Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Café Monteverde
COFFEE TOUR
2645-5901;
www.cafemonteverde.com
; per person US$15;
7:30am-6pm)
Run by the small-scale Cooperative Santa Elena, this highly recommended tour takes visit-
ors to organic
fincas
that are also implementing sustainable growing techniques like com-
posting and biodeisel. Help to pick perfect coffee beans, then head to the
beneficio
(coffee
mill) to watch the beans get washed and dried, roasted and packed. The tour includes a
taste of the final product.
Coopeldós RL
COFFEE TOUR
( 2693-8441;
www.coopeldos.com
)
Coopeldós is a cooperative of 450 small and medium-sized organic coffee growers from
the area. You might drink Coopeldós blends back home, as this Fairtrade-certified organiz-
ation sells to Starbucks, among other clients. Tours include a visit to the industrial facility,
followed up by some hands-on (mouth-on) quality control. The co-op is located in the vil-
lage of El Dós, about halfway between Tilarán and Monteverde. Make special arrange-
ments if you want to visit a nearby organic coffee plantation.
Don Juan Coffee Tour
COFFEE TOUR
2645-7100;
www.donjuancoffeetour.com
; adult/child US$30/12;
7am-4:30pm)
Don Juan is a more commercial operation offering a three-in-one tour, where you can learn
about all of your favorite vices - coffee, chocolate and sugar (OK, maybe not
all
of your
favorites, but three of the good ones). See how sugarcane is harvested and processed.
Learn how cacao beans are transformed into that dark, decadent dessert. And witness the
whole coffee process, from plant to bean to cup.
El Trapiche
COFFEE TOUR
(
2645-7650;
www.eltrapichetour.com
; adult/child US$32/12;
tours 10am & 3pm Mon-Sat, 3pm
Sun)
Visit this family
finca
, where they grow not only coffee but also sugarcane, bananas and
plantains. The tour covers the entire coffee process and includes a ride in a traditional ox-
