Can you actually visit a banana plantation?

[flagmom]

We will be visiting Limon, Costa Rica in March aboard the Zuiderdam, and have been looking for shore excursions that include seeing the actual workings of a banana plantation. Some of the tours we've seen from various vendors say they visit a banana plantation, but then when you read the reviews the visit was just pulling over on the side of the road and looking at the trees from the vehicle. One review I read said that the banana companies, such as Dole, no longer allow tours from independent operators to visit their facilities, that you can only do it via a ship's tour. Has anyone been on an actual tour of a banana plantation recently, or know any more about the situation? Thanks in advance!

[pianoplayerla]

Flagmom,  Did you find a way to visit a banana plantation in Costa Rica??  We are going in January and would love to do this, if it is possible.   Thanks!!!

 

[Masaya]

On 12/17/2019 at 4:41 PM, pianoplayerla said:

Flagmom,  Did you find a way to visit a banana plantation in Costa Rica??  We are going in January and would love to do this, if it is possible.   Thanks!!!

 

 

On 12/17/2019 at 4:41 PM, pianoplayerla said:

Flagmom,  Did you find a way to visit a banana plantation in Costa Rica??  We are going in January and would love to do this, if it is possible.   Thanks!!!

 

On 12/17/2019 at 4:41 PM, pianoplayerla said:

Currently Del Monte and Dole are not allowing entry to the packing house, plantations can be seen outside

 

[pianoplayerla]

Thank you!!!

 

[DENIE]

We visited Dole in 2014 on an MSC cruise with a private tour guide, who we are friends with.  We booked him again for a November 2020 cruise, and he confirmed that they no longer allow private tour guides on site.... Bummer!  It was fascinating!

[tlm48]

Across the street from dole, is a small organic farm bananas is one of many fruits they are growing!

[BamaVol]

We did visit a small banana plantation with our tour in March 2023.   The tour was booked through Tour Excursions Group, but was conducted by Greenway Tours.  There were three elements, not including the drive through Limon.  The first element was the drive to Cahuita National Park.  We were in a small bus with maybe 20 others.  We were on the Caribbean Princess.  I assume our fellow tourists were as well.  The driver stopped multiple times when he spotted wildlife (sloths and monkeys) in the trees by the road. The guide also cut branches and flowers from several trees and bushes and brought them to the bus for us to look at.  The bus also stopped at a small roadside stand where the guide bought fresh bananas for us to try.  Costa Rica grows 27 varieties of bananas and only exports one.  The second element was a walk through Cahuita. In addition to sloths and monkeys, we saw a yellow viper and two types of large lizard. We were also able to use a restroom (or the bushes if you were male).  The third element was a stop at a small banana plantation. We walked amongst the trees on a gravel trail. There were other plants as well, such as Star fruit , breadfruit and coffee. There was a gift shop and refreshments as well as restrooms again. We were given the opportunity to try a second variety of banana, finger sized.  Also saw some unusual varieties. All in all, a good tour of about 5 1/2 hours with knowledgeable guides and a skilled driver.  We paid $107 each, plus a $25 penalty for late registration (do this before you sail).  It appears you can book it directly with Greenway for $99 pp.

Edited March 21, 2023 by BamaVol

[Happyface60]

We did this tour with Your Lucky Tour, Tortuguero Canal, a small farm, and Cahuita National Park its cost was $85 p/p. The Vision of the seas, March 2/3/23