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Mexico Coffee Immersion

Experience The Sierra Norte Mountains

April 30 - May 8, 2022

Pre-Register Now

Small group travel. Space is limited.

Adventure Overview

Join Moka Origins Co-Founder Jeff Abella in May 2022 to Central Mexico, for a coffee farming and sourcing adventure in Mexico's coffee growing communities. Located in the breathtaking Sierra Norte Mountains, this journey brings to life our commitment towards ethical trade, as we experience the entire coffee supply chain, from planting, harvesting and roasting. We will also dive into Mexico's deep spiritual heritage while visiting traditional pilgrimage points, exploring Native American ruins, and visiting at a traditional wellness retreat center run by local “curanderos” (traditional healers). We will also spend time on Mexico's famous white sand beaches and enjoy some rest and relaxation.

Highlights:

  • Hike in central Mexico’s forests and swim in hidden freshwater rivers
  • Experience how coffee is grown, roasted and enjoyed locally
  • Learn about the coffee supply chain and see first-hand how global pricing impacts farmers
  • Taste (a lot) of fresh coffee and chocolate from Mexico
  • Roast beans right off of the farm using traditional methods
  • Volunteer on local farms to help plant, harvest, and process coffee
  • Make fresh tortillas and experience indigenous culinary cultures
  • See how sustainable farming can lend itself to a thriving ecosystem and healthy economy

Yoga On This Adventure

Optional meditation and yoga will be infused throughout the journey to heighten our awareness of the beauty and energy of the region. We will use asana to keep our bodies attuned for adventure, relaxation practices for rest and nurturance, and mediation to assimilate the vibrance, abundance, and grace this experience has to offer.

Places We Will Visit

Puebla City

Located within the state of Puebla, this city is one of the five most important colonial places in Mexico. Due to its history and architectural styles, ranging from Renaissance to Mexican Baroque, the city was named a World Heritage Site in 1987. This city is famous for mole, poblano, chiles en nogada and Talavera pottery; all of which we will experience and explore while within Puebla.

Jonotla

The heart of our journey will take place in the quaint mountain villages of Jonotla. Its rugged terrain is surrounded by volcanic peaks ranging up to 4,000 feet in elevation. Founded in 1180, Jonotla is rich with cultural and spiritual significance. There is a shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe on the highest point in the community where her miraculous image appeared in 1922. We'll spend several days in this region hiking, swimming, planting, harvesting, and processing coffee while living near our local family friends in this enchanted little town.

Cuetzalan

Located high in the hills of the Sierra Norte Mountains, this picturesque town was founded in 1547. The towns friendly atmosphere invites exploration of its cobble stone streets, markets, cafe's and local artisan shops.

Ruins of El Tajin

El Tajin was named a World Heritage Site in 1992, and is one of Mexico's most important pre-Columbian archeological sites. The city flourished from 600 to 1200 A.D; when many temples, palaces, Mesoamerican ball-courts and pyramids were built.

Emerald Coast

Off the beaten path and surrounded by lush vegetation lies the wide beaches and clean waters of the Emerald Coast. We'll spend time here relaxing, swimming, and surfing in the clear and inviting waters.

The Gulf Coast

The coast to the North of the port of Veracruz offers pristine beaches with abundant vegetation. Its golden sand and emerald-green waters along the Gulf of Mexico will make you lose yourself in the exuberance of Veracruz. The calm waves are perfect for swimming or diving.

Mexico City

The capital of Mexico and the most populated city in North America, Mexico City will be an immersion into Mexican culture. Mexico City is also one of North America's oldest capital cities, and one of two cities founded by Native Americans. Here you'll find preserved architecture, great food, and a sense of one of Mexico's most bustling cities.

Photos

Itinerary

  • Day 1: Fly into Mexico City (Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México)
    • Arrival into Mexico City and join up with our group at the Mexico City Airport. Depart as a group to Puebla City. About a 3 hour drive.
    • Dinner and overnight in the historical district of Downtown Puebla City.
    • Evening Accommodations: Puebla City Hotel.
  • Day 2: Explore Puebla City and travel to Jonotla Town
    • After breakfast, we’ll explore the famous architecture and shops in downtown Puebla City.
    • We'll eat lunch at an iconic restaurant on the downtown Zócalo square.
    • After lunch we’ll take a scenic 4 hour drive to Jonotla town, a small coffee farming community in the Sierra Norte Mountains where we will stay for four nights in the company of our old Himalayan Institute friends.
    • Evening Accommodations: Hotel in Jonotla.
  • Day 3: Coffee Farm Volunteering
    • We’ll reconnect with our old friends and host family in Jonotla, and tour and volunteer on their family coffee farm.
    • After lunch we’ll walk through the village and swim in a naturally formed swimming pool inside the forest.
    • Later, we’ll roast fresh coffee right off of the farm on an open fire while discussing the importance of fair-trade pricing within the coffee sector.
    • Evening Accommodations: Hotel in Jonotla Town.
  • Day 4: Tree Planting and Day Trip
    • After a traditionally prepared breakfast, we will undertake a coffee tree planting project.
    • We’ll spend the afternoon in nearby town called Cuetzalan where we’ll shop and dine.
    • In Cuetzalan we will visit a local not for profit run by a group of tradional healers and participate in an optional Temescal and get traditional massages.
    • Evening Accommodations: Hotel in Jonotla.
  • Day 5: Mountain Top Hike and Caves
    • We will team up with a kids club and take on some art projects as a group.
    • Afterwards we will hike to the famous El Pinon. This mountain top is an iconic pilgrimage point known for the miraculous appearance of the virgin of Guadalupe.
    • After lunch we will have free time to pack up and enjoy the town one last time.
    • Evening Accomidations: Hotel in Jonotla.
  • Day 6: Travel to the Gulf Coast
    • After four inspiring nights in Jonotla town, we’ll say goodbye to our new coffee farming friends and depart for the ancient ruins of El Tahin.
    • At this World Heritage site, we will explore the ruins and observe a traditional birdman ceremony called the "Papantla flyers".
    • After lunch, we will drive to the Gulf Coast and overnight beachside at the beautiful Costa Esmerelda.
    • Evening Accommodations: Hotel on the Gulf Coast.
  • Day 7: Explore the Emerald Coast.
    • We’ll have a full day for swimming, surfing, exploring the coast or just relaxing and reading a book.
    • Evening Accommodations: The Emerald Coast
  • Day 8: Travel to Mexico City
    • After breakfast we will travel to Mexico City through the beautiful country sides.
    • Check into our hotel.
    • Take a tour of the iconic Mexico City.
    • Special farewell dinner party with traditional Mexico cuisine.
  • Day 9: Departing Flights From Mexico City (Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México)
    • We'll catch our flights home from Mexico City.
    NOTE: This is the tentative agenda, it can change due to time, weather, group energy capacity, or other constraints.

Pre-Registration

Registration opens in Spring 2021.

Click below to be first in line to register. You'll get an email notification when registration is open.

Pre-Register

Trip Pricing

Full Price: $2250

Deposit Amount: $850*

*The deposit secures your spot on the trip

Trip Dates

April 30 - May 8, 2022


For more information:

Email: travel@mokaorigins.com

Call Jeff: (570) 445-1901


Packing List & FAQ's

Here is a link to our Ugandan FAQ page with a travel map, weather projects, packing list and more.

FAQ's and Packing List

Other Information

Pricing Includes:

  1. All ground transportation and airport transfer in Mexico
  2. All meals scheduled in itinerary
  3. All accommodations as scheduled in itinerary
  4. All itinerary activities
  5. All gratuity charges

Pricing Excludes:

  1. International travel to/from Mexico
  2. Additional excursions and activities
  3. Alcoholic beverages
  4. Visas and travel insurance

    5. Eco-Tourism

    Our commitment to sustainability extends even to the way we travel. We believe all tourism should be beneficial to the areas we visit and should be left as good, or better, than when we arrived. We ask that you make this commitment with us while traveling together, and be mindful about how our presence affects local culture, environment, or natural resources, especially as we are interacting with national parks, wildlife, farming villages, and local communities.



Meet Your Guides

The Moka Origins Team

Our Co-Founder and CEO, Jeff Abella along with Founder of Sacred Trails Linda Domino will be your Moka Ambassadors.

Jeff Abella, Co-Founder Moka Origins

Jeff Abella, Moka Origins

Jeff’s key motivations are good coffee, great chocolate, family and empowered communities. Jeff moved to Cameroon in 2007 and has been working on international business development ever since. Jeff’s passion for social entrepreneurship led him to establish humanitarian projects in West Africa, North India, Central Mexico and eventually to co-founding a cacao and tropical fruit farm in Cameroon along with a bean-to-bar chocolate factory in Pennsylvania. Currently serving as the Managing Director for Himalayan Institute Cameroon, and CEO of Moka Origins where he manages supply chain, marketing and brand strategy, while also overseeing reciprocity and impact at origin. Jeff also serves as the Chairman of the Sacred Link Foundation and is a Board member on the FedEx Entrepreneur Advisory Board. Jeff loves to talk to groups about social entrepreneurship, small business strategies, and how to use business as a way to create good in the world. In 2019 Jeff presented to students at Yale University and was awarded the FedEx Small Business Grant. Email Jeff at Jeff@MokaOrigins.com

Linda Domino

Linda Domino, Sacred Trails

Linda Domino will serve as yoga guide for this journey. She has been a friend of Moka Origins since guiding her first retreat at the Himalayan Institute in early 2018. Linda has been practicing and teaching yoga and mediation for nearly 20 years and has guided numerous yoga retreats. She attended the inaugural Origin Trip to the Dominican Republic this past June. It was transformational, and inspired her new venture, Sacred Trails, committed to curating gatherings, events, and conscious travel experiences that inspire inner growth and awakening! Linda embraces travel and immersive cultural experiences as a way to see ourselves and others with renewed clarity, love and compassion. She believes it awakes our sense of purpose and unity and she is eager to share it with others!