Immerse yourself in history and archaeology on the Cerro Jaboncillo Tour. Explore ancient settlements, witness real fossils, and visit a museum with artifacts from the Valdivia, Pache, and Chorrera cultures.
- Manabi Province - We will be visiting one of the cocoa plantations, here we will be learning about the impact that cocoa and chocolate has to the citizens of Ecuador, we will enjoy of fresh coffee, seasonal fruit juice, fruits of the surroundings, and of course cocoa fruit, we will be roasting and peeling our own cocoa beans.
- El Higueron De Rocafuerte - Here we will be enjoying of local lunch, we will be offering tongas, this is a local and old fashion way of making food using plantain leafs, wrapping up the meals, this technique will seal the flavor in. We will be offering also a vegetable option, since this dish can come with shrimp, pork, chicken or tuna. We will need to know if you are allergic.
- Manta - We will be visiting a small chocolate factory, here we will be finishing processing our craft chocolate, we will be making our version of the God’s drink that was offered to Hernan Cortéz, and enjoy local bananas covered by chocolate, after this, we will be showing you the industrial process of making chocolate bars in the factory, and we will be offering you treats of these so you can try out our products.
- Bananas with chocolate taste
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- All fees and/or taxes
- Hot chocolate cup
- Samples of chocolate and other products
- Carbonated beverages
- Alcoholic Beverages
This tour uncovers the origins of Ecuadorian chocolate. The finest quality chocolate emerged from a rainforest conservation project initiated in Ecuador in 2007 by the nonprofit foundation Third Millennium Alliance. The chocolate produced here comes from ancient trees, with genetic studies tracing their lineage back 5,300 years, according to Carbon-14 data and theobromine found in pods by Francisco Valdez during his archaeological research. These trees were believed to be extinct until this study confirmed their 100% Nacional genotype purity. On this tour, you’ll process your own chocolate, from collecting cocoa beans to crafting your own chocolate bar. We’ll visit one of the 14 plantations in Rocafuerte, known for producing the highest quality cocoa beans used in the finest chocolate bars. Recommended for cruise travelers.
- If you require a guide that speaks another language other than English, you will have to notify us, extra charges might be applied.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
