Aug 26, 2024
Knowledgeable staff and in depth tour - We did the full day tour with Andrew and I couldn't recommend it more to have a in depth understanding of the coffee process. Stunning location, good pace, great info and very friendly and knowledge tour guide. I initially thought it was a little expensive (priced at $100) but I really believe was worth it, and more! The food included was also wonderful. So if you get the chance, go for it. And make sure to take swimming stuff for the waterfall!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 4, 2024
Immerse yourself in a coffee experience - What an amazing experience! We had a lovely drive through the mountains to reach Aquaires. We were greeted by Andrew and started with a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit, breads and the most delicious passionfruit jam I have tasted. We then met the horses and took off through the coffee plantation. I'm not an avid rider, but the horse was gentle and easy to ride.
We stopped to pick coffee beans to get an idea of what the typical worker would have to accomplish to earn a wage. Trust me - this is an experience. We then rode the horses and hiked a little to a beautiful waterfall. After returning to the Casa we had a lovely lunch, followed by a tour of where the coffee is processed. During all this time, Andrew was there to answer any questions that might arise and to share a wealth of knowledge regarding coffee, the plantation and Costa Rica in general.
The coffee tour was very informative, starting with the growth of the coffee plants all the way to the final bagging. We were lucky enough to do a cupping session because we wanted to buy green coffee beans in bulk to bring back to our cafe in the states. The rest of the group did a coffee tasting.
This was the highlight of our trip and we learned so much. the experience is a memory made with so much to learn and remember. I highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 19, 2023
If you love coffee this is a no brained tour - This was an amazing experience. Starting in the coffee trees and following the whole process of what it takes to get a cup of coffee is amazing.
Everyone there is super knowledgeable and passionate about the craft. Makes it even better.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 22, 2022
Excellent Coffee Tour, with Wonderful People - We had SUCH a good time on this tour - it was educational, fun, perfectly paced, and a terrific value. Our guide, Guillermo, was amazing - friendly, informative, engaging, and terrific in explanations. This was a long day - 7 hours - and we never felt rushed or bored. Luis, the driver, was also friendly and provided a great insight into the day-to-day routines on a coffee farm; for breakfast and lunch, Katherin, was so attentive and she provided a workshop on how to prepare coffee that was really interesting. This is such a professional and well-organized tour, and we genuinely enjoyed meeting and getting to know everyone we met.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 23, 2022
Commercial Standards with a Family Business Feel - What an incredible experience. Aquiares is a coffee farm, yes. But it is also a community and standard in the coffee industry. My friend and I were the only ones on our full day tour with William and learned this first hand. How cool to be able to pick coffee cherries in the morning and see where they end up in the afternoon.
As a coffee enthusiast this tour did not disappoint. I asked all of the questions, which William answered very well. Although, I could also see this tour being amazing for people that just like coffee and don't understand the process well. Highly recommend to those looking for a well rounded view of the coffee industry at origin. This place has commercial standards with a family business feel.
(Bring a hat or sunscreen for the coffee picking portion)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 16, 2022
Much more than beans and beverage - Coffee's medicine for me, I need a jolt to start the clock. So, I had a lot to learn, and experience. We started the day with the home-grown, home brew, at Casa Hacienda (reviewed elsewhere), and the morning birds. Then to the well-established fields, which are fascinating, starting with the plants -- height matters -- temperatures matter -- surrounding trees (which themselves are gorgeous) matter -- what's to be done with climate change? That's where experimental fields come in, explained (in flawless English, which mattered to me) by Wilman, our well-informed guide on the natural history, and community of Aquiares. We got to pick raw berries, to experience the start of their journey to and through the working coffee factory that takes the raw berries to selected and processed burlap bags. Aficionados no doubt will appreciate much more about the flavors and drying and roasting, but even I could tell, taste matters. We brought home the best!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 6, 2021
Can’t wait to go back! - Everything was amazing! Upon arrival we were received with yummy fruit cocktails and a cold towel for our hands. The food was definitely made with love, and the service was very attentive. Every person was super sweet and made sure we had the best the experience possible. Can’t wait to go back!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 13, 2020
Lifelong learning - We went on the full day tour at Aquiares, with Cecilia as our guide. She did a wonderful job explaining the history of the company, town and church. We also gained a lot of knowledge of the time and effort which goes into making every coffee. It was certainly a great experience to pick coffee beans, which gave us a great appreciation for the work that goes into this business. The lunch was absolutely amazing, and the tour of the factory was very interesting. We ended with sampling and testing several different coffees, which showed how much more we still have to learn.
I would highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 27, 2020
Wonderful tour for coffee lovers! - We spent the whole day with Celia touring the beautiful Aquiares Coffee Plantation. She was an excellent guide who truly cared about making your experience the best it could be. You get to see the entire coffee process from picking the cherries to roasting and tasting the finished product. Thank you for an awesome day and one of the highlights of our trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 27, 2019
Unbelievable Experience! A must when in Costa Rica! - I started out with this experience realizing it was going to take some expense and time to get to Aquiares' La Esperanza. I even considered cancelling when I realized this. I am glad I didn't! Well worth the time and expense to get to the location.
We arrived in the morning to La Esperanza and we were absolutely awestruck by this home. It's over 100 years old and has been recently updated while keeping all the charm. We enjoyed a light breakfast outside overlooking the volcano and gardens. Then our education of the town, people, company and plantation commenced. At every turn, we were enamored by the people and the educational aspect of the tour. This is what tourism should be all about. We loved it. We were a private group of four of us, and we felt like we received the VIP treatment the entire time.
We saw how coffee starts out from seed, learned the educational aspects of the whole process, learned how the plantation operates, visited a national historic monument church located in the community, witnessed the whole process of "Coffee" from start to finish, and even experienced a bit of nature at the plantations waterfall.
Gorgeous setting, delightful people, extremely knowledgeable tour guide, and opportunity after opportunity to expand our horizons. There is truly something for everyone in this experience.
The best part was the lunch prepared by the woman who has worked at La Esperanza for the last 40 years. She currently has her daughter learning all the recipes to take over when she steps aside. The food was AMAZING. I actually went into the kitchen after lunch and asked if I could give her a hug the food was that good!
We hope to bring our young children back for an extended stay at La Esperanza so we can enjoy the setting and the food.
You will not regret booking this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor