The first stop is the National Institute of Agricultura Research acronym INIAP. They are the only entity authorized to produce our National Creole Cocoa or “Cacao de Arriba,” considered the best Cocoa in the World.
Here we will visit the nursery garden, where experts will explain how they produce these stems and maintain the purity of their genetics. (This visit is only available on weekdays)
The second visit is at Don Alfonso’s Cocoa Plantation.
Don Alfonso has been producing cocoa since he could remember. He is one of the 1000 cocoa farmers that sell their raw organic cacao to Fortaleza Cocoa Association. On this visit, you can experience the daily life of the cacao farmers. You will walk through cocoa plantations, and yeah, you can taste cacao right from the tree; so delicious!
After having lunch in a local restaurant, we will visit Fortaleza Cacao Association.
This association just won (2107) an international prize for their high standards cacao. Here we can find out about the cacao process after being harvested, fermentation, drying, quality control, and final storage for exportation to their primary markets Switzerland, France, Italy, and the USA.
At the end of the visit, you can buy different kinds of chocolates they produce in their factory!
Cdla. Barbasquillo 130802
Manta – Ecuador
Phone: +593 995 376 249
