Costa Rican Rainforest Spices
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Port
Quepos, Costa Rica
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$124
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
On this highly interactive tour, visit an organic, artisanal Costa Rican spice farm and see firsthand the planting, growing, and harvesting of rainforest spices known the world over.
Depart the pier on a 30-minute bus ride to the Villa Vanilla Spice Farm located near the rural village of Londres. Start at the post-harvest warehouse, where you will witness how the workers dry, process, and package the spices.
Next, you will enjoy a gentle walk along the distinctive Epiphyte Trail winding through the farm. Use all your senses to navigate the farm while identifying an interesting variety of spices, including vanilla, true Ceylon cinnamon, cacao, black pepper, allspice, turmeric, and a variety of indigenous fruits and medicinal plants.
Then, pass the pond on the way to the viewpoint, where you will experience a Flavors of the World tasting, including homemade treats highlighting the spices grown on the farm. Lucky guests may be treated to a visit from the farm's permanent inhabitants — hummingbirds, scarlet macaws, toucans, and squirrel monkeys.
Before returning to the ship, make the most of a chance to browse in the souvenir shop.
Notes:
Wear comfortable walking shoes. Not advisable for guests using a wheelchair or for those with mobility limitations. Bring insect repellent. Shade is limited; to avoid sunburn, wear light, long clothing suitable for use as a cover-up. Bring a hat and sunglasses; wear biodegradable/reef-safe sunscreen. Bring bottled water.