North Fields is a small family farm that grows both cacao trees and coffee plants. They offer a “farm to cup” tour, where you learn about everything from planting to harvesting to processing both cacao and coffee beans.
After several days of more adventurous tours, this was a really nice change of pace. We meandered through the plantation, stopping at different stations to learn about the complex processes involved in making chocolate and coffee. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and well-spoken. The tour was a great opportunity to learn about – and taste! – two of Costa Rica’s most important products. (Read my full trip report here.)
Although we visited Costa Rica in the rainy season, this was the only tour where we were rained on. But it didn’t dampen our spirits! The farm was well-prepared for the rain. Each educational and tasting station was under cover and we were given umbrellas to use as we walked between them.
This tour was family-friendly but definitely more interesting for adults than kids. The chocolate part of the tour was obviously more appealing to the kids but for the most part they listened attentively to the entire tour. The sugarcane press demonstration was a great hands-on bonus for the kids too.
I highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants to learn about how chocolate and coffee are made. It’s interesting, educational, and a relaxing break from the more typical active tours in Costa Rica. You will learn a lot and taste some delicious chocolate and coffee in the process!
