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Coffee country: a day in Los Santos

High in the mountains south of San José, the cantons of Tarrazú, Dota and León Cortés grow some of Costa Rica's most celebrated coffee. Our community knows the farms, the families and the roads.

  • About 2 hFrom San José
  • 1,200–1,800+ mAltitude of the farms
  • Oct – MarHarvest season
  • TarrazúDesignation of origin
Oscar Calvo next to coffee plants full of ripe red cherries in Los Santos 5:03
Ripe coffee cherries in Los Santos. One of the most watched videos on Oscar's channel, with 10K views.

Why Los Santos coffee is special

The Zona de Los Santos is made up of three cantons: Tarrazú, Dota and León Cortés. Together they share the Tarrazú designation of origin, the name you'll see on bags of Costa Rican coffee around the world.

The farms climb from about 1,200 to more than 1,800 meters above sea level. At that altitude the cherries ripen slowly, which gives denser beans and the bright, clean cup the region is known for.

What a day in Los Santos can include

  1. An early start from San JoséAbout two hours on mountain roads, with valleys of coffee on both sides.
  2. A family farmWalk among the plants and follow the process from the cherry to the cup with the people who grow it.
  3. Lunch at a local sodaHome cooking in one of the towns of the zone.
  4. A tastingTry the coffee where it's grown, and learn what makes each farm's cup different.
  5. Back to San JoséReturn in the afternoon, or continue your trip from there.

Each day is planned around you. Tell Oscar what you'd like to see and he'll arrange it with local guides and farmers from the community.

Oscar Calvo with a farmer holding a basket of freshly picked coffee cherries at Finca Hermanos Mora 4:04
At Finca Hermanos Mora, a family coffee farm in Los Santos.

When to go

From about October to March you can see the coffee being picked by hand, with the peak of the harvest usually in January. The rest of the year the farms are green and quieter, and still worth the trip.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Los Santos from San José?

About 2 hours by road, through the mountains south of the city.

When is the coffee harvest in Los Santos?

Usually from about October to March, with the peak in January. It's when you can see the coffee being picked by hand.

What does Tarrazú mean on a bag of coffee?

Tarrazú is the designation of origin for coffee grown in the cantons of Tarrazú, Dota and León Cortés, the Zona de Los Santos.

Can I book a private coffee day?

Yes. Message Oscar on WhatsApp with your date and group size, and he'll plan the day with local guides and farmers from the community.

Sources
WhatsApp