\nManta, Ecuador<\/em>
\nWake your senses with this excursion into the heart of Ecuador\u2019s coffee country. Enjoy the scenic drive to Finca El Cisne — a coffee, cardamom and cattle farm located about 45 miles from Manta. This beautiful, privately-owned, 24-acre property is mainly devoted to the production of coffee, which is packed and exported under the brand name of Caf\u00e9 Vasar.<\/p>\n
As you walk through the property, take a closer look at the coffee plants and learn more about the traditional growing and harvesting procedures, as well as drying, toasting, grinding and packing. Then, sit down and enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee served with a typical Coste\u00f1o snack.<\/p>\n Dominican Coffee: A Local Experience<\/a><\/strong> Enjoy a cup (or two) of joe — the finest coffee in the world. And you can put all your caffeinated energy to work, if you’re so inclined, by planting some coffee seedlings and taking a turn at roasting the beans — an unforgettable, up-close look at the origins of your favorite morning ritual. You love the flavor and aroma of truly great coffee and learn what the buzz is all about.<\/p>\n Costa Rica’s Countryside & Coffee Experience: In Partnership with Food & Wine Magazine<\/a><\/strong> Coffee and cacao production play a key role in Costa Rica’s economy and in its history. A delightful ride through rustic countryside brings you to the highlands of Naranjo, where the secrets of pouring a real cup of coffee, and the use of cacao to make chocolate, are revealed. Passing through rich farmland and lush forest you’ll visit the Espiritu Santo Cooperative Coffee Plantation — 640 acres of prime agricultural land. See the different stages of the coffee plant’s growth and learn how coffee berries are dried under the sun. You might see workers picking the berries and others preparing and packing the coffee for exporting purposes. Centuries-old methods produce a first-quality product.<\/p>\n Espiritu Santo Cooperative Coffee Plantation.<\/p><\/div>\n Visit a replica laborer’s house to see how Costa Ricans lived in the past. Your guide explains how the coffee used to be brewed and why the local people still use a handmade chorreador instead of an electric coffeemaker. Stop at the chocolate station to see how cacao is toasted, ground and turn into delicious chocolate — a process that dates back many centuries.<\/p>\n![\"Coffee](\"https:\/\/www.hollandamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/coffee2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nAmber Cove, Dominican Republic<\/em>
\nCalling all gourmet coffee fanatics! Join this journey into the mountains by open-air safari truck. The ride is half the fun and the views are breathtaking. Venture off the beaten track and into the beautiful Dominican tropical forest to experience the legendary flavor of world-famous Dominican coffee. Meet local farmers, hear their stories, and learn the ins and outs of coffee production, from bean to brew. Your participation helps to support economic opportunity for hardworking families, increasing income and well-being for coffee-growers, creating employment opportunities, and keeping families and communities together.<\/p>\n
\nPuerto Caldera, Costa Rica<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Espiritu](\"https:\/\/www.hollandamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Espiritu-1.jpg\")
<\/a>