Private Tour

Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

2 hours

Mobile ticket

With the help of Doña Chela, you will learn about the preparation of traditional Costa Rican dishes with products from the garden and the oldest way in the heat of the wood-fired kitchen.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Specialized infant seats are available

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

Not recommended for people who have the flu or cough

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

You will learn how to prepare a typical recipe with products from the garden and in the style of the grandparents in the wood stove, and then enjoy a dinner in the company of the hosts.

Sample Menu

main

Typical married

Preparation of rice, fried beans, salad, Picadillo and a meat or vegetarian option. In addition to preparing the webbed tortillas.

What‘s Included

Typical married with natural drink.

Private transportation

Options

Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience

Reviews

5.00

128 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

128

Must do in Costa Rica!!
Erica W,,Dec 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
My favorite thing we did on our trip! If you have the opportunity to do this cooking class, you must! Learned a lot and was such a treat getting to chat with Chela. Highly recommend!!
This was a top experience near La Fortuna!
emilygH6112MB,,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My family of 4 (kids are 18 and 21)) had a fantastic time learning to cook authentic food with Chela! It was interesting, fun, and delicious. It was a top experience of our time in La Fortuna!
Thanksgiving Dinner in Costa Rica!
Z1984PLsarahg,,Dec 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We made a delicious Thanksgiving dinner at El Fogon de Chela! Our host was welcoming, down-to-earth, and made all five of us feel useful, including our five-year-old. We enjoyed every minute, especially sharing our meal and chatting with her afterwards. It was at the top of our Costa Rica trip!
Lovely evening!
Anonymous,,Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The food is delicious! The experience is unique. We learned how to make several traditional dishes over on open-fire stove. The owner, Dona Chela, hires single moms in the community so you are really helping by participating. As a family, we had a great time. Our kids were 15 & 17
Wonderful personal cooking class and conversation
Wanderer522293,,Nov 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My family loved the class. We chose our dishes, Chela taught and ate with us and we talked about our families. The food was the best meal we had the whole trip. Cooking with Chela is a must-do and wonderful for the whole family.
Chela is awesome! Food...
Christiane R,,Nov 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Chela is awesome! Food was delicious, location just a 15 mins ride outside of the town of La Fortuna. You cook on an outdoor stove. We went on a day that periodically rained and were protected completely from the rain. Chela loves what she does and you can taste it in your cooking. She took photos for us and shared her recipe book too. 10/10 recommend. Felt very authentic !!
Simply AMAZING!!!
lorieW3441OS,,Oct 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This class was AMAZING!! Chela is warm, kind and she prepares her food with love! Her instructions are very easy to understand and follow. Everything from the fruit juice to the dishes prepared were absolutely delicious! And the best part is, as a horrible cook, I do believe I can make these dishes at home! You get to choose the dishes you would like to make from her grandmother’s recipes. They were not complicated or difficult and didn’t have a lot of ingredients but yet they still exploded with flavor! She has a lovely shop where you can purchase some of the special seasonings used, salsas and souvenirs. I can’t say enough about how much fun and how special this experience was! It’s something you must do if you are near La Fortuna. Thank you so very much to you and the staff Chela!! Pura Vida! 🇨🇷🙏❤️
More than what we expected !!!
836heatherl,,Sep 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Incredible experience! Authentic. Genuine. Catered to our needs. Personable Fun. All the things. Learned so much!!! My husband loves to cook and is a vegan, he is looking forward to sharing all that he learned with our family back at home!!! We are so grateful we did this experience!!!
Wonderful experience!
Rubina G,,Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Really great experience to do with family or friends. Chela was incredibly sweet, helpful, informative and the meal was absolutely delicious! Would definitely recommend especially if you’re interested in a super personal experience with a local
Take this cooking class!!!!!
Ersin S,,Sep 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Amazing!!!! Chela is the absolute BEST!!!! Please take a cooking class with her and support her business!!! She shares not only incredible recipes passed down to her from her grandmother, but she shares her heart and soul with you, too!!! Take her cooking class.... trust me!!!!!