When I first searched for a coffee and chocolate tour to include in our La Fortuna itinerary, a few options surfaced.
But the problem was selecting one that wouldn’t bore our mom to death (after all, Costa Rica was her surprise birthday trip!). So we wanted a special, authentic Costa Rican coffee and chocolate experience.
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Since both coffee and chocolate are important in Costa Rica’s culture and economy, I decided to take a chance on the North Fields tour which combines workshops and tastings for each.
I have been on many coffee tours and many chocolate tours in Mexico and Guatemala, but never both at once, and never in Costa Rica.
But I’m pleased to say that the North Fields Coffee and Chocolate Tour surpassed my expectations and became one of my family’s favorite tours in La Fortuna.
In this guide, I’ll give you a glimpse into what to expect and whether or not this coffee and chocolate tour is worth adding to your itinerary! ☕️ 🌺 🇨🇷
Guide: North Fields Coffee and Chocolate Tour in Costa Rica
What and Where Is North Fields?
North Fields is a Costa Rican family-owned business specializing in craft coffee, artisanal chocolate, and sugarcane.
Their plantation is located very close to the heart of La Fortuna de San Carlos, where you will go for the coffee and chocolate tour.
- 📍 Calle 506, Alajuela Province, San Carlos, Costa Rica
- 🚙 7–8 minutes by car from La Fortuna
- 📞 +506 2479 7195
- ⏰ Open 8AM to 5:30PM
Due to their popularity and proximity to La Fortuna town, North Fields receives quite a few curious travelers who pit stop on the way to/from white-water rafting, ziplining, and (our favorite) the wildlife safari float tour.
That said, while walk-ins are welcome, the North Fields tours are usually booked close to capacity (8 people maximum per booking).
So there is no guarantee that you can join same-day unless you reserve online in advance.
Cost of the North Fields Coffee and Chocolate Tour
Most coffee and chocolate tours in Costa Rica will set you back $45–$65 per person.
The North Fields tour costs $43.00 when you book on Viator.
For two adults and one senior (slight discount), we paid $124.00, local taxes included—and it was well worth it!
Below is what the tour includes!
What Does the Tour Include?
- Professional guide
- Chocolate preparation and tasting
- Coffee workshop and tasting
- Tour of the coffee/cacao plantation
- Sugar cane tasting
- Local taxes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (if not more than 20 minutes away from La Fortuna Area)
- Complimentary water (the water is safe to drink in Costa Rica!)
Note: The tour does not include tips or transport if your accommodation is further than 20 minutes from La Fortuna town.
If you’re curious about how the tour unfolds, read more below!
Already excited about the experience?
✨ Click here to book it on Viator ✨
What to Expect on This Coffee and Chocolate Tour
North Fields Coffee Tour
The North Fields coffee and chocolate tour is dynamic and never dull. It is broken down into several alternating workshops about coffee and cocoa.
In other words, you won’t be listening and learning about coffee for two hours straight.
Instead, you’ll learn about both coffee and chocolate step-by-step in alternating workshops.
Once you arrive at the North Fields farm and office, you will check in at the front desk right inside the gift shop.
The tour takes place outdoors, but in case of rain—don’t fret!
All of the workshops and tastings may be outdoors but they are under well-made shelters.
The coffee tour begins on their open terrace right beside their storefront, where you’ll find a lovely bar for seating.
Get settled in for the first part of the tour during which your guide will explain the coffee production process the Costa Rican way.
Our guide’s explanation and personal storytelling were always insightful, and never dull!
The coffee you will enjoy is roasted, steeped, and served to near perfection. The final tasting was a smooth, slightly fruity coffee.
In total, there are about three workshops on just coffee, but they aren’t presented all at once.
☕️ What’s very unique about this coffee and chocolate tour in Costa Rica, unlike others I’ve done, is its ideal structure and length—dynamic, engaging, educative, and fun!
The tour in its entirety finishes off with a final coffee tasting, this time brewed the traditional Costa Rican way which means pour-over style using a traditional wooden chorreador with a cloth bag for filtration. (Many assume it’s a sock and call it as such, but no, it is not a sock!) 🧦
This unique brewing process is unique to Costa Rica and is just one of the many reasons to try Costa Rican coffee.
While you start off learning about coffee, you’ll proceed on foot to the nearby plantation where you’ll start the introduction to cocoa—which the Mayas and Aztecs called the food of the gods.
North Fields Chocolate Tour
The chocolate tour was my personal favorite aspect of the coffee, chocolate, and sugar cane workshops and demonstrations by North Fields.
And yes, it’s all because of the chocolate tasting!
While the first introduction to the meaning and history of cacao was super insightful and interactive (you get to taste a raw cacao seed!), the actual chocolate tasting and the gluttonous act of heartily spooning the fresh-made melted chocolate in your mouth was the highlight. 🍫 🤤
What’s really unique about this chocolate tasting is that you get to try varying levels of chocolate—from milk chocolate to dark chocolate (around 60% to 90% cocoa).
You can also add spices, nuts, honey, salt, chile, or vanilla extract into your bowl for added fun and flavor.
As I mentioned earlier, the coffee and chocolate workshops alternate as you progress through the tour. So you never feel bored of learning about one or the other—it always stays interesting!
As a bonus, you also get to learn about the sugarcane culture and making process as well; tasting the sugarcane juice is included!
The final part of the tour concludes with a final walk around the small plantation before heading back to the parking lot and storefront, where you can stock up on North Fields’ own coffee and cacao products.
More Coffee and Chocolate Tours in La Fortuna
My family was so pleasantly surprised with the tour’s combination of coffee/chocolate. At first, I was very hesitant to do a 2-in-1 like this, but in the end, it worked out perfectly.
I don’t think we could have asked for a better experience as everything went very smoothly.
But that said, North Fields isn’t the only coffee and chocolate tours in La Fortuna/Arenal.
The other tours in La Fortuna are a mix of chocolate-only tours and coffee/chocolate tours.
Ultimately, if you’re looking to do both (coffee and chocolate) then I can’t recommend the North Fields tour enough.
My second choice would be either the Eden Chocolate Tour or the Rainforest Chocolate Tour simply because they both do a deep dive into the worlds of cacao (unprocessed) and cocoa (processed).
And I personally find the cacao/chocolate process as a whole more interesting than coffee (but hey, that’s just me!).
You expect those two tours to be more hands-on in the chocolate-making and tasting process, so if you’re looking for especially interactive workshops, those would be fantastic options.
I hope you have a wonderful time in the La Fortuna area! Don’t hesitate to drop me a comment below about your experience.
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