Tours/San Jose/Authentic Costa Rican Cooking Class & Central Market
Authentic Costa Rican Cooking Class & Central Market
4.8(5)San Jose3h 30min
VIATOR5.0(2)TRIPADVISOR4.7(3)
+4 photos
At a glance
Duration
3h 30min
Price from
$53 / person
Location
San Jose, Costa Rica
Rating
4.8 / 5 · 5 reviews
Languages
EN, ES
Group
Small group, up to 14
Cancellation
Free cancellation
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
San Jose Urban Tours
Meeting point
In front of the Central Bank, Monumento Los Presentes.
Description
During this immersive experience, you'll not only indulge in the deliciousness of Costa Rican food but also gain insights into local agricultural products and other ingredients that define Costa Rica's cuisine.There’s no better place to experience local cuisine than the Central Market, a 120-year-old building full to the brim with typical Costa Rican food and drink. It’s here that we’ll also buy the ingredients for our cooking class. Learn to prepare classic Latin American dishes such as ceviche and empanadas, picadillos, all while sipping on mojitos, sodas, and tropical drinks.
There’s no better way to experience the flavour of a country than by going from market to kitchen, and we hope by the end, you feel like an authentic Costa Rican foodie! After your class, head back to your hotel with a stomach full of food and a head full of memories for you and your family that will last a lifetime.
Tour Options
Authentic Costa Rican Cooking Class & Central Market
What's included
Included
Coffee Tasting, learn how to brew coffee the traditional way
Chifrijo, Sweet Plantain Empanadas with cheese or beans, Picadillo and Patacones, Sweet Dessert.
Participate in a hands-on this cooking lesson and learn to make traditional dishes
Something fun to do for kids, teens, adults and grandparents!
Enjoy drinks like cas mojitos.
Taste the best tropical juices.
Not included
Everything that is not specified that is included
Traveller Ratings
4.8
5 reviews
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Important Information
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Authentic Costa Rican Cooking Class & Central Market take?
Authentic Costa Rican Cooking Class & Central Market lasts about 3h 30min.
How much does Authentic Costa Rican Cooking Class & Central Market cost?
Prices start at $53 per person for this San Jose experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Authentic Costa Rican Cooking Class & Central Market for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is In front of the Central Bank, Monumento Los Presentes. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Authentic Costa Rican Cooking Class & Central Market offered in?
The experience is available in EN, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 14 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(5)
M
Mel1624
March 13, 2026
Amazing Cooking Experience
Angel was an amazing guide. He was very knowledgeable and made the entire class fun and entertaining. We learned so much and the food was delicious. We'd highly recommend this cooking class.
Operator response
Thank you so much for this fantastic review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful time and that our guides made a great impression with their knowledge of San José and Costa Rican history. Sharing our local fruits and traditional foods is always a highlight for us, so we're glad it felt like a real treat! Hearing that you’ve been telling everyone about your experience means the world to our team—word-of-mouth is the ultimate compliment for a local, homegrown business like ours. Thank you for being such an amazing ambassador for San José Urban Tours. Pura vida!"
L
Laura_B
January 28, 2026
Fun Experience
It takes 3 to 3 and a half hours. Lots of chopping involved. Could have had sharper knives.
Food was good.
Angel our guide was personable and informative!!
G
Grace_H
January 26, 2026
We had Angel as our tour...
We had Angel as our tour guide! He was very knowledgeable in central market items, and as well as being able to explain things during the cooking session. The cooking portion is completed as a group since the dishes you’re making will be family style. This would be good if you had a party of your own for a more private experience or solo and be able to meet new friends.
R
Retire2venture
January 21, 2026
A fun afternoon with a feast at the end!
Our guide for the tour was Angel, very friendly and knowledgeable. He took us to central market to buy many of the ingredients for the cookery class, which was very interesting. The group then prepared a number of dishes under Angel's guidance including a delicious shark based taco dish, guacamole, pecidillo, plantain "tacos" etc which the group then thoroughly enjoyed eating. Angel was very attentive to all dietary needs.
It was a fun three hours. However it could be improved if the guide improved his teaching skills. He tended to divide up the tasks among the group but didn't then give us an overview of the whole process and no recipe sheets. Recommended as a good introduction to Costa Rican cuisine.
Operator response
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your detailed feedback with us! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the market visit and that the dishes prepared under Angel's guidance—especially the shark-based tacos, picadillo, and plantain 'tacos'—were thoroughly enjoyed by the group. Angel always takes great pride in ensuring all dietary needs are perfectly met.
We also want to sincerely thank you for your constructive feedback regarding the cooking class structure. Your suggestion about providing a clearer overview of the whole process and offering recipe sheets is excellent. We are already looking into creating branded digital recipe sheets so our guests can easily recreate these traditional Costa Rican dishes back home. Thank you for helping us grow and for recommending our experience as a great introduction to our cuisine. Pura vida!"
E
emmanuelcE4092BR
August 8, 2025
Culinary immersion in San José thanks to Angel!
Excellent morning with Angel, after a visit to the local market we cooked empanadas, plantains, tiburon, guacamole... we learned a lot and we are feasted!!!
Operator response
Merci beaucoup pour votre commentaire ! Nous sommes ravis que vous ayez passé une excellente matinée avec Ángel et que vous ayez aimé la visite du marché ainsi que l’atelier de cuisine avec les empanadas, plantains, tiburón et guacamole. C’est un vrai plaisir de partager notre culture et notre gastronomie avec vous. Au plaisir de vous accueillir à nouveau ! 🌿🇨🇷
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Tour
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Authentic Costa Rican Cooking Class & Central Market