The Cacao Route also known as the “cacao fino de aroma” is famous for the finest cacao in the world. The entire route is brimming with cacao plantations of finest varieties that chocolate connoisseurs acknowledge across the globe. This hub is a contributor of 63% of the world’s finest aroma cacao.
The Cacao route definitely has more significance for its finest cacao production but some other places along the route are also worth your attention and appreciation. Visitors often tend to ignore those places either they do not know their worth or they forget to divide their attention between the Cacao Route and them. Here is a list of some of the most enticing destinations you must visit while your trek to the Latin America’s Cacao Route.
The Lodge
The Belcampo Lodge is situated in the rainforest of Toledo, on a hill that overlooks the wilderness. The wooden private cabins there look so lovely and the speedboat travel that transports you to the Caribbean coastline through the jungle feels no less than a fairytale ride. Not to any surprise, the lodge being under the influence of the Cacao, you will see a cacao nursery there and a chocolate workshop wherein they follow traditional methods of chocolate production.
Tabasca
It is a sheer joy to see small cacao farms in Tabasca. Mexico is believed to have started cultivation of cacao 3,500 years ago than the Mesoamerican Olmecs. Then they passed on this special knowledge to the Maya people who gave a special name and meaning to cacao. They called it “the food of the gods” and used it as an offering in rituals.
Today you can see the Mayan cacao plantations spread across in the provinces of Tabasco, and one small cacao farm that hosts plantation tours for the visitors is the Hacienda La Luz. It is extremely popular because of its museum and lush gardens that allow people to explore some best cacao plantations and attend workshops wherein they teach the traditional methods of chocolate production.
Punta Gorda, Toledo
Toledo lies in the southernmost district of Belize and produces chocolates that have a unique aroma and flavor. The locals there believe the terroir gives such a unique aroma and flavor to their cacao plantations. Toledo’s chocolates are becoming increasingly popular with the boutique chocolate vendors worldwide. To make their production even more famous, Belize hosts a three-day chocolate festival every year known as the “Chocolate Festival of Belize.” It starts on May 22 and encompasses street fair, chocolate and wine tasting, chocolate tours, music and cultural performances.
Mastatal, Puriscal
Mastatal is a small village on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica that houses La Iguana Chocolate, a farm amidst tropical rainforest that is run by a family. A day trip to this small farm is necessary for all the visitors who have some interest knowing the chocolate production process.
There the guide shows visitors everything right from the harvesting of cacao by hand in the orchard to fire roasting and processing the beans. Then they show the chocolate making process focusing mainly on the tempering and the conching technique. One more very interesting feature regarding this whole trip is that they offer chocolate tasting at each production step they carry out in front of the visitors.
The Ecuadorian Amazon
The Amazon rainforest is home to the Ecuadorian cacao, which is quite famous for its finest variety. It is believed that the first cacao trees came from this region only, and this is what attracts multitudes of visitors every year to this region. You can stay in the rainforest lodges, delve deep into the chocolate business and enjoy bird watching and other gifts if nature in the forest.
The cacao route is a sheer bliss for chocolate aficionados across the globe. A route not only has awesome cacao plantations but also has so much of scenic beauty and other adventures to offer anyone who decides to tread the cacao route.
