from 3 reviews
3 hours 30 minutes
Daily Tour
12 people
English, Spanish
Explore Villa Vanilla Spice Tour near Manuel Antonio and delight your senses on a hands-on walk through a tropical farm, then take home our aromatic spices.
Our spice farm began as a conventional vanilla farm in 1987. Today we sustainably grow more than 20 spices, some native to the tropics of the Americas and others native to Asia. Among them are our beloved vanilla, true Ceylon cinnamon, cacao, black pepper, allspice, and turmeric, along with a variety of exotic fruits and medicinal plants.
This tour is completely hands-on and will satisfy the curiosity of visitors of all ages. All your senses will be involved while identifying a wide variety of interesting species. A special tasting of homemade treats featuring spices grown on the farm takes place at our rainforest viewpoint. Besides the amazing lush tropical forest view, frequent wildlife visitors include hummingbirds, toucans, macaws, and squirrel monkeys.
Whether your interests lie in cooking, spices, gardening, or sustainable agriculture, a visit to Villa Vanilla is a unique opportunity highly recommended by previous visitors.
Did you know? Vanilla is an orchid, and it is the only orchid grown worldwide as a major food crop. On this tour you’ll see how it grows and learn why it is one of the most prized spices on Earth.
Vanilla. The vanilla orchid produces flowers that open for only a short time, so on many farms outside its native Mexico they are pollinated by hand. The beans then go through a long curing process before they develop their famous aroma, which is one reason vanilla is so expensive.
True Ceylon cinnamon. Unlike the cassia often sold as cinnamon in supermarkets, true Ceylon cinnamon has a softer, sweeter flavor and comes from the thin inner bark of the tree, rolled into delicate quills.
Cacao. Every chocolate bar starts as a cacao pod. You’ll learn how the seeds are fermented, dried, and turned into chocolate.
Black pepper, allspice, and turmeric. Black pepper grows as peppercorns on a climbing vine, allspice comes from the dried berries of a tropical tree, and turmeric is a root prized for its bright color and flavor.
This tour is a great fit for food lovers, curious travelers, gardeners, couples, and families with children. It is a relaxed, walking-based activity that pairs well with a day at Manuel Antonio National Park or the beach, and it offers something different from the usual wildlife and scenery tours.
Choose your date and the number of adults, children, and infants in the booking form, then complete your reservation online. Pickup from local accommodations is included and starts around 45 minutes before the tour start time, so all you need to do is be ready.
Ready to taste the rainforest? Book your Villa Vanilla Spice Tour today.
Looking for more things to do? Explore all tours and activities near Manuel Antonio.
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Manuel Antonio Bee Farm Tour: Honey Tasting & Rainforest Experience
Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Tour – Best Costa Rica’s Nocturnal Wildlife
Explore Costa Rica Tours & Travel Guides on Hub Vacations YouTube: Hub Vacations YouTube Channel
Yes. Pickup from local accommodations is included, starting around 45 minutes before the tour start time.
Yes. The tour is hands-on and designed to satisfy the curiosity of visitors of all ages.
The tour price includes transportation, a certified guide, and a tasting of homemade treats featuring spices grown on the farm. Gratuities are not included.
A special tasting of homemade treats featuring spices grown on the farm takes place at the rainforest viewpoint, with views of the lush tropical forest.
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