If you would like to visit a working coffee farm high in the mountains of the Dominican Republic, we would recommend a trip to "el Cafecito" also known as Finca Altagracia, near Jarabacoa. (There is a daily Caribe Tours bus from Santo Domingo to Jarabacoa.) We spent two days there, talking with the hosts, who are agricultural technicians working on the farm; taking a tour of the experimental plots; visiting a nearby village and neighboring farms; and viewing the panoramic vistas. It's best if you can speak some Spanish, although the staff is starting English language lessons with a visiting teacher. Overnight accommodations are a bit spartan, but comfortable enough. And all meals are included in the price. If you find the Dominican coast a bit steamy, as we did, you'll appreciate the cooler temperatures at the higher elevations of el Cafecito. The best way to make initial contact is through their website --- or the e-mail contact given there: ---. At $40 per night per person, including 3 meals, its a good value and a nice change of scene from Santo Domingo and the coastal resorts.

