Travel inspiration for World Coffee Day

Ah… coffee! The elixir that many of us rely on to get into our days, is celebrated on October 1 – World Coffee Day. What better reason do you need to explore the coffee-bean-producing countries, and whilst there, make a difference? Develop your palate as you discover new coffee varieties whilst exploring fascinating parts of the world.

Here are some ideas to inspire you:

Costa Rica

Embark on a Fair Trade coffee tour to discover how coffee is grown and harvested in sustainable ways that benefit the growers. Blend this (excuse the pun!) with the zip lines, hot springs, volcanoes, and lakes of Arenal, wildlife, and spectacular beaches of Manuel Antonio, Corcovado, or other gems.

Make a difference: Enrich your time in Costa Rica by assisting at a wildlife rescue center: preparing meals for monkeys, parrots, and more, feeding them, maintaining their enclosures, and assisting the vet on his daily rounds. You and your family will learn an enormous amount about the animals.

Where to stay:  Arenal Nayara Tented Camp.

Best time to visit: November to March.

Belize

Belize, whilst a small producer of coffee beans, has one place where coffee is grown and cultivated organically under the Mayan rainforest shade at the Gallon Jug Estate in western Belize. Gallon Jug Coffee is Belize’s leading coffee brand, producing superb 100% Arabica coffee beans. Chocolate-making sessions are also on offer in Belize, as are wildlife spotting, diving, snorkeling, Mayan ruins, kayaking, and much more.

Make a difference: Make your trip to Belize meaningful by installing an eco-friendly stove for a rural farming Mayan family. These stoves are incredible; here’s why:

they are enclosed, and replace the open flames and thus reduce burns, especially prevalent with young children running around; they have a chimney to expel the smoke, reducing respiratory problems such as asthma; and they are much more efficient, consume less fuel, and are better for the environment.

Where to stay: Copal Tree Lodge.

Best time to visit: November to March.

Peru

From citrus to chocolaty tasting, Peru’s coffee is some of the finest in Latin America. Peruvian coffee is becoming recognized as one of the best coffee-growing regions in the world. Peru’s microclimates in the Andean regions,…