Chorotega Heritage & Coffee Experience
Starting at $209
Step into Guanacaste’s rich heritage with this immersive experience! Discover Chorotega traditions, explore a coffee processing plant, take part in a hands-on pottery workshop, and enjoy an ancestral Guanacastecan meal—all in one culturally enriching day.
Step Into the Chorotega Legacy & Savor the Coffee of Guanacaste’s Highlands
Uncover the living traditions of Guanacaste in this one-of-a-kind cultural journey. Visit a coffee processing plant to learn about Costa Rica’s coffee heritage, then dive into Chorotega artistry with a hands-on pottery workshop led by local artisans. Savor a traditional Guanacastecan lunch, experience indigenous customs, and end your day with a stop at a legacy landmark. This immersive experience blends history, craftsmanship, and flavors, offering an authentic connection to Costa Rica’s ancestral roots.
Specifics:
- 🕒 Pick Up Time: 7:30 am (recommended for optimal experience)
- 📍 Meeting Point: At your door or hotel’s main lobby
- ⏳ Duration: Full day (You will be back around 4:30pm)
- 🚙 Driving Time: 1.5 hours (each way)
- 🙋♂️ Minimum Amount of People: 2
- 👶 Minimum Age: All ages are welcome
- 💲 Price Includes: Private Transportation, dedicated bilingual guide, ancestral lunch, hands-on workshop, tour of the coffee processing plant, all taxes and fees, and a $5 allocation from Link Expeditions to The Linking Forests Fund, helping protect Costa Rica’s biodiversity with every tour you join.
- 💡 Price Note: The listed price applies to groups of 4 or more travelers. For groups of 2, the price is $327 per person, and for groups of 3, it’s $254 per person. If your group includes more than 9 people, please contact us for a customized quote.
- 🛑 Not included in the price: Gratuities, souvenirs or any items and services not mentioned in the Included section.
Why You Should Consider This Activity:
✅ Experience Costa Rica’s Rich Coffee Culture – Gain insider knowledge about coffee production, from seed to cup, and enjoy a guided tasting of high-quality, locally grown coffee.
✅ Engage in a Hands-On Pottery Workshop – Learn from Chorotega artisans, practice ancient ceramic-making techniques, and create your own one-of-a-kind pottery piece to take home.
✅ Savor an Authentic Guanacastecan Meal – Enjoy an ancestral lunch featuring Arroz de Maíz, a dish deeply rooted in Costa Rica’s indigenous and rural heritage, with alternative traditional meal options available.
✅ Walk Through History & Indigenous Traditions – Explore the only remaining aboriginal community in Guanacaste, discovering their customs, medicinal plant knowledge, and pre-Columbian history.
✅ Visit a Legacy Landmark of Guanacaste – Depending on the day, enjoy a final cultural stop either at a historic site, a culinary landmark, or an artisanal beverage spot, where you might even taste vino de coyol.
✅ Enjoy a Personalized & Comfortable Journey – Travel in private transportation with a knowledgeable guide, ensuring a stress-free, immersive experience tailored to your interests.
What To Expect:
Private Transportation & Scenic Journey
Your private transportation will pick you up from the main lobby or front door of your accommodation. The drive takes approximately 1.5 hours, passing through Santa Cruz (Folklore City) and Nicoya (First Colonial City), then through rural landscapes until reaching Hojancha, nestled in the highlands of southern Guanacaste.
Behind the Scenes of Costa Rican Coffee
Begin your morning with an immersive coffee experience, exploring the facilities where coffee from nearby towns is processed. Over the course of this 90-minute guided tour, experts will walk you through each step, from seed germination to drying, roasting, and grinding.
The coffee tour includes:
- A warm welcome at a traditional Chorotega house.
- The history of the facility and Costa Rica’s deep-rooted coffee heritage.
- A step-by-step review of the coffee process at different production stages.
- Insights into byproducts and sustainability efforts in coffee farming.
- A coffee tasting experience, followed by access to the souvenir store.
Hands-On Chorotega Pottery Workshop
Next, we’ll visit the only remaining aboriginal community in Guanacaste, where local artisans will lead you through a hands-on pottery workshop. Under the guidance of a master artisan, you’ll learn centuries-old techniques and create your own Chorotega-style pottery piece to take home.
As an alternative, you may choose a rosquillas cooking class, where you’ll learn to make traditional Guanacastecan corn-based pastries. If you’re interested in this option, please let us know in advance for more details.
Ancestral Lunch: A Culinary Legacy
While your pottery dries in the sun, we’ll enjoy a traditional Guanacastecan lunch featuring Arroz de Maíz. This comforting dish is made with cracked corn slow-cooked in a rich, seasoned broth with chicken, achiote, and local spices, reflecting Costa Rica’s rural heritage and indigenous influences.
If you have food allergies, dietary restrictions, or preferences, please let us know in advance so we can accommodate your needs. Alternative options include a Casado with fish, pork, breaded chicken fingers, or a vegetarian option. Each Casado is served with ripe plantain, a tortilla, salad, and either potato or chayote picadillo. Lunch also includes a natural fruit drink made from seasonal fruits such as cas, passion fruit, or starfruit.
Cultural Walk: Unveiling the Chorotega Legacy
After lunch, a local guide will lead us on a walk through the tiny village, sharing insights into the Chorotegas and other indigenous groups that inhabited Costa Rica before the arrival of the Spaniards. Along the way, you’ll also learn about medicinal plants and other fascinating aspects of local traditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, the walk may instead take us to a seasonal waterfall, offering a refreshing and scenic alternative. The final route is chosen by the local guide, ensuring the best possible experience based on the day’s conditions.
Final Cultural Stop: A Legacy Landmark of Nicoya
Before heading back, we’ll make one last cultural stop, offering a final glimpse into the rich heritage of Guanacaste. The location varies daily based on availability, but it will be one of the following:
- A Historic Site in Nicoya, highlighting the region’s colonial and indigenous past.
- A Culinary Landmark, where you can experience traditional Guanacastecan flavors.
- An Artisanal Beverage Spot, where you can taste vino de coyol.
No matter the final stop, each offers a unique perspective that adds depth and authenticity to your experience.
Return Journey: Reflecting on a Day of Tradition
After a full day of cultural immersion, we’ll stretch, freshen up, and begin our return journey, feeling enriched and inspired by the history, craftsmanship, and flavors of Chorotega heritage and Guanacaste.
What to Bring:
Essentials:
Recommended for enhanced experience:
Additional Info:
- Age Requirement: Suitable for all ages, provided participants can complete a 2-mile steep trail
- Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible due to uneven terrain
- Languages: Available in Spanish and English
- Physical Rating: Active
- Group Size: Open to all group sizes
- Surroundings: Land-based Activity
Essential Considerations
Immerse Yourself in Guanacaste’s Ancestral Heritage
Discover Chorotega traditions, artisanal craftsmanship, and authentic flavors in this unforgettable cultural experience.
Book Now!Cancellation Policy:
We understand that plans can change. Cancellations made at least 72 hours before the scheduled excursion will receive a full refund, minus any applicable bank or financial service fees. Cancellations made between 72 and 48 hours before the excursion will receive an 80% refund, minus any applicable bank or financial service fees. Cancellations made within 48 hours of the excursion are non-refundable, and no-shows will incur a 100% penalty charge.
All changes and cancellations must be submitted in writing via email to hello@linkexpeditions.com and must be confirmed by us to take effect. Please note that tours, excursions, activities, and field trips must be prepaid in full to secure your booking. All prices are quoted in USD.
Some experiences we offer are facilitated by trusted vendors we have carefully selected to align with our values. For these specific activities, the cancellation policy will be subject to the vendor’s terms and conditions. For example, fishing and private catamaran tours typically have a 50% penalty charge if canceled within 21 days.
While we strive to accommodate everyone, our cancellation policies are in place to help us continue providing you with the best possible service. Late cancellations not only affect our operations but also limit opportunities for other travelers who may have wished to book. By adhering to these policies, we can ensure your excursions and transportation are secure, offering you a smooth and hassle-free experience. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
