Doka/Grecia/Sarchi/Oxcart factories and stores. - San José / Central Valley

Begin your tour as you head to the Doka coffee plantation to discover how expert growers have created a deep and rich tradition of producing the best coffee in Costa Rica. Hear about the careful cultivation, harvesting, roasting and preparation of perfect coffee, and then sample some of the flavours and aromas in the tasty lunch buffet, featuring many authentic Costa Rican favourites.

After lunch, head to the butterfly garden to find out why the beautiful native butterflies are known as the jewels of Costa Rica, and discover more about their role in native culture, as well as swinging by an old sugar mill still in operation to learn about the cultivation of sugarcane. Stop at the pretty town of Grecia, famous for its all-metal church dating back to the 19th century.

Finally, it's on to neighbouring Sarchi, known as the cradle of Costa Rican handicrafts. The streets are lined with the artwork of the locals, who specialise in painting bright patterns onto objects such as rocking chairs, chests, masks and jewellery. Yet it's for the painted and decorated oxcarts, huge brightly coloured pieces of farm equipment transformed into art, that the town is known. Nowadays, the oxcarts have become the perfect symbol for the Costa Rican character, simultaneously deeply practical and yet full of artistic verve and a riotous sense of fun that intoxicates visitors.

Languages
Spanish and English