At Chachagua Rainforest Hotel, the forest is full of stories. Some emerge from the canopy with the flap of wings. Others are passed between hands at the farm, stirred into coffee, or woven through generations of rural life. To understand this place deeply, you need someone who can guide you through both the land and the traditions that grow from it.
That’s where Rubén comes in. “The rainforest and the hotel are so close, you basically wake up on the trails—that’s something really special,” Rubén says. “What makes Chachagua unique is that it’s right where several rainforest reserves come together. This area is part of the lungs of the world. When you walk through it, you feel how alive and important it really is.”
As a nature guide at Chachagua, Rubén shares more than trails and bird calls. His focus is on culture, and the rhythms of daily life in the countryside. He doesn’t separate ecology from identity—he brings them together through hands-on experiences rooted in storytelling and flavor.
Originally from San Ramón, Rubén moved to the Chachagua region two years ago and recently joined the Chachagua Rainforest Hotel team as one of its newest guides. Though he started at the hotel just four months ago, Rubén brings over two years of guiding experience, along with a passion for sharing the wonders of the rainforest.
He studied English at the University of Costa Rica before continuing his education through specialized courses in nature guiding. When he's not leading tours, Rubén enjoys welcoming his family to the area—they often come to visit and explore the trails and surrounding wilderness together.
Rubén’s tours often begin at Finca Don Lelo, the hotel’s working organic farm. Here, rows of sugarcane, cacao, bananas, and medicinal herbs grow under a living canopy. Guests walk with Rubén through the farmland, stopping to crush leaves between their fingers or peel back the husk of fresh cacao.
As he moves from plant to plant, Rueben shares the history, uses, and cultural significance of what grows here—sometimes recalling family memories, sometimes teaching techniques passed down by farmers in the region. A small cup of traditional coffee, brewed slowly and poured with care, rounds out the experience.
Each ingredient is connected to the land and the people who have worked it for generations. Rueben doesn’t just explain what something is—he helps you understand where it fits in the larger picture of Costa Rican life.
Rubén’s favorite experience to lead is the Coffee and Chocolate Tour, though his love for the forest and guided nature walks runs just as deep. What draws him most to the tour is the rich cultural legacy behind each ingredient.
“For Ticos, cacao has been with humans for more than 5,000 years,” he shares. “It’s beautiful to show people how it’s made and imagine what it was like to discover it for the first time.” When it comes to coffee, Rubén sees it as a foundational part of Costa Rican identity. “Costa Rica is what it is today thanks to our coffee culture,” he explains. “We began to export it to other countries, and the wealth it generated even helped make San José one of the first cities in the world to have electricity.”
For Rubén, each cup tells a story—and he’s passionate about helping guests experience it firsthand.
There’s a sense of ease in how Rueben leads. He adapts to each group, whether it’s a couple looking to learn about coffee, a family curious about cacao, or a group who loves birds wants to head out and explore hoping to find a certain species. He doesn’t rush or over-plan. Instead, he listens and responds to what unfolds in the moment.
Rubén lights up when he talks about taking a group out birding that morning, especially highlighting the hummingbirds they saw. “Just today I spotted a few—and even found a nest,” he says with a smile.
Guests often say they leave Rueben’s tour with a new appreciation for the simplicity and richness of rural life. Along the way, you might learn about traditional farming methods, superstitions tied to planting cycles, or natural remedies still used today.
There’s time to pause, to ask questions, to smell the earth and taste its gifts. Rueben’s approach is personal, grounded, and deeply aware of place. Every walk offers something slightly different, depending on the season, the group, and the weather—but the thread that ties it all together is care.
When people travel to Chachagua, they often come for the rainforest and the wildlife. But what stays with them is the feeling of connection—made stronger through guides like Rueben, who help shape those quiet, lasting memories. A morning spent pressing tortillas, tasting fresh cane juice, and listening to stories around the outdoor kitchen often lingers longer than a zipline or tour bus stop ever could.
Rueben offers travelers a chance to see how nature and culture are intertwined, how food and farming can tell a story just as powerful as any wildlife sighting.
“I love getting to know the guests,” Rubén shares. “My goal isn’t only to teach them about the Chachagua Rainforest or Costa Rican culture—it’s to create a real connection. That’s something they’ll carry with them long after their trip ends.”
Cultural food experiences with Rueben can be arranged through the concierge during your stay. Whether you’re interested in traditional Costa Rican ingredients, small-scale organic farming, or learning how food connects to the land, Rueben’s tours offer a thoughtful, flavorful way to explore the region.
📍 Ask our team about available times, private group options, or pairing this experience with a visit to the coffee and cacao experience