1 Day Cultural Experience in Belize

“Chocolate Will Save The Rainforest.” For chocolate lovers, this may be one of the best slogans ever created! If you're looking for an authentic Belize chocolate experience, Ixcacao is a cultural chocolate tour that demands the attention of all chocolate lovers – combining traditional farming techniques, delicious chocolate and one of the best dishes you will taste in Belize, Chocolate Chicken!

Though Belizean cacao beans are exported to make chocolate bars all over the world, there are few farms in the country that actually make their own chocolate. Ixcacao is one of those farms and is co-owned by Juan and his wife Abelina, also known as "Chocolate Queen." This nickname originated as she spent the first five years of the business grinding cacao beans by hand using a stone tool dating back hundreds of years to her Mayan ancestors. On this Mayan chocolate experience, you'll learn how the cacao plant is lovingly cultivated in harmony with the surrounding forest, learn about uses for un-processed chocolate, such as in tea, and of course learn the traditional method for grinding and creating delicious dark and milk chocolate.

The chocolate making process involves crushing cacao beans using stone tools into a melted paste before blending in the required amount of sugar. It is very important you take a short break to taste the scrumptious chocolate taste before it is placed in the fridge to harden. Whilst you wait for your chocolate to cool in the fridge, you'll eat a home made lunch courtesy of the Chocolate Queen herself. It'll be, without a doubt, one of the best meals of your trip. Then you'll break your chocolate out of the mould and find out what a true bean-to-bar chocolate tastes like.

Your Local Impact

Established in July of 1985, IXCACAO Maya Belizean Chocolate is a family run cacao farm and chocolate producers. At the head are Juan and Abelina and the farm is situated in the village of San Felipe, Punta Gorda. The products of the farm are all made using all organic Cacao Beans that are processed without the use of any artificial flavoring or synthetic stabilizers. In recent times Juan has been working alongside with Sustainable Harvest International promoting sustainable and organic farming methods to farmers in Belize, and other countries in Central America.

Itineraries That Can Include This Experience

11 Days: From £2250 per person

San Ignacio – Actun Tunichil Muknal - Horseriding - Yaxha & Tikal - Barrier Reef - Snorkelling

View full itinerary >

14 Days: From £2595 per person 

Wildlife  – Mayan Ruins – Trekking - Cave Exploration and Tubing - Garifuna Communities – Chocolate Farming - Toledo – Monkey River -  Barrier Reef

View full itinerary >

14 Days: From £2295 per person 

Wildlife  – Jungle Adventures – Mayan Ruins – Cave Exploration and Tubing - Garifuna Communities – Chocolate Making – Barrier Reef - Snorkelling

View full itinerary >

10 Days: From £1995 per person

Hopkins - Garifuna and Mayan Communities - Birding – Chocolate Making - Barrier Reef - Snorkelling

View full itinerary >

More Belize Experiences

Our Experiences are short immersive trips designed to make your holiday even more memorable! They can be woven into our itineraries to deepen your connection with the country, people and wildlife, while supporting communities and conservation.

More Belize Itineraries

Belize Featured Blog Posts

Girl snorkelling on coral reef in Belize

5 Unforgettable Travel Experiences for Families

Family Travel, Belize, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, South & Central America, South East Asia, Thailand

Do you and your family often add new experiences to your ever-growing bucket list? Or perhaps you’re planning your first big family adventure and you need a little inspiration? We believe that the best family holidays are the ones that not only open your kids’ eyes to the world around them, but are full of...Continue reading→

Multi Destinations Holidays - Combine Belize with