3 Authentic Food & Cultural Experiences in Costa Rica for Families

When you think about a Costa Rica family vacation, cloud forests, volcanoes, sloths and howler monkeys are probably the first images that pop into your head. But there’s another side of this Central American country that’s every bit as rewarding: its food and cultural traditions and the people who keep them alive. Our CB Travel Advisor team spent a recent week in Costa Rica, and some of our favorite memories didn’t come from spotting cute creatures or bouncing across hanging bridges … they involved grinding cacao beans by hand; patting corn tortilla dough into thick rounds; riding in the hoofprints of sabaneros; and sprawling on floor cushions in the shade of a gazebo as we ate our way through a scrumptious homemade picnic. Experiences like this provide something richer and more memorable than sightseeing alone, particularly with kids in the mix: a chance to get hands-on and gain a deeper appreciation for the traditions that have shaped Costa Rican life for centuries.

Here are three standout activities we tried, each one engaging enough to hold kids’ attention and authentic to the Costa Rican way of life. Intrigued? We can book any or all of them for you with our trusted on-the-ground partners as part of a full Costa Rica itinerary — connect with us for more details.

3 Kid-Friendly Food and Cultural Experiences in Costa Rica

An Interactive Coffee, Cacao & Pineapple Farm Tour

Costa Rica’s fertile volcanic soil and tropical climate have made it one of the world’s foremost producers of coffee, cacao, pineapple and other fruits such as papayas and mangoes. You can enjoy all of those freely during meals throughout your trip, but why not take it one step further and get a firsthand look at how these local gems are grown and harvested? Tracing them from plant to plate offers an entirely different perspective than munching and sipping.

We spent a fantastic morning at a family-run working farm in the Alajuela region that’s built around these crops. Guests can choose from themed tours centered around coffee and cacao or a pineapple-and-sugarcane combination; we did both and got to sample to our hearts’ content.

During our 2 hours onsite, our knowledgeable, personable guide walked us through every stage of coffee and cacao production, from cultivation and harvesting to roasting, fermenting and preparing the finished products. We examined glossy cacao pods and the beans inside, saw coffee cherries ripening on the bushes, handled freshly roasted beans and learned how each step influences the final flavor in your cup or chocolate bar.

What makes this experience especially appealing for families is how interactive it is. Rather than simply watching demonstrations, everyone has a chance to join in. We got to grind roasted cacao beans into a rich paste, taste chocolate ranging from mild to very dark cacao percentages, sip a traditional cacao drink and dunk slices of sweet pineapple and banana into silky, just-prepared chocolate sauce.

One of the highlights was seeing our guide demonstrate a traditional metate, a carved volcanic stone once used throughout Central America to grind cacao beans by hand. There’s nothing like watching this process to leave you with a deep appreciation for the labor that went into every bit of chocolate produced back in the day.

Our grand finale was pressing fresh sugarcane juice, a lively team effort that included feeding stalks into a hand-cranked machine and turning the gears until a steady stream of pale green juice flowed into a waiting bucket. Sweet and grassy, it tastes nothing like the commercial versions you might have tried at home. Adults can also quaff a bit of Costa Rica’s signature sugarcane spirit, guaro, served (as per tradition) in a polished cow’s hoof that gets passed from person to person. Talk about a way to toast the adventure!

Picnicking in Style on a Private Estate

One of the activities we most love incorporating into our clients’ Costa Rica itineraries is a private gourmet picnic, so it was especially fun to experience this for ourselves. The setting is a peaceful family estate hand-selected by our Costa Rica travel partners, and the hospitable owners handle the details from start to finish — they prepare the food, arrange the flowers, set the table, serve and clear, and take care of any other needs guests might have. When we arrived, they led us down a garden path to a secluded open-air gazebo, where we were delighted to see a beautifully decorated wooden table laden with an incredible-looking feast.

Learn more about how we take the stress out of family travel planning.

We handle the details, you focus on the fun! Get info and read FAQs about our custom vacation planning service, from boutique hotel bookings to hand-designed itineraries and activities you can’t book on your own.

How it Works

Comfortable floor cushions beckoned us to settle in and enjoy the menu, which included fish ceviche kissed with citrus juice (there’s a mango version for vegetarians and non-seafood eaters), crisp green plantain and yuca chips with fresh guacamole, warm enyucados (fried croquettes) filled with cheese, homemade tortillas with papaya root picadillo, a crisp garden salad, tropical fruit picked at peak ripeness and handcrafted chocolates for dessert. Everything is made from scratch, and it shows.

After lunch, there is no rush to leave; you can sprawl in the shade on a chaise while the kids explore the gardens or play on the lawn. This is pura vida — the Costa Rican philosophy of slowing down and soaking up life’s simple pleasures — at its absolute finest.

Horseback Riding and Hands-on Tortilla Making

During a stay in Guanacaste toward the end of our trip, we combined two distinctly Costa Rican experiences into a memorable afternoon at a local hacienda: learning to make corn tortillas from scratch and heading out on horseback to help move cattle across the ranch. Our hosts welcomed us with a refreshing chilled hibiscus drink before we gathered beneath a shaded pavilion for an introduction to traditional corn milling. They showed us how families once used a metate, very similar to the one we’d seen at the coffee and cacao farm, to grind corn by hand before the advent of modern mills. Spoiler alert, it’s trickier than you’d think to get the perfect texture.

Then came the fun part: Following along as our host demonstrated, we gently pressed and shaped balls of fresh masa into the rustic tortillas that are a staple of Costa Rican cooking (kids will have a field day with this). Next we turned the leftover dough into small empanadas and rosquillas, crunchy corn rings that are a beloved snack throughout the country. Once our creations had cooked on a traditional wood-fired griddle, we sat down together to enjoy them while they were still warm, paired with local soft cheese and cups of coffee made from beans grown right on the property. There is something uniquely satisfying about eating food you’ve prepared yourself, more so when it’s part of a culinary tradition that has endured for generations.

With the edge off our midday hunger, it was time for the horseback portion of the excursion. After being fitted with helmets, matched with horses (all sweet and docile) and given a brief riding lesson, we set out for the pastures to help bring cattle back toward the ranch. “Help” may be somewhat generous — the capable ranch hands and the cattle themselves did most of the work while we enjoyed the rural scenery from atop our mounts — but it was a great way to get a peek into everyday ranch life in the area.

Even the inexperienced riders on our team were comfortable thanks to the easy terrain and the gentle pace at which the horses move. Although children need to be at least 5 to ride alone, younger ones may be allowed to ride double with a parent in some cases.

Back at the ranch house, we wrapped up the afternoon with a filling and flavorful casado, or Costa Rican lunch, which included a choice of grilled pork, chicken or fish alongside plantains, cabbage salad, rice and black beans, creamy rice pudding for dessert, and of course, one more cup of that indescribably smooth coffee. As the locals say, “¡Qué rico!’

TIP: If you want to add a little extra adventure to your day, the hacienda also offers zipline canopy and ATV tours.

Relevant Links:

Browse all family-friendly activities and accommodations in Costa Rica on Ciao Bambino

25 tips for visiting Costa Rica with kids

Best itinerary for a Costa Rica family vacation

Origins Astral: An extraordinary eco-retreat deep in Costa Rica’s rainforest

Costa Rica off the beaten path: Our best kept secrets

Arenal: An introduction to Costa Rica’s rainforest with kids

Photos by Lisa Frederick except where noted.

Editor’s note: This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.