Coffee Plantations In Costa Rica

Taking a Costa Rica coffee plantation tour is at the top of the list for most coffee loving tourists when visiting this small Central American country. Even those who don’t drink coffee find the guided coffee tour to be very informative and interesting.

Along with bananas, oranges, and pineapple plantations, Coffee is one of the most important sectors in the Costa Rican economy, rivaled only by tourism and various other agricultural products.

Did you know that Costa Rica coffee production now accounts for more than 10% of the country’s export business and Costa Rica ranks number fifteen out of the Top 20 coffee-producing countries?

In fact, hundreds of thousands of Costa Ricans are employed in the Costa Rica coffee industry; from planting, growing and harvesting to processing and exporting Costa Rica coffee.

Enjoy a Costa Rica Coffee Plantation Tour

When researching where to take a Costa Rica coffee plantation tour you will likely notice how the rapid growth in Costa Rica coffee production has also benefited the Costa Rica tourism industry.

In fact Costa Ricans take great pride in sharing their knowledge of coffee. Costa Rican coffee is generally described as “brightly acidic” and “full-bodied,” and tourists get to enjoy firsthand the tasting and sampling of the finest of Costa Rica coffees.

Government regulations in Costa Rica restrict coffee production to only Arabica coffees (Arabica coffee beans are superior, are better quality, and taste better than lower grown Robusta beans). A Costa Rica coffee plantation tour is now available at many of these Arabica coffee producers.

While traveling Costa Rica with Caravan Tours, you’ll enjoy a coffee plantation tour conducted by expert guides who offer a brief overview of the history behind the Costa Rica coffee industry.

Learn About the History of Coffee Cooperatives in Costa Rica

Not only does the Costa Rica coffee industry help drive the current economy, but it also holds a significant place in the nation’s history, dating back to 1779.

Costa Rica began exporting coffee as early as 1821. Information from the Consortium of Coffee Cooperatives of Guanacaste & Montes de Oro (COOCAFE) indicates that Costa Rica was the “first country in Central America to register coffee exports.”

COOCAFE was formed just over two decades ago, beginning as an organization made up of small grower/producer cooperatives. Almost half of today’s coffee production in Costa Rica comes from farmers who manage five hectares or less. Of the 72,000+ Costa Rica coffee growers more than 60% belong to cooperatives.

One of the primary benefits of COOCAFE, as a grouping of smaller cooperatives, is the ability to pool funds. A loan fund has been established that provides operation loans to member cooperatives at a low interest rate.

Visit the International Coffee Organization website to learn more about world coffee consumption.

See Coffee Production As It Happens

Visitors on a Costa Rica coffee plantation tour find the historical details of coffee fascinating.

Well-trained guides and coffee experts are also able to paint a picture of how the coffee plant grows from a small seed to the full-grown plant. They explain that coffee beans are the fruit of the plant, and emphasize that the beans must be handpicked and processed carefully to produce the best coffee possible.

Individual workers drop the ripe coffee “berries” into a basket carried at their waist. The bean is then removed from a protective coating called a “husk” before being washed, dried, and hand sorted.

With some larger coffee operations, visitors can see newer machinery that was introduced to handle much of the work of coffee processing, but most Costa Rica coffee plantations still pick and process coffee by hand.

The Most Popular Coffee Plantations in Costa Rica

Although the number of large Costa Rica coffee growers is very small, they still produce one-third of Costa Rican coffee due to the size of their operations.

The largest producer of Costa Rican coffee is Café Britt, a company near San Jose and Heredia where you can take a guided Costa Rica coffee plantation tour. A number of other brands are produced here as well, including Doka and Café Volio.

Some plantations have established organic processes in recent years, eliminating the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

About Caravan Tours

Currently, a guided Costa Rica coffee plantation tour is included in all of Caravan’s Natural Paradise Tours. See growing Costa Rican coffee plants, taste freshly brewed Costa Rican coffee, and buy your Costa Rica coffee beans directly from the grower!

For just one low Caravan tour price you’ll enjoy 9 full days of great Costa Rica activities and attractions throughout the country.

Read more Costa Rica tour reviews to see what others have said about this fully escorted tour of Costa Rica.

Call toll-free at 1-800-Caravan (227-2826)

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