Hacienda El Progreso Tours

On the forested flanks of Mombacho volcano, high above the cobbled streets of the colonial city of Granada, the family-run Hacienda El Progreso is where Nicaraguan coffee was born. This coffee plantation and ecotourism hot spot is best known as a lead supplier for Nicaragua’s biggest coffee chain, Café las Flores. 

Touring Hacienda El Progreso not only gives you a great overview of the coffee production process from bean to cup, but it also provides a giant outdoor playground perfect for families: ride ziplines through the canopy, take a nature walk, or go on a bird-watching tour. Plus, learn the steps that go into making the perfect cup of coffee—from choosing the soil in which to plant the trees and methods of roasting the beans, to the best way to grind the coffee and retain the original freshness. At the end of your tour, relax with a cup of farm-fresh coffee at the on-site cafe. 

You can make a half-day trip out of the coffee tour or pair it with other Mombacho volcano activities such as hiking, ziplining, and ATV tours. Or if you’re based in Granada or Managua, you can take a full-day tour to the area.

Hacienda El Progreso is located on the slopes of Mombacho volcano. It’s roughly a 25-minute drive from Granada or a 1.5-hour drive from Managua. The hacienda is easiest to visit with a private vehicle or as part of a guided tour.

The coffee farm is open year-round, but the main harvest season is from November through March. Visit then to see coffee beans at their peak and the plant’s sweetly smelling white flowers.

The Café Las Flores coffee plantation tour is also a great overview of sound agricultural practices like conserving water and protecting wildlife. The plantation is Rainforest Alliance Certified, meaning that it meets certain environmental regulations.