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All 33 Manuel Antonio National Park Attractions »

Villa Vanilla / Rainforest Spices

Villa Nueva, Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
2779 1155
4.5 of 5 stars 134 Reviews
Type: Farms
Owner description: Come experience Villa Vanilla's Spice Tour and Gourmet Tasting!! Only 10 miles east of Quepos/Manuel Antonio Park our 2.5 hour plantation tour...... more » Owner description: Come experience Villa Vanilla's Spice Tour and Gourmet Tasting!! Only 10 miles east of Quepos/Manuel Antonio Park our 2.5 hour plantation tour includes: 1. Post-harvest warehouse where spices are dried,processed and packaged. Our "bean to bar" spicy chocolate is tasted here. 2. A garden walk thru our Epiphyte Trail where you'll see, smell and taste our tropical spices and plant collection 3. Flavors of the World Spice Tasting at our breathtaking Mirador viewpoint from our vanilla, chocolate and Ceylon cinnamon. 4. Spice Shoppe where you can stock up on our vanilla, Ceylon cinnamon, cocoa, peppers, ginger, red turmeric, allspice and cardamon. « less
Useful Information: Activities for older children
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134 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    102
    21
    6
    4
    1
Date Rating
DC
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 16 May 2012

We learned a lot on this tour - Giselle was awesome. We also tasted and bought a bunch of spices. This was a fun excursion. Bring bug spray. More

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Seattle
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 May 2012

We went on this tour a bit hesitant, after zip lining, hiking in the rainforest at Rainmaker, and waterfall repelling, but it was one of our favorites. The $50 pp price tag is worth every dime, but bring cash as they don't take credit cards. We were picked up at our Villa by the owner himself, a 30+ year resident... More

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Michigan
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 May 2012

This was the first time that we did any sort of tour like this and I have to say that I am very glad that we did. It was very interesting to learn about the way that vanilla is grown. The gourmet tasting part of the tour was great as we sat overlooking a mountain valley. It is only about... More

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Miami, FL
Contributor
15 reviews 15 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
10 helpful votes 10 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 30 April 2012

A spice tour doesn't exactly yell out excitment. But the way the tour guide broke everything down, and it was a touch, taste & smell tour, which kept all interested. I'm still talking about this tour 1 month later. Very neat to understand the beginning of some of my favorite "spices". More

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New England
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 23 April 2012
1
person found this review helpful

We visited this great place in February 2012 with another couple. It was the first tour we took after our arrival in Costa Rica. We wanted something "low key". Three of us really like to cook, so we all agreed to go. We were very happy that we did! Even our 'non-cook' enjoyed herself, since they provide you with information... More

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Boston
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 17 April 2012

I liked the information on health and food. We bought some herbs that we have been cooking with. It was very reasonable. More

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Lawrenceville, New Jersey
Senior Contributor
33 reviews 33 reviews
Reviews in 17 cities Reviews in 17 cities
16 helpful votes 16 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 12 April 2012

the view from the waystation and the samples were both very good. More

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Janesville, Wisconsin
1 review
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 April 2012
2
people found this review helpful

This is a great day trip for "foodies" but seems to be a little overpriced. I really enjoyed the informative walk through the spice farm. I learned a lot about the origins and processes behind some of the foods that I eat every day. Enjoyed the view from the platform along with the tasty samples. More

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Woodbridge, Virginia, United States
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 30 March 2012
2
people found this review helpful

The tour was fine. Was supposed to be picked up at 8, but they forgot us so we rescheduled and said we would compansate us with some free spices which we never saw. After tour they charged us full price for the tour. Melanie at Aguas Azules apologized and refunded our deposit...Hope she was compensated. The tour was informative...If you... More

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Vancouver, Canada
Senior Contributor
32 reviews 32 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
15 helpful votes 15 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 21 March 2012
1
person found this review helpful

We decided to go up and thought it might be a boring tour. Spices? Actually one of our favourite. We learned so much and loved the plantation and Giselles knowledge. The road up sucks! Be careful. More

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