One of the things we quickly came to love about Monteverde was the rhythm of each day. Mornings were for exploring—hiking through cloud forests, crossing hanging bridges, and discovering new corners of the mountains. By afternoon, the clouds would begin their daily climb up the hillsides, gradually swallowing the views beyond our balcony. Those hours became a time for slowing down, enjoying a drink, playing cards, and simply watching the weather roll in. It was the perfect balance of adventure and rest.
After spending the previous few days immersed in the natural beauty of Monteverde, we decided it was time to learn more about another side of Costa Rica. The country’s landscapes may be what first draw many visitors, but its culture, traditions, and agricultural heritage are just as fascinating.
With that in mind, we signed up for a tour of a local coffee, cocoa, and sugar plantation. What we expected was an interesting look at some of Costa Rica’s most important crops. What we didn’t expect was that the day would end with one of the most memorable cultural experiences of the entire trip.
Some of the best travel moments are carefully planned. Others simply happen when you find yourself in the right place at the right time. This day would give us a little of both.
- Touring the Don Juan Coffee, Cocoa & Sugar Plantation
- An Unexpected Celebration in Monteverde
- Costa Rica’s Famous Painted Oxcarts
Touring the Don Juan Coffee, Cocoa & Sugar Plantation
To learn more about Costa Rica’s agricultural traditions, we signed up for a tour of the Don Juan Plantation. Located just outside Monteverde, the plantation offers visitors a hands-on look at the production of three crops that have played an important role in Costa Rica’s history and economy: sugar cane, cocoa, and coffee.
About the Don Juan Plantation
Our guide began by sharing the story of Don Juan and his family, who arrived in Monteverde in 1937 as one of the area’s early farming families. They initially focused on coffee production before expanding into other crops. Over the years, Don Juan developed a reputation for producing quality coffee.
Eventually, his son and nephew opened an espresso bar in town and displayed a single coffee plant so visitors could learn more about where their coffee came from. Interest in that one plant eventually grew into the plantation tours offered today.
Sweet Beginnings: Sugar Cane
The first stop on our tour took us through rows of towering sugar cane plants. Waiting for us nearby were freshly cut stalks that our guide used to demonstrate the harvesting process.
After shaving away the tough outer layer, he cut the inner cane into small pieces and invited us to try it. The cane was surprisingly sweet, and it was easy to understand why it became such an important crop throughout the region.
Next, we fed the stalks through a traditional press. With each pass, more juice flowed from the cane. After several rounds, our guide added slices of citrus fruit to the crushed cane and sent it through the press again. The resulting drink was poured into small cups for everyone to sample.
It was one of the most refreshing drinks we had during our entire trip—sweet, tart, and incredibly fresh.
From Cocoa Bean to Chocolate
Our next lesson focused on cocoa and the process of turning cacao beans into chocolate.
We began by opening a cocoa pod and examining the rows of beans tucked inside beneath a layer of white pulp. From there, we followed the journey from dried cocoa bean to ground chocolate paste.
What made this portion of the tour especially fun was the opportunity to create our own chocolate. Cinnamon, vanilla, salt, and red pepper powder were laid out for us to experiment with as we customized the flavor. Once mixed with hot water and cocoa butter, the result was a rich and delicious cup of hot chocolate.
Seeing the entire process firsthand gave us a much greater appreciation for how much work goes into something we often take for granted.
Costa Rica’s Famous Coffee
The final part of the tour focused on the crop that helped establish the plantation: coffee.
We helped pick coffee cherries and learned how the beans are separated from their outer fruit before being dried and processed. Our guide showed us the baskets traditionally worn around a worker’s waist during harvest and explained how workers were paid based on how much coffee they collected.
It was a reminder of just how labor-intensive coffee production can be. The amount of work required to harvest, sort, dry, and prepare the beans was far greater than most of us had ever considered.
We also visited the drying areas where rows of coffee beans rested before moving on to the next stage of production. Throughout the tour, our guide emphasized Costa Rica’s focus on producing high-quality coffee rather than simply maximizing output. That commitment to quality has helped make Costa Rican coffee known around the world.
By the end of the tour, we had a much deeper appreciation not only for coffee, chocolate, and sugar, but also for the generations of people whose work makes those products possible. It was one of the most interesting cultural experiences we had during our time in Monteverde and offered a side of Costa Rica that went far beyond its beautiful landscapes.
Why This Tour is Worth Visiting
While Monteverde is best known for its cloud forests and wildlife, the Don Juan Plantation offers a chance to experience another important side of Costa Rica. The tour goes beyond simply tasting coffee or chocolate. It provides a hands-on look at the crops, traditions, and people that have helped shape the country’s culture and economy.
What makes the experience especially enjoyable is how interactive it is. From pressing sugar cane and making hot chocolate to learning about coffee production from bean to cup, visitors are invited to participate in every step of the process. It is an engaging experience for adults and children alike, and a wonderful complement to the outdoor adventures that bring so many travelers to Monteverde.
We thought the cultural portion of our day had come to an end, but Monteverde had one more surprise waiting for us.
An Unexpected Celebration in Monteverde
We had fully intended to spend the rest of the afternoon the same way we had spent the previous few days—relaxing on the deck, playing cards, and watching the clouds roll into the valley.
Then we heard music.
At first it was faint, drifting across from the opposite hillside. We stepped out onto the balcony and could make out a line of people moving through the streets below. It looked like a parade.
Curious, we hurried to the front desk and asked where it was headed and whether we had time to catch it. The answer was yes. The parade would be passing through the center of town.
A few minutes later we found ourselves joining the growing crowd lining Monteverde’s main street.
Soon the music grew louder and the lead fire truck came into view, followed by marching bands from communities throughout the region. As each group reached the center of town, they would pause to perform before continuing down the street.
Behind them came dancers dressed in colorful traditional clothing. Their bright skirts swirled and flowed with every movement, creating a beautiful display of color and motion. While the music was wonderful, watching the dancers perform quickly became one of our favorite parts of the celebration.
What stood out most was seeing multiple generations participating together. Experienced dancers performed alongside younger members of the community, creating a joyful celebration that felt as much about preserving traditions as it was about celebrating them.
Each group brought its own style, music, and energy. Just when we thought we had seen our favorite performance, another band or dance troupe would arrive and leave us equally impressed.
From what we could gather, the celebration was connected to Día de las Culturas, or Day of Cultures. Observed in Costa Rica around October 12, the holiday recognizes the diverse cultural influences that have shaped the country and honors the Indigenous peoples whose histories long predate European arrival in the Americas.
Costa Rica’s Famous Painted Oxcarts
Just as the last of the dancers passed by, an announcement spread through the crowd that the oxcarts were approaching.
We quickly moved to another section of the street for a better view.
Before long, a procession of oxen appeared, each pulling a beautifully painted wooden cart known as a carreta. The vibrant colors and intricate patterns immediately drew everyone’s attention.
These carts played an important role in Costa Rican history. During the nineteenth century, they were used to transport coffee from the Central Valley to ports along the coast, journeys that could take weeks to complete. Over time, different regions developed their own distinctive painted designs, allowing people to identify where a cart and its driver originated.
Today, the painted oxcart is one of Costa Rica’s most recognizable cultural symbols. In 2005, the tradition was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for its importance to the country’s history, identity, and agricultural traditions.
After spending the morning learning about coffee production at the plantation, seeing the oxcarts later that afternoon felt like a perfect continuation of the story. The coffee, the carts, the music, the dancers, and the community celebration all came together to create a deeper understanding of Costa Rican culture than we could have planned for.
What began as an ordinary afternoon ended up becoming one of the most memorable moments of our time in Monteverde.
Travel often begins with a list of places we hope to see, but the moments we remember most are rarely the ones we can fully plan.
We came to Monteverde for the cloud forests and wildlife, yet one of our favorite days was spent learning about coffee, chocolate, and sugar before unexpectedly finding ourselves in the middle of a community celebration. The music, dancers, painted oxcarts, and welcoming spirit of the people gave us a glimpse into the culture behind the beautiful landscapes.
Long after we forget the details of the tour, I suspect we’ll remember standing along that street in Monteverde, listening to the music drift through the mountains and feeling grateful to have stumbled into something so special.
If you have enjoyed this cultural celebration, you may be interested in these other celebrations:
Thanks for joining me on this cultural day with a plantation tour and dias de las culturas. May you always celebrate the beauty and industry of where you come from.
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