On this exciting full day combo tour you will hike the active Poas volcano, tour the Doka Coffee Estate where you can sample the “World’s Best Coffee”, visit an historical church in Grecia, explore the small artisan town of Sarchi, and stop to enjoy a typical Costa Rican midday meal.
Your day will begin bright and early when you are picked up from your hotel and driven to your first adventure. The order of events are scheduled daily and are therefore subject to change.
The Poas Volcano is an active volcano rising just outside Costa Rica’s capital city of San Jose. Always a popular tourist destination, the volcano affords an opportunity to walk along paved trails where you can see bubbling mud, fumaroles and steaming geysers dotting the landscape on your way to the crater. When you reach the top, on a clear day you’ll look out over the vibrant blue-green lagoon that fills the large volcanic crater. It’s well worth the short hike and it’s an amazing spot for taking photos.
Visiting the award-winning and ever so popular Doka Coffee Plantation will show you just how your morning cup ‘o’ joe is made. From touring the coffee plantation to peeling, fermenting and roasting, you’ll discover the techniques of this labor-intensive bean-to-cup production process. You’ll also learn how Costa Ricans traditionally prepare their morning brew and can taste what has been designated the “World’s Best Coffee” for two years in a row.
The historic church, Iglesia de la Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, located in the town of Grecia, attracts locals and tourists alike. It is of Neo-gothic design with unique and intricate architecture built out of metal when the era of building railroads arose in the 1800s. It is a very popular place for weddings. Your guide will tell you about the history of the church as you examine the doors, windows and interior details.
You’ll also explore the small town of Sarchi, famous for its talented traditional artisans. Their colorful, iconic ox cart wheels are the revered national symbol of the Costa Rican worker. You’ll watch as artists hand paint these mandala-like works of art, or show you their mastery at carving embossed furniture. There are many types of art to see, as well as souvenirs that you may want to purchase while in this area, so be sure to bring extra cash if you are looking for gifts to take home.
About half-way through the day, you’ll be stopping at a local restaurant to enjoy a delicious Costa Rican style lunch. Take the time to relax and enjoy a traditional meal typically served with beans and rice with a choice of several varieties of meat, fish or vegetables.
This full day tour includes a bilingual guide, entrance fees, lunch, as well as transportation from Alajuela, Heredia and San Jose. One-way transportation can take between 1.5 and 2 hours depending on the location of your hotel. Combined time of visiting Poas Volcano, Doka Estate coffee plantation, Grecia, Sarchi, having lunch, and round-trip transportation typically takes from 9 to 11 hours. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring your camera, sun block, rain gear, and extra spending money to purchase souvenirs if you’d like.
If you want to see the “real” Costa Rica, this is the way to do it!
The Poas Volcano, Doka, Grecia, Sarchi is available from Alajuela, Alajuela suburbs, Escazu, Heredia, and San Jose
3 and up
Latitude: N 10° 11' 52"
Longitude: W 84° 13' 49.99"
01/23/2022
Was a long day but our guide was so great! He was very knowledgeable and personable and his bi-lingual skills were impressive! He kept me interested and engaged the way he spoke Spanish and English so efficiently.
08/30/2019
Excellent guide and we were also lucky to see the volcano exposed.
01/20/2017
Everything went well, drivers were great, weather was fantastic...especially liked the volcano tour and the coffee plantation tour (Doka)
05/23/2016
We were the first to be picked up and the last to be dropped off. We spent at least two extra hours in traffic than the rest of the people on the tour.