Guatemala: Education Tour
A unique coffee experience
Ever wanted to really know where your morning cup of coffee comes from? Do you dream about learning how to harvest a coffee tree, taste the sweet husk of a coffee cherry, or see how farms process their beans?
This unique, immersive educational tour is for the coffee connoisseur who wants to learn about all aspects of coffee farming! On this trip we will visit 3 coffee growers that Nossa Familia Coffee has had direct trade relationships with for 10+ years. The tour includes spending quality time with farmers who will teach us about cultivation, harvest and various processing methods. We'll have a chance to participate in coffee tastings and share meals with the farmers as well. It’s truly a deep dive, hands-on, origin trip for coffee lovers!
Please contact us if you have questions about the trip!
Accommodation details:
Best for the traveler that likes adventure and enjoys venturing off the beaten path. Lodging is simple and comfortable. Meals provided will vary from family style with farmers to hip restaurants in Antigua.
Not Included in trip cost:
• Flights to/from Guatemala City
• Travel insurance (required)
• 1-2 Meals on free days
• Adult beverages
• Personal expenses
Trip Highlights
- So much good coffee! And drinking it with the farmers who grew it. How cool is that?!
- Guided tours and activities at two operational coffee farms to learn from the farmers about coffee harvesting and processing
- Sightseeing in the beautiful city of Antigua
- Nature hikes, delicious local food and unique cultural experiences
Jess, Grand Central BakeryI now have first-hand experience of how the coffee is impacted by who is growing it – how the plants and the land are cared for, and how it's processed. It really struck me how much every person we met was invested in the quality of the coffee and what impact that has at our end in our mission to serve delicious and high-quality products! This trip was truly life–changing!
Eric, Belmont Coffee ServiceI have been fortunate enough to be able to travel to many countries in my life. I can say unequivocally that this trip was the most profound and life-altering experience that you can only capture when you are immersed completely in another culture and country.
Day to Day
01 Fly into Guatemala City- Sat Jan 18
Your tour guide, Julie Hudak, will meet you in Guatemala City at
the Good Hotel after you arrive. As a group, we will have dinner at the hotel restaurant, Bacan, and then have an early night as we get ready for the week ahead!
Dinner and Hotel: Good Hotel in Guatemala City
02 Guatemala City Tour- Sun Jan 19
Our first full day together will start with breakfast in Guatemala City at Coffee District, a delicious cafe and restaurant. After breakfast, we will do a walking tour of central Guatemala City with Roberto, owner of Coffee District, to visit a produce market and learn some of Guatemala's history. After a rooftop lunch in Guatemala City, we will take a shuttle to the colonial city, Antigua to check into the hotel and have dinner together as a group.
Breakfast: Coffee District in Guatemala City
Lunch: Los Tres Tiempos in Guatemala City
Dinner: Hector's Bistro in Antigua
Lodging: Antigua Hotel Posada San Vicente
03 Farm Tour with San Miguel Escobar Producers- Mon Jan 20
After breakfast at the hotel, we will do a coffee tour on the outskirts of Antigua. We’ll be led by farmers from the community of San Miguel Escobar, who Nossa Familia buys coffee from. The coffee growers will lead us through their fields, explain the work behind cultivating coffee, walk us through each step of processing from bean to brew, and finish the tour by enjoying a meal together at their home.
After lunch we'll have a special afternoon coffee mixer with farmer Fredy Gonzalez and his family at their coffee shop in San Miguel. Nossa Familia has purchased coffee from Fredy and his family for many years.
For dinner we'll get to dine with a group of young coffee farmers that are a part of the Young Entrepreneurs of San Miguel Escobar Cooperative. This will be a great opportunity to learn about the opportunities and challenges faced by young adults engaged in coffee farming.
Breakfast: At the hotel
Lunch: At a coffee farmer's house
Dinner: In the town of San Miguel
Lodging: Antigua Hotel Posada San Vicente
04 Farm Tour of La Armonía Hermosa- Tues Jan 21
Following breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the town of Santa María de Jesús about 30 minutes from Antigua to tour the farm and processing facility of La Armonía Hermosa, which translates to "The Beautiful Harmony" in English. Nossa Familia has been importing their coffee since 2012. Leader of the processing facility, Julio Cuy, will guide us around the farm and we will have lunch at his house with him and his family.
We'll return to Antigua for the afternoon to have time to regroup at the hotel and explore the city independently. The group will reconvene for dinner.
Breakfast: At the hotel
Lunch: At Julio's house
Dinner: In Antigua as a group
Lodging: Antigua Hotel Posada San Vicent
05 Road trip to Finca San Jeronimo Miramar- Wed Jan 22
After breakfast, we’ll say goodbye to Antigua and begin a road trip to Finca San Jeronimo Miramar, another of Nossa Familia’s coffee-producing partners. The journey will take us about 2.5 hours, and we will arrive in time for a delicious lunch on the farm. Following lunch, we will have a chance to tour the coffee fields and processing facility and maybe even get in a short hike to enjoy the natural beauty of this incredible farm. Tonight we'll stay at the guesthouse on the farm.
06 Finca San Jeronimo Mirarmar- Thurs Jan 23
Today we are in for a treat! We will spend the entire day touring Finca San Jeronimo's coffee fields, learning how to graft coffee plants and learning about their extensive sustainability measures.
All meals and lodging will take place at the farm.
07 Finca San Jeronimo Miramar- Fri Jan 24
This morning we will rise early to enjoy coffee and the sunrise over an active (and distant!) volcano. For many this is one of the most magical moments of the trip. After sunrise, we’ll enjoy breakfast on the farm before touring more of Finca San Jeronimo Miramar’s coffee and dairy operation. We will also get to do a traditional coffee cupping of various coffees from the farm. There will be opportunities to take down time today as well.
All meals and lodging will be at the farm.
08 Shuttle back to Antigua- Sat Jan 25
After breakfast, we’ll take a shuttle back to Antigua to regroup for the day and night. We’ll have a free afternoon to explore Antigua and pick up any last-minute souvenirs before flying out on Sunday.
We’ll have one final farewell dinner as group to toast a wonderful week together with new friends!
Breakfast: Finca San Jeronimo Miramar
Lunch: On your own in Antigua
Dinner: As a group in Antigua at Fermento
Lodging: Antigua Hotel Posada San Vicente
09 Fly from Guatemala City back home- Sun Jan 26
We’ll arrange a morning shuttle to the Guatemala City airport to fly out on Sunday. Thank you for choosing to travel with Nossa Familia Coffee! We hope you have the trip of a lifetime.
Travel Insurance
Trip protection style travel insurance that includes travel medical coverage is required for this trip with Nossa Familia Coffee. The coverage must have a minimum of $150,000 for Travel Medical coverage and a $250,000 minimum for Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation coverage. We want to make sure you are covered in case of an emergency or non-emergency illness or injury while abroad.
We partner with Wanderwell, a Certified B-Corp travel insurance agency who can offer both Trip Protection style travel insurance coverage and advising. You are not required to purchase your travel insurance through Wanderwell as there are other travel insurance companies you can choose to work with.
If you choose to purchase through Wanderwell, you can buy the trip from our Nossa Familia Coffee partner page by clicking HERE, and at least 1% of your purchase premium price will be donated to the Planet Impact Fund through 1% for the Planet network.
Once insurance is obtained, a copy must be sent to us.
