ORGANIC COSTA RICA LA AMISTAN

The word "amistad" means friendship and in this special place, it amplifies the real meaning of friendship. La Amistad is a friend to the forest, to the animals, to the community, and to the land around it.

Located at nearly 4,000 feet in the lush mountains on the border of Costa Rica and Panama next to La Amistad National Park, the largest national park in Costa Rica, this shade-grown organic estate coffee exhibits mild body, mild acidity and a clean, lively cup

A family farm dating back several generations, this environmentally friendly estate is now a “National Private Protected Area” known as “Las Tablas,” and is inundated and surrounded by natural forest, and is protected against hunting, wood extraction and environmental detriment. The diverse flora and fauna that thrive here are quite unique, and protected, as many native species are near extinction.

Organically shade-grown, certified by OCIA, this exquisite coffee shares the estate with organic vegetable gardens and Erythrina and leguminous trees which were planted for a steady supply of nitrogen into the coffee system. The streams from the rainforest supply the water for the coffee and gardens in this well-balanced ecosystem, as well as power the farm through their on-site hydro-electric plant. The natural fertilizer comes from waste compost from the animals, cherry pulp, leaves and ashes.
 

The Region & Ecotourism

The estate, known as "Las Tablas," which forbids people from hunting, extracting wood or doing any damage to the area, is located next to the popular La Amistad National Park, one of the few national parks situated on the border between two countries. The largest reserve area in Costa Rica, the diversity of flora and fauna is quite unique with a large number of species on the verge of extinction.

The farm itself has a ten room lodge for ecotourism, and has become a popular destination. The natural tours into the mountains are always lead by a local guide into restricted areas of the mountain. The food served in the dining room of the lodge is prepared by native women that live on the farm. When spending the night at the lodge, visitors have the privilege of being awakened, early in the morning, to the many sounds of all the different birds singing and chirping, and the obnoxious screams of the monkeys that also inhabit the rainforest around the farm.

The beauty of this fascinating place, with the sounds of the birds and monkeys, and the colorful flowers and trees that surround it, brings a peace to the soul and a wonderful reminder of the romance that coffee brings into our lives.

Courtesy of Humboldt Bay Coffee Company