Coffee production in Costa Rica has always played a key role in the country’s history and is still important for the country’s economy, with Puntarenas remaining one of the largest coffee growing regions. This super-enjoyable and educational guided half day excursion starts with a delightful ride through the rustic countryside, passing a variety of landscapes including rich farmland, lush forests and mountain views as you approach the highlands of Naranjo, an area famous for its coffee production. Arriving at the Espiritu Santo coffee plantation you will be struck by its sheer size and natural beauty. The farm comprises 640 acres of prime coffee plantation, where the secrets of a real cup of coffee will be revealed to you.
A fantastic team of guides will explain every step of gourmet coffee production, and your amazing tour begins with a nursery demonstration to observe the different stages of the coffee plant during its first year. The coffee is dried under the sun, using century’s old methods to produce a first quality coffee. During your visit to the plantation and processing plant, you will also have the opportunity to see workers fertilizing the soil, using the same organic solids produced during the cleaning and peeling process and sweeping the coffee under the sun, to make sure it dries evenly. Meanwhile, other workers take care of the final process of preparing and packing the coffee for exporting purposes. Your next stop is a visit to an old, yet authentic Costa Rican home, where your tour guide will explain how coffee used to be brewed, and why, after over 200 years, people still use a handmade “chorreador” instead of an electric coffee maker.
Spend a few minutes browsing the gift shop before boarding your transportation for the ride home, via the quaint artisan town of Sarchi. This delightful photo-stop is famous for producing Costa Rica’s traditional hand-painted oxcarts. You will have time to wander through this picturesque village to meet the locals and admire their craftsmanship, before returning to port.