costa rica coffee tour near arenal

Find uncommon ground at Costa Rica's 5 best coffee tours

Jan 23, 2020 • 3 min read

Costa Rica's mountainous terrain makes it ideal for coffee production © OliverJW / Getty Images

For Costa Ricans, coffee is more than just a caffeine kick. The coffee bean is nicknamed grano de oro — the golden grain — in part because of how the industry has shaped the entire country’s development. As one of the world's top exporters, you won't find a better cup of coffee anywhere else. Even Pope Francis is a fan, calling Costa Rica's brew "the world's best coffee."

So if there's one truly authentic Costa Rican experience to have, it's a trip to a coffee farm. Here are the best five coffee tours to take.  

The Costa Rica coffee tour experience

To truly understand Costa Rica's connection to the popular brew, a coffee tour is an excellent place to start. A traditional tour will begin with the history of coffee worldwide before guiding visitors through a farm to follow the process from seed to bean to cup.

Coffee is grown in mountainous regions across Costa Rica. Whether you arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport (near San José ) or Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (in Liberia ), you can be on a coffee farm within 30 minutes. 

The best coffee-growing regions feature high altitude and volcanic soils that create an ideal climate for the plants. In Costa Rica, those conditions aren’t hard to find.

Naranjo, a historic village in the Central Valley , has been producing coffee for more than 150 years. There are  cafetales (coffee farms) in mountainous towns and regions such as Tarrazú, Tres Ríos, Orosí, Brunca and Turrialba. Each region will claim that their coffee is the best in Costa Rica, but it really all comes down to personal preference. 

By law, virtually all coffee grown in Costa Rica is arabica, meaning it comes from the Coffea arabica plant first found in the Middle East.  

Regardless of where in the country the plants are grown, when coffee berries are ripe, they’re harvested by hand.

The milled beans are bagged and exported. If the coffee is staying in Costa Rica, they’ll be toasted and packaged for sale. And if the beans have been processed as part of your tour, the guide might roast, grind and brew the freshest cup of coffee you’ve ever had. 

Choosing a Costa Rica coffee tour

Much like a craft brewery tour, you’ll find that most coffee farmers in Costa Rica follow many of the same steps. What matters, then, is what region of Costa Rica you’re visiting and what type of tour interests you. 

Coffee tours in Costa Rica’s Central Valley

The world’s best-known coffee company – Starbucks – runs Hacienda Alsacia , which is located just 30 minutes from the San José airport. In addition to the small-batch coffee they grow, Hacienda Alsacia is also researching climate- and disease-resistant variants. The 1.5-hour tour runs daily from 8am - 4pm with prices starting at US$30 for adults.  

In the nearby city of Heredia (within 20 minutes of the airport) is Café Britt , the best-known brand of gourmet Costa Rican coffee. They’ve offered tours since 1991 and make the coffee found at upscale restaurants and gift shops across the country. Café Britt offers a variety of tours ranging from a 1.5-hour coffee-lovers tour (starting at US$26) to a six-hour coffee and adventure tour ($123). 

Coffee tours in Monteverde/La Fortuna 

Nestled in the mountain town of Monteverde , Don Juan offers a three-in-one tour that focuses on coffee but also highlights chocolate’s indigenous history and sugarcane production. Tours run daily at 8am, 10am, 1pm and 3pm and are fully accessible.   

Across Lake Arenal, in La Fortuna , North Fields Cafe provides a similar experience in the shadow of Arenal Volcano. Daily tours run from 8am-4pm. 

Coffee tours in Guanacaste

Guanacaste’s climate is better-suited for sugarcane, but the Tío Leo Coffee Tour — minutes away from Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport — is a worthy stop on your way to (or from) the Nicoya Peninsula ’s beautiful beaches. Morning tours run daily from 8am -11. Tickets are $25 per person.  

Few activities will combine as much history and culture — not to mention flavor — into a single, quintessentially Costa Rican experience.

You might also like:  Peaceful escapes in Costa Rica

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• Enter Costa Rica
• Arenal Tours

Arenal Coffee Tour

Free vacation planning.

On this enlightening La Fortuna coffee tour, you will embark on a captivating and educational voyage into the heart of Costa Rica's coffee culture, where history, flavors, and traditions intertwine to create an unforgettable experience. This organic coffee tour, set on a family-owned farm, promises a deep dive into the fascinating world of coffee production, unveiling the secrets behind Costa Rican coffee's global reputation as one of the finest varieties.

Upon arrival at the farm, you'll be welcomed by the Gonzalez Family, who hold the intricate knowledge of their land and its precious beans. With a genuine warmth, they will guide you through the stages of coffee cultivation, from the careful nurturing of coffee plants to the meticulous harvesting process. Delve into the historical significance of coffee in Costa Rica's past, discovering how this humble bean has woven its way into the nation's culture, economy, and everyday life.

As you traverse the farm's lush terrain, absorbing insights about coffee's journey from seed to cup, you'll also have the opportunity to engage with the Gonzalez Family on a personal level. Hear their stories, learn about local customs, and gain an authentic understanding of life in this coffee-rich region. The Gonzalezes' passion for their craft and their land shines through as they share their experiences, creating an enriching connection between you, the coffee, and the people who make it possible.

After this immersive exploration, gather to enjoy a cup of freshly brewed Organic Costa Rican Coffee, a product of the very land you've traversed. Experience the art of coffee preparation in the traditional way, with its rich aroma and flavors taking you on a sensory journey that encapsulates the essence of Costa Rican culture. Paired with traditional snacks, this coffee-tasting experience becomes a celebration of not only taste but also the heritage and legacy behind each cup.

In essence, this organic coffee tour transcends the boundaries of a mere culinary encounter. It's an intimate meeting of tradition and modernity, history and the present moment, and the people who passionately continue the legacy of coffee cultivation. By the end of this journey, you'll leave not just with a newfound appreciation for coffee, but also a deeper connection to Costa Rica's cultural tapestry and the stories woven into every cup.

Location and Availability

The Arenal Coffee Tour is available from Arenal, Arenal Zone 2, and Arenal Zone 3

• Learning Family

Cancellation Policy

Arenal Coffee Tour: Cancellation Policy

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An experience that tastes like coffee and chocolate

“we teach, you create”.

It is the path that we trace on our trails so that you can live a sensory and adventurous experience. Here a rural, safe, comfortable and innovative environment awaits you; where you can transform every bit of knowledge into coffee and chocolate-based products.

Años de trayectoria

Accessible and indoor trails

Personalized experience at each stage of your visit.

Exploration

Explore each trail making connection with the flora and fauna of our ecosystem.

Our environment provides the opportunity to share, relive memories, and discover new trails with family, a partner, friends, or even by yourself, in a natural setting.

Accessibility

Our facilities are designed to offer you a fully accessible experience, both indoors and in safe environments

Experiential experience

Experience, create, compare, and savor your own creations. Each cup of coffee and every bite of chocolate will bear the personalized mark of your journey along our trails

Connect with the land, the flavors and the views

2 in 1 Coffee and Chocolate

Secure parking and alternative to collective or private transportation

Price: U$45 (0 – 7 years free pass)

Night walk and chocolate

Secure parking

A completely different experience under the cover of night, become a spectator of nocturnal fauna and prepare with us your own chocolate bar.

Price: U$50 (0 – 7 years free pass)

A space with a Costa Rican flavor

Discover our online store, where we gather the finest flavors of our country in chocolate and coffee. You can also choose from various souvenirs that capture the essence of Don Juan Tours. An authentic experience with unforgettable memories!

Exfoliante de cacao

Cacao 100% Puro

Café Don Juan tueste medio

Bebida de los dioses

Accommodation, convenience and connection, in one place.

We offer rooms that enable you to connect with nature and fully enjoy your journey. From sunrises accompanied by a traditional cup of coffee to nights filled with the sounds of the environment, adding authentic moments to your experience.

Prices from: US$60

Those who have lived the experience of Don Juan Tours, tell us their story

‘‘Excellent tour where they show from the seed to the final product, with a super friendly guide named Axel and with a lot of knowledge in the area, I loved the cocoa fruit and we were able to see the different procedures of both products, very pleased and I would completely recommend it’’

‘‘We loved this tour. We have been able to see the entire process of making chocolate and coffee. We have been able to try different chocolates and coffees, we have learned many things… and we left this tour delighted… many thanks to our guide Justin who has transmitted his knowledge to us and has learned many things with great passion. If you pass through Arenal you can’t miss it… 100% recommended’’

‘‘Don’t miss this tour – our family of five joined our guide Jorge for two hours as he walked us through the process and history of chocolate and a bit about coffee. We got to experience and learn about the process and learn about Costa Rican economy We made our own chocolate bars, tried various fruits, sipped on coffee and even saw a toucan and a sloth’’

‘‘We weren’t sure what to expect. It was great. Informative, fun, and tasty. Our guide Alex was fabulous. If you love coffee, chocolate, and learning about the region Don Juan’s is a must’’

‘’Magical experience for my wife and I. We’re both huge chocolate fans and I love geeking out on coffee. We were surprised to find out not only were we on a great chocolate and coffee adventure but our guide went out of her way to step up the experience and point out the local wildlife in and around the grounds. We were able to see a massive iguana! Beautiful birds!’’

Adrián Bertolini

”Excellent option to spend some time learning about the history of coffee and cocoa (and their role in the history of Costa Rica as well). Our guide, in addition to being very friendly, demonstrated great mastery of the topics. There is also a tasting of the products, all very beautifully presented and served. Although you can opt for the coffee tour or the cocoa tour, it is really worth taking both”

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