More Than a Trip:
A Real Cultural Experience in Coope San Juan
Day 1 – Midday Arrival • Cooking Class • Potluck Dinner • Night Walk
Midday Arrival (12:00–1:00 pm)
Welcome to the Community center with fresh juice or coffee.
Afternoon Cooking Class (1:00 pm)
Introduction to traditional Costa Rican home cooking.
Guests help prepare a typical dinner dish:
Yadira will guide everyone throughout the process of making Enycados considered a delicacy by most Costa Ricans, will make a tortilla looking dougha to fill it with meat of vegetables, this also includes a lot of cheese that of course can be optional due to diet restrictions
Potluck-Style Dinner (6:30 pm)
Dinner is a mix of the dishes prepared by the homestay families. The number of meals depends of the size of the group, the rule is one meal per person, includes green papaya picadillos, coconut water salad, patacones, green banana salad, and much more, a highlight for most visitors
Shared at the family table for a cozy, local experience.
Finish with a bonfire by the lake with a story telling talk guided by one of the community prime movers back to the 1980s
Day 2 – Tractor Ride to the River • Free Time • Home Dinner
Breakfast (7:30–8:30 am)
Fresh fruit, eggs, homemade tortillas and local coffee.
Tractor Ride to the River (9:00 am)
Scenic tractor ride through the homestay’s fields and gardens.
Stop at a clean, quiet river for swimming, relaxing, and photos.
Fresh fruit and drinks included.
Return before midday.
Lunch at the Homestay (12:00 pm)
Traditional home-cooked meal using local ingredients.
Free Time (Afternoon) Guests can choose to:
Relax in hammocks
Explore the farm
Help with small homestay chores (optional and fun for families)
Walk to a nearby viewpoint
Enjoy coffee and homemade pastries
Home-Style Dinner (6:00 pm)
Family-style dinner served at the house.
Seasonal menu prepared by the hosts.
Night Walk (7:00 pm)
Walk around the lake and rain forest trails. Spot frogs, insects, night birds, and some mammals enjoy rainforest sounds. Flashlights provided
Day 3 – Breakfast & Departure
Breakfast (7:30–8:30 am)
Coffee, fruit, eggs, toast or tortillas.
Check-Out & Farewell (Flexible)
Mid-morning farewell
🍽️Everything Included
All meals (Day 1 lunch and 1 dinner; Day 2 breakfast/lunch/dinner; Day 3 breakfast)
Coffee, juice, fruit, snacks
Cooking class
Night walk
Tractor ride to the river
All the houses are within 5 minutes walk on a rectangular community shape around the soccer field surrounded by the lake, rain forest and cattle fields.