3 Best Coffee Tours in Monteverde: Which One to Choose
If you’re looking to taste some seriously good java on your trip to Costa Rica, then you’ve come to the right place!
One of the things Costa Rica is famous for is its coffee and after traveling all over the country, we discovered Monteverde is one of the best places to do a coffee tour. Plus, coffee tours here also teach you about chocolate, which is a huge bonus if you have a sweet tooth like me!
Keep on reading to discover our top picks for coffee tours in Monteverde.
Don’t miss out!
Our Top Choice
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
We took this Don Juan coffee, chocolate, and sugar cane tour in Monteverde and loved it! You visit a famous local farm and get to do plenty of tastings along with a fun workshop to make your own chocolate.
Cacao!
- Our Top Choice
- The Best Coffee Tours in Monteverde
- This tour sells out fast—book it here so you don't miss out!
- Enjoy amazing coffee and cacao, and book this tour here!
- Don't miss out—reserve this popular tour here!
- About Coffee in Monteverde
- Are Coffee Tours in Monteverde worth it?
- Learn more about our favorite Monteverde coffee tour here!
- Other Things to do While You're in Monteverde
- Where to Stay in Monteverde
- Pura Vida!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Getting Around Costa Rica
- AIRALO e-SIM Up To 15% Off With Code "DTRAVEL15"
- What’s an eSIM?
The Best Coffee Tours in Monteverde
1. Don Juan – Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Tour
Tour Details
The Don Juan coffee tour is our favorite for good reason! It’s a guided tour of the Don Juan coffee plantation, and it’s super fun and engaging. We had an amazing time when we did this – in fact, we think it’s one of the best coffee tours in the whole of Costa Rica.
As you explore the lush fields of the farm, you’ll learn so much about how coffee, cacao beans, and sugar cane are grown, and then transformed into the products we know and love. The tour is very interactive and you’ll help your guide press sugar cane juice, and of course, get to taste plenty of coffee. There’s also a chocolate workshop where you’ll make your own, and then get to eat it for a true bean-to-bar experience.
This tour was so interesting, our guide had us captivated the entire time. It’s also a perfect tour for families because it’s so interactive and walking around the farm isn’t physically strenuous at all. Plus, all the paths are paved, so they can easily accommodate a stroller or wheelchair. Basically, it’s a great tour for travelers of all ages.
The tour is quite affordable at only $52 USD for adults, although this doesn’t include transport to and from the Don Juan plantation. It’s really easy to reach from Santa Elena though, which is where most people stay in Monteverde. It’s 10 minutes in a taxi or you can drive yourself.
The tour lasts for 2 hours and has multiple departure times throughout the day at 8 am, 10 am, 1 pm, or 3 pm making it easy to fit into your trip.
Related Read: For an in-depth review of the Don Juan coffee tour, check out my post here!
2. Coffee and Chocolate Walking Tour
Tour Details
There’s something special about stepping onto a piece of land that’s been cared for by the same family for over 250 years. This small group coffee plantations tour gives you a real glimpse into Costa Rica’s agricultural roots—through the flavors of coffee, cacao, and sugar cane, and the forest that ties it all together.
It begins with a warm cup of coffee at the reception as your guide introduces the process from seed to cup. You’ll learn how coffee is grown, harvested, and roasted, and why it’s so deeply woven into Costa Rican culture and daily life.
Then it’s time to head into the forest! The coffee plants grow right alongside native trees in a private reserve, blending conservation with cultivation. As we walked, our guide, Greyvin, shared stories about the native species, the environmental philosophy behind the farm, and how sustainability is practiced in real time. His passion and knowledge brought each detail to life!
The experience wraps up with a tasting of fresh coffee, cacao, and sugar cane—each with its own unique flavor and local significance.
It’s an authentic, down-to-earth way to connect with the land and the people who care for it. Just show up at the farm and get ready to sip, learn, and explore!
Related Read: Another must-do activity is Monteverde’s hanging bridges!
3. Coffee and Night Walk Combo Tour
Tour Details
If you love wildlife just as much as you love coffee then this combo tour is perfect for you!
It combines two of the top activities in Monteverde for a truly epic experience. Not only will you get to learn all about the coffee and chocolate-making process, but you’ll also get to go on a night walk through the Cloud Forest to spot a variety of nocturnal wildlife.
After indulging in some seriously delicious coffee and chocolate, we made our way to the Santa Elena reserve with our guide to go on a night walk. With a flashlight in hand, we spotted many creatures that we would have never seen in the daytime such as a giant toad, raccoon, porcupine, and even a viper!
The tour starts later in the day at 5:30 pm to ensure that it’s nice and dark for the wildlife walk. The entire tour lasts about 2.5 hours and costs only $58 USD per person, which is a pretty great deal considering it includes 2 experiences in one. Just note, that there is no transportation included, so you’ll have to make your way to the meeting point yourself.
We think that this tour is a fantastic way to see more of what Monteverde has to offer, not to mention enjoy a quintessential Costa Rica coffee farm experience!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
About Coffee in Monteverde
Costa Rica is among the top 20 largest coffee producers in the world, despite the fact that it only makes around 1% of the world’s coffee beans. Still, Costa Rican coffee is held in very high regard thanks to its incredible flavor.
Coffee has been grown in Costa Rica since the early 1800s, but plantations only began popping up in the Monteverde region in the early 1930s. Families from Costa Rica’s central valley moved out here and introduced coffee farming to a totally different part of the country!
Monteverde is one of the lushest regions of Costa Rica, which is really saying something. One thing that makes Monteverde stand out is how many different flavors it’s able to produce. Some of the most notable ones are fruit, chocolate, citrus, and cedar.
There are lots of small farms in the area, many of whom work together to ship exceptional coffee all over the world! Monteverde has a pretty small population, so coffee is a big part of the local economy here.
Are Coffee Tours in Monteverde worth it?
Yes! We had an incredible time on the tour that we did, and overall we think that Monteverde is one of the best places to do a coffee tour in Costa Rica.
Related Read: Looking for even more epic activities in Monteverde? Then check out my list of the 10 best things to do!
Other Things to do While You’re in Monteverde
While enjoying some of the best coffee in the country is definitely a must-do, don’t forget to explore the rest of this area. There are so many fun activities in Monteverde, that you could spend your entire vacation here! These are just a few of our favorites:
- Night walk – There are some animals you can only see at night! Night Walks in Monteverde are a great way to (safely!) explore the jungle after dark. This night tour is a small group of up to 8 and you’ll have a naturalist guide to help you spot all the nocturnal creatures. It’s also super affordable at only $33 USD including round-trip transport.
- Go ziplining – Ziplining is easily a top adventure activity in Monteverde. This ziplining tour has it all! It’s three hours of fun including the Superman zipline, which is the longest and highest zipline in Costa Rica and all of Latin America!
- Selvatura Park – Selvatura Park is a nature and adventure park located inside 850 acres of protected rainforest. This park has a network of hanging bridges above the tree canopy that give you incredible aerial views of the rainforest. Get the chance to explore all the bridges, go ziplining across 15 different lines, and try out the thrilling Tarzan swing on this Selvatura Park Combo Tour!
- Go bungy jumping – Bungy jumping is one of the fun Monteverde attractions you have to try … if you’re brave enough! The Extreme Bungee Jumping in Monteverde Tour has a daring jump from over 460 feet (140 meters). That’s the highest in Costa Rica and all of Central America!
- Horseback riding – This is a great way to give your feet a break and explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest! This Monteverde Cloud Forest horseback riding tour lets you cover a lot of ground as you trek through farmland and the surrounding landscape in Monteverde. Keep an eye out for toucans, parrots, monkeys, and other critters as you experience the rural side of Costa Rica, far from any crowds or traffic.
Where to Stay in Monteverde
Monteverde may be a small tourist town, but there are a surprisingly large amount of great hotels in all budget ranges. To help you pick a favorite, here are our top recommendations:
Chira Glamping Monteverde – $$$
If you’re a luxury traveler, I highly suggest choosing what we call a “destination hotel”. These hotels are an attraction in themselves because of the unique experience they offer. In Monteverde one of the best is Chira Glamping Monteverde which offers luxury camping with the option to have your own private hot tub surrounded by nature.
The view from the property is incredible! Rates begin at $439 USD/night. You can check availability and book online with Booking.com.
Camino Verde B&B Monteverde – $$
For those well past their backpacking days who can spend a little more, I love Camino Verde B&B Monteverde Costa Rica. This boutique hotel has beautiful rooms, a deck with magnificent views, and includes breakfast. It’s a comfortable hotel that comes at a great price.
Rates dip as low as under $100 USD/night. You can check availability and book a room online here.
Cabañas La Pradera – $
If you’re looking for an affordable stay tucked just outside the buzz of Santa Elena, Cabañas La Pradera is a top pick. These charming cabin‑style accommodations are surrounded by rainforest gardens with a pool, nature trails, and plenty of wildlife sightings. Inside each cabin, you’ll find a kitchenette, hot water, free Wi‑Fi, and free parking—amenities that are hard to find at this price point!
Two-person cabins start as low as $90 USD per night, and they have cabin options for up to 8 adults if you are traveling with a group. Check availability here and pricing for your travel dates here!
Getting Around Costa Rica
How you choose to get around Costa Rica is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your holiday here! How you do it depends on your budget, travel style, and comfort level.
Renting a Car
Without a doubt, the number one way to explore Costa Rica is in a rental car. We book rental cars on the Discover Cars website as we have had good experiences with them in the past.
One of the things you need to watch for when renting a car in Costa Rica is the mandatory insurance that the government requires you to have. There are a lot of very cheap rentals that don’t include this mandatory insurance (TPL) in the original booking price, but there are also ones that do. To avoid additional surprise charges when you pick up your rental car, be sure to rent a car that includes the mandatory insurance when you book.
Thankfully, on Discover Cars it’s easy to tell apart the companies that include the mandatory insurance and those that don’t. The trick is you can’t pick any car on their website. In the picture below, you can see this rental car, with pick up in Jaco, includes the TPL. That means the mandatory insurance is included in the price. Any cover you get above that is extra.
Of course, I still suggest getting the full coverage offered by Discover Cars, which covers you even more.
You can browse cars on Discover Cars here.
Book Shuttles
If renting a car isn’t in your budget, you don’t feel comfortable driving in Costa Rica, or you just don’t like driving, shuttles are the next best option. There are hundreds of shuttle routes available all over the country, and they are very affordable.
Shuttles in Costa Rica are specifically for tourists and often include pick up and drop off at your selected hotels and airports. The drivers also speak some English, and the vehicles have air conditioning. You’ll also be guaranteed a seat when you book a shuttle (which isn’t the case with the public bus system.)
To get the best price, use the website Bookaway. They compare all the offers and prices of shuttle companies in Costa Rica so you get the best price! Honestly, we have saved so much money using Bookaway!
You can search for shuttles online on Bookaway here.
Public Bus
Lastly, you can use the public bus system. On short journeys, such as from San Jose to La Fortuna or Uvita to Manuel Antonio, this system is great. However, the longer the journey the more hassle and time spent on a bus. It’s undoubtedly best to save the public bus in Costa Rica for short and straightforward trips!
The public buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around Costa Rica, but they are not always very reliable and schedules often change without notice and delays are to be expected. The buses can also be very crowded and hot – so just be prepared!
It’s also good to speak some Spanish if you plan on riding the public bus since most drivers and ticket booth operators don’t speak English.
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Pura Vida!
I hope we’ve helped you narrow down which coffee tour to take in Monteverde! There’s something about a cup of coffee on vacation that tastes even better – am I right? And when it’s fresh on a coffee farm, it’s even more delicious!
While you’re planning your getaway to Costa Rica, be sure to have a look through our other blogs. We’ve lived and traveled all across this beautiful country and are happy to fill you in on all the local spots you won’t want to miss. Here are a few popular reads to get you started:
5 BEST Night Tours in Monteverde (Monteverde Night Walks)
Is Costa Rica Expensive? Cost of Traveling to Costa Rica
15 BEST All-Inclusive Resorts in Costa Rica (Our Unbiased Opinion!)
