Puerto Viejo Food Tours is a Local Costa Rican company founded with the intention that good food should be shared with good friends.
Ryan has a degree in Culinary Arts from the Culinary Institute of America. He has been an Executive Chef in hotels and private clubs, offered consultant services, and has owned multiple restaurants. We have traveled the world seeking new cultures, adventures and cuisines for the last twenty years. Our goal is to help you create lifetime memories during your visit here.
We are a small family that decided there had to be more to life than what we were living. We are from Southern California and have two children, aged 19 and 8. Lora's background is 20+ years in Early Childhood Education. Ryan's background is 20+ years as a chef working in fine dining, banquet and casual. His experience ranges the spectrum from Executive Chef and Owner/ Operator to FOH manager and front line staff.
We first came to Costa Rica in 2011 with our son, Koda. We ended our trip on the Caribbean side knowing, even then, that there was something deeply special about this coast. Fast forward a dozen years to 2023, and we, along with our daughter Gaia, arrived in the Puerto VIejo area intending to let the jungle work its magic.
Our family has traveled often seeking out new food, culture and experiences. From Central and South America to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, each time searching for the authentic experience and adventure unique to each place. Every country, every people has a story, a history. So often, food is critical to that story. From the street food and night markets in Bangkok to Aspara dance theater and garlic spiders in Siem Reap…from slaughtering and butchering our lunch in Phong Nha at The Pub with Cold Beer to free diving to catch our dinner with local vendors in the Rosario Islands…we have made it our mission to get to know people through sharing the experiences of their food.
We have decided to throw out the rule book of how we are supposed to look and act in our mid-forties, relocate to a different country and completely change careers. We are moving through the joy and chaos of the process of rediscovery and reinventing ourselves as people, parents and expats.
The food on this coast is as varied as the people. What makes this place so unique in all of Costa Rica is the blend of cultures- mestizo, Afro-Caribbean, Indigenous Bribri, Panamanian, Nicaraguan and expat come together here.
Afro-Latino culture is vibrantly represented in Puerto and the surrounding areas, having been cut off from the rest of the country through difficulty of travel and de facto racist policies that the government has been trying to rectify since its emergence from the civil war in 1948. Because of its geographical and racial divide with the Western parts of Costa Rica, a distinctive culture has flourished here. You’ll find a blend of culture and food– calypso and Reggae music, Victorian influenced caribbean architecture, jerk chicken and barbeque, patacones and typical Casado lunch dishes.
Puerto Viejo has a great night scene, with clubs and dancing and lots of great restaurants. Here you will find everything from Indian dal and curries to whole red snapper, oysters on the half shell and ceviche. There is Asian fusion and stir fry, sushi and poke as well deep bowls of delicious Italian pasta to be found. Smoothies and fresh fruit abound as do bakeries that serve flaky pastries and fresh breads.
I once saw Puerto Viejo described as a hip, rockin’ Rasta town. At one time, this was a sleepy fishing village and fishing is still a huge part of its identity. Rastafarian influence and culture can be felt all throughout this unique little corner of the world. I hope it charms you with its magic, jungle, people and food the way it did us. Allow us the privilege of helping you discover its secrets and delights, its hidden gems and surprises. We hope you consider booking a tour with us today.
