Your Next Great Adventure Awaits: Last Call for Saturday Tours
Buenos Dias, Beautiful Humans!
Ever feel like your weekends are a blur of the same old routine? We’ve got the coffee tour to shake things up. At Hacienda Iluminada, we are inviting you on a little adventure that awakens all your senses, reconnects you with Mother Nature, (and maybe gives you a good laugh along the way).
-If it’s good for EARTH it’s GOOD for YOU
A Story Begins
The day began like a story, the air was cool and we were excited for a caffeinated filled journey. As we traveled, the scent of volcanic soil and blooming flowers hung in the air, the natural perfume of Puerto Rico. We left the city behind, our vehicles winding higher and higher, climbing to the highest mountain point in Maricao. It felt as though we were ascending into a different world, one untouched by the fast pace of city life. The landscape unfolded into a mystic green canopy, and I felt a sense of peace once we arrived.
Welcome to Hacienda Iluminada
"¡Bienvenidos a Hacienda Iluminada!" Gabriela's voice rang out, warm and bright as the morning sun. She stood on the porch of a beautiful rustic 787 Coffee shop, a wide smile on her face. "Welcome, everyone. We are so happy to share our home with you."
Gabriela's first act of hospitality was a welcoming treat. As we gathered, she offered everyone a complimentary coffee drink and the coffee beans were freshly roasted yesterday. My choice was a cappuccino, and with the first sip, I knew this wasn’t any coffee from a gas station. The flavors were so rich and fresh, a direct result of the specialty coffee beans grown right here. The group, a blend of eager tourists and coffee connoisseurs, sipped with excitement as we savored our drinks, anticipating the days magic unfold.
With our complimentary, hand-crafted specialty coffee drinks on hand, Gabriela began to tell the story of Hacienda Iluminada. She explained that the farm was once abandoned until it was purchased in 2014 by founders Sam Sepúlveda and Brandon Peña. Their goal was to plant a seed of hope and rebuild the community of Maricao. It was a story that warmed my heart like a freshly pulled espresso shot, and with that, we were ready to begin the tour.
The Fields Are Calling
With our cups empty and our hearts full of her story, we began our tour. We began our walk through the neat rows of coffee trees, the leaves a deep, glossy green. Here and there, a splash of ruby red stood out: the coffee cherries, plump and ripe.
"See these beauties?" Gabriela said, holding a branch out for us. "Every single one is hand-picked. It's how we get our specialty coffee our farmers walk through multiple fields to pick the most ripe coffee cherries. It's a labor of love."
As she spoke, a man in a wide-brimmed hat pointed across the field, his eyes wide with amusement. "Hey, what's that bull doing?" he asked, holding a giggle.
We all looked over to see a large bull, living the good life, casually eating a booger. The unexpected sight was too much for the group, and we erupted in laughter, the sound echoing across the quiet fields. Gabriela just smiled, It was the perfect that stood out in the tour.
The Honey Process: What Happens Before the Roast
"It's incredible," I said, watching the drying coffee beans on a rising bed as we moved toward the roaster. "But I've heard so many different terms for how the coffee beans are processed like washed, natural, and this 'honey process.' What exactly is that?"
Gabriela smiled, pointing at the drying coffee beans to the group. "Ah, we use the honey process. One of the most sustainable coffee processes."
"Most coffee is either “washed,”where all the sticky fruit pulp is removed from the coffee bean with water, or “natural,” where the entire coffee cherry is left to dry in the sun, like a raisin."
We got closer. "The honey process is a hybrid of the two. We remove the outer skin of the coffee cherry, but we leave a specific amount of the sticky, sugary pulp, or 'mucilage,' on the cherry."
"It's called 'honey' because that mucilage is so sticky and sweet, like a thin layer of honey. The coffee beans are then spread out on these raised beds called African beds to dry, and as they ferment in the sun, that remaining sugar caramelizes and seeps into the coffee bean itself. It gives our coffee a unique, balanced flavor, it's not as wildly fruity as a natural process, but it's much sweeter and more expressive than a washed coffee."
"So no actual honey is used?" the woman in the front row asked, slightly stunned.
Gabriela laughed. "No, but it creates something just as magical."
The Magic of Roasting
Next, we head inside to the roasting room. The air was a mix of sweet and toasty aromas, that filled the room. "It's a lot like baking," Gabriela explained. "Tiny changes in heat bring out all the different notes dark chocolate, citrus, butter... it's a science and an art!"
That same woman in the front row leaned in close, completely mesmerized. Just then, the beans hit the "first crack," a sound like tiny popcorn popping. She jumped back so hard her glasses flew up in the air.
"Whoa!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide. "That's like coffee fireworks!" We all shared a laugh, she definitely was super alert after that experience.
A Walk on the Wild Side
As the tour neared its end, Gabriela led us away from the roaster and into a more untamed section of the farm. The air, once filled with the scent of coffee, now carried the earthy aroma of untouched wilderness. Here, among native trees and dense foliage, the true magic of Maricao became clear.
"We are more than just a coffee farm," she said, her voice soft but filled with pride. "We are a sanctuary for our native wildlife and a home for some of our more exotic residents."
As if on cue, a peacock strutted across the path in front of us, its brilliant tail feathers fanned out in a shimmering display of blue and green. Nearby, a group of ducks waddled happily toward a small pond. Gabriela explained that these were kept to add to the farm's unique charm, and a small area nearby held a few more birds in a beautifully constructed homes.
"The farms here are about using the land to conserve," Gabriela explained. "By protecting these native species, we help maintain a healthy ecosystem. This gives back to the land that gives us so much. Every cup of coffee is also a taste of the island's wild, untamed soul." Everyone in the group had a deeper connection to the farm knowing that the mission was more than just coffee… It was a sanctuary for all forms of life. It was definitely the final highlight of our day.
Making Memories
Our adventure ended with everyone going around and taking one more walk around the farm. Guests snapped photos of the colorful coffee cherries and the breathtaking views. We know that these are some of the best coffee farm tours in Puerto Rico because they leave you with more than just a picture. They leave you with a story that you’ll take with you forever.
Stop waiting! Step into our fields, our roastery, and our story. Tour spots available now! tap on link below
If it’s GOOD for earth, it is GOOD FOR YOU!
Don’t Miss Out
Adventures like this don't wait. Our best coffee farm tours are limited! If you’ve ever wanted to experience freshly roasted single-origin specialty coffee from the source, surrounded by laughter, stories, and unforgettable views, now is the time.
Book your tour now before it’s too late!
-We hope to see YOU SOON!
Experience the Best! Visit Puerto Rico’s Premier Coffee Farm!
Come see the Maricao Mountains for yourself. Walk through volcanic soil, listen to the springs that feed the farm, and taste coffee grown with integrity. Whether you’re here for a tour or to take home a bag, Hacienda Iluminada offers a taste of Puerto Rico you’ll never forget.
From our hands on Hacienda Iluminada to your cup, 787 Coffee is on a mission to redefine what it means to drink Puerto Rican coffee.
We grow every single bean ourselves.
We practice real sustainable farming—no greenwashing, just love for the land.
Every sip you take supports local farmers, protects our forests, and keeps our coffee legacy alive for the next generation.
Ready for the trip of a lifetime? Come to Maricao. Walk the fields. Smell the fresh-roasted beans. Feel the heartbeat of Puerto Rico in every single cup.
👉 Ready to taste the tradition? Book your unforgettable Hacienda Iluminada coffee tour today at HaciendaIluminada.com!