Description
Cultural Experience and Jungle Cacao Tour
Learn about cacao production and chocolate-making at the community level, where the knowledge from several generations of cacao farmers can be seen in action. This small Ngäbe community in the jungles of Bocas del Toro still makes cacao and chocolate in the same traditional way as their ancestors did before them. As a rural community-based tourism initiative, these farmers decided to open their doors to visitors and share their cultural tradition of cacao production.
The tour will be led by local guides from the community (Ngäbe indigenous farmers) that have been producing cacao over the last 60 years. They will take you on a walk through the cacao plantations to explain about cacao tree production, the process of growing and producing cacao, and finally, preparing chocolate in their traditional way.
Your day will begin with a walk through the village as you head up into the nearby farm. Along the way you can observe local tropical plants and animal life and understand how a cacao farm works. You can even try some of the local fruits along the walk!
During the tour, a member of the village will demonstrate the process of converting the dried, fermented cacao beans into edible pure chocolate. You can get a chance to try out the processing yourself and even taste some of the delicious finished cacao, both as unsweetened pure cacao and artisanal-made chocolate!
The tour ends with a visit to the local artisan house to enjoy a tasty local lunch and get an opportunity to purchase some of the local artisan products. This is a great way to get to experience a unique part of Panamanian culture that few see, while supporting a small community’s ability to sustain itself through eco-tourism.
Details about this tour:
- Location: Oreba Chocolate farm
- Departure time: 9:30 am. & 12:00 pm
- Duration: 2.5 hours (Approx.)
- Start/Finalize: Torres boat dock in Almirante
- Hike Duration: 1.5 hours approx.
- Level of difficulty: Easy
- Staff: Community Local guides
- Tour category: Outdoor & Cultural tour
What is included?
- Transportation from Almirante Torres boat dock – Oreba Chocolate farm
- Traditional lunch
- Local tour guide
What to bring:
- Comfortable shoes for the hike
- Insect repellent
- Extra snacks & water
- Camara
- Rain gear (Rainy season: May to Dec.)
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Prices shown are in USD, per person, and based on a minimum of 2 people. For solo travelers the tour can also be arranged.
- Tour details may change due to severe rain, river conditions, or unforseen events.
- Lunch is usually rice, chicken, local vegetables, and salad. Depending on the season, other options like fish may be available.
- Prices shown apply for participants 6 years and up. Children 5 and under are free.
Is this experience for me?
This is the perfect tour for those that are interested in learning about other cultures, the detailed process of making cacao, and those who want to spend a day in a rural jungle community.
Please note that this activity does require participants to be comfortable walking at a slow pace for roughly 1.5 hours up and down some steep inclines on a dirt path, which can sometimes be slippery depending on the weather.
Reserve this tour
Please fill out the form below with your booking request. Payment is not requested until we verify availability for the dates that you are requesting, and also review any special request that you might have. By booking with us you are accepting our Terms & Conditions. If you have any question of how booking works, please see our Frequently Asked Questions for booking, and our 3 easy steps to book with us.
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