Golden Bean Coffee, Scenic Drive & Lunch

See how coffee is grown and harvested through sustainable farming at a premium coffee estate, and then enjoy lunch on the grounds of a charming historical church.

After departing from the pier, you will settle in for a meandering drive into the beautiful interior of Costa Rica. In the shadow of the Turrialba volcano; You will find you will find the Aquiares Estate, the largest continuous coffee farm in Costa Rica, an estate that has been growing and harvesting coffee for a century.

Here, you will watch the process firsthand and step by step. The cherries or fruit of the coffee trees is hand-picked, fermented, dried, husking and graded, all before being roasted. Enjoy the breathtaking views from the farm’s “mirador”! You will also observe the mill process, one of the key steps that imparts flavor.

The resulting beans are Rainforest Alliance-certified, a distinction given only to products grown with sustainable farming techniques. It is a difference that you can taste, as you will discover over a cup of freshly brewed coffee. The guide will also offer tips on how to maximize the flavor of the coffee that you brew at home.

The Aquiares estate is located in one of Costa Rica’s eight coffee regions, each with its own microclimate. Some of the coffees are chocolaty, others fruity and still others impart complex citrus flavors.

Following your immersion into the world of coffee, take a few steps to the historic Aquiares church and be free to stroll its interior and gardens before enjoying lunch on the grounds.