The world’s most coveted coffees, chocolates, and cocktails blend seamlessly on this 12-day journey through Costa Rica, immersing you in the origins of some of the most prized coffee and cocoa beans. Enjoy a cup of fresh drip brewed in the micro-mills where coffee beans are grown for world champion baristas and coffee cuppers (the sommeliers of the coffee world). Indulge in decadent...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Heredia – Arrive in San Jose with a Private Transfer to your Eco-Lodge
Costa Rica’s bustling capital of San Jose blends culture from around the country in its captivating neoclassical architecture at the historic city center. Retail stores and lavish hotels line Avenida Central near the Gold, Jade, and National Museums. The National Theater borders the Plaza de la Cultura, embodying the prestige of the late 19th century with neoclassical columns accompanied by statues of Beethoven and the 17th-century Spanish dramatist Pedro Calderón de la Barca. Ornate art deco and Victorian mansions decorate the prestigious neighborhood of Barrio Amón.
Ivy drapes over the facades as locals stroll down the streets alongside the elaborate estates of former plantation owners. Your flight lands at Juan Santamaría International Airport. Your private transfer greets you upon your arrival and escorts you to the city of Heredia, located less than eight miles north of San Jose. The twisting roads take you along charming towns adorned with coffee plantations and verdant vegetation. Mango trees shade the walkways of Central Park surrounded by the charming facades of 18th-century colonial buildings.
You arrive at the luxurious eco-friendly lodge of the Finca Rosa Blanca. Forbes Magazine rated the resort as the most interesting hotel in Costa Rica in 2016. You find traces of citrus in the air, from lemon to orange, grapefruit to guava, each growing on the landscaped trees, further adding to the luster of the garden. The inn is nestled into 10 acres of the enchanting tropical flora of Costa Rica, built with sustainable tourism and environmental awareness in mind. You can hear the 12-foot waterfall trickling beside the breathtaking infinity pool. Your private suite overlooks the lush ridges of the Central Valley, highlighting the surrounding rural beauty and the splendors of the Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation and Inn.
What's Included:
Day 2
Monteverde – Experience an Organic Coffee Plantation and Private Dinner
Day 3
Monteverde – Enjoy a Coffee and Sugar Cane Tour followed by a Night Hike
Day 4
Arenal – Relish a Scenic Trip to Arenal and the Comforts of Thermal Springs
Day 5
Arenal – Indulge in a Chocolate Adventure and a Rainforest Night Trek
Day 6
Arenal – Visit a Dairy Farm and Return to Relax Natural Thermal Springs
Day 7
Heredia – Discover Beauty in La Paz Waterfall Gardens en route to Heredia
Day 8
San Gerardo de Dota – Tour the Central Market and Café del Barista’s Mixology
Day 9
San Gerardo de Dota – Relish a Coffee and Cocktail Demonstration at Mutute Café and Coffee Plantation Visit in the Coveted Coffee Region of Tarrazú
Day 10
Manuel Antonio – Hike to Rio Savegre Waterfall before Traveling to the Pacific
Day 11
Manuel Antonio – Visit a Spice Plantation with Remaining Day at Leisure
Day 12
Manuel Antonio – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Visit premium organic coffee plantations across Costa Rica and observe the coffee production process, from picking to drying to roasting
- Bathe in the mineral-rich thermal springs of Arenal, which are naturally heated by volcanic activity
- Experience coffee tastings at boutique cafés, where experts will guide you through the intricacies and subtleties that differentiate Costa Rican coffees
- Visit a selection of micro-mills in Tarrazú to better understand the unique properties of the region that produce Costa Rica’s most coveted coffees
- Meet baristas specializing in the mixology of coffee, utilizing locally sourced coffee beans to craft espressos, cappuccinos, and coffee cocktails
- Visit a sugar cane plantation and a dairy farm to gain insight into the cultivation of the ingredients ubiquitous with coffee consumption
- Learn the history of chocolate in the Americas and its contemporary markets before learning to craft and taste rich dark chocolate directly from the source
- Explore sensational beauty at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, including the Butterfly Observatory, Bird Sanctuary, and Hummingbird Gardens
- Visit a spice plantation for insight into the cultivation of popular coffee seasonings, such as vanilla, cinnamon, and black pepper
- Delight in relaxing coffee breaks during waterfall hikes and guided treks to view the captivating diurnal and nocturnal wildlife of Costa Rica
Detailed Description
Costa Rica is a premier destination for all things decadent, from the richness of the flora and fauna to the captivating coffee and enchanting chocolate. Indulge in a 12-day Costa Rica vacation specially designed for the coffee lover. Embrace the roots of culture and cultivation and explore the ways those who understand coffee are changing the way it is produced and enjoyed, taking you from the mountaintops to the Pacific Coast in search of flavorful history, cultural connections, and magnificent scenery.
The adventure begins in the unique eco-lodge of Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation Resort located in Heredia, a city on the outskirts of San Jose. The stunning location offers a respite from the bustling streets of the capital city with views of the lush ridges bordering the Central Valley. Enjoy your first coffee-centric experience with a private tour of the organic plantation located on the property. Discover the way tropical fruit grows wild and is harvested alongside the coffee plants.
In Monteverde, you have the comforts of the luxurious Hotel Belmar, which harmoniously blends into the surrounding trees of the cloud forest. Explore a plantation with a local guide eager to introduce you to the methods of cultivating coffee and sugar cane. Sample the sweet juice of freshly squeezed sugar cane and learn the distinctive properties of the beans grown in the Central Valley versus that of the cloud forest. Traverse the trails on an afternoon hike in search of toucans, monkeys, sloths, and kinkajous. Enjoy the scenic journey to Arenal on a boat and jeep safari to view the volcanic summit while scouring the trees for signs of vibrant wildlife.
The Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort offers a blend of adventure and comfort in the thermal springs, which are heated by the regional volcanic activity. Make chocolate on a local plantation and search for frogs on a private reserve that focuses on the development of secondary forests. Visit a dairy farm where you can practice milking a cow under the guidance of a local farmer. You have the option of visiting an organic farm in the Arenal area or spending an afternoon soothing your body and mind in the thermal springs at Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort. Discover the rehabilitating birds, pumas, and monkeys at La Paz Waterfall Gardens before returning to Finca Rosa Blanca Resort. Stroll the aisles of San Jose’s Central Market and meet with expert mixologists at Café del Barista, who serve gourmet coffee and simultaneously blend spectacular coffee-focused cocktails.
Spend time in the cozy opulence of the Savegre Lodge located near the coveted soils of the Tarrazú coffee-growing region. Discover the hidden Mutute Café Boutique, which prides itself on using beans sourced from local micro-mills before visiting a small coffee farm in Tarrazú to sample a cup of coffee with a view over a quiet lagoon. Enjoy a deep exploration of the Cloud Forest on a guided hike and find the splendors of Arenas del Mar in Manuel Antonio National Park a soothing respite after the waterfall trek. Learn about the spices produced in Costa Rica, including the labor-intensive cultivation of vanilla. You can indulge in private transfers and luxurious comfort, knowledgeable guides and enriching experiences featuring the absorbing history and magnificent flavors of coffee, chocolate, and cocktails during your marvelous Costa Rica vacation.
If looking for additional activities and experiences on your dream Costa Rica vacation, consider reading our travelers’ Costa Rica travel reviews for more inspiration.
Starting Price
$6,800 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
Deluxe Package
From $3,521 USD per person based on double occupancy, staying at the Bougainvillea Hotel, El Establo Hotel, Arenal Manoa Hotel, Savegre Lodge and La Mansion Inn Hotel (or similar properties).Premier Package (as described in the itinerary)
From $4,157 USD per person based on double occupancy, staying at the Finca Rosa Blanca, Belmar Hotel, Tabacon Thermal Resort and Spa, Savegre Lodge and Si Como No Hotel (or similar properties).The customized package will include accommodations, airport transfers, guided tours or activities, unique experiences, trip planning, and 24x7 support during your trip.
Please inquire for a custom quote. The price is customized based on final accommodation choices, travel dates, and other custom preferences.
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