Poás Crater and Coffee Farm Day Trip

Area

Volcán Poás, Alajuela

Duration

10 h

Difficulty

Easy

Peer into the Poás Volcano crater from the lookout, then tour the Doka coffee estate to follow coffee from seed to cup. Lunch included.

Poás Volcano is one of the most visited national parks in Costa Rica. It has two dramatic craters, one of them holding a blue lagoon. At 2,704 meters above sea level, the first crater is 1.3 km wide and 300 m deep, and the observation deck makes for an unforgettable photo.

Forty minutes from the volcano, we visit the Doka coffee estate, born on the slopes of Poás and the largest coffee plantation in Costa Rica. You'll see step by step how the seed germinates, how the plant grows until the bean ripens and how it's harvested. You'll learn the story of the estate and the Vargas family, coffee pioneers since 1940, along with the plant varieties, the local geography, natural crop-protection methods and traditional growing practices.

You'll also visit the oldest wet mill in Costa Rica, with machinery more than 120 years old, and see every stage of the process: sorting by quality, pulping, fermentation tanks and drying. The tour ends with a tasting of Tres Generaciones coffee so you can appreciate its aroma, texture and flavor, and at Casa Doka you can try their famous coffee chocolates and shop for liqueurs, souvenirs and local art.

This is a full-day tour; Poás is about a 2-hour drive from Jacó. Minimum 3 people; if you're fewer, ask us about availability. Includes air-conditioned transportation, a bilingual guide, Poás Volcano National Park entrance, Doka coffee estate entrance and lunch.