La Fortuna: Coffee & Chocolate Tour with Tastings

Summary

Family-run coffee and chocolate tour in lush La Fortuna with hands-on tastings

You’ll trace coffee from seedling to steaming cup and get your hands sticky making real chocolate bars in La Fortuna. With friendly guides and easy-access trails (even if it rains), you’ll taste fresh brews and rich chocolate while hearing stories from locals who live it every day. The smells alone might stick with you longer than you expect.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed at Don Juan Tours in La Fortuna was the smell—earthy, a little sweet, almost like rain-soaked leaves mixed with roasted beans. Our guide, Esteban, waved us over under a big green awning (the sky looked ready to pour any second—classic Arenal). He started by handing us these tiny coffee seedlings. I didn’t expect them to feel so delicate. “This is where it all starts,” he said, grinning. There was something about the way he talked about his family’s farm—like every bean had a story.

We wandered along wide cement paths (Esteban joked they’re ‘rain-proof’ for clumsy folks like me) while he explained how coffee cherries ripen. I tried one—sticky-sweet and nothing like the drink I know. The roasting room was warm and smelled like toasted nuts; honestly, I could’ve stood there forever just breathing it in. When we finally sipped the finished cup outside, thunder rumbled somewhere behind the volcano. It made everything taste richer somehow.

Then came the chocolate part—definitely messier than I thought! They let a few of us grind cacao beans by hand (my arms still remember that effort), and Esteban laughed when my chocolate bar came out lumpy. We sampled dark, milk, even white chocolate right there on our palms; it melted quick in the humid air but tasted so much deeper than anything from home. There was this moment when everyone went quiet except for birds chattering nearby—I still think about that silence sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Learn coffee and chocolate processes

• Visit Don Juan Tours Arenal
• Learn coffee process from seed to cup
• Start chocolate process explanation
• Grind cacao beans to make chocolate
• Taste dark, milk, and white chocolate

Top questions

Is this coffee & chocolate tour in La Fortuna wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all trails are cemented and fully accessible for wheelchairs, strollers, or walkers.

How long does the Don Juan coffee and chocolate tour take?

The experience typically lasts around 2–3 hours including both parts of the tour.

Do you get to make your own chocolate bar?

Yes, some guests are chosen to grind cacao beans by hand and make their own bar during the tour.

Are tastings included on this La Fortuna tour?

Yes, you’ll sample several types of coffee and chocolates including dark, milk, and white varieties.

Is lunch included on this coffee & chocolate experience?

No lunch is included; tastings of coffee and chocolate are provided during the tour.

What happens if it rains during the tour?

The entire route is covered or protected by cement paths so tours run rain or shine.

Can children join this coffee & chocolate tour?

Yes, families with children are welcome; infants can use prams or strollers easily on site.

What’s included

Your day includes guided tours through both coffee and cacao processes at Don Juan Tours Arenal in La Fortuna, hands-on chances to grind beans or make your own chocolate bar if you want to try, plus plenty of tastings—from fresh-brewed local coffee to several kinds of real Costa Rican chocolate—all along accessible walkways no matter the weather.