Flavors of the forest: ethnobotanical & culinary experience

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

6 hours

Mobile ticket

Perfect for You If…

-You’re passionate about food as a bridge to culture and ecology

-You want to learn about plants from a local, ancestral perspective

-You seek a sensory, slow, and hands-on experience

-You value local wisdom and active participation.

Additional Info

Cancellation Policy

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

What To Expect

A regenerative, sensory day through plants, fire, and living culture. Monteverde is not only explored—it is tasted. This full-day experience invites you into the aromas, textures, and wisdom of Costa Rican rural cuisine and plant traditions. Guided by local women and community knowledge keepers, you'll walk among medicinal and edible plants, gather ingredients mindfully, and cook over fire while listening to stories that carry the flavor of earth and memory. It’s a journey that nourishes body, spirit, and community. What You’ll Experience Guided ethnobotanical walk through a medicinal garden or forest trail Interpretation of native edible, medicinal, aromatic, and ceremonial plants Hands-on harvesting of ingredients in a sustainable, respectful way Traditional cooking workshop (tortillas, picadillos, empanadas, herbal teas) Shared lunch made with freshly gathered local ingredients Stories of cultural identity, ancestral practices, and rural culinary heritage Time for dialogue, reflection, and quiet connection in a regenerative rural setting. This experience is led by local women and families who preserve ancestral knowledge and food traditions.

What‘s Included

Tickets

Lunch

Options

Flavors of the forest: ethnobotanical & culinary experience

Reviews

5.00

3 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Incr-EDIBLE Experience
corav293,,Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our full-day ethnobotanical tour with George of the Cloud Forest was the most memorable experience of our time in Monteverde. We spent the day exploring the forest, gathering edible plants, and learning about the medicinal uses of so many species. George is an outstanding guide. Deeply knowledgeable, patient, and above all, a kind and genuine human! After collecting ingredients, we returned to his restaurant, where we prepared and shared a delicious meal made entirely from what we had gathered. The experience was truly immersive, and we loved meeting several of George’s family members, who welcomed us so warmly. If you’re looking for a meaningful, hands-on way to connect with the land and culture of Monteverde, this tour is an absolute must. Highly recommended!
Jorge is THE “Guy”de!
laurier801,,Mar 22, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I’ve done many tours with many guides and Jorge (George) was by far the most knowledgeable, generous, enthusiastic, kind, entertaining guide we’ve had the opportunity to enjoy. Do not hesitate to book a tour, or two or three with Jorge. We did three private tours with him; Monteverde Cloud forest where we were engrossed in nature and informed of the many animals/foliage of the area, saw a tarantula (very cool) and hiked to the continental divide. At the Curi Cuncha Reserve we walked for several hours at a nice stroll taking in humming birds and many other bear full birds including the gorgeous Resplendent Quetzal and spent the afternoon at Don Marcos reserve for a treasured time of up close birding, a delicious home cooked lunch and a locally sourced perfect cup(s) of coffee (and being from Seattle that means something!) and when the rains came, impromptu lesson in making and enjoying handmade tortillas. Jorge and his guided tours were the highlight of our eight days in Costa Rica. We’re already planning our next trip back! Oh…and the pictures he can capture with your phone and high powered telescope are museum quality! Fabulous! Book him!!
Perfect spot with a perfect guide!
Jacques-André D,,Feb 7, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Georges is amazing! And he is on so many level. First of all he is a great human being. He cares about his community and it shows in everything he does. He knows about nature, wildlife and birds and he is a great communicator. I spent 3 days with him concentrating on bird photography and it was worth every minutes! I went a few times to Don Marcos and I got to see an amazing number of species in a great environment, perfect for photography!