The Ocean with a Coffee Aroma

In Huatulco, you'll find your senses drawn momentarily away from the ocean by another of the area's greatest charms: coffee. Close to the beautiful beaches are the coffee plantations of Pluma Hidalgo where one of Mexico's best coffees is produced. The unmistakable coffee aroma, the surprising landscapes of Oaxaca’s sierra mountains and the people working this beautiful land offer you a warm and delicious welcome.

Oaxaca’s coffee plantations were founded between 1872 and 1874, when the cochineal (an insect that produces natural crimson dye) harvest began to decline. The inhabitants of the Miahuatlan region started looking for a new product they could harvest. Coffee – which had been so successful in the state of Veracruz – was the chosen product, given the climate of Oaxaca’s sierra mountains was very similar, especially around Cerro de la Pluma (Feather Hill), whose name derives from the fact that a large number of eagles used to come here to lay their eggs and would pluck their own feathers to build their nests.

With over five generations of history, the coffee plantations are not only the production site of one of the most famous coffees in the world, but also offer you a unique experience as a visitor. Tour the plantations and get to know the whole process the coffee goes through before ending up in your cup: from preparation of the land for sowing, to care, cutting, de-stoning, drying and toasting of the beans. Hiking should come high up on your list of priorities here since the region boasts many creeks and exotic flora and fauna. Most of the plantations offer visitors a meal with some of Oaxaca’s traditional flavors and, if you feel like staying longer, you can spend the night in one of their picturesque rooms.

Some of the most visited plantations include: Pacifico, Alemania, Copalita, El Faro, La Gloria and Camila. The Pacifico plantation is one of the most traditional. Out of its 186 hectares, 120 of them are dedicated to the production of organic coffee and 33 of them are considered an ecological preserve. Off the coffee trail, the surrounding area offers the chance to unwind in stunning forest landscapes where you can enjoy horseback riding, agro-tourism and hiking.