Costa Rican Countryside Food & Culture Tour in Playón
Description
Farm-grown meals, riverside walks, real stories, and a grandmother’s kitchen under the trees. Share firewood-cooked meals made from farm-fresh ingredients, walk to a local river or hidden waterfall, and hear the real stories of rural Costa Rican life — from a grandmother who’s lived it. Just 40 minutes from Jacó, this countryside food and culture tour brings you into the village of Playón, where four generations of the Godínez family live side by side. You’ll eat in a rancho under macaw-filled trees, meet friendly rescued dogs, and be hosted by Doña Yuri — a cook, storyteller, and matriarch who grows most of what she serves. This is not a restaurant, and it’s more than just “traditional food.” It’s a chance to connect — with people, places and the real, hidden Costa Rica beyond the beaches and ziplines.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your visit begins with a generous, home-cooked Costa Rican meal — prepared with love, tradition, and the freshest ingredients the land has to offer. Expect to be pleasantly surprised. The menu changes with the seasons and what’s freshly harvested from the garden or nearby farms. You might enjoy dishes made from maize, yuca, and plantain, tortillas, alongside slow-cooked meats like gallina achiotada, chicharrones traditional gallos, or hearty dishes made with yuca or chiscasquil — a nutritious native green full of ancestral flavor. You’ll also taste traditional countryside stir-fries, gently sautéed with herbs and infused with the smoky aroma of firewood, — all prepared with care following traditional recipes that have been passed down through generations.
Everything is made from scratch with local ingredients harvested or sourced the same day. Your meal is accompanied by refreshing, healthy drinks prepared on the spot, such as agua de sapo (sugarcane drink) or seasonal fruit infusions — the perfect complement to this countryside feast. It’s all served family-style, just as Costa Rican families have done for generations: gathered around the table, sharing food, stories, and laughter. As you eat, Doña Yuri will share tales of her family, how the village of Playón has changed over time, and folk stories deeply rooted in the land she calls home. "This is not restaurant food. This is home cooking, crafted with care over firewood by hands that carry generations of knowledge. Come eat like a centenarian — and taste the Blue Zone diet of rural Costa Rica."
Gentle Nature Walk & River Time After lunch, you’ll choose between two peaceful walks: ️ A 20-minute walk to a nearby hidden waterfall, with natural pools where you can swim and relax Or a 10-minute walk to the Parrita River, ideal for a refreshing dip and quiet connection with nature Both are gentle and scenic, with plenty of shade and wildlife.
Back at the rancho, Doña Yuri will serve you traditional cafecito (coffee time). You’ll enjoy a freshly chorreado coffee at the table, served with local sweets — like homemade cajetas, ripe tropical fruit, or a seasonal treat warm from the comal. It’s a time to relax, share stories, and savor the slow, peaceful rhythms of the countryside — under the trees, with a warm cup in hand.
Depending on the season, you’ll participate in activities like harvesting yuca, grinding corn traditionally, learning about plantain cultivation, or discovering medicinal plants. Experience a hands-on connection with the land through activities like harvesting yuca, grinding corn in the traditional way, learning how plantains are grown, and exploring medicinal plants. Depending on the day and season, you’ll participate in one or more of these authentic rural practices, guided by Doña Yuri’s family knowledge. This interactive moment offers a glimpse into the agricultural traditions that nourish the food and culture of Costa Rica’s countryside.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
You'll be picked up at the hotels or AirBnd. Please contact us to provide your pickup location.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(13)
Our experience of this tour was just lovely. Josue introduced us to Kat and her mother. Transportation was provided from Jaco. We were introduced to local food and fresh ingredients in a lovely outdoor kitchen. I loved, loved the introduction to plants in her yard. There was access to a restroom. We also walked to a local waterfall, wear good shoes. We were the only people at the falls. Great way to support local businesses and learn about culture.
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience, Amy! It was a pleasure spending the day with you. I'm so glad you enjoyed meeting Kattya and Yuri, learning about the local plants, and experiencing a more authentic side of Costa Rican culture. The outdoor kitchen, fresh ingredients, and peaceful waterfall are some of my favorite parts of the tour as well. Thank you for supporting our small family-run experience and the local community. Wishing you many wonderful memories from your time in Costa Rica. Pura vida! 🌿😊
his tour was one of the best that I have been on regarding culture, history and the way of life in Costa Rica. We started off with Josue picking us up at where we are staying to bring us to the destination. Along the way, he explained the history of the area, when roads were built in the Central Pacific as well as the timeline in developing the area. He was full of information about this area. When we arrived at our destination, we met Kattya and her mother Yuri. They were super friendly and explained to us the history of the land and the indigenous way of life. We then went on a nature hike through the area to a beautiful waterfall and along the way saw a troop of Squirrel monkeys! What an experience that was! We then came back and a delicious traditional Costa Rican lunch was that was enjoyed together telling stories. After lunch we saw how sugar cane was pressed and were able to sample some along with different plants used for different ailments. We were shown local plants that the indigenous used and explained the planting and harvesting. At the end of our time, we feel that we have gained friends in the area and are so grateful for the time that we were able to spend with Josue, Kattya and Yuri.
Thank you so much, Mike! I’m really happy to hear the tour felt like such a meaningful look into Costa Rican traditions, food, and way of life. It was a pleasure sharing the history of the Central Pacific with you, and I’m so glad you got to spend time with Kattya and Doña Yuri, enjoy the waterfall, see the squirrel monkeys, try the traditional lunch, and learn about the plants and sugar cane. More than anything, I love that the experience felt personal and friendly. We’re grateful for the time we shared with you too. Pura vida!
This tour was one of the best that I have been on regarding culture, history and the way of life in Costa Rica. We started off with Josue picking us up at where we are staying to bring us to the destination. Along the way, he explained the history of the area, when roads were built in the Central Pacific as well as the timeline in developing the area. He was full of information about this area. When we arrived at our destination, we met Kattya and her mother Yuri. They were super friendly and explained to us the history of the land and the indigenous way of life. We then went on a nature hike through the area to a beautiful waterfall and along the way saw a troop of Squirrel monkeys! What an experience that was! We then came back and a delicious traditional Costa Rican lunch was that was enjoyed together telling stories. After lunch we saw how sugar cane was pressed and were able to sample some along with different plants used for different ailments. We were shown local plants that the indigenous used and explained the planting and harvesting. At the end of our time, we feel that we have gained friends in the area and are so grateful for the time that we were able to spend with Josue, Kattya and Yuri.
Thank you so much, Mike! I’m really happy you enjoyed the experience and connected with the history, the land, the food, and especially with Kattya and Doña Yuri. That day really felt special, and seeing squirrel monkeys on the way to the waterfall was such a beautiful bonus. We’re grateful you joined us and even happier that you left feeling like you made friends here. Pura vida!
We had an amazing day! Travelled to a family farm and were treated like family. Beautiful meal. Our guide Josue and Kattya and Kattya’s Mother were lovely and very informative about Costa Rica. We walked to a very private waterfall which was beautiful.
Hi, thank you so much for the lovely review! I’m really happy you enjoyed the experience in Playón. Spending time at Kattya’s family farm, sharing a home cooked meal, and visiting the waterfall is something very special for us, so it means a lot to hear that you felt welcomed like family. I’ll be sure to share your kind words with Kattya and her mother as well. Wishing you wonderful memories from your time in Costa Rica. Pura vida! 🌿😊
This was my favorite thing we did in Costa Rica. Kattya is a fantastic guide. I loved listening to her experiences growing up in the area. The waterfall she took us to was so beautiful! Swimming in the cool water beneath a waterfall is just special. Her mother made a wonderful meal for us. The food reminded me so much of my grandmother’s cooking. We learned a lot about plants used for medicinal purposes. I would book this tour again and again.
Jaimee, thank you so much for this beautiful and heartfelt review 💛 I’m really happy to hear that this experience became your favorite part of your time in Costa Rica. Visiting Kattya’s home and sharing her family traditions is something very special for us, so it means a lot that you connected with her stories and the place where she grew up. I’m also glad you enjoyed the waterfall and that refreshing swim — it’s always such a magical moment in the mountains. And hearing that Yuri’s cooking reminded you of your grandmother’s food is one of the nicest compliments she could receive. Thank you again for your kind words and for supporting this very local, family experience. We would be truly happy to welcome you again anytime. Pura vida 🌿🌄🇨🇷
Since we'd been on one of Josue's (owner Jaco Food and Culture Tours) tours already, we already knew what to expect from him. He'a a warm and knowledgeable person who is so proud of his country and heritage. But on this tour he was accompanied by Kattya and it was her ancestral home we visited. We learned of the foods (and cooking methods) used by her family for generations - everything comes from their land! We even got to help with some of the preparation (I pressed some sugar cane so we had the sweet juice with our lunch!) After learning about the foods from the land, Josue tokes to a secret waterfall just 20 minutes away. It was so lovely and refreshing to swim in the fresh water! We then came back to the hacienda for a delicious lunch and heartwarming stories. If you're looking for a unique experience that you'll never for get, this is the tour for you!
What a beautiful reflection — thank you so much for taking the time to share this 💚 It really means a lot that you came on more than one experience with me, and I’m so happy you got to live this very special day in Playón. Visiting Kattya’s ancestral home and sharing her family’s traditions is something deeply personal for all of us, and it’s wonderful to hear how much you connected with the food, the land, and the stories behind them. I love that you even pressed sugar cane yourself — such a sweet and memorable moment. And yes… that little waterfall always feels like a secret gift from the mountains ✨ Thank you again for your trust and openness. Wishing you many more meaningful travels and beautiful memories of Costa Rica. Pura vida 🤍
14 People took this tour in late December. The hosts were super nice and hospitable. Communication before the tour was excellent in terms of response time and pick up location The rustic and charming home was in a small town and was adjacent to a lovely river. The food was good and they were plenty of drinks. The waterfall was also very pretty.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this lovely review. I’m really happy to hear that your group enjoyed the experience, from the warm hospitality of the hosts to the rustic home by the river and the waterfall visit. It means a lot to know the communication and logistics felt smooth as well. Hosting a large group like yours is always special, and I’m glad the food, drinks, and setting all came together to create a memorable day. Wishing you wonderful memories from Costa Rica, and thank you again for joining us.
This was for sure the most memorable tour of my trip. It immediately felt more like visiting friends than a typical tour. The waterfall is super cute and easily acessible, yet kind of a hidden gem so we had it to ourselves. And I loved learning to cook delishious, healthy traditional dishes sourced from as fresh as it gets ingredients from the garden. I learned sooo much about the Tico and indigenous Huetar culture, local history, local lore, folk tales and way of life and rainforest plants! A day that left us smiling and inspired! Fully recommended. Don’t miss out on this chance to feel fully immersed into what this beautiful country and it’s people are about.
Thank you so much for this beautiful review. It makes me really happy to hear that your day in Playón felt more like visiting friends than taking a tour. That is exactly the spirit of this experience and the way Kattya and her family love to welcome people. I am glad you enjoyed the waterfall, the cooking session, and all the stories behind our local culture, history, and food. Days like this are special for us too. Thank you for being so open and curious. It was a joy to share this part of Costa Rica with you. I hope the memories stay with you for a long time, and I am really happy the tour left you smiling and inspired.
Great way to see the inside of a local meal how they live, definitely an awful the beaten path kind of tour they’ve been doing this tour for about six months, definitely bring water shoes and shoes that can get muddy and you can climb in if you go in a smaller group the waterfall that we went to was amazing. It was actually like three or four small waterfalls. With a small pool size swimming area, deep enough to jump in in places.
Thank you so much for joining the countryside tour and for sharing your experience. I am really glad you enjoyed the local meal and the visit to the waterfalls. It is a very simple and authentic place, and it means a lot that you appreciated that side of Costa Rica. The waterfalls are beautiful and I am happy your group got to enjoy the whole spot in such a fun way. Thanks again for taking the time to write this, and I hope the rest of your trip is full of good moments.
A very fun tour, the experience I loved and is a great opportunity to see Costa Rica from a different angle.
Gracias por tu mensaje tan bonito 😊 Me alegra mucho saber que disfrutaste la experiencia y que te permitió ver otra cara de Costa Rica. Eso es justamente lo que buscamos: mostrar la calidez, la cultura y la vida auténtica del campo costarricense. ¡Pura vida y gracias por acompañarnos!
