Villa Vanilla Spice Farm
Villa Vanilla is a family run farm that was founded in 1987 by Henry Karczynski.
Born in Germany and raised in urban Chicago, Illinois, Henry studied business and worked in commerce for several years before finding his true vocation in life. It was until 1975, when he joined the Peace Crops as a volunteer that he got involved in agricultural development. He worked as a long term project manager for several Non- Government Organizations (NGO) and as a short term consultant in a half a dozen countries in Central America and the Caribbean.
About the Tour
Our tour is completely hands-on and will satisfy the curiosity of tourgoers of all ages. You will use all of your senses to navigate the farm while identifying an interesting variety of spices such as our beloved vanilla, true ceylon cinnamon, cacao, black pepper, allspice, turmeric and variety of exotic fruits and medicinal plants.
What People Say
Great Tour
Learned a lot about spices and why vanilla, chocolate and other spices are so expensive. You get to smell and taste all sort of organic spices and herbs. They have a store, so you can purchase fresh vanilla etc.
Written December 16, 2021
Exceeded Expectations!
Such a great tour. My children, late teen and early twenty, really enjoyed. You get to taste all kinds of things – DELICIOUS THINGS! The tour ends with a fantastic tasting menu in a treehouse looking out at the mountains. And what we tasted with fresh organic spices was incredible. I will never buy jar spices at the grocery again!
Joyce gave a very informative tour on all aspects of growing and harvesting many different spices. She speaks very good English so we had no trouble understanding her. She was so polite, friendly, and knowledgeable – it was a great tour and exceeded our expectations.
Written December 11, 2021
The staff was friendly, helpful & thoughtful. It began raining and they provided umbrellas. The tour was informative, engaging & fun. The treats along the way were exceptional & delightful. Quality products, would highly recommend! One of our favorite stops of our trip!
Written December 14, 2021
Amazing place! The tour was a highlight of our Costa Rica vacation.
Written December 11, 2021
Excellent, informative, and tasty!
Wonderful experience! 2-hour tour tour with a very knowledgeable guide. Beautiful, biodynamic (organic +) farm where you learn a lot–history, cultivation,, culinary uses–about a variety of spices, including vanilla, cardamom, allspice, tulsi (holy basil), and more, as well as chocolate. Tour includes sampling of some delicious desserts and beverages made with the farm’s products. Highly recommended!
Written December 3, 2021
Loved it
Learned tons of information about spice growing and processing. Guide Joyce was a joy! Delicious samples at the end, too! You’ll probably enjoy it too if you enjoy botany, cooking, and/or sustainability practices.
Written December 2, 2021
Fun and interactive spice tour in CR!
My husband and I visited the Villa Vanilla spice farm while in Costa Rica and had so much fun learning how they grow, dry, and process their spices! To top it off we were able to try many of them on site! They also made some awesome drinks and sweets for us that incorporated what we had seen that day at their farm. We tried cacao, tasted fresh pepper from the vine, and one of my favorites was seeing a ceylon cinnamon tree being peeled for cinnamon bark. This was such a neat experience and I would highly recommend when visiting this part of Costa Rica!
Written November 27, 2021
Off the beaten path
Joyce was so knowledgeable and her passion for healing plants shined throughout the tour. The drive to the farm through the countryside beautiful and peaceful. Ending the tour with the tasting and gorgeous views was unforgettable. The treats were delicious! Joyce even offered to take pictures of all four small groups on the tour with the mountain backdrop. If you want a relaxing, informative, low impact, eco-tourism experience this is a must!
Written November 23, 2021
This is one of my favourite local tours for when friends visit me in Quepos. The property itself is lovely and very well tended.
The tour begins.with some introductory remarks about vanilla nd cacao before starting a leisurely guided tour of the property (suitable for most ages and fitness levels).Education and information are very important on this tour and the guides provide excellent information, in both Spanish and English, about the many different spices you will pass on the walk.
The tour ends at a stunning lookout point with refreshments made using products grown on the property.
Very highly recommended.
Written November 11, 2021
Unique educational and fun!
Informative, unique, delicious! Our family of four had a wonderful time at Villa Vanilla. The tour was interesting and educational, as well as beautiful. We all enjoyed the tastings at the end as well as all the goods in the shop.
Written November 6, 2021
