Cacao Route Trip
Under the tangled canopy, follow the bean-to-bar journey: harvest ripe pods, scoop pulpy beans, and partake in the delicate rituals of fermenting, drying, roasting, and grinding. Engage every sense as the smell of toasted cacao fills the air and your hands mold velvety chocolate. Along the way, learn the secrets of traditional “chupado”-style lunches, where deeply flavored meats and root vegetables are slow-cooked to perfection—hearty and full of history.
Nature is everywhere you look: rainbow-colored tanagers dart between trees, scarlet flowers tumble over fenceposts, and the ever-present backdrop is the distant, snow-capped silhouette of the Andes. Cacao, the “food of the gods,” was once used as currency by indigenous Tolima people—a living link to Colombia’s ancient civilizations.
The day concludes with a chocolatier’s tasting, sampling unique regional varieties and smooth, hand-made bonbons. Leave with a chocolate souvenir and a profound appreciation for the hands, hearts, and landscapes behind every bite. Discovering Tolima’s lush cacao country, you’ll gain more than flavors—you’ll experience the heartfelt stories of the land and its people.
