People are passionate about a lot of things—cars, yoga, wine—and entire vacation packages have been crafted around these hobbies to allow people to engage with what they love as they travel. Well, chocolate is no different.
While most people probably think about Europe when they think about the best chocolate destinations in the world, Latin America actually has a long and rich history of chocolate. In ancient Mesoamerica, the Aztecs believed the cacao seeds to be gifts from Quetzalcoatl, their God of Wisdom, which lent them enough value to be used as a form of currency.
Belize
Experts have referred to Belize as the “Cradle of Chocolate,” since many believe that chocolate may have actually originated with the Mayans in what is now modern Belize. Archaeologists found 14 chocolate pots located in Belize in 1981, which were ceramic teapots used to make a chocolate drink over 2600 years ago.
Evidence also supports the notion that the Mayans enjoyed chocolate at every meal, similar to the way many of us enjoy tea or coffee throughout the day. And although the Mayan civilization may have disappeared thousands of years ago, their love of chocolate is still alive and thriving in Belize.
This small family-owned and operated cacao farm in San Felipe has been making growing and chocolate since 1985. Originally called Cyrila’s Chocolate, they decided to rebrand in 2012 and changed their name to IXCACAO Maya Belizan Chocolate to honor their Mayan roots. IXCACAO offers free tours of the cacao trees and some samples of their chocolate treats, however, you can arrange for different activity tours that include making your own chocolate using IXCACAO stone tools, a lunch buffet that serves Chocolate Chicken and learning about organic cacao farming.
Cotton Tree Chocolate and Lodge
As a small batch chocolate company based in Punta Gorda, Cotton Tree sources their cacao from a variety of local farmers and opens their factory for tours Monday through Saturday. Every guest on the tour will get to see all the components of chocolate-making and sample some of the delicious chocolate at the end. You can also visit their eco-friendly Belize jungle lodge, Cotton Tree Lodge, who offer “Chocolate Weeks,” where eight days and seven nights are spent exploring organic cacao farms, learning about Belize Fair Trade and making your very own chocolate bars from scratch.
Built on land that dates back to around 600 AD, when the Maya people used the Rio Grande River as an important transportation route to the sea, Belcampo Belize prides itself on their sustainable food production and agrotourism. Aside from their 16 gorgeous private suites, they also have a farm where they grow organic sugar cane, cacao and coffee. They offer a “Bean to Bar” chocolate making class, where you have the opportunity to turn cacao into your own special blend of a chocolate bar.
Hummingbird Hershey
Hummingbird farm in the Cayo district of Belize was originally an 1,800 acre cacao farm owned by Hershey’s chocolate. Thirty years ago, Hershey opened the first commercial cacao-growing operation in Belize and aimed to produce 200 pounds of cacao per acre. It was abandoned by Hershey during the recession new landowners came in to purchase the land from Hershey in the last few years. You can tour the land through Maya Mountain Cacao, which has taken on the responsibility of rehabbing the cacao plantation.
Ecuador
Ecuador has served as the world’s largest exporter of chocolate since the early 20th century and currently is the largest producer of chocolate in Latin America.
There are some pretty exceptional plantations and haciendas that you can visit in Ecuador that focus on chocolate production.
Wao Chocolate
Wao chocolate is manufactured by Waorani women who live on the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve in the heart of the Amazon, near the borders of Peru and Columbia. Lauded for providing a sustainable income for the Waorani tribe, this organic chocolate won the 2014 Equator Prize given by the United Nations and the 2015 Premio Latinoamericano Verde Award.
Hacienda Canas
Located just outside the city of Guayaquil, Hacienda Canas is one of the largest estates that you can visit in Ecuador and boasts over 800 acres of cocoa farms. In addition to learning about the growth process on their cocoa farms, you can also tour their banana plantations and arrange for various activities, such as horseback riding, hiking and traditional folk shows.
This historical park in Guayaquil has a lot to offer visitors, including the “Traditions Zone,” which gives travelers a first-hand look at what life was like at the turn of the 20th century. The San Juan Hacienda House was built in 1882 and has been restored to portray the reality of what life was like for the cacao plantation owners of that era. In contrast, you can also visit the Peasant House, where you can learn about the laborers who worked on the cacao plantations and what their homes were like.
For a change of pace from the jungle, visit Termas Papallacta, the hot springs nestled into the mountains near Quito. After relaxing in the thermal baths, you can arrange to have a chocolate body wrap treatment at the spa, which promises to both moisturize and tone your skin.
Guatemala
Boasting more than 9,000 cacao farms, Guatemala produces over 1,000 tons of chocolate each year. There are three different varieties of chocolate produced in Guatemala—Criollo, Forastera and Trinitario. Criollo, or “fine grade” cacao, is the oldest known variety of cacao and incredibly rare, as it produces the least amount of seeds. Although it accounts for only one percent of the world’s chocolate population, it’s a popular choice for chocophiles due to it’s sweet aroma and lack of bitterness. It’s one of the “must trys” when you visit Guatemala.
Starting out as an online business, Danta Chocolate opened a chocolate boutique in Guatemala City in 2009 where they sell their delicious artisan chocolates in person. Selling both bar chocolates and bonbon confections, all the ingredients used are 100 percent natural and of the highest quality in Guatemala, and the world.
With several locations throughout Latin America, including Antigua, Guatemala, the Choco Museo provides the opportunity to learn more about the history of chocolate in Latin America, tour cacao farms and participate in chocolate workshops, like “Beans to Bar” and “Chocolate Truffles,” where you can make your own Guatemalan chocolate.
Located in the tropical forest mountains that soar above Antigua, Guatemala, Ixcacao has been making chocolate for thirty years. Handmade and hand-packaged, every bean that’s harvested to make chocolate bars for Ixcacao is also part of a fair trade mission. In addition to ensuring the health and wellness of their laborers, ten percent of their profits are donated to non-profit organizations that support local Mayan health, education, and alternative sustainable income generation programs.
When you walk into the fifth generation family-run Dona Pancha chocolate shop, you’ll immediately notice the beautiful display cases which house traditionally made Guatemalan chocolate. Be sure to order the traditional Guatemalan hot chocolate, which is thick, rich and a little bit spicy and guaranteed to be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.
If you’re interested in booking a trip to Latin America to explore their rich culture of cacao, contact us today for more information!