QUESTION: Are there any Costa Rica coffee plantation tours? I’ll be traveling there soon and would like to tour a coffee plantation while I’m there. — Bonnie W.
ANSWER: There are lots of coffee plantation tours you can choose from while you’re in Costa Rica. Here’s the rundown of some of the best coffee tours.
Costa Rican coffee is some of the finest coffee produced in the world. The coffee industry plays an important role in the Costa Rican economy, whether through the small family farm or the largest coffee plantation. The high altitude and volcanic ash are the ideal conditions for growing exceptional coffee beans.
Bella Tica Monteverde Coffee Plantation Tour
Bella Tica is a small organic coffee brand that grows its coffee plants in the shade of the Monteverde forests. The one-and-a-half-hour tour includes a coffee tasting and snack session. You’ll also be able to browse the gift shops for Bella Tica coffee along with the other products made at the Bella Tica plantation. Tours are available daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the Bella Tica Monteverde Coffee Plantation Tour website at https://bellaticacafe.com/.
Cafe Britt Coffee Plantation Tour
You have lots of options when you’re booking a tour at Cafe Britt. In addition to the standard coffee plantation tour, you can also choose from the coffee and adventure tour, coffee and wildlife tour, coffee and waterfalls tour, coffee lovers’ experience tour, and coffee origins tour. Visitors who choose the classic coffee tour also get to experience the butterfly garden and Costa Rican folklore exhibit. This is a great way to see some of the best places in Costa Rica with an expert guide. The end of the tour includes a “cupping,” or professional coffee-tasting session.
Visit the Cafe Britt Coffee Plantation Tour website at https://www.coffeetour.com/.
Doka Estate Coffee and Sugar cane Plantation Tour
Doka Estate Coffee Plantation grows on the slopes of poás volcano, which is an ideal climate for coffee production. It is one of the largest coffee and sugarcane plantations in Costa Rica. Doka Estate is also home to the largest wet mill in Costa Rica. According to Doka Estate’s website, as part of the tour, you’ll learn about “the development process of the plant up to the point of recollection of the ripe coffee berries. You will also learn about the history of coffee and of the estate, its owners, the production and varieties of plants, the geography of the area, and the traditional ways of cultivating the grain.” Tours are available in several time slots every day of the week.
Visit the Doka Estate Coffee Plantation Tour website at https://dokaestate.com/costarica-coffee-tour/.
Don Juan Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugarcane Plantation Tour
Located in the nature destination of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, the Don Juan coffee, chocolate, and sugarcane plantation offer tours that delve into all three of the farm’s products. The tour begins with the coffee beans, taking you through the coffee bean’s journey from the tree to your cup. Then, once the coffee portion is complete, the chocolate tour starts, which also begins with the seed on the tree. Selected group members will get to help grind the cocoa beans and make their own chocolate bar.
Visit the Don Juan Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugarcane Plantation Tour website at https://donjuantours.com/monteverde-chocolate-coffee-tours/coffee-chocolate-and-sugar-cane-tour/.
Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation Tour
There’s a hotel on-site at the Finca Rosa Blanca coffee plantation. Coffee plantation tours are available, along with a “cupping,” or coffee-tasting session. You’ll get to see the entire journey of Costa Rican quality coffee, from the field to processing, fermenting, drying, roasting, and packaging. Learn about the growth and processing of shade-grown organic coffee in the daily guided tours. Afternoon tours come along with biscuits, cookies, and delicious coffee served on the outdoor deck so you can enjoy a great view along with a great cup of coffee.
Visit the Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation Tour Website at https://fincarosablanca.com/en/activities/organic-coffee-tour-and-cupping.
Hacienda Espíritu Santo Coffee Plantation Tour
Hacienda Espíritu Santo is a more than 600-acre coffee plantation located in the town of Naranjo, a city right outside of San Jose. The tour passes through seven stations and the informative experience details the coffee bean’s journey from the tree to the traditional Costa Rican style of brewing in a chorreador as café chorreado. The tour also delves into the national symbol of the oxcart and its roots in transporting coffee.
Visit the Hacienda Espíritu Santo Coffee Plantation Tour website at https://espiritusantocoffeetour.com/?lang=en.
As you can tell, there are so many coffee plantation tours to choose from in Costa Rica that you have lots of options. Consider choosing a few coffee plantation tours that are closest to other spots you’ll be visiting, or find the one that offers your favorite extras.
Did we miss any good tours? Leave a comment and let us know about them.
Learn More About Costa Rica Coffee Farm Tours
https://espiritusantocoffeetour.com/?lang=en
https://fincarosablanca.com/en/activities/organic-coffee-tour-and-cupping
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-coffee-tours-in-costa-rica