MEET
Lucía Quirós Fonseca
For Lucía, serving breakfast isn’t just hospitality—it’s independence, empowerment, and a way to make life easier for her family and community.
Her journey
Lucía Quirós Fonseca, from San Jerónimo de Pérez Zeledón, has always loved creating experiences for others, but she wanted a way to turn her passion into her own project. “A colleague encouraged me, saying it was a beautiful program that really helps women,” she recalls. The idea of generating her own income and providing comfort to tourists drew her to Bean Voyage.
With her seed capital, Lucía bought practical equipment to enhance her rural tourism business: coolers, a thermos, a rice cooker, an electric skillet, a coffee maker, and cooking utensils. These tools made her work more efficient and allowed her to deliver hot, ready-to-eat breakfasts to hikers exploring nearby mountains.
“I wanted to make sure tourists don’t have to think about bringing breakfast; they arrive and everything is ready, warm, and convenient,” she says.
“The dream of anyone, man or woman, is to have your own income. As a woman, you don’t have to depend on anyone… Now, when my daughter asks for something, I can give it to her without asking permission.”
Key Learnings
Lucía discovered more than just technical skills; she gained confidence, motivation, and empowerment. Bean Voyage encouraged her to trust her own abilities:
“They keep telling us women, yes you can! Don’t be afraid, you can grow and succeed.”
She learned the importance of planning, preparation, and thinking about both family and community needs, while building her own independence as a businesswoman.
Transformation
Her breakfasts now not only support her family by contributing to household expenses but also provide a service for her community. Lucía estimates she can earn around thirty thousand colones per week, giving her both financial independence and pride.
About Lucia’s Project
NAME OF THE PROJECT
Comidas Lucí
REGION / COUNTRY
Pérez Zeledón – Costa Rica
SEED FUND FROM BV
$500 USD
PROJECT TYPE
Coffee Tourism
“The dream of anyone, man or woman, is to have your own income. As a woman, you don’t have to depend on anyone… Now, when my daughter asks for something, I can give it to her without asking permission.”
Lucía dreams of expanding her business and combining it with her interest in running a nursery. Her goal is to grow both her tourism services and her agricultural projects, while continuing to inspire other women to pursue independence and self-sufficiency.
“If you have your own income, it changes everything. You can care for your family, support your children, and feel proud of what you’ve built.”