Tree Chocolate Tour

Chocolate Tree Tour

Only 20 minutes from the center of Bijagua, there is a tourist attraction worth visiting, it is Tree Chocolate, a place where you can enjoy a wide variety of experiences, from knowing the cocoa plantations, their industrialization process, to seeing how this becomes a delicious handmade chocolate, one of the best in the country.

Located on the slopes of the Tenorio Volcano, Tree Chocolate is an excellent tourist option for lovers of cocoa (chocolate) and other attractions that this place offers its visitors. This rural tourism project started 7 years ago, offers group or exclusive tours through cocoa plantations, where you can observe and taste cocoa fruit seeds, pipe water, cane juice, among other medicinal plants throughout the year. route. At the end of the journey, you will have the opportunity to visit the chocolate factory, where you will be able to learn about the chocolate manufacturing process and taste this product in the form of bars and even taste delicious milk chocolate.

About the tour

The tour begins in a small cocoa factory where a guide will explain everything about cocoa, from its planting, injection and development process, to its harvest. Throughout the tour, you will observe the cocoa plantations with their fruits in all stages of development; An explanation of the cocoa varieties that the property possesses will also be given. During the tour you will have the opportunity to see coconut trees, medicinal and ornamental plants that will arouse your curiosity, due to the great variety that exist and their healing properties. In addition, you will be able to taste the sweet taste of coconut water and of course the seeds of the cocoa fruit. Also, witness the variety of animals: sloths, monkeys, frogs, toucans and other types of birds.

In a section of the trail, find the Chimuría River and the Santo Domingo River and enjoy beautiful views of the rivers and endemic trees of the area, with quite particular and attractive shapes to the visitor. The tour also includes a demonstration of other attractions of the farm, such as an artisan trapiche that extracts natural cane juice, where you can taste it.

Almost at the end of the tour, you will observe the Australian lobster piles, where you will learn everything about their habitat, growth process, from their beginnings to adulthood.

At the end of the tour, outside the cocoa plantations, you will have the opportunity to watch an explanatory video that shows through images the entire production process of artisanal chocolate, while this happens, you will receive a tasting of a delicious jar of hot or cold chocolate in water or milk.

Right after the video and the tasting, you will visit the cocoa fermentation, drying and roasting area, where you will be able to observe the artisan machines with which the cocoa production process is carried out to reach its final product, already to be sold in its different presentations such as chocolate bars, cocoa butter and powdered chocolate.

Cocoa species: there are 3 varieties on the farm: criollo, trinitario and forastero. The trinitario is a mixture between the criollo and the forastero, it is orange when the fruit reaches maturity and purple when it is green. The forastero is yellow in color and the criollo is also yellow in color and is the sweetest variety. The high season for cocoa runs from September to December, although there is production and harvest throughout the year.

Medicinal, ornamental and fruit plants: on the tour of the farm, you will be able to smell and taste ornamental, medicinal and fruit plants such as: lemon grass, stevia, insulin, pichichio, pepper, vanilla, sour cane, turmeric, ginger, yuplon, pipe , among other.

Chocolate sale: in the local store, you have the option of buying 50-gram chocolate bars, handmade with 100% Costa Rican organic cocoa. TSURU (dark chocolate, 50% cocoa), YOK (dark chocolate, 75% cocoa). Each bar is stamped with the best flavor of cocoa and the best ingredients that guarantee a high quality product. You can also buy cocoa powder, sugared cocoa beans, drinks, souvenirs, pieces of wood, among others. Everything sold in the store are local products, made or designed by local entrepreneurs and artisans.

Tour Details

Departure point: Santa Rosa de Upala, 1.5 km west of the Catholic church.
Duration of the route: 1.2 km long, from 1 ½ to 2 hours (depends on the route).
Cost per person: USD $18 (foreigners) / ₵5,000 (nationals).
Tour includes: chocolate drink, tour, explanation of the process, tasting of chocolate bars.
Hours: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Reservations: must be made at least 24 hours before the date and time of the tour.
Regular group tour times are at 9:00 am. and 3:30 p.m. Minimum 2 people to carry out the tour.
Waze and Google Maps: Tree Chocolate Tour.

What should you bring?

– Comfortable clothes and shoes.
– Hydration (water or liquid drinks).
– Photographic camera.
– Plastic bag to store electronic objects if necessary.
– Mosquito repellent and sunscreen.

Information of Tree Chocolate Tour

Address: 5 km east of the entrance to El Salto, on the way to Santa Rosa de Upala, Costa Rica.

WhatsApp: Warner Solórzano (506) 8629-5537 / Gerardo Solórzano (506) 8309-5826

Email: treechocolate.tour@gmail.com / info@treechocolate.com

Web site: www.treechocolate.com