The tour begins with a brief insight into the wonderful world of coffee followed by the history of Costa Rican coffee and its importance in the socio-economic development. Later on during the tour we will cover other aspects of the Costa Rican culture and traditions. The tour starts with an introduction to the life cycle of a coffee plant starting with the coffee seed itself and taking a look at its fascinating evolutionary cycle. Coffee Picking: You will learn about the ways that the coffee cherries are picked, the lifestyle of the workers that carry out this task, their stories and the immigration that occurs during the harvest season. When the coffee cherries are ready to be picked (from November to February) this activity can be performed by the visitors. De-pulping Machine: You will get to see the way the pulp of the coffee cherry was traditionally removed, the washing process of the mucilage that is found underneath the pulp and the separation of the first class coffee beans from the rest. The Drying Patio: The hot and dry climate allows the coffee beans to be spread out on a large, cement patio in order to dry naturally under the sun. The Warehouse and the Coffee Roaster: In the warehouse the coffee beans are stored in big, fiber sacks allowing the beans to breathe and complete their aging process. The selection of coffee beans, the roasting process and the final packaging of the Don Juan coffee is also carried out here. A Ride in a Typical Ox Cart: You will get the option to take a ride in a typical ox cart experiencing the exact way our ancestors use to travel.
