From Fincas to Campesinos and Beyond!

If you’re looking for a truly unique vacation experience, consider booking one of the many Costa Rica farm tours available to visitors. Farm tours in Costa Rica blend sustainable agriculture with sustainable tourism, offering tourists a fun, interactive way to learn about the culture, traditions, and food of this Central American country. Visiting a Costa Rican farm can be an add-on to a small group tour, as well as an immersive adventure through the country’s history that you can taste and touch!

Family Farms vs. Industrial Agriculture in Costa Rica

A finca typically refers to any rural property in Costa Rica that is used for agriculture, livestock farming, or various economic activities such as ecotourism. Many fincas are self-sustaining communities that offer farmers a simpler lifestyle that emphasizes sustainability. Almost all finca communities promote eco-conscious living for both residents and visitors, allowing both to experience a lifestyle that is in harmony with nature.

There are, however, large-scale farms in Costa Rica that practice industrial farming. In these operations, monoculture (the growing of a single crop) dominates the operation. Industrial farming operations in Costa Rica are responsible for most of the country’s agricultural exports, including:

• Bananas
• Pineapples
• Coffee
• Sugar
• Rice
• Corn
• Potatoes
• Palm Oil
• Ornamental Plants

However, industrial agriculture has been detrimental to Costa Rica’s environment and has contributed to much of the country’s deforestation. As a result, the government has launched a series of sustainability initiatives promoting ecologically friendly farming alternatives like regenerative farming among local campesinos.

Farm Tours in Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, a farmer is commonly referred to as a campesino. This term describes a hardworking individual who works the land and provides for their family, often using traditional farming methods passed down through generations. Today, many campesinos offer Costa Rica farm tours to visitors to supplement their income and generate revenue for the country’s many sustainable initiatives. Traditional farm tours in Costa Rica, especially on a working farm, can be an authentic experience where visitors collect eggs, milk cows, grind sugarcane, harvest cocoa beans, and make lunch with their hosts!

Discovering Organic Farms for a Natural Connection

A Costa Rica farm tour is an immersive experience that allows visitors to connect with local Costa Rican culture and agriculture. These farm tours often include visits to traditional farms, where visitors can milk cows, extract sugarcane, and make chocolate. Here are two unique farm tours in Costa Rica that allow visitors an insider’s glimpse at the country’s burgeoning sustainable agriculture movement.

Costa Rica Farm Tours #1: Dakota Estate Coffee Farm

Dakota Estate lies at the base of Poás Volcano. The fertile volcanic earth of the farm enriches the soil, making each variety of bean distinct in its flavor profile. Costa Rica farm tours at Dakota Estate allow visitors to follow the coffee production cycle from cultivation to processing to roasting. And, because of its location near Poás National Park, visitors can immerse themselves in the natural beauty of central Costa Rica, enjoy wildlife and bird sightings, or explore the park and all its outdoor activities.

The incredible beauty of the surrounding national park and the quality of the coffee produced (and brewed) on site make this farm tour a unique blend of natural splendor and rich coffee culture. Enjoy exclusive brews while learning about the farm’s sustainable practices and high standards, from beans to cup.

Costa Rica Farm Tours #2: Finca Luna Neuva Lodge

Nestled in the heart of Costa Rica is the Finca Luna Neuva Lodge, where visitors can learn about the campesinos’ commitment to regenerative farming and enjoy the beauty of the farm’s surroundings. Finca Luna offers guests an authentic farm-to-table experience, with unique opportunities for hiking in the rainforests, exploring herbal gardens, and touring the expansive fields where cacao beans grow.

Immersive guest experiences on the farm include:

• Milking cows from the farm’s organic dairy amid lush, green fields.
• Tropical birding tours in the rainforest surrounding the farm.
• Wildlife sightings from a soaring, 35-foot-high canopy tower.
• A chocolate tour ends with guests handcrafting a chocolate bar from farm-grown ingredients.
• Luxury accommodations that include private rooms, family cabins, or eco-dome suites that overlook the farm and rainforest.

In addition to the Costa Rica farm tours offered at Finca Luna, guests can enjoy white water rafting and paddle boarding on nearby Lake Arenal or hike the base of Arenal Volcano for added adventure. Enjoy outdoor adventure while exploring the finca’s regenerative agriculture and conservation efforts.

Costa Rica’s Sustainable Farming Movement

For the past several decades, Costa Rica has been working toward carbon neutrality and other sustainability initiatives. One of the biggest changes made to the country’s infrastructure has been the resurgence of smaller-scale, sustainable agricultural methods to replace industrial agricultural operations. Crop rotation has been used along with companion planting initiatives to improve soil and prevent bugs, rather than using chemical fertilizers and bug sprays. These sustainable methods are improving the ecological footprint of the country and are on full display for visitors participating in farm tours in Costa Rica.

What to Expect from Costa Rica Farm Tours

Visiting a traditional Costa Rica farm is one of the best ways to learn about the culture, traditions, and food of Costa Rica. If you’re a farm-to-table aficionado, booking a Costa Rica farm tour with a company like Gondwana Ecotours may be just for you! Take a trip down Costa Rica’s back roads to see how chocolate and coffee beans are grown, harvested, and processed on a one-of-a-kind, delicious adventure you’ll never forget.