TICO Private Walking Food Tour
Description
Embark on the "Taste of Jaco TICO Walking Food Tour," where authentic Costa Rican cuisine meets captivating cultural stories. Your adventure begins at Bohio Cafe with a warm welcome from your guide. Discover local flavors at various eateries, each stop showcasing unique dishes that reflect the essence of Costa Rican culinary traditions. As you stroll through the vibrant streets of Jaco, your guide shares insights into the town's fascinating transformation from a quiet fishing village to a lively beach destination. Enjoy scenic walks that highlight local businesses and cultural landmarks while soaking in the beautiful coastal views. The tour culminates with a delightful meal at a beachside eatery, where you can savor the flavors of the region while watching the sunset. This small-group experience fosters personal connections and unforgettable memories. Join us for a culinary journey that celebrates the heart and soul of Costa Rican culture!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Restaurant Stop 1: Local Cevicheria Duration: 30-45 minutes Details: Start your culinary adventure with a local twist on ceviche known as caldosa. Often called the "poor man's ceviche," this flavorful dish combines simple yet fresh ingredients. Your guide will share the history of this iconic Costa Rican dish and how it has become a beloved staple in the region.
Walk & History of Jaco Duration: 5-10 minutes Details: Enjoy a guided walk through Jaco, as your guide offers insights into the town’s transformation from a quiet fishing village to a bustling beach destination. Learn about key landmarks and Jaco’s growing reputation as a hotspot for both locals and travelers.
Restaurant Stop 2: Traditional Tico Bar Duration: 30-45 minutes Details: Head to a traditional Tico bar, where you'll savor patacones topped with your choice of chicken, shrimp, or beef. These twice-fried plantain discs are crispy and flavorful. To complete the experience, take a shot of chili guaro, a spicy Costa Rican liquor, and hear about its significance in local festivities and celebrations.
Walk & Street Exploration Duration: 10-15 minutes Details: Continue exploring the heart of Jaco with a leisurely walk through the streets. Your guide will point out local businesses, giving you a deeper understanding of the town's vibrant street culture and daily life.
Restaurant Stop 3: Costa Rican Café Duration: 30-45 minutes Details: Visit a cozy Costa Rican café to enjoy a traditional tico tortilla alongside a freshly brewed cappuccino or black coffee. Learn about Costa Rica’s world-renowned coffee production process, from bean to cup, and why coffee is a cornerstone of local culture.
Walk & Beachside Exploration Duration: 5-10 minutes Details: Stroll toward the beach, where you can enjoy the cool ocean breeze and stunning views. Your guide will explain the importance of the coast to local livelihoods and how the beach plays a central role in Jaco’s lifestyle.
Restaurant Stop 4: Latin Fusion Eatery Duration: 30-45 minutes Details: End your food tour with a classic Costa Rican dish—chifrijo, a hearty combination of rice, beans, pork, and pico de gallo. Enjoy this dish while watching the sunset and soaking in the relaxed beachside atmosphere. Your guide will share insights on the evolution of Costa Rican cuisine and how chifrijo has become a favorite for both locals and visitors alike.
Final Reflections & Farewell Duration: 15 minutes Details: Conclude your TICO food tour with reflections on the day’s experiences. Say farewell to your guide and fellow food enthusiasts as you leave with a deeper understanding of Costa Rican flavors and culture, along with new memories of Jaco’s vibrant culinary scene.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(17)
Matty was an excellent guide. He took us to 4 different restaurants and all the food was amazing. Each dish was very unique and well presented. The portions were huge and we were stuffed by the end of the tour. Matty told us much about the history of Jaco and pointed out his favorite places to eat and shop. He also was a wealth of information about activities in the area and fun things to do. Its a great activity and you will enjoy.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience! It was truly a pleasure showing you around Jacó and introducing you to some of our favorite local restaurants. We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed the food, the generous portions, and the unique flavors each stop had to offer. One of the best parts of the tour is sharing not only great food, but also the history, culture, and hidden gems that make Jacó such a special place. We're glad the recommendations for restaurants, shopping, and local activities helped make your visit even more enjoyable. Creating memorable experiences for our guests is always our goal, and reviews like yours mean the world to us. Thank you again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica in the future for more amazing food, adventures, and unforgettable memories! Pura Vida, Matty & the Taste of Jaco Team 🌴🍽️🇨🇷
We had an issue making it to the tour on time because of some traffic problems. Both the owner and our guide were extremely accommodating. Our guide, Tatiana, met us over two hours later than our scheduled time and gave us an abbreviated tour. She didn’t have to do that but we had a great visit with her. The food we got was phenomenal. We went back to one of the places the next day and ordered the same thing again! 10/10. Definitely do this tour.
Thank you so much for the kind words and for sharing your experience! 🙏 We completely understand that travel days can sometimes come with unexpected traffic, so we’re always happy to do our best to accommodate when possible. I’m really glad Tatiana was able to meet up with you and still give you a great experience despite the timing challenges. She truly is an amazing guide and loves sharing the local food scene with our guests. It also makes us very happy to hear that you enjoyed the food so much that you went back to one of the restaurants the next day — that’s always the best compliment! Thank you again for joining us on the Taste of Jacó Food Tour, and we hope to see you again the next time you're in Costa Rica. Pura Vida! 🇨🇷🍽️ — Matthew Taste of Jacó Food Tours
We had a great time as a family doing this tour. Matty was great and accommodating to our needs. He gave us the history of Jaco, great food and drinks and a good time was had by all. I would recommend taking this tour in the beginning of your time in Jaco as there is a lot of great recommendations. Great job Matty!
Thank you so much for the amazing review! 🙏 It truly means a lot to hear that you and your family had such a great time on the tour. One of my favorite parts of hosting the Taste of Jacó Food Tour is being able to share the history of Jacó, introduce guests to some of the best local food and drinks, and help people discover places they can come back to during their stay. I’m really glad you enjoyed the experience and the recommendations! It was a pleasure meeting you and your family, and I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. I hope the rest of your time in Jacó was incredible, and you’re always welcome back anytime. Pura Vida! 🇨🇷🍽️ — Matty Taste of Jacó Food Tours
Friendly guide Lots of great local food, tons of information about Costa Rica and Jaco, worth every penny, attention to details- food sensitivity.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! 🙏 I’m really happy to hear that you enjoyed the experience, the local food, and learning more about Costa Rica and Jacó during the tour. Sharing the culture, history, and hidden food spots in town is one of my favorite parts of hosting the experience. We also always do our best to pay close attention to dietary restrictions and food sensitivities so everyone can enjoy the tour comfortably, so I’m glad that stood out to you. Thank you again for joining us on the Taste of Jacó Food Tour and for the kind recommendation. We truly appreciate it! Pura Vida! 🇨🇷🍽️ — Matty Taste of Jacó Food Tours
This was a really fun experience! We had two guides who took us to try different traditional dishes. You walk a good amount but that helps with all the food you will eat. There is definitely plenty of food. We had a blast and ended with a meal practically on the beach. The food was fantastic and a great introduction to traditional Costa Rican eats. I would definitely recommend this tour! We had a great time!
This was a really fun experience! We had two guides who took us to try different traditional dishes. You walk a good amount, but that helps with all the food you will eat. There is definitely plenty of food. We had a blast and ended with a meal practically on the beach. The food was a fantastic introduction to traditional Costa Rican eats. I would definitely recommend this tour! We had a great time!
It was a wonderful experience to enjoy the different kinds of dishes, but it was equally delightful to have Matthew as our guide. He gives inside beyond the cuisine with pointing out other points of interest. I would recommend going on this tour right away, as Matthew can make suggestion for other activities you my be interested in.
Thank you so much for the kind words! It truly means a lot. I'm really glad you enjoyed experiencing the different dishes and getting a taste of the local food scene here in Jacó. Sharing not only the cuisine but also the stories, history, and some of my favorite spots around town is one of my favorite parts of guiding the tour. I also appreciate the recommendation to take the tour early in a visit—that’s exactly what I always hope for so guests can discover great restaurants, activities, and hidden gems for the rest of their stay. It was a pleasure hosting you, and I hope you had an amazing time enjoying everything Jacó has to offer. Pura vida, and I hope to see you again on your next trip to Costa Rica! 🌴🇨🇷
We made 4 stops including a coffee shop and lovely beach front restaurant. It lasted about 3-4 hours. The food was good and interesting. We expected more than food and hoped to learn more about Jaco and the Costa Rican people. Our guide wasn't familiar with area history and couldn't tell us much about the food prep or ingredients or even where the coffee was grown. We suggest participating early in your stay otherwise you will have already tried what is offered. Lastly, it's a 3 person minimum which we paid even though it was just two of us as we expected a robust experience. We would not have done the tour and instead just asked more questions when venturing on our own.
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We truly appreciate you joining us and value your honest perspective. We’re glad you enjoyed the variety of stops, the beachfront setting, and the food. That said, we completely understand your disappointment regarding the depth of cultural, historical, and culinary information you were hoping to receive. Learning more about Jacó, Costa Rican culture, food preparation, and coffee origins is an important part of the experience, and we acknowledge that this fell short for you. Your comments have been shared internally, and we are actively improving guide training to ensure future guests receive a more informative and engaging experience with stronger storytelling and local knowledge. We also understand your concerns regarding the minimum group size and appreciate your flexibility. We’re sorry the overall experience didn’t feel like the value you expected. Thank you again for your feedback—it helps us improve. We wish you the best with the rest of your travels and appreciate you giving our tour a try. Warm regards, Matt Taste of Jacó Food Tours
Matty's local food tour was one of the best we've ever had the pleasure of booking. He was super informative of the culture, as a past chef... he was also great about steering us to great food options and suggestions and he was great with the kids. The local venues he brought our group of 14 to was not only delious but was large proportipopons! We were all definitely stuffed at the end! Matt even went the extra mile to help our large group book a last minute excursion. We would for sure book with him again!
Wow, thank you so much for the amazing review! 🙏 It truly means a lot to hear that your group had such a great time on the food tour. Hosting a large group like yours and making sure everyone—from the kids to the adults—leaves happy (and very full 😄) is always the goal. I’m really glad you enjoyed the local spots, the generous portions, and the cultural side of the experience. As a former chef, sharing great food and helping guests discover where to eat during the rest of their stay is something I genuinely love doing. I’m also happy I could help get that last-minute excursion booked—making your trip easier and more enjoyable is what I’m here for. Thank you again for choosing our local food tour with Matty’s Pura Vida Bookings. Being able to introduce you to authentic flavors, hidden gems, and the food culture of Jacó—while making it fun and family-friendly—is exactly what this tour is all about. I’d be honored to take you on another food tour anytime you’re back in Costa Rica. Pura Vida! 🇨🇷✨
what a great tour! we went to restaurants we never would have gone into and ordered dishes we didn’t know existed. the tour guide was great. we got both a tour of the town and great food and some good advice on what to do while we are here. i highly recommend this tour!
Thank you so much for the kind words and for taking the time to leave a review! 🙏 I’m really glad you enjoyed the tour and that it introduced you to restaurants and dishes you might not have discovered on your own—that’s exactly the experience I hope to create. I love being able to combine great local food with a walking tour of the town and helpful tips so you can make the most of your time here. Your recommendation truly means a lot, and I really appreciate you choosing the tour. I hope the rest of your stay in Jacó is amazing, and I’d love to see you again anytime you’re back. Pura Vida! 🇨🇷✨
Loved the food and learning the history of Jaco. Would 10/10 recommend for anyone. My teenagers loved getting to know the local foods.
Thank you so much for the great review! 🙏 I’m really happy to hear that you loved the food and enjoyed learning about the history of Jacó. One of my favorite parts of the TICO Private Walking Food Tour is sharing local culture through food, so it’s awesome to know that really stood out for you. I’m especially glad your teenagers enjoyed getting to know the local foods too—that always makes the experience even better. Thank you for the 10/10 recommendation, it truly means a lot. I’d love to host your family again anytime you’re back in Costa Rica. Pura Vida! 🇨🇷✨
