Private San Jose: Bites & Sights with Cooking Class
San Jose, Costa Rica
Office phone number: +506 4000 5730
Private San Jose: Bites & Sights with Cooking Class
San Jose, Costa Rica
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Get the ultimate Costa Rican foodie experience on a private tour that takes you from the local markets into a local kitchen. Wander busy streets, bustling markets and tranquil parks as you learn the secrets of Costa Rican culture and cuisine. You’ll learn how to brew coffee the traditional way, sample authentic delicacies from the market, and participate in a hands-on cooking class in a local home. Delicioso!
Please note: This tour is available in Portuguese and German as well as English
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Highlights
- Discover handicrafts, herbal remedies and fresh produce on a private tour of local markets
- Savour tasty seasonal samplings of Costa Rican food as well as organic coffee
- See a side of San Jose known only by locals and not found in guidebooks
- Spend time with a local family in their home and learn about their life in Costa Rica
- Participate in a hands-on private cooking lesson and learn to make traditional dishes
- Taste the best tropical juices and learn how to brew coffee
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Schedule details
- Duration: 6 hours
- Pickup location:
Your hotel in San Jose city.
- Pickup time: 2.30 PM
- Drop off location:
Your hotel in San Jose city.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, food samples, coffee, dinner (cooked by you), transportation pick-up and drop-off.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide and driver.
Make the most of San Jose’s culinary scene! This private tour takes our usual Bites & Sights Tour and combines it with a cooking class for the ultimate Costa Rican foodie experience.
On this private San Jose tour you’ll get up close and personal with Costa Rican life, through local food, history and even the herbal remedies of folk medicine. Nothing could get you closer to authentic San Jose than strolling through the streets with a local as they show you the ins and outs of daily life.
Your San Jose food tour starts with a morning pick-me-up cup of coffee in a café located in the Borbons market, where you’ll get to know your guide and relax into your surroundings. From here, we’ll take a stroll through the vibrant market, tasting local fresh fruits while learning about the agricultural history of the area. We’ll visit a number of stands, from a coffee stand where we’ll learn the Costa Rican chorreado brewing method, to a local folk medicine stand where we’ll learn about curing everything from a hangover to a broken heart.
Your market tour continues along local roads towards the Central Market. Seeing the diverse sites of these markets will help you get to know the country and its rich history better. Plus, you’ll indulge another sense &mash; taste — as you get more in tune with San Jose. 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. Here you can sample local delicacies, learn about the herbs used in local medicines, or simply sip on your second Costa Rican coffee of the day. It’s here that we’ll also buy the ingredients for our cooking class.
We will then continue to our chef’s house, where we’ll spend three unforgettable hours learning the intricacies of making traditional Costa Rican food — such as how to cook picadillo, a stew made with ground beef and tomatoes, and the different tamale-making techniques. We’ll make two different types of tamales, vegetarian and pork, wrapped in banana leaf – delicious!
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 will a stomach full of food and a head full of memories that will last a lifetime.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, food samples, coffee, dinner (cooked by you), transportation pick-up and drop-off.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide and driver.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at your hotel for pick up. Please check your hotel details are correct on the voucher.If your details are not correct, it is very important to please email us to confirm your correct pick up hotel using the contact details on the voucher. If you prefer you may also phone the change through to us during business hours.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Dietary Notes
This tour can be customised to cater to dietary restrictions. Please notify us in advance if you have any dietary needs. You can do so in the ‘Additional request’ box at checkout, or by emailing us at info@sanjoseurbanadventures.com
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Local contact
Office phone number: +506 4000 5730
Email address: info@sanjoseurbanadventures.com
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