Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio
Description
We are a local family interacting and teaching about the local cuisine in Manuel Antonio from the local taste perspective. You will be learning directly from the locals how to best combine native ingredients with the best spices to get a tasty meal.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
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Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(35)
This was one of our favorite experiences in Costa Rica. Sergio and Ellie were wonderful hosts and made the entire class feel warm, welcoming, and personal from start to finish. Before we even started cooking, we were taken on a tour of the garden where we learned about the herbs and ingredients used in traditional Costa Rican cooking. We even spotted some wildlife along the way, which made the experience feel even more special. The class itself focused on making a traditional casado. (Of note, a pescatarian version was also prepared for my boyfriend, as he does not eat meat). Most of the preparation involved chopping vegetables, but what I found most interesting were the seasonings and techniques, which were quite different from what I’m used to. Everything was explained clearly, and we received a PDF of the recipes afterward so we can recreate the meal at home. The setting was incredible—an open-air kitchen that feels like it’s part of the jungle, with beautiful views all around. The group was small and intimate, which allowed for great conversation. We work in healthcare, and somehow the discussion naturally evolved into fascinating conversations about mental health and cultural differences between Costa Rica and the United States. And of course, Sergio deserves special mention. He is absolutely hilarious. His humor, storytelling, and energy made the class just as entertaining as it was educational. If you’re looking for an authentic, intimate experience that combines food, culture, nature, and great conversation, I can’t recommend this class enough. It felt less like a cooking class and more like spending an evening with friends while learning something new.
Wow, what an incredible review! Thank you so much for capturing the exact spirit of what we try to create here. We love that you enjoyed the blend of nature, culture, and cooking—and that the pescatarian modifications worked out perfectly for your boyfriend! Connecting with guests over great food and deep conversation in our jungle kitchen is the best part of what we do. Sergio and Ellie send their warmest regards, and Sergio is already smiling knowing his storytelling and jokes kept you entertained. Thank you for the high recommendation, and we hope the flavors of Costa Rica stay with you both for a long time!
Overall great experience and would recommend! Food was quite good and the host was very personable. Only downside was that I made a note upon booking that I am pescatarian, and they only had chicken. Would like better accommodations for dietary restrictions. Great class!
"Thank you so much for your feedback and for recommending our class! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the food and found our host personable. However, we sincerely apologize for the oversight regarding your pescatarian request. We value our guests' dietary needs and will use your feedback to improve our communication and ensure we have the right accommodations ready for everyone. We would love to have you back for an even better experience in the future! Pura Vida!"
One of the best ways to learn about a country is to cook it's favorite food. Of course you need a great teacher and Sergio and his cooking assistant, Elizabeth, were all of that. In an attractive kitchen set in the middle of a forest where many of the ingredients were grown, they not only showed us how to prepare several traditional dishes but gave the history and cultural context. The result was delicious food and a deeper understanding of Costa Rica.
Thank you so much for your insightful review! We truly believe that cooking is the best way to connect with a country's soul, and we’re thrilled that Sergio and Elizabeth helped you gain a deeper understanding of Costa Rica. It’s a joy to share our history and traditions in our open-air kitchen, surrounded by the very forest where our ingredients grow. We're glad you found the meal as delicious as the stories behind it. We hope to see you again for more 'Pura Vida' flavors!
My wife and I and a friend had a great time in the cooking class learning how to make Casado and then eating it. Was very tasty. Sergio and Ellie did a nice job. We also experienced the chocolate tour and a coffee demonstration with explanations of the climate factors related to the growing of the coffee and cacao beans. Very interesting and informative. Tasting samples of what was made during the demonstration added to the experience. Sergio is very knowledgeable, personable and a good story teller.
Thank you so much for visiting us! We are thrilled that you and your group had such a great time. It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the Casado and found the details about climate factors and the growing process interesting. Sergio truly loves being a storyteller and sharing the 'why' behind our flavors, and Ellie was happy to be part of your experience too. We're glad the tastings added that extra touch to your day! We hope to see you all again soon. Pura Vida!
Such an enjoyable day cooking with Sergio. We prepared a typical Cost Rican meal - Casada. Sergio explained what each part of the meal consisted of as we chopped and prepared the ingredients. The highlight was eating the meal we prepared!
We truly appreciate your feedback! It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the process of preparing a typical Costa Rican Casado with Sergio. We believe that learning about each ingredient makes the tasting experience even better. Thank you for choosing us and for sharing your highlight with us. We look forward to welcoming you back to our kitchen! Pura Vida!
Great experience with the very talented and knowledgeable Sergio learning to cook Costa Rican Casado and walking around the property learning about the plants. Amazing activity. Highly recommend.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We are thrilled to hear that you had an amazing time learning to cook a traditional Casado with Sergio. He is indeed very talented and loves sharing his knowledge of our plants and traditions with every guest. We're so glad the walking tour and the cooking class were highlights of your visit. We hope to see you again soon for another delicious experience! Pura Vida!
Sergio was beyond knowledgable in everything spices, plants, harvesting, cooking and made our experience amazing!!! We highly recommend this tour for everyone young and old.
Thank you so much for the high recommendation! We are thrilled to hear that Sergio made your experience amazing. He is truly passionate about the entire process—from harvesting the plants and spices to the final dish—and he loves sharing that knowledge with our guests. It’s wonderful to know that your whole group, young and old, enjoyed the visit. We hope to welcome you back to the farm soon! Pura Vida!
The best cooking class ever! Sergio was fluent in English and so fun to be with. The food was delicious and we helped on most parts of the cooking. The walking tour of the property to see the plants was an added bonus. I would highly recommend this tour for all ages.
We truly appreciate your kind words! It’s a pleasure to hear that Sergio made your cooking class both delicious and informative. We take pride in creating an experience where guests can truly participate and learn about our local plants and traditions. Thank you for recommending us to travelers of all ages. We look forward to welcoming you again! Pura Vida!
Sergrio & Ely were FANTASTIC!!! The food was amazing and the service was great. We went as a family and he gave us a tour of the plantation and the medicinal plants. Making the food was super fun. Even the dessert was amazing. 100% recommend.
We truly appreciate your wonderful feedback! It’s great to know that Sergio and Ely provided such excellent service and that the food—from the main course to the dessert—was amazing. Thank you for visiting us as a family and for recommending our tour and cooking experience. We look forward to welcoming you back to our 'tree house' kitchen! Pura Vida!
The whole experience was a delight. Starting with a surprisingly interesting kitchen garden tour that highlighted culinary and medicinal herbs. The class itself was participatory in just the right way and Sergio, our teacher and his assistant Ellie were friendly, informed and fun. We made a “traditional” Casado that was delicious. The brand new open air kitchen was a magical venue. It felt like we were cooking in a magnificent tree house. My only suggestion would be to swap out the plastic cutting boards for wooden ones and cut out the consumption of micro plastics.
What a delight to read your feedback! We're so glad you felt the magic of cooking in our new kitchen—it really is like a magnificent tree house. Sergio and Ellie were very happy to share our traditions and garden with you. Thank you for the delicious review and for your thoughtful suggestion about the wooden cutting boards; we take our environmental impact seriously and will definitely look into it. We hope to see you again for another 'Pura Vida' experience!
