Excursion Cacao hacienda with local lunch tour at Guayaquil

Ecuador is home to what many consider to be the best cacao in the world. Until recently, almost all of this stellar crop was exported to Europe and the United States for processing and labelled as "Swiss" or "Belgian" chocolate. A few years ago, however, a few Ecuadorian companies began to process cacao right here, rather than sending all the best beans out of the country. Slowly, this change is giving Ecuadorian chocolate the recognition it deserves.

Today we head to Hacienda Castillo, where we are greeted by the owner with a typical cacao juice drink and some fried plantains with cheese from the region. While we enjoy the hilltop view, we will be taking through the entire cacao production process, from seed to chocolate bar. Each of the process's steps - the sowing, plantation, harvest, fermentation and drying will be demonstrated and explained. There will also be the opportunity to taste some of the cacao at different points of the demonstration highlighting the various qualities and tastes that vary from stage to stage.

After the demonstration, we return to the hacienda for a delicious lunch. Our enjoyable morning ends with a sweet gift from the owner and his family.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Hacienda Castillo, Lunch

Note

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking, at times over uneven, cobblestone and natural surfaces. Guests are advised to wear lightweight, comfortable clothing with flat, closed-toe and non-slip walking shoes, and bring sun protection.