Laura Pattara | 3 January 2024
With credit to Juanita R. VallejoLatin America has produced some of the world's finest coffee beans since the mid-1700s. However, until about a decade ago, the quality of the served coffee in situ was more than a little questionable.
As demand and prices for high-quality Colombian, Peruvian, Costa Rican and Guatemalan beans skyrocketed worldwide, their home-growing countries were left with lower-grade leftovers. Locals, some of whom were among the poorest in the world, simply could not afford – or rather compete – with the kind of prices the rest of us in Europe, North America, and elsewhere were willing to pay.
For years, local Latin Americans woke to a cup of instant java served with a dash of sweetened, evaporated milk. Not exactly barista-worthy concoctions! Visitors looking for a great cup of freshly brewed coffee could only get their fix in major cities and heavily touristed hubs, where a few coffee shops catered for tourists willing to pay more for a better drop.
Yet things have changed dramatically over the last 15 years or so. Today, Latin America boasts many sensational destinations where coffee lovers can indulge in the liquid elixir and arguably the best coffee experiences in the world.
As we searched for the best places to go in Latin America for coffee lovers, we specifically looked for places that offer more than just a fabulous cup of Joe. From fantastic coffee-tasting tours to historic coffee houses and overnight stays in coffee farms, our favourite coffee-lovin' spots are all located in some of the continent's most splendid destinations, where you'll find a wealth of highlights to discover and experience in between those soul-stirring cups of coffee!
The Best Destinations in Latin America for coffee-lovers are:
Explore amazing trips to Guatemala.
Guatemalan coffee is a step above the rest and is revered for its superior quality and complexity of flavours. Many attribute this to the fact that most coffee fincas (plantations) still harvest beans in the most traditional ways.
The nation's highlands are where you'll want to head and – luckily for you – where you can discover the country’s long-held passion for coffee and some of its most magnificent landscapes.
Lake Atitlan is the most popular region for the best coffee experiences in Guatemala, a spectacular area framed by three volcanoes close to the Pacific Ocean.
Lake Atitlan coffee beans are harvested during the first three months of the year and are renowned for producing full-bodied brews that are immensely flavoursome. They grow at altitudes between 1200 and 1700masl, with the cooler temps making for more intense flavours. Water from the lake is used to hydrate crops, and organic fertilizers are used instead of synthetic ones. Coffee beans are sun-dried and then shipped out for export, yet your chances to savour these incredible coffees straight from the source are numerous. There are many coffee farms to visit in Guatemala, and adding a guided tour to your itinerary is an enriching experience.
Head out to San Juan for a fantastic and in-depth tour of the organic co-operative farm at La Voz Coffee Plantation, where you can learn about the labour-intensive process of harvesting coffee. The women’s co-op also offers beautiful hand-woven scarves, shawls, and tablecloths (for that little stint of retail therapy you'll no doubt crave) and, considering the co-op is made up mostly of women farmers, the proceeds have helped create a mother & child health clinic next door, which is lovely to see.
Learn all about the painstaking work that goes into traditional coffee making, enjoy a superb cuppa and make a difference in the lives of locals in Guatemala…what's not to love about that?
See how best to combine the treasures of Lake Atitlan and its coffee traditions on a Signature Guatemala tour.
Discover our Costa Rica tours.
Costa Rica's deep connection with coffee is as integral to its identity as its breathtaking wilderness and wildlife-spotting tours.
The nation's affinity for the magic bean traces back over three centuries, stemming from European imports originally from Africa. Cultivated in Costa Rica's Central Valley, the coffee crops found their optimal home in this fertile region, where the combination of rich soils and the cool highland climate created the perfect conditions for flourishing coffee farms.
While coffee, tobacco and sugar were once the country’s main exports, coffee soon surpassed them all by miles. The 1800s saw an astronomical surge in coffee production, and its lucrative export to Europe led the Costa Rican government to offer free land to those interested in cultivating it.
By the 1830s, coffee had become Costa Rica's largest export and remains one of the country's key agricultural assets. In this sensationally beautiful country, coffee (alongside sloths and toucans) reigns supreme and visiting a historic plantation is one of the best coffee experiences you can have in Latin America.
One of the best places to go is Doka Coffee Estate, a traditional plantation that’s been producing some of the continent’s best coffee beans for over 200 years. Located in the Central Valley near Alajuela, Doka offers in-depth guided tours that walk you through the coffee-making journey, from cultivating and harvesting beans to the processing and roasting stages.
The estate showcases a unique hybrid of traditional and modern coffee-making methods and boasts scenic views of the nearby Poas Volcano. Doka is a sensational and immersive destination for learning about Costa Rica's coffee heritage.
See how easily you can include a visit to Doka Estate and an overnight stay at a traditional coffee finca on our Signature Costa Rica tour.
Coffee beans drying under a radiant sun at Doka estate, Costa Rica
Experience tasteful coffee and so much more in Argentina.
When discovering the best places to go in Latin America for coffee lovers, Argentina proves to be one of its greatest ironies. The country itself is not - and never has been - a coffee-growing country. Yet the colossal influx of Italian and Spanish immigrants meant that Argentina has always been, in fact, the coffee capital of South America – not in growing it but in brewing it.
Before any neighbouring nation even knew of a 'latte', porteños – Buenos Aires residents – were sipping macchiatos (called lagrimas) and café con leche like it was nobody's business. The city has always offered the best coffee in the entire continent, and visiting coffee meccas like Café Tortoni (the oldest coffee house in Buenos Aires) is a rite of passage for every visiting coffee lover.
Roasting and grinding its own beans since 1858, Café Tortoni isn't just the place to get your morning fix. This Buenos Aires icon is drenched in illustrious history, having been the favoured meeting place for the city's literary giants and philosophers throughout the 20s, 30s and 40s.
Since then, the café has attracted many famous characters, from Albert Einstein to Hillary Clinton, as well as local and international actors and celebrities. When spending a few days in Buenos Aires, a cortado at Tortoni is an absolute must, coffee lover or not. The basement serves as an authentic jazz and tango bar, and besides all of that, the café is simply drop-dead-gorgeous, having retained its traditional décor since its inception.
Discover the most delicious side of Argentina on a Signature Buenos Aires tour.
> Read More: Top 5 Reasons To Visit Argentina
Drink unforgettable coffee on our tours to Colombia.
Lying at the western end of the Andes Mountain Region, Colombia’s ‘Eje Cafetero’ (Coffee Triangle) is one of the country’s most beautiful regions and a UNESCO heritage-listed treasure of extraordinary wilderness.
Nestled within this vibrant coffee region are four distinct areas, each showcasing a tapestry of flavours, landscapes, and cultural riches, inviting travellers to immerse themselves in Colombia's diverse and captivating coffee country.
Breathtaking landscapes of rolling verdant hills and volcanic peaks, distinct architecture and welcoming locals are the main reasons Colombia’s Coffee Triangle is becoming increasingly popular with foreign visitors.
"In Colombia, coffee is more than a drink—it's a cherished part of daily life and an essential aspect of social interaction. Colombians often enjoy their daily cup of coffee as a moment to connect with others, so coffee becomes a social experience, fostering a sense of community and warmth in every cup.
Colombians appreciate the ritual of preparing and savouring filter coffee. Pairing coffee with traditional snacks like pandebono or arepas adds to the enjoyment and is a delightful way to connect with the essence of Colombian coffee culture."
– Juanita, Viva’s Marketing Coordinator, is a Colombian native & coffee lover.
Head to Caldas to soak up splendid views of Manizales, a city perched amidst the Andean mountains. Discover the region’s rich coffee heritage at Hacienda Venecia or hike through Los Nevados National Natural Park for breathtaking views.
Revered for its colourful architecture and bountiful coffee farms to visit, Quindío will entice you to explore the Cocora Valley, where towering wax palms paint an awe-inspiring scene. Dive into the intricacies of coffee production at a plantation or wander through the charming streets of Salento.
> Enjoy a truly immersive experience on a Cocora Valley Coffee Region Add-on Tour.
To complete your immersive exploration of Colombia’s Coffee Cultural Landscape, don’t miss visiting Pereira, renowned for its luscious surroundings and for growing the best Arabica beans. Unwind in the thermal springs of Santa Rosa de Cabal or savour the flavours of local coffee in the heart of the Coffee Cultural Landscape.
And, while Medellin isn't within the traditional coffee triangle, it offers an array of cultural and urban experiences. Marvel at the transformation of this vibrant city and explore its museums, parks, and innovative architecture.
Check out our Signature Colombia tour for a superb taste of all the treasures Colombia offers.
Good coffee takes your experience to another level – check our trips to Peru.
Peru may be renowned for being the birthplace of the mighty ancient Inca Empire and boasting one of Latin America's most impressive historical highlights (that little gem of Machu Picchu). Yet, avid coffee connoisseurs also know the country produces some of South America's best organic and fair-trade coffee.
Alongside Buenos Aires, the main Peruvian cities of Lima, Cusco and Arequipa have been the trusted ‘real’ coffee refuelling stops for years. However, great brews – and excellent coffee farm tours – are becoming very popular outside these hubs.
Revered for being brilliant growers of Arabica coffee, Peruvians traditionally love their fresh coffee made from concentrate, where boiling water is added to a crazy intense liquid essence (the kind a teaspoon can stand up in!) to reach the desired strength.
Co-operative farming is hugely popular here – as in Colombia – and extensive and interesting coffee tasting and plantation tours are offered in Rodrigues de Mendoza, in the country's northeast, where COOPARM comprises over 500 organic micro-farms.
Coffee tasting tours are offered in all major tourist areas near growing regions and include speciality coffee shop tours in Lima, the capital, and overnight coffee farm experiences in the famed Valley of the Incas outside Cusco.
Include Lima and Cusco on an Andean Explorer tour and ask us about bespoke tours to Rodrigues de Mendoza in the north.
And see how to combine the best of Peru on a Signature Peru tour itinerary.
Coffee beans in their raw form in Peru
At Viva Expeditions, we offer dedicated tours through Latin America and can create bespoke itineraries to take in the very best coffee lover’s highlights – be they infamous destinations like Guatemala, Argentina, Colombia and Peru – or hidden hubs like Chile, Uruguay and Cuba.
So if you have a coffee addiction to feed and wish to explore some of the most incredible destinations on our planet where organic, fair-trade and world-class coffee is made, simply contact us.
Signature Tours: Refined, Simplified, Perfected
Premium itineraries carefully crafted by destination experts. Take in the very best of South America and Central America, with highly-rated hotels and exclusive authentic experiences.
Experience Guatemala's highlights including the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal, cultural Lake Atitlan, charming Antigua and Chichicastenago's markets
Experience the coffee region of Colombia and visit Salento, Los Nevados National Natural Park, Cocora Valley & the El Ocaso coffee plantation.
Wildlife and Nature: Our wildlife and nature holidays will take you to some of the most remote and unspoilt regions. From encountering rich exotic wildlife in Latin America and Africa to the magnificent marine life in Antarctica and spotting spectacular birds in New Zealand.
Signature Tours: Refined, Simplified, Perfected
Premium itineraries carefully crafted by destination experts. Take in the very best of South America and Central America, with highly-rated hotels and exclusive authentic experiences.
Encounter sloths and other wonderful wildlife, walk in cloud forests, soak in hot springs, relax on the beaches of Costa Rica on this 9 day adventure.
