Finca Amistad Cacao Lodge

The property is beautiful, and we did get to learn about most of the chocolate making process. But we came for the full chocolate tour and experience on a Sunday, and with nobody working on weekends we couldn't see the factory running or beans fermenting or drying. The staff were completely unresponsive and didn't seem to care about being prompt or our time, so allow much longer than planned. Some people were welcomed with drinks and others weren't. We chose the full tour and wish we'd gone anywhere else instead of spending over four hours with such inattentive, disengaged people. We had to buy water ourselves; no drinks or water were offered. We had no extra hours to spare, so keep that in mind if you've planned other activities for the day.

During six weeks in Costa Rica, our one night here was the best stay and experience of the trip. We were greeted with delicious treats, the staff were wonderful, and the chocolate was amazing. The property is beautiful. I can't say enough about how much we loved it.

The Tour & Workshop was absolutely brilliant. We learned a lot and made incredible chocolate, and the finca helped arrange transport from Tenorio National Park since we didn't have a car. It all went smoothly. They can be slow to answer email and WhatsApp. A power cut meant we couldn't pay by card in the shop after the tour, and my follow-up question about buying products went unanswered until after I left Costa Rica. I also had to check in several times to get the tour confirmed. Still, it's a working finca, so be patient and follow up. They do reply, and the experience is more than worth it. 100% recommend.

We spent one night in a big cabin, and there were lots of frogs to watch from the terrace after dark. Our booking also included an hour in the jacuzzi. The farm is beautiful, and I'd recommend taking the self-guided walk to see more of it. We did the free farm tour and chocolate workshop as well. The walk with the guide was interesting, full of insight, and never rushed. Making chocolate from beans was fun for the whole family, and we got to take what we made home. We learned a lot and had a fantastic time. Julian was great with our son.