Origin Adventure - Mexico 2024

Adventure Overview

Join us in 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.

Itinerary

Every day in Uganda will bring exciting new adventures. From harvesting cacao and coffee alongside farmers, to white-water rafting on the Nile River, we plan to do it all on this trip. Prepare for you and your family to be blown away by the animals we'll see and the cultural experiences we'll have in Uganda.

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.

‍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.

‍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.

‍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.

‍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.

‍Accommodations: 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.

‍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.

‍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.

Direct-Trade Partners

Origin Adventures started as a way to take you to meet the farmers who grow the cacao and coffee beans we use in our products. These trips are the ultimate way to experience a transparent, direct-trade supply chain - from farmer and raw bean, all the way to finished product. At the heart of every Origin Adventure are our farming partners - they're the reason we do what we do.

We're ecstatic to introduce you to the dedicated team at Latitude Trade Company, our cacao sourcing partner. On this trip, you'll gain direct experience of a transparent supply chain, and even get to harvest and ferment cacao side by side with farmers. Latitude pays farmers significantly more than standard market rates which reflects in the quality of their cacao - quality that we'll experience first hand through the chocolate we taste made from their beans. Bukonzo Joint Coop, our Ugandan coffee sourcing partner, will give us a tour of one of the farms they collect beans from and we'll learn where coffee really comes from.

Accommodations & Food

This trip provides plenty of time to relax, swim, experience culture and enjoy local food. All participants will share lodging with immediate travel partners, or with a same-gender roommate. We'll be staying in comfortable lodgings throughout our journey.

‍Accommodation Styles: Boutique Lodges for 7 nights; Hotel for 2 nights. All bookings are double-occupancy minimally with families being the exception.