La Esmeralda Tour: Explore Organic Cacao Plantation and Chocolate Factory
4.9
23 Ratings
San Francisco de Macorís
Visit La Esmeralda, an organic cacao plantation and learn all of the secrets hidden behind quality chocolate. Follow your sense of smell to our chocolate factory, where you will learn about the making of exquisite chocolate and how to make your own chocolate!
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- El Sendero del Cacao - With your local cacao expert and guide you will learn about each one of the steps in processing high-quality cacao. First you will learn about the sowing process and how to sow your own cacao plant. From there you will learn about the harvesting process, which includes cutting and extraction of the grains in a cacao pod. Finally, you will learn about the post-harvest process including fermentation and drying.
You will also learn about the Dominican Republic ecosystem and how it produces perfect conditions for growing fine cacao which evolves into the best quality chocolate.
After that, you will enter La Esmeralda Chocolate Factory, where you will discover each of the steps in creating a chocolate bar. You’ll also be able to make your own chocolate!
What's Included
- Cup of Local Hot Chocolate
- Lunch
- Local guide
- Transportation if chosen
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
Additional Information
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Dress code is smart- no casual clothes (i.e. jeans, sportswear, joggers or sneakers)
Location
El Sendero del Cacao
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(23 Ratings)
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Road65880040217
Mar 22, 2024
A must visit! - We were thrilled! All of our questions were answered and today I can show a video where we produced cocoa ourselves with music accompaniment!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ernestolz6160ok
Jan 5, 2024
Great chocolate tour - It was a fun family-friendly experience. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and always willing to answer our questions. The chocolate was really good! I would recommend this to both locals and foreigners.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
F893cajenniferd
Nov 12, 2023
Do it! Educational and entertaining. - Loved it. Our family had a great time. It was both educational and entertaining. The information is given in spanish... we had to translate bits for our kids 5 and 7 who otherwise would not understand.
But it was a great experience. Do it! You will not regret it. Staff are very pleasant and knowledgeable. We saw all steps of cocoa making from planting to eating. Old traditional methods are also highlighted. Gift shop prices are very reasonable, not outrageous as in other highly toured sites.
Our group was of about 4-5 families. But we all had plenty of room to try everything and ask questions. There were other large school groups on site as well... that did not interfere with our tour as the place is very large.
Buy the chocolate! Buy the soap! Enjoying a piece of their chocolate as I type this now!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Veronica1970quintana
Aug 29, 2023
Loved it! - Loved this place, we ate vacía from the tree, mango, figs and Cana. Dances to music smashing the cacao. Staff friendly, learn so much about chocolate. Organic and delicious. Lunch after was awesome! Loved the finca and the rain:) also the huge roaster walking patrolling the grounds:)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
894ariannac
Aug 4, 2023
A special day in Republica Dominicana - We had a very special tour! I really recommend you do it if you want to spend some time differently and learn some things on cocoa and chocolate.
The staff was really kind and friendly.
The hacienda is 2 hours far from Santo Domingo but the trip is worth it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hanjun_x
Jan 1, 2023
Fun experience - We got to see the process from planting a cocoa tree to making a chocolate bar. The fresh cocoa fruit is tasty!
Review provided by Viator
Jb66_wi
Sep 2, 2022
Great experience for the whole family. We learned many new things we did not know about cacao and chocolate. - The team was very friendly and knowledgeable. We learned a lot about cacao and chocolate. And the result was simply delicious :-)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Grandtour08387350010
Jun 28, 2022
It’s a wonderful place! - I just visited and I loved it! Me, my mom, and a few friends got to see where everything is and how chocolate is made. I loved how we got to taste alot of the stuff and I loved when you guys played the music and sang, you have beautiful voices! I also really loved the dog there, I cannot remember her name but she was so sweet the lady with the gray hair was also very kind!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mkingsley
Jun 14, 2022
Excellent tour for young and the more experienced - Excellent tour. Walked through the plantation and each step of the chocolate-making process. They showed us modern and artisanal techniques. Excellent service and facilities. This is my second time doing the tour with different groups of friends.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elizabethbp5538eb
Jun 29, 2023
Wonderful program, could improve communication - This is the Kahkow farm tour. If you are coming from Santo Domingo, this is an all day excursion. I was not aware of this, so just want to share with fellow English speakers. We reserved transportation with the tour. Confirmation of the vehicle or driver was not sent to us in advance, so pickup was a confusing process. We left our colonial zone hotel at 7:30am and arrived at the farm at 10:30am. The tour was a highly valuable interactive educational experience. The guide was happy to answer our questions and show us how everything worked. The chocolate products and lunch were delightful. Pre-made chocolate was given to us at the end of the day. We left the farm at 1:30pm. Our drivers stopped for their lunch on our way back. We arrived at our hotel again around 5pm.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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