Have you thought about picking some coffee on your next vacation? How about seeing the origins of the cacao that gives life to the exquisite chocolates you are so fond of? Don't think twice. Agrotourism gives you the chance to travel to beautiful rural areas while exploring the country life of a farmer and contributing to local communities.

Agrotourism began as an opportunity for farmers to diversify economically. Instead of relying only on their crops, they could take advantage of the beauty of their settings, the knowledge they need for their daily work, their infrastructure, traditions, culture, and even their cuisine, to attract curious tourists and adventurers.

Many farms and ranches offer half-day or one-day tours that involve tourists in activities like picking, processing, and preparing coffee, or visiting cocoa farms to learn about the whole production process and try a piece of handmade chocolate. Some ranches also open their doors to show the entire process of raising cattle, allowing visitors to milk the cows and enjoy a glass of fresh milk or a piece of cheese. Other agrotourism activities include fishing and making handcrafts and artisanal foods.

More adventurous travelers can extend their visit and do a homestay on a farm or ranch, or stay at a lodge or hotel located in a farming community to enjoy an authentic rural experience and live with farming families.

A lot of agrotourism activities take place at small operations that implement organic or sustainable farming and ranching. This adds value for responsible tourists seeking tours in harmony with the environment, plus it gives them the opportunity to learn and support these initiatives.

But not everything is about planting and farming. These tours offer opportunities to enjoy bird and wildlife-watching on the farms, visit attractions near the community (e.g., waterfalls, rivers, mountains), or relax at the spa after a hard day. As you may have heard, there are hotels that blend comfort and luxury with agrotourism, offering activities at plantations on their own property or in nearby places.

Dare to experience a different vacation. Here is a sampling of business listings from SustainableTrip.org that offer you agrotourism options:

Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation & Inn, Costa Rica:

This boutique hotel offers tours to its 30-acre sustainable coffee plantation, which is certified organic by the BCS OKO Garantie, an international organic agriculture certification, and certified sustainable by Rainforest Alliance and ICAFE, the Costa Rican National Organization for Coffee.

Selva Negra Ecolodge and Coffee Estate, Costa Rica:

This is a working coffee farm and ecolodge which produces Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee and raises grass-fed beef and free-range pigs. You can enjoy a coffee tour, visit a coffee museum, and attend conferences and classes about sustainable and diversified living practices.

Arajuno Jungle Lodge, Ecuador:

Located in the Amazon basin, this ecolodge has seven acres (three hectares) of an organically managed farm and agro-forestry system.

Filadelfia Coffee Resort & Spa, Guatemala:

This 5-star hotel and historical coffee farm offers 741 acres (300 ha) of forests, coffee tours, coffee cuppings (tastings), canopy tours, bird-watching, mountain biking, mule rides, and more.

Reserva El Jaguar , Nicaragua:

This is a scientific station with lodging that has 198 acres (80 ha) of fragile cloud forest and another 50 acres (20 ha) of organic coffee farms certified by the OCIA (Organic Crop Improvement Association) and Rainforest Alliance.

ACTUAR, and COOPRENA Simbiosis Tours, Costa Rica:

These two tour operators offer the opportunity to experience the Costa Rican rural farmer lifestyle. They coordinate stays in rural villages and indigenous communities and tours to agriculture and fishing groups to learn about different kinds of organic crops, farm work, and more.

Also check out our list of sustainable tour operators, which offer more agrotourism tour options ranging from a short, half-day visits to longer multi-day stays.

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