Chocolate Cacao Farm and Traditional Flavors with Dona Mara Tour
Experience a wonderful family-friendly adventure in the enchanting Arenal Volcano area, where you’ll dive into the rich culture and delicious food of Costa Rica with our Chocolate Cacao Farm and Traditional Flavors with Dona Mara Tour. This half-day excursion promises an unforgettable journey for all your senses.
Tour Highlights:
- Chocolate-Making: Your adventure begins with a visit to a local cacao farm nestled at the base of the majestic Arenal Volcano. Your friendly guide will lead you on an engaging journey through the fascinating world of chocolate-making, from bean to bar. You’ll get hands-on experience in every step of the process, including harvesting cacao fruit, roasting beans, and mixing your very own chocolate creations. Of course, there’ll be plenty of chocolate tasting along the way!
- Costa Rican Cooking: Next up, you’ll immerse yourselves in the culinary wonders of Costa Rica with a hands-on cooking experience. Hosted by the talented Dona Mara, a beloved local chef from the Chachagua region near Arenal, this cooking adventure is perfect for families. Dona Mara will warmly welcome you into her kitchen and introduce you to the day’s menu, filled with delightful Costa Rican dishes.
What to Expect:
- Chocolate Delights: At the cacao farm, you and your family will not only learn about cacao trees and the art of chocolate-making but also engage in the whole process, from roasting to mixing. Kids and adults alike will relish the opportunity to craft their own chocolate treats, making this a fun and educational experience.
- Cooking Fun: In Dona Mara’s kitchen, your family will discover the secrets of crafting “Tortillas Caseras” from scratch. From grinding corn to hand-patting tortillas and toasting them on a traditional wood-burning stove, you’ll be actively involved in creating these mouthwatering delights. Additionally, you’ll learn the art of making “Chilera,” a homemade hot sauce that adds zing to every Costa Rican meal. Kids can join in on the fun and learn these culinary traditions firsthand.
- Hearty Family Feast: After your culinary efforts, it’s time to savor the fruits of your labor. Gather around the table on Dona Mara’s open-air terrace and indulge in a hearty meal featuring your handmade tortillas, along with a variety of traditional “gallos,” such as picadillos and meats in sauce. Don’t forget the local cheeses and sometimes smoky chorizo! It’s a feast that will tantalize your taste buds and bring your family closer together.
What families love about this tour: Families adore this tour because it combines adventure, education, and delicious food in one unforgettable experience. It’s a fantastic opportunity for kids to get hands-on and learn about cacao cultivation and the art of chocolate-making. Plus, the cooking session with Dona Mara allows families to bond over preparing and enjoying authentic Costa Rican dishes. With its family-friendly atmosphere and scrumptious treats, this tour is a recipe for cherished memories.
Tour Duration: Approx 5 hours
Carefree Booking. Change your travel plans with no penalities. See details & restrictions
Important Notes
- Minimum of operation 3 people (adults).
- For families of less than 3 people, please contact our agents for more pricing information.
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Why travel with Costa Rica 4 kids?
We create family FUN trips for all family types. Whether you are traveling with toddlers, tweens, or teens we are your go-to tour operator for all things KIDS in Costa Rica. With over 20 years of experience, we take ordinary to EXTRAORDINARY, creating your dream itinerary in Costa Rica´s tropical playground. Let our destination experts plan every detail and our guides lead you on a magical journey of PURA VIDA here in COSTA RICA.
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Our destination experts are passionate family travelers who have a high level of knowledge of family-friendly tours and accommodations. Their first-hand experiences lead to the creation of all Costa Rica for Kids itineraries. Our experts are here to answer your every question about traveling with kids in Costa Rica.
Everything Kids in Costa Rica
Over 20 years of experience has built a strong foundation for creating trips for every age and stage. We work closely with tour operators to ensure all trips are created through the eyes of children. It is our top priority to ensure the safety of your family while traveling in Costa Rica. The best part? We live here, we are the experts, we are here to create your dream family vacation!
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Traveling with your family can be stressful. We know there are many important details when traveling with kids. We are here to remind you that with our help, traveling will be a fun, seamless adventure from start to finish. We have relaxed our policies and any of our trips can be booked with just a $100 deposit! Let´s get planning!
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Booking Terms
Find My Costa Rica
PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, VISAS, SHOT REQUIREMENTS Participants are responsible for obtaining proper entry documentation. All foreign nationals including infants are required to possess a valid passport to enter Costa Rica. All passports must have at least six months remaining before expiration at the time of departure from Costa Rica. Visitors from the US traveling with a passport issued by a US agency are not required to have a visa or shots when traveling from the US, but visa and/or shot records may be required by travelers from other countries or US travelers when the US is not their point of embarkation before arriving in Costa Rica. It is each traveler’s responsibility to ascertain whether a visa or shots will be required and to secure necessary documentation prior to travel. No refunds will be given for missed flights or denied entry caused by failure to carry proper documentation or for any other reason. If travel documents are lost or stolen or other issues need to be resolved with the participant’s embassy once in Costa Rica, there will be no refund for forfeited transfers, hotel rooms, or tours. We will gladly provide assistance, but any incurred expense would need to be paid at the time service is rendered and are at the guest’s sole expense. Visitors to Costa Rica may carry a copy of their passport in lieu of the original while traveling within the country.
DEPARTURE TAX Departure Tax is now included in the ticket price for most airlines, but please verify with your air carrier prior to travel.
DEPOSITS & PAYMENTS A deposit of $100 per person is required at the time of booking. Deposits are non-refundable unless stated differently at the time of booking. If you are not paying in full at the time you make your reservation, you will receive an invoice with a final payment due date specified. If we have your credit card on file, it will automatically be charged for any balance on the due date specified, if payment has not been made in full in advance of the due date. It is your responsibility to notify us if your credit card expires or is canceled. If you are making payment online and we do not have your account information on file, a payment reminder will be sent and payment will need to be received by the agreed due date. Any reservation made within 31 days prior to arrival must be paid in full at the time of booking. If payment is not made in full by the specified due date, the reservation will be canceled, rooms and tour activity space released, and no refund of any deposits or payments collected will be refunded.
CHANGES TO ITINERARY Any changes to the itinerary at the guest’s request while in Costa Rica are at the guest’s sole expense. NO REFUNDS will be given for any unused rooms, tours, meals, or transfers. No exceptions will be made. For bookings made within 30 days prior to the departure date, the itinerary is final. We will do our best to assist with making changes with the change fees assessed. Within 61+ days of travel: $25.00 per change Within 15-60 days of Travel: $50.00 per change Within 14 days of Travel: $100.00 for parties of one to five, $150.00 for parties of six or more All change requests must be via telephone during regular business hours. Changes to reservations cannot be guaranteed, but we will do our best to assist you.
CANCELLATION POLICY All cancellations must be relayed to us via telephone during regular business hours and must also be submitted in writing to our office. The date of the response from us, acknowledging receipt of your request with our cancellation confirmation number, is the date that will be used to determine which penalties outlined below will be assessed. It is your responsibility to verify that you have written notification from us that your request has been received. No refunds will be made for unused hotel rooms, meals, diving, tours, or transfers. These policies do not apply to any airfare booked through FIND MY COSTA RICA, S.A. You will be given specific airline cancellation policies at the time of booking. The policy for the property where you are staying and the dives you booked are subject to the following cancellation penalties:
- Cancellations 31+ days prior to arrival – loss of deposit
- Cancellations less than 15-30 days prior to arrival – loss of deposit and any penalties applied by providers
- Cancellations 14 or fewer days prior to arrival – 100% penalty
NO SHOWS No shows will forfeit the full amount of the package.
INSURANCE We strongly encourage all guests to purchase comprehensive travel, medical, accident, luggage, emergency, trip interruption, and dive insurance prior to the departure date. Activities such a scuba diving, white-water rafting, zip-line canopy, canyoning, rappelling, tubing, kayaking, horseback riding, or ATV tours, as well as visits to volcanos, hot springs, mud baths, and spas, carry inherent risks. Participation is voluntary and all activities are performed at the customer’s own risk. We will be happy to provide a quote for trip interruption and/or dive travel insurance if you provide us with your birth year.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- What to bring while traveling and touring: A small backpack for your towels, mosquito repellent, etc., plus a small amount of money for additional beverages, snacks, or souvenirs.
- Please be advised that local laws and customs prohibit the sale and service of alcohol On Thursday and Friday (Good Friday) before Easter Sunday.
- Please note that all itinerary times are approximate. We try to cater to our guest’s needs and will modify activities to meet these needs when possible.
- Prices do not include tips (tour escort, guides, drivers, baggage handlers, cowboys, divemasters, etc.). Many of the various people who will help you during your stay will greatly appreciate any consideration you can afford to give them.
- Not included in tour prices: International or in-country ground or air transfers not specifically included in your itinerary; departure taxes; cost of passports, visas, or tourist cards; excess baggage fees; additional fees assessed by airlines; personal expenses such as room service, beverages, or laundry; gratuities to tour escort, guides, or drivers, personal communication charges; personal insurance; or any sightseeing stops, tours, meals, or beverages not specifically included in your itinerary.
- Although Costa Rica is a small country, and the distances in miles or kilometers between cities may be short, due to the conditions of the winding, and sometimes bumpy roads, clients can expect long travel times between travel points.
- Traveler’s checks are not readily accepted in Costa Rica, due to the long wait for funds to become available.
- It is not necessary to exchange a large amount of money into local currency as US dollars are widely accepted. Airport money exchange centers do not usually give a competitive rate.
POLICIES AND CONDITIONS
- Every reasonable effort is made to maintain rates as quoted, however, due to circumstances beyond our control (fuel, taxes, etc.) rates are subject to change with notice. Increased government taxes and fuel surcharges may be collected by the vendor at the time service is provided.
- FIND MY COSTA RICA, S.A. its owners, associates, agents, and employees) assume no responsibility for injury, loss, damage to person or property or for additional expenses due to acts of God, sickness, weather, terrorism, strike detentions, riots war, quarantine, theft, civil unrest, or government regulations and restrictions, over which it has no control.
- FIND MY COSTA RICA, S.A. assumes no responsibility for any accidents, delays, inconveniences, expense, or mishap of any kind whatsoever resulting entirely or in part from causes beyond our control.
- FIND MY COSTA RICA, S.A. reserves the right to make changes that we deem to be reasonable in the itinerary where necessary.
- For trips and tours where FIND MY COSTA RICA, Inc. acts solely as booking agents, we assume no liability should any contracted supplier fail to provide any service. Bill Beard’s sole responsibility if the supplier fails to provide services contracted is to refund guests money for specific services contracted with a specific supplier.
- Handling and security of all baggage and personal belongings are at the owner’s risk and FIND MY COSTA RICA, S.A.. is not responsible for any loss or damage.
- FIND MY COSTA RICA, S.A. is not responsible for loss of life, personal injury, cancellations, delays, overbooking, or loss of services caused by any international or domestic flights.
- FIND MY COSTA RICA, S.A. its employees and principles are not responsible for any loss of life, personal injury, bodily injury, or loss of property as a result of the signer’s participation in any activities while in Costa Rica or travel to, from, or within Costa Rica caused by contracted Costa Rican representatives, tour companies or agents.
- FIND MY COSTA RICA, S.A. shall be free of all responsibility or liability for any act, error, omission, injury to person or property, loss, inconvenience, financial loss, accident, delay, irregularity, physical or emotional harm suffered by any person while en route to or while a guest at any facility or any other event which may be occasioned by reason or through the act of God, theft, abuse, defect, or default of any company, hotel, person, direct air carrier, transfer company, and /or their employees, to result in unused accommodations or services in connection with reservations made on behalf of the customer by FIND MY COSTA RICA S.A.
- FIND MY COSTA RICA, S.A. is not responsible for providing refunds or credits for trips not taken or delayed due to a customer’s failure to return this signed document prior to or at the time final payment is made.
- Any disputes between participants and FIND MY COSTA RICA, S.A. will be decided upon under Costa Rican law and La Fortuna, San Carlos Carillo, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica, will be the venue for any legal action.
$255