The community of Aquiares is located in the middle of the farm and houses 1,800 people. Originally, the farm owned the houses where the employees lived, which created housing insecurity among the working families. In 1992, the farm launched a project to enable employees to own their own homes. Each worker received a bonus for years of service, the price of the land was set according to the local price, and assistance was provided to apply for the government's housing access fund. At first the workers thought it was too good to be true, but when the first families got their houses, everyone followed. Within three years, a city was born with a strong sense of security and success. Today, 96% of Aquiares employees own their homes, an enviable figure even for companies in the most economically developed countries.
The farm and the community benefit each other. The farm provides services, land and materials at lower prices for many activities. The loyalty of the people to Aquiares gives them a sense of pride in their coffee, ensuring strict quality controls at all stages of the coffee production process. The farm has also benefited from a higher level of education, with highly qualified school teachers and employees to carry out crucial administrative functions.
Aquiares has become a place where many want to live, as evidenced by land values that are comparable to those of San José, the capital of Costa Rica. The town has its own school, a youth sports programme, a recycling committee, an early childhood nutrition centre and a church built in 1925, which is a national architectural historical monument.
A visitor to Aquiares once wrote:
"In Aquiares you breathe fresh air and admire the natural beauty in all directions. The trees are home to birds and butterflies, orchids, epiphytes and bromeliads. The rivers flow between the small Costa Rican covered valleys, and plunge into breathtaking waterfalls. The locals are friendly and don't seem distracted by the outside world; their smiles suggest a happy and peaceful life."