Back

Visit a cocoa plantation in the Ecuadorian Oriente

ecu38_ecuador_chocolate_tour_Santa_Rita_Pacari_1

Discover the journey of Ecuadorian cocoa from bean to chocolate, plantation to Waitrose.. 

If you have ever wondered about the story behind the chocolate you find on the shelves of your deli or supermarket, all will be revealed in this tour where you learn about the journey from a humble cocoa bean through to a chocolate bar, or even a chocolate liqueur.

Cultivated on plantations in a sub tropical environment, cocoa plays a very important role in Ecuador´s history and economy. Ecuador produces only 4% of the world production of cocoa, but 70% of fine, top of the range cocoa. It has been produced in Ecuador since the 1800s, and its cultivation is very much part of the culture, especially among communities in the Amazon and on the coast, where it not only provides an income for small rural communities but also helps in environmental conservation.

Cocoa beans are plucked and taken to collection points, fermented, dried, and turned into chocolate: on your cocoa tour all this will be explained to you and you get a chance to sample the finished product, of course... 

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands
Andes to Amazon

Holidays Visit a cocoa plantation in the Ecuadorian Oriente

From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.

Amazon river flowing through the rainforest

Private Journeys

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands

Self-drive Ecuador: The back roads of the Andes

10 days from £3,050pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

  • Paul Winrow Giffin
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Mary
    Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert

    Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.

  • Charlotte
    Charlotte Daubeney - Travel Expert

    Charlotte's fascination with Latin America began with a family holiday to Belize. She went on to study Spanish in school and at university before spending a year living in Santiago, Chile.

  • Lina
    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

  • Alex
    Alex Walker - Travel Expert

    A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.

0 1 2 3 4 5