Farm in the Monteverde Coffee Tour

Coffee, Chocolate, & Sugar Cane Tour in Monteverde

Overview

This culinary adventure takes place in Monteverde, starting with an introduction to the history of coffee in Costa Rica, including its cultural and economic importance. In the process, you'll examine the life cycle of a coffee plant from seed to plant to fruit. You'll learn how farmers pick coffee cherries and hear about the workers who immigrate to the country during harvest season. If you're visiting when coffee cherries are ready to be selected (from November through February), you can pick a few yourself!

Next, you'll learn how farmers remove the pulp from the coffee cherry and then wash and separate it. Finally, on the drying patio, you'll see how Costa Rica's hot, dry climate helps the coffee beans to dry naturally in the sun while spread out on a large terrace.

Your next stop is the warehouse, where workers sort the coffee beans into large fiber sacks that allow the beans to breathe and complete their aging process. This is also where the selection of coffee beans, the roasting, and the packaging of the coffee takes place.

At the end of the tour, try a deliciously fresh cup of coffee at the onsite restaurant.  

This experience also includes a visit to the chocolate processing center. Here, you'll participate in the chocolate-making process and learn how farmers convert small cocoa beans into delicious chocolate. Then, discover the traditional methods behind roasting and grinding the beans while tasting a range of tasty chocolates.

Finally, you'll learn about the importance of sugar cane in Costa Rica. Your guide will help you extract sugar cane using a traditional press, and you'll enjoy a glass of pure sugar cane juice. A sweet ending to a lovely tour!

Discover more cultural excursions in Costa Rica and more experiences in Monteverde.

Traveler reviews

Overall Rating (17 reviews)
4.5 out of 5
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.5
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.9
Transport
4.7
Susan
Susan H.
Hilton Head, SC | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2023

The coffee and chocolate tour was interesting and fascinating. The guide was exceptional. read more

The coffee and chocolate tour was interesting and fascinating. The guide was exceptional.

Tips for future travelers

Don’t miss this tour

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
B
Transport
R
Ruth G.
Charlottesville, VA | Reviewed on Feb 26, 2023

Beautiful grounds - even able to enjoy on our rain-filled day (the walking path is under cover). We learned a lot about the production (from start to finish) of coffee and chocolate - and enjoyed the opportunity to make our own. I must admit - the coffee that we bought in their gift shop was much better than what we made! read more

Beautiful grounds - even able to enjoy on our rain-filled day (the walking path is under cover). We learned a lot about the production (from start to finish) of coffee and chocolate - and enjoyed the opportunity to make our own. I must admit - the coffee that we bought in their gift shop was much better than what we made!

Tips for future travelers

I bought a variety of their beautifully packaged chocolate bars to use as gifts - all delicious!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Joseph
Joseph M.
Grand Lake, CO | Reviewed on Feb 21, 2023

Learned so much about chocolate and coffee - from plant to harvest to consumption, fascinating! Informative and educational. New gained appreciation for the chocolate and coffee we consume! read more

Learned so much about chocolate and coffee - from plant to harvest to consumption, fascinating! Informative and educational. New gained appreciation for the chocolate and coffee we consume!

Quality of Experience
Small group, answered all questions, informative and some humor too!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Kind, helpful, spoke english.
Transport
timely, clean, safe
Bradley
Bradley C.
Savage, MN | Reviewed on Feb 05, 2023

Loved the in-depth explanations of coffee growing, harvesting, roasting, and characteristics. Enjoyed the sugar cane and cacao presentations tastings. read more

Loved the in-depth explanations of coffee growing, harvesting, roasting, and characteristics. Enjoyed the sugar cane and cacao presentations tastings.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Iris
Iris M.
Harbeson, DE | Reviewed on Jan 27, 2023

Very informative. Maria our tour guide was very knowledgeable read more

Very informative. Maria our tour guide was very knowledgeable

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Alexandros
Alexandros T.
Greece | Reviewed on Jan 07, 2023

Quite touristy but other than that a good visit read more

Quite touristy but other than that a good visit

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
a lot of people per vehicle
Maxeen
Maxeen C.
Canada | Reviewed on Dec 15, 2022

Our first day was spent doing the chocolate, coffee and sugar cane tour and it was very informative! You can tell the guide truly enjoys what he does and it was great to learn all the process of how these things are made and produced, along with the rich history. read more

Our first day was spent doing the chocolate, coffee and sugar cane tour and it was very informative! You can tell the guide truly enjoys what he does and it was great to learn all the process of how these things are made and produced, along with the rich history.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Seth
Seth E.
Garberville, CA | Reviewed on Sep 24, 2022

Very interesting read more

Very interesting

Tips for future travelers

You get to make your own chocolate; your own experimental recipe. Don't skimp on the sugar!

Quality of Experience
The guide was great
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
F
Franya B.
Greenburgh, NY | Reviewed on Sep 07, 2022

Great guide. Very interesting and fun. read more

Great guide. Very interesting and fun.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
E
evelyn w.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Aug 31, 2022

This was great, entertaining, and educational. I will be ordering chocolates and coffee directly from Don Juan. I never knew anything about coffee making processes, the holy coffee, in particular. And their chocolates are fabulous. read more

This was great, entertaining, and educational. I will be ordering chocolates and coffee directly from Don Juan. I never knew anything about coffee making processes, the holy coffee, in particular. And their chocolates are fabulous.

Tips for future travelers

This is a must for anyone who enjoys coffee.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

Itineraries with Coffee, Chocolate, & Sugar Cane Tour in Monteverde

Discover Costa Rica: Arenal & Monteverde - 7 Days

Tour two of Costa Rica’s prized gems on this weeklong adventure. Begin in La Fortuna and embark on a floating safari, followed by a cultural experience day covering food, the arts, and education. Next, enjoy the rush of the hanging bridges and hike around Arenal Volcano, visit La Fortuna Waterfall and soak in the local hot springs. Then take a boat over to Monteverde to visit the Cloud Forest Reserve and join a local coffee tour to learn all about the crucial crop. The trip winds down back in San José to enjoy the sights of the capital city.

Costa Rica Jungle & Beach: San José, San Ramón, Arenal, Monteverde & Jacó - 11 Days

Discover northern Costa Rica's lush cloud forests and pristine beaches on this active 11-day adventure. After a day spent in the capital of San José, you’ll transfer to San Ramón for two nights at an eco-lodge deep inside a private nature reserve. Visit Arenal to explore the rainforest canopy and hike to the famous volcano, then head to Monteverde to horseback ride through rare cloud forests and tour coffee and chocolate farms. End on the beach in the quiet surf town of Jacó, where you’ll embark on guided hikes to see monkeys and macaws in Manuel Antonio and Carara national parks.