Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo

Wonderful authentic experience in the home of an amazing local guide. Astanda was very kind and a joy to cook with. This class is very informative about Costa Rican culture and cuisine, and she helped us prepare the most delicious multi course meal. I will be dreaming about that food for a long time. It’s a must do if you’re in the Tamarindo area. Muchas gracias Astanda, la comida esta muy deliciosa y estoy contento con todo de la experienca.

Fun cooking experience with the family! Enjoyed participating in the preparations of all of the dishes we were making and learning new things - like how much water is in ginger! The green banana ceviche was our favorite recipe.

She was so welcoming and informative. We felt like family. The food was healthy and delicious. I can’t wait to go home and make agua de soaps (frog water)!

This is a terrific experience! There were 2other people there when we were there. Astanda was wonderful! She explained all about the dishes we were going to make and all about the spices, etc. she had great music playing in the background so we were all singing and laughing while preparing our food. And then, the best part, eating what we made- it was delicious!!! It was such a relaxing, fun time to make and eat healthy food! Highly recommend

We had a great time! The class is in her home so it is like eating with family. The ingredients were fresh and local. She had great Costa Rican recipes and explained health benefits of them. Some local stories as well. A good blend of her her making some dishes with our help and us making some on our own. Tito her helper was great, too!

We had a great time with Astanda! She welcomed us into her home, and we enjoyed getting to visit with her about Costa Rican culture and food. She was very gracious and made dishes using fish we had previously caught that morning on a fishing excursion, which made our tuna ceviche AMAZING! We also really enjoyed the desert we made with the fresh fruit. I will say that this is not your normal cooking class with recipes and active cooking. We spent our time chopping, but we got to watch Astanda cook in the kitchen. Our experience was also special because we were the only two people in the class, so it was a personal "homestay" feel which we really enjoyed. It went on much longer than expected, but we had some great food at the end with fun company.

The spot can be hard to find. Pay close attention to the directions, if you’re taking a cab, maybe have the driver call the host. The meal and our host were excellent. We learned a lot about Costa Rica produce and history. Many good stories. A delicious and entertaining evening.

I’ve done quite a few cooking classes in my home country, the United States, and abroad including a five star hotel in Italy and world renown culinary institutes. This class may be humble but I learned more about the food and culture of the area than I typically have in the fancy classes. I highly recommend. When I arrived it was not what I expected - don’t let it deter you, it is an experience of a lifetime!

Asanda is an amazing human, and she welcomed us into her home with love and kindness. We made a traditional drink with ginger, lime and cane sugar that I love so much I just made it at home! We also made many other traditional Costa Rican foods all while singing songs, learning about Costa Rica culture, history, values and more. I cannot stress enough how wonderful of an experience we had. She was also fantastic at checking in on the day of our class and made sure we had proper directions to her location. On our next trip to Tamarindo we plan to book another class. Thank you, Asanda!

This was an incredibly unique and fun experience. The host was so much fun and told us a lot of interesting stories about living in Costa Rica. The food was amazing and I'd highly recommend this experience.

I’m sharing this review to help others understand what this experience truly entails. First, the session lasted 4 hours, not the 2–2.5 hours listed. But even more disheartening, despite being positioned as a cooking class, we spent the *entire time* chopping vegetables and doing prep work, not actively cooking. We didn’t cook any dish from start to finish ourselves, so the format felt more like being sous chefs rather than learning how to prepare the recipes. It also isn’t a knife-skills class, as the knives were serrated or dull with worn-down tips. On the positive side, this is a warm cultural immersion experience. Astanda is kind, welcoming, and clearly passionate about food and sharing her background. Being invited into her home was a special element, and we enjoyed meeting the other attendees. However, I didn’t feel I learned very much, partly because a significant portion of time was spent in general conversation (including topics like COVID), which extended the length but didn’t contribute to learning. We arrived at 5 PM and didn’t eat until 9 PM, which may be difficult for families or travelers with young kids. The food had mixed reviews in our group. The slow-cooked beans were excellent, but the chicken and rice were cold and bland, and we mostly assembled rather than cooked them. Also, many images in the listing appear to be stock photos rather than pictures of the actual experience, which felt misleading. It’s also impossible to find the location with NO signage. The worst part however is the cost—$600 for our family—felt very high given the limited hands-on instruction, long duration, and uneven meal quality. I left feeling the experience did not match the price point. Worth maybe $20 including groceries, but my time was worth infinitely more Ideas for Improvement Clarify expectations in the listing!! Make it clear that this is a cultural culinary experience with prep participation rather than a hands-on cooking class where guests cook full dishes. Increase hands-on cooking instruction Allow guests to actually cook at least one full dish themselves. Even small technique lessons (e.g., proper knife skills, seasoning, heat control) would add value. Provide more real photos of the space and food Replacing stock images with accurate photos would help set realistic expectations and build trust. Improve timing and pacing Serving food earlier—or structuring prep so guests aren’t hungry for four hours—would greatly enhance the experience Upgrade tools and equipment Sharper knives and more functional prep tools would make the experience feel more professional and educational. Align price with value delivered Either lower the cost or expand the educational component to better match a premium price point. I appreciate the intention and hospitality behind the experience, but as currently designed, it felt misaligned with the expectations of a true cooking class and the premium price. I was left feeling taken advantage of, and I would not recommend this experience.

Three of us attended this class and had a wonderful time! The chef was a bit late, but an assistant got us started prepping until her arrival. All three people were extremely friendly and talkative explaining the foods we were making and the history of Costa Rica. The food was beautiful and delicious. It was a very authentic experience.

This was a very unique and amazing experience! So much information and great explanations of traditions and culture is shared. We made the most delicious meal. If there is a particular dish you want to make, you can request ahead of time, but we left it up to them. Chef Astanda shared her home with us and answered all of our questions. You will use your hands to prepare and taste the food just like you would in your own home. Each dish was made with the freshest ingredients and,most importantly, with love. Finding the place was a bit tricky especially since our phones did not have service in this area. I would recommend having directions downloaded so you can use offline maps if needed. Also this was a four hour experience, so be prepared to spend the evening. We wouldn't have wanted it any other way!

We had a great time in our cooking class! We made such delicious food using simple ingredients and the fact that we were being taught by a local was fantastic! Highly recommend!

5/21/2025 Attended this “cooking” class and immediately found it to be not as advertised. It was incredibly hard to find location, David had to stand on the street to wave us down. The other couple were 20 minutes late because they couldn’t find it, it was behind a business down an alleyway. This is not by public transportation. As a person with mobility issues, nor is it handicap/wheelchair friendly. Ground is uneven and house is not wheelchair friendly due to tight spaces. The house (not a business) does not appear clean. We were asked to wash our hands in a bathroom next to their toothbrushes (2) and the family shower. The kitchen appears cleaner, which is why I decided to stay. With this being said, the group of 4 was shocked that the host had us putting scoops of food in our hands and eating out of them, then without washing our hands chopping fruits/veggies for our group meal. We never cooked anything. We chopped fruit/veggies only and never saw the food cooked nor did we receive a recipe. We made a fruit dessert of tiny chopped fruits full of sugar, green banana ceviche, frog water, chopped veggies for the rice dish. Everything else they will say we made was not made by us, it just appeared. This was a long drawn out unnecessary 4 hrs that we kept hoping would get better. The other couple was also visibly frustrated. The host was disrespectful to the other party and disrespectful to our country. The host harassed another member of my group in order to bully them for giving them a honest review. I wasn’t going to leave a review but I would feel guilty if I didn’t warn future customers of this disaster they call a cooking class.

I do not write reviews, but as a backpacker who has been to cooking classes in many countries, I must admit I was scammed. We were in someone's unkept home down an unsafe alleyway with a lack of sanitation. We did not cook any recipes listed, and the pictures are not from this experience. The "chef" was rude to another guest (not in my group) who booked the blue zone experience, which was no different than the regular. I am appalled that this has high reviews, which led to me being scammed. I was uncomfortable but felt like I couldn't leave for nearly four hours. DO NOT BOOK!

Great time with a wonderful and charming host. Delicious food, and an authentic experience! Thanks so much for the fun!

What an experience! We ended our Costa Rican trip with a cooking class with Astanda. Astanda was an incredible host, and she taught us a few things we didn't know. I wish I had taken a picture of every part of the meal, but we were caught up in the moment. Each part of the meal was loaded with flavor, even though it used some of the same ingredients. You have to try her Agua de Sapo! Refreshing! I did take one picture of the dessert. It was an all natural frozen fruit dessert. Very tasty!

We had a great time learning how to cook some traditional Costa Rican dishes. Cooking and eating lasted almost 4 hours. Would certainly recommend this to others!

The cooking class in Tamarindo was a lot of fun and an interesting experience. It was hosted in a private home which made the event more authentic. The class included fresh fruits and vegetables that are abundant in the area and the host was delightful! I would recommend this and would do it again if I'm back in the area!

Astanda was a wonderful teacher and super fun to talk to. The food was superb and a plentiful supply! I would highly recommend this experience.

We loved cooking and getting full on delicious, healthy Costa Rican food! Astanda was a great teacher and made us feel very welcome. We mostly just cut fruit and vegetables ourselves, but Astanda made sure we knew and could see what she was doing on the stove.

This was definitely a unique experience. Susanna was very communicative and even helped coordinate transportation. We were welcomed into the Chef’s own kitchen and learned a lot about Costa Rica and its cuisine. When it came time to eat, we had prepared plenty of food. Some members of our party, thought this was the highlight of our trip while others found the environment a bit uncomfortable. Those who enjoyed it loved the rustic homey atmosphere. The other’s were expecting more of a restaurant environment opposed to someone’s personal kitchen. However, everyone agreed it’s a night we won’t soon forget. Note: The description says the duration is about 2 hours. Upon arrival, we were told it would be 3-4 hours.

The cooking class was very enjoyable. We thank our host and chef Astanda very much for welcoming us into her home, and opening her heart to us. We enjoyed her stories of life in Costa Rica and very much respect her when hearing a bit about her life. We love to cook and learn about the culture and story behind the food and Chef Astanda helped us to see a little into the culture and life in Costa Rica. We will remember her instructions when chopping ingredients "Tiny, tiny, tiny" it will bring a smile for a long time to come. Again thanks for a nice evening and a great traditional meal! Ed and Jenn

The class was fun and very informative. We learned a lot about Costa Rican cuisine. The chef was helpful and kind. Bring your appetite as you will prepare plenty of food.

We had an amazing time in the chef's home making traditional dishes. She was knowledgeable, engaging and welcoming. We just loved the time spent there.

This was an excellent experience! My son (15) and I enjoy learning new foods to cook! Everything is natural and local, the focus was on healthy foods! We started by making a yummy drink, of sugar cane, lime and ginger great for digestion. Then prep for chicken and rice and dessert. While we did a lot of chopping, into tiny tiny pieces I never knew how small I could chop! We were grateful for the owner opening her home and teaching use to cook local recipes from her grandmother. My only suggestion would be to include taxi service. We learned Uber getting home was unreliable also to have a simple sign close to the road pointing folks to her home upon arrival we were a bit confused however a good Uber driver pointed us in the right location. My son got back to the hotel and didn’t stop talking about how amazing the experience was! How he loved the food!

This was an amazing experience. We loved our chef, she was the absolute best. My wife and I think this was the highlight of our trip. The best food we had in Costa Rica. Would highly recommend doing this, my wife and I will certainly be back the next time we’re in town.

This was a fun interactive experience. The chef Astanda is full of knowledge and secret ingredients. The location is a bit hard to find so reach out and add the local transportation. We would definitely recommend and we would do this experience again!

Fun, interactive, local experience with a delicious and fresh menu from the chef! David and Suzanna created an authentic experience for our family. Excellent hosts and would recommend.

As other reviewers have noted: 1) The experience was over 4 hours. The listing says 2.5. So you should have a snack just before arriving or you will get too hungry. This is really not for kids and young teenagers for this reason or adults who don’t snack beforehand. 2) The host did not prep sufficiently before the class, thus 4-4.5 hours long. This should be more of a demo class versus spending 3+ hours chopping produce in very tiny tiny pieces. I understand that chopping is obviously an important part of the meal prep, but it is too time consuming for the class. She could tell the participants to expect to spend so many minutes chopping for each meal component. We didn’t actually cook on the stove. She and her assistant did, which is fine given it was her home, but we didn’t see what they were doing. Again, this would be better as a cooking demo class with a yummy meal to eat. 3) The host is very nice and funny. 4) It is a cultural experience - you are in the chef’s home, she provides some interesting info about the typical ingredients used in CR cooking. The meal was traditional and it was tasty enough. 5) It you want recipes expect to write them yourself and eyeball portions - no measurement tools are used. 6) The space is small for 8 participants. Additionally, bring your own hand towel. The bathroom only had a very tiny one that several people use and the chef doesn’t remind patrons to wash hands often. Napkins are also not provided unless requested. Although the music adds to the ambiance, it was a little loud and made it difficult to hear the host.

Estanda is an amazing chef! Not only did she share the secrets of traditional Costa Rican cooking but she is also kind and funny. The dinner we all prepared together was delicious and healthy, you should definitely go to this class on an empty stomach. I liked that I did not need any cooking experience and could still participate. You should definitely book this one evening and go! It’s a great way to spend an evening after the sun has gone down.

My sister and I wanted to learn how to cook authentic Costarican dishes. We left with more than delicious recipes. We learned the importance of taking your time to cook and its health benefits. Cooking together not only allowed time with loved ones but the opportunity to talk and have fun with your loved ones. Cooking with love is the secret ingredient to a tasty dish. We had a great time cutting up everything "tiny tiny", laughing and dancing. We would definitely do this again! Thank you for the experience.

My sister and I spent a enjoyable evening learning about and preparing Costarican food. What is the key to Costarican food? "tiny tiny"! (inside joke, you had to be there.) We did learn the key ingredients and wrote down the recipes to try at home. We even stopped at the local market to pick up Lizano. Make sure you go on an empty stomache we had no room for dessert by the end of the night. If you're going to Tamarindo it's a must do local experience.

Overall, it was ok. Probably not worth the money for the quality of food and experience, though. The class was 10 people. It should be max 8. Because of the spacing and number of people, attention and descriptions by the host were limited. The food was ok, though it was a bit disappointing that the ceviche was "banana" instead of fish. The water in the house went out midway through, thwn came back on. That was a bit odd. It ran over 4.5hrs - things could have been prepped more. All in all an interesting experience, but not something I'd do again.

Loved learning about the local food. Good food and conversation. Will definitely cook the recipes at home.

What an amazing night of food and fun. Susanna was so much fun. She invited us right into her home and we worked together as a team to create a beautiful dinner. She told stories while cooking, kept us chatting, and kept us fed. She taught us some great cooking tips and some great recipes. We did have a little trouble finding it because we didn't realize it was right in her home. 8-). There are a couple of things that people should know if they do this: 1. This is an all evening event. I think we were there about 4 hours. 2. This is NOT an event you should bring kids to. Thankfully there weren't any when we were there. It was just us and one other couple. Overall this was the best meal we had while in Costa Rica, and we can't wait to try the recipes on our own.

What a fun evening! We talked, we learned, we helped make an amazing meal and we even did a little dancing and singing.. And it was all done with the most important ingredient, love! Tiny, tiny Astanda. We'll never forget!

This was a birthday gift for our daughter, and it has become a tradition when we travel this time of year around the world. I am visually impaired and cooking is very special to us. The chef made it all come to life for all of us, including our 11-year-old granddaughter. She was very descriptive and let us smell, taste and feel all of the different ingredients. She also told amazing stories. My husband and I are vegetarian and she was wonderful to accommodate our needs. Astanda, we will be back! I highly recommend this class for family or friends or even a business teambuilding event.

Amazing experience. We had a private tour and the food was already ready for us to eat. The chefs were very nice and the food was delicious! I would recommend this tour to anyone looking for an authentic food experience in Costa Rica.

Astana was a treat to cook with in her home. She has a great sense of humor and kept us entertained, and busy chopping a multitude of fruits and vegetables. The different foods- Cerviche, Frog Water, Potato and Beet salad, and Arroz con Pollo with plantains were all delicious. Side note: Do book your taxi for one way only and have her call them when you’re done. Our class went well over two hours which was great, but made the taxi more expensive as he charged us for coming back twice. It was totally worth it and it was the most authentically Tico part of our stay!

I enjoy cooking classes to learn about different foods, ingredients, cooking methods, etc. In this class which was at a local woman’s home there were 5 of us sitting around a table and cutting up fruits and vegetables. The cook never really explained what dishes we were helping to prepare, what the dishes were names, or anything else. I am used to being in the kitchen. We ate a ceviche dish, chicken and rice dish, and fruit compote type dessert. The food was ok but we did not get recipes (which I expect from a cooking class) and the cook was nice enough though it was somewhat difficult to uncover stand her English ( strong Jamaican accent). I would not recommend this class.

My daughter and I attended a class in early Feb 2024. The experience was great and the food excellent. Would definitely recommend this class. A good Costa Rica food tasting event. Only draw back, is we never received the recipes electronically.

Great experience in Tamarindo. If you want the best mix of food, fun, culture and best dinner in town you cannot miss this experience. We are a family of 4 with 2 kids 11 years old. They had a lot of fun (including some dancing 😀). You will learn many dishes. All with natural and local ingredients. The chicken rice and the dessert were amazing! Sangra (chef) is very caring, loving and excited to share her food passion. A must if you are in the area! Important... make sure you arrive hungry because you will be eating plenty of food!!!!

We had a fantastic evening with Astanda learning all about local foods and preparation! And then enjoying a delicious meal we helped to prepare! Astanda is a great chef and teacher and fun to be with!

We loved the food. The instructor was awesome. Would have liked to do more cooking than chopping. We especially liked the dessert.

Our chef was wonderful and so knowledgeable. Really appreciated all the tips and tricks for making these traditional dishes.

We enjoyed learning about traditional food and the hands on experience. The food was delicious and our host was fun to be with. Come hungry! We had great communication ahead of time to discuss what we would make and appreciated a ride being arranged to and from our hotel. Would highly recommend this experience.

How to make ceviche. Excellent variations between fish and vegetarian. Would highly recommend this tour. Cognescent of allergies. A little hard to find. Recommend taxi service arranged by the tour