awesome hospitality. Food was super delicious. Best i had in my week stay in Costa Rica. Not to forget the homemade mojito with fresh mint leaves from garden. Highly recommend. Would def come back.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eboesige
May 4, 2024
The host family was... - The host family was welcoming, warm and friendly. The site has a lovely organic garden. The actual cooking portion was disappointing. In terms of preparing the meal, my only hands-on was chopping ingredients, not the cooking experience I had hoped for.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
February 2025
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