LA CUCHARA DE MI ABUELA
- Autor: Michelle Fernández
- Category: Rural Experiences
- 20/08/2025
From the Guanacaste area, specifically Guatil de Santa Cruz, you will find a project full of culture and tradition, where Chorotega art is identified as pottery and traditional food which are the donuts and homemade bread, the experience is in one place where the people who receive you are full of kindness and desire to provide the best service to give an unforgettable activity, “La cuchara de la Abuela” (Grandma’s spoon).
The community of Guatil is steeped in Costa Rican folklore by using centuries old practices passed down from generation to generation. The pottery features bold earth colours derived from the local clay used in its production. It is stylised with unique designs created by each person, inspired by the indigenous Chorotegas of Costa Rica. Their food allows you to taste the distinctive, rich flavours of Costa Rican traditions reflected in the cuisine.
The history of La Cuchara de la Abuela, was born from the need to find a different source of income in the Pandemic, as everyone was out of work because in the area was very present in the sale of handicrafts and when the visitation of tourists fell, they had to take another direction and started selling home-cooked meals to people who requested it, the characteristic taste of Guanacaste quickly won people over and after everything happened they decided to open to tourism so that those who visit take more than go and buy a handicraft.
The person in charge of giving the name and personality to the project is Doña Hemilda Chavarría who is now 94 years old and with her charisma still tells the stories of yesteryear, her recipes and the Guanacaste flavour she has passed on to her children who are in charge of promoting and attending to the tourists in the project.
The combination of Chorotega art using clay and mud is an enjoyable experience. Vladimir is in charge of explaining the process, and visitors will have the opportunity to try how the pieces are made and moulded. Then it’s on to the kitchen, where you can enjoy cooking classes on the famous tortillas palmeadas, and other characteristic dishes.
At lunch time you can enjoy a delicious chicken achiotada which is a very typical dish of the area of Guanacaste and also its taste is delicious is tradition that families gather on Sundays to eat it and enjoy a pleasant time, and this way you will feel it because the hosts make with their warmth that you feel in the visit to the grandmother’s house, that the main objective and why is given the name of the tour. Another tradition that is present is the part of making donuts, homemade bread and tanelas in an oven made of clay and handmade where the taste of home is embodied in every bite that is given, usually the tradition is to take in the afternoon with coffee or tea also gathered with family or friends to share and have a space to share.
Undoubtedly with the visit to this tour you will find all the Costa Rican culture embodied from the creation of handicrafts made with hands and clay that means a tradition that is almost not seen nowadays and the homemade food that can be enjoyed with the family and that makes you feel that human and family warmth.
