Valhalla Experimental Station
Valhalla Experimental Station
Valhalla Experimental Station
4.5
About
Valhalla Macadamia Farm is a family-owned and -run organic macadamia plantation. Our aim is to promote the planting of macadamia trees for indigenous communities to provide them with an income, food security and also to promote sustainability, the preservation of the environment and atmospheric carbon sequestration. Your visit will include a short tour of our plantation and samples of our chocolates, nuts and skin care products. Visitors can also enjoy a free facial massage with our natural skin care products made of macadamia oil. In our garden restaurant, visitors can enjoy our delicious and famous macadamia pancakes, as well as other breakfast dishes and sandwiches. Come and enjoy our beautiful gardens and clean air. We are ope every day from 8 to 4, monday through sunday. Hope to see you there soon! Hope to see you there soon!
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
178 reviews
Excellent
130
Very good
32
Average
5
Poor
5
Terrible
6
Serenana
Canada53 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Received a very friendly, no-pressure welcome from everyone we met. Here you can have a good meal while supporting an environmental effort that truly maximizes the assistance going to local indigenous communities
I bought macadamia nut oil moisturizer. Having used it for a month, I can say that I am very pleased with it. For me, it doesn’t replace a nighttime moisturizer. Instead, by using it for my own mini massage in the mornings, my skin feels great. It never causes oil stains on fabrics. The spray bottle works well and by dispensing a small amount it helps the product to last a long time.
We took one of the local buses direct from the terminal in Antigua. There were at least 3 buses that said “Duenas”. Just say “macadamia” and someone will point you to the one that’s leaving next. We waited about 10 minutes on the bus. It was a good place to watch the activity around the terminal and the market. The fare was collected from everyone as soon as the bus departed the last stop in Antigua town. For the return trip, we only waited a couple of minutes and the trees provided shade.
I bought macadamia nut oil moisturizer. Having used it for a month, I can say that I am very pleased with it. For me, it doesn’t replace a nighttime moisturizer. Instead, by using it for my own mini massage in the mornings, my skin feels great. It never causes oil stains on fabrics. The spray bottle works well and by dispensing a small amount it helps the product to last a long time.
We took one of the local buses direct from the terminal in Antigua. There were at least 3 buses that said “Duenas”. Just say “macadamia” and someone will point you to the one that’s leaving next. We waited about 10 minutes on the bus. It was a good place to watch the activity around the terminal and the market. The fare was collected from everyone as soon as the bus departed the last stop in Antigua town. For the return trip, we only waited a couple of minutes and the trees provided shade.
Written April 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laurie EY
Kyiv, Ukraine156 contributions
Jan 2020
The owners Larry and Emilia are legends "in their own time." They have created an amazing and magical macadamia paradise. I would like to see them nominated for CNN's heroes of the year. They are a hope for the planet. PLUS you can purchase fabulous macadamia products and enjoy delicious macadamia pancakes on the weekend. A tour by them is truly special.
Written February 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Virginia P
Orange Park, FL42 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
We had a fabulous breakfast (thank you, Chef Josh!) in the lovely, serene atmosphere of Valhalla. Then owner Larry gave us a lovely tour complete with his own innovations and inventions. We had the lovely macadamia nut facial and the opportunity to purchases products. Wish we could have been there for the dinner opening as well!Be sure to check out the botanical bathrooms too!
This is a beautiful location and a wonderful way to end our visit to Guatemala
This is a beautiful location and a wonderful way to end our visit to Guatemala
Written August 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HI and thanks for leaving a review. Unfortunately, Josh is no longer with us, but we are still open and serving delicious breakfasts all day and BBQ smoked with macadamia shells. Hope you make it back someday!
Written October 3, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Javier C.
San Salvador, El Salvador882 contributions
Sep 2019 • Family
Discovered this gem just a 15 minute ride from Antigua to Ciudad Vieja. This farm has a tour where you can see how macadamia is harvested and processed on site. Very friendly tour guides and environmental friendly premises. There’s a restaurant with fresh vegetarian food. You can also buy macadamia derived beauty products. A. Ice place to visit with kids.
Written September 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D J
Zanzibar Island, Tanzania11 contributions
Mar 2017 • Friends
No signs of being an active farm, more like a show. Products are expensive, we didn't see one single person working the land or actively caring for the macadamia trees. Machinery is not in use and roasting away. We did not find anything else to see around the area.
Written March 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I wonder if you actually visited our farm. Perhaps you went to the wrong place.
We have over 20 employees between our farm and processing plant. Our machinery is all designed in house, and we use it every day. We have 3 bilingual staff members whose sole function is to attend to the many visitors that come here every day.
We take a lot of pride in our products, we produce macadamia oil and cream as a skin care product along with mac butter, flour, chocolates and of course nuts. This is an organic farm, we use no pesticides or fungicides. All our products are organic.
I am very surprised to read your review and I do wonder if you maybe went to some other farm.
Written June 7, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
miller20817
San Francisco, CA69 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
The farm/plantation itself is actually very nice. The grounds are beautiful and relaxing and while there isn't much to the tour the machines that the guides showed us were interesting. The reason I would encourage everyone to avoid this establishment is the owner. I visited with a college group and maybe the owner (speaking specifically about the older man) doesn't see many young woman but her was incredibly inappropriate. He constantly made references to how his macadamia nit oil would make all the women sleep with him and insisted on rubbing it in the women's arms. He also made many mysogenistic comments including saying that women shouldn't be allowed to vote. The establishment is nice but I would encourage others to not patronize such an inappropriate and distasteful owner.
Written August 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. I am sorry you did not appreciate the owner's sense of humour. I would like to say though, that Larry has been married to a wonderful Guatemalan woman who is intelligent and beautiful for over 35 years. If the owner were the terrible person you say he is, his beautiful wife Emilia, who also happens to be my mother, would not be with him.
It is true, some people do not appreciate his sense of humour, but if you take a minute to look at our other reviews, you will see that you are in the minority.
Hope your day improves.
Written October 3, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Deloras21
San Pedro48 contributions
May 2019 • Solo
We went on our own just to see the farm and learn about the macadamia nuts. Did not eat at the restaurant or use the spa. Really, nothing to see but the machine that shells the nuts. The place seemed run down. The small retail store has macadamia nuts that are twice as expensive as the farmers market at Caoba. They also sell macadamia nut oil and skin care products. Skip this unless you want to try the food or spa, which I cannot vouch for. Not a working farm
Written May 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sorry you did not appreciate our farm. However, it is definitely a working farm. It's been open and working for over 30 years. Maybe you visited a different farm.
Written August 17, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JokT
87 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
We had some time left in Antigua, and we decided to visit this macademia farm. We are very glad that we went to this fabulous place. It is a quiet and cosy place with a lot of macademia trees. It's so relaxing to be there. We did the free tour, free facial massage and we had some delicious macademia pancakes. We tip the people well because they do a great job and help local people. Love the farm, would definitely recommend it
Written November 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you! You're always welcome, please come again.
Written August 17, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JudyWild
Brookfield, WI21 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
We came here as a part of a bicycle tour around Antigua. We had a nice explanation of the farm and great interactions with the staff.
After sampling the chocolate and proceeding to the restaurant for the famed pancakes, the owner, who called himself Lorenzo, came up to us. Throughout the uncomfortable and rather insulting conversation, he joked about playing with his "hose" and "nuts", penises, and about women using men to fulfill their reproductive needs and then forcing men to pay for those offspring. He continued to berate "homo sapiens" for allowing "dumb and weak people" to continue to pollute the human race's gene pool, unlike nature. And then proceeded to complain about all the "Japs" waiting in line for rides on trolley cars in San Francisco, his home town.
Overall a nice time until the owner severely soured our experience.
After sampling the chocolate and proceeding to the restaurant for the famed pancakes, the owner, who called himself Lorenzo, came up to us. Throughout the uncomfortable and rather insulting conversation, he joked about playing with his "hose" and "nuts", penises, and about women using men to fulfill their reproductive needs and then forcing men to pay for those offspring. He continued to berate "homo sapiens" for allowing "dumb and weak people" to continue to pollute the human race's gene pool, unlike nature. And then proceeded to complain about all the "Japs" waiting in line for rides on trolley cars in San Francisco, his home town.
Overall a nice time until the owner severely soured our experience.
Written August 18, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for leaving your comments. Let me take this opportunity to remind you that entrance to the Macadamia Farm is and always has been free. This is also a free country where the owner of a farm can tell all the dirty jokes he wants and you are also free to like them or not as you please. You are also free to take offense or not as you choose. Look at all the freedom you have! Now that you know how free you are, I hope your day improves. Thanks again!
Ricardo
Written October 21, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hugo A
4 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
We visited the farm on early July , the tour guide was very nice and friendly, the tour was not too long and in the farm they make many kinds of macadamia products. We had samples of several before deciding on purchasing. There are nice well kept paths around the farm and an outdoor restaurant. We had some great coffee and really really amazing chocolate/blueberry/macadamia pancakes - very nice presentation and amazing taste. Would definitely go back!
Written July 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much! We are now also serving BBQ smoked with macadamia for an amazing flavor. If you come back, make sure you stop in and try it. It's delicious.
Written October 3, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Are the pancakes gluten and dairy free?
Written July 5, 2017
Yes, you can ask for gluten free pancakes
Written August 16, 2018
Judy A
College Station, Texas
I was very impressed with Valhalla and your goals. My lingering question is "why is it named Valhalla"?
Written December 10, 2015
Yes, acording to Viking mythology, Valhalla was a special place reserved for those warriors who die in battle. It was represented as a large hall made of wood, longer than it was wide. It had trenches running down its length, in which huge fires were set. These long firepits served as a source of heat and light, and were also use to cook things such as boar or deer on spits. long tables were placed between the firepits, and Vikings sat on both sides, drinking and feasting, with all their heroes and kings.
Why is the farm named Valhalla? The owner's forefathers orginally came from northern Europe.
Written December 17, 2015
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