If you are a food lover and have a passion to cook, a visit to the Via Vanilla Rainforest Spice farm is a must-do stop while you’re in Costa Rica.  In just a short jaunt from the Manuel Antonio area, you can find some of the world’s freshest and most exotic spices picked right from the rainforest garden.

The Via Vanilla spice plantation sits up in the Costa Rican cloud forest, enjoying the moderate and damp climate required by most of the spice plants and vegetation in the area.  Be prepared to experience the sights and smells of a truly authentic spice plantation while learning about how spices are grown, harvested, and prepared for the market.

What to Expect at the Spice Farm

Via Vanilla is definitely a nature lover’s experience that we thoroughly enjoyed.  The farm is a fully organic spice farm, or plantation as they referred to it, which is supported by traditional farming methods and knowledgeable staff.  Their spices are grown naturally in the cloud forest and picked and prepared by hand, for the highest quality flavors.

We loved that the plantation was fully organic and used only sustainable farming methods.  The farm staff works with natural processes to protect the forest and provide the highest quality spices for visitors and the market.  Via Vanilla is a self-described “tropical laboratory” who are constantly working to improve their product while protecting the environment that is essential to their success.

The tour was about 3 hours total, largely walking on gentle paths and trails through the rainforest, accompanied by our highly knowledgeable guide and occasionally by the farm staff.  The tour also included time in the processing warehouse where the harvested and prepared spices are readied for the market.

How to Prep

Good, comfortable walking shoes are essential as you will be on your feet for most of the tour. You will want to wear comfortable clothing and consider bringing something to protect you from the very possible spot rain showers.  Sunscreen and insect repellent are both good additions as well.

If you plan to make a purchase while at Via Vanilla, and we recommend that you do if you love to cook with spices, be sure to bring some cash.  They do not accept credit or debit cards,  however US dollars or Costa Rican Colones are both fine

The Spice of Life

The plantation is a source for many different hand-picked organic spices including vanilla, white and black pepper, cinnamon, cocoa, allspice, cardamom, and several others.  Vanilla and perhaps the cocoa are among visitors’ favorites and certainly ones to consider while you’re there.

Villa Vanilla Rainforest Spice Farm Location

The Via Vanilla plantation is located about 11 km from the general Manuel Antonio area, which is about a 20-minute drive, depending on your starting location.  See the map below for a link to locations and to directions.

Be sure to check on the Villa Vanilla website for tour times on the date that you wish to visit.  You can book a tour directly from the website or often through your hotel.  Hotel pick-up services from the Manuel Antonio area are also offered in case you don’t have a vehicle or just don’t feel like driving.

Our Visit

Our visit can be best described as a leisurely stroll through an impressive garden of spicy Eden.  We had expected a more commercialized approach to farming, which was definitely not the case.  The entire farm was more like a natural garden where the plants and vegetation lived in harmony with the climate, the wildlife, and those working on the farm.

The tour was a very educational, hands-on, and nose-full experience, walking the trails, smelling the vegetation and spices, and learning so much that we often take for granted back home.  Our guide was knowledgeable, fluent in both English and Spanish, and very patient with questions from the group.  Our group was small with 6-7 people, which allowed us to get up close and personal with the entire experience.

While we were on the tour, we did experience a brief but intense downpour, which luckily was timed while we were in the shelter at the lookout point, enjoying the chocolate and vanilla treats prepared by their pastry chef.  We were treated to cocoa tea, pastries, and some amazingly fresh, homemade vanilla ice cream.

The views from the lookout point were great and we were able to see many birds from that vantage point and several animals and insects along the path.

After touring the plantation, we visited the “processing warehouse” where we watched someone shelling peppercorns by hand in preparation for grinding and packaging for sale in the shop or for the market.  We were also a very pleasant surprise that they had an on-site chocolate factory.  The entire chocolate making process was explained and we were treated to a fresh sample.  Yum!

At the end of the trip, we were able to purchase several of our favorite spices including fermented vanilla beans (to make our own vanilla extract with rum), fresh cinnamon, fresh ground pepper, and peppercorns, and a few others.  There were no issues with us bringing them home, but be sure to check with the customs and importation rules in your home country to be sure.

Costs

The cost of the tour is currently $55 US dollars per adult and $30 per child under 14.  Kids that are 5 or under are free.  We did find this to be somewhat pricy, but worth the cost if you have the time and interest.