Cacao Farm and Hands-On Chocolate Making With 3-Course Meal in Guayaquil

Enjoy the rich flavors of Ecuador at Hacienda La Danesa, located just an hour from Guayaquil. This family-owned cacao farm offers a unique hands-on chocolate-making workshop, where you’ll explore the lush plantation, learn about the harvesting process, and craft your own custom chocolate bars. Pair this with a delectable three-course farm-to-table meal featuring local cuisine – it’s an experience that’ll leave you wanting more.

Key Points

• Explore a family-owned cacao plantation and witness the harvesting and fermentation of cacao pods.
• Participate in a hands-on chocolate-making workshop to create custom chocolate bars.
• Enjoy a farm-to-table, three-course meal featuring fresh, local Ecuadorian cuisine.
• Engage in optional activities like river tubing, guided bike rides, and a Guayaquil city tour.
• The tour is suitable for all ages and provides wheelchair accessibility and infant seats.

Overview of the Experience

Visitors to Hacienda La Danesa, located just an hour outside of Guayaquil, can enjoy the world of cacao production and chocolate making.

This family-owned working dairy, cacao, and teak farm offers a unique opportunity to explore the origins of chocolate. Guests can tour the cocoa plantation, sample artisan goods, and enjoy a farm-to-table lunch featuring local cuisine.

Afternoon activities include river tubing, guided bike rides, or an optional city tour of Guayaquil. The experience is suitable for all ages and comes highly recommended, with 100% of travelers rating it favorably.

Activities and Amenities

During the visit, guests can explore the cacao plantation and sample the farm’s artisan goods.

The experience includes:

• A farm-to-table lunch featuring local Ecuadorian cuisine

• Afternoon activities like river tubing, guided bike rides, or an optional Guayaquil city tour

• Activities suitable for all ages

• Transportation provided, with wheelchair accessibility and infant seats available

• A minimum of 2 people required for booking

These amenities allow visitors to enjoy the farm’s operations and savor the flavors of Ecuador’s rich culinary heritage.

Sample Menu

The sample menu features a three-course meal, starting with a Madurito appetizer served with the farm’s own cream cheese.

For the main course, guests can choose between two options: beef medallions with Ecuadorean risotto and organic salad, or seabass with sweet plantain puree and organic salad.

To end the meal on a sweet note, the dessert is a passionfruit cheesecake.

The menu showcases the farm’s fresh, local ingredients and highlights Ecuadorian cuisine.

Diners can expect a high-quality, farm-to-table dining experience during their visit to Hacienda La Danesa.

Tour Details

A private tour with a local Spanish-speaking guide is provided as part of the experience.

The tour includes:

• Transportation to and from the hacienda, which is located an hour outside of Guayaquil

• Wheelchair accessibility and infant seats available

• A minimum of 2 people required for booking

• Lunch and all activities, except for horseback riding, tubing, cooking, chocolate workshop, and massages

• Bilingual guide available for an additional fee.

The tour offers an immersive and hands-on experience, allowing visitors to explore the cacao plantation and participate in various activities on the family-owned farm.

Reviews and Feedback

Based on 13 reviews, the tour has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Travelers praise the beautiful hacienda setting and the informative cacao production tour. The high-quality, farm-to-table lunch also receives excellent feedback.

Reviewers highlight the immersive experience, including hands-on activities like grinding cocoa beans and river tubing. The service is noted as excellent.

The only recommendation is to bring an extra pair of shoes and clothing for the outdoor activities.

Cacao Plantation Tour

Visitors tour the family-owned cacao plantation at Hacienda La Danesa, located an hour outside Guayaquil. The tour provides an immersive look at the cacao production process:

An immersive tour of a family-owned cacao plantation, showcasing the intricate process of cacao production.

• Guests explore the cacao trees and learn about the different varieties.

• They witness the harvesting and fermentation of the cacao pods.

• Visitors grind the beans by hand, experiencing the labor-intensive process.

• They sample various artisan goods, including chocolate, coffee, and cheese, made on the farm.

• The tour culminates with a visit to the onsite chocolate-making workshop for a hands-on chocolate-making experience.

Hands-On Chocolate Making Workshop

After the cacao plantation tour, guests are invited to the on-site chocolate-making workshop.

In this hands-on experience, they’ll grind cocoa beans and learn about the intricate process of transforming raw cacao into rich chocolate. Guided by the farm’s chocolatiers, participants create their own chocolate bars, customizing the flavor with local ingredients like tropical fruits and spices.

Guests leave with a newfound appreciation for the craft of chocolate-making and a delicious souvenir. The workshop is a highlight of the experience, providing a unique opportunity to connect with the farm’s artisanal traditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Dress Code for the Tour?

The dress code is casual and comfortable. Visitors should wear clothing and shoes suitable for outdoor activities, as the tour includes a cacao plantation visit and potentially other outdoor experiences like river tubing or biking.

Are Vegetarian/Vegan Meal Options Available?

Vegetarian and vegan meal options are available for this experience. The menu includes a main course of seabass with sweet plantain puree and organic salad, which can accommodate dietary restrictions. Guests are advised to inform the tour operator of any special dietary needs.

Can I Take the Cocoa Beans I Make Home?

Unfortunately, you can’t take the cocoa beans you make home with you. The tour focuses on the chocolate-making process, not providing raw cocoa beans as souvenirs. However, you can purchase some of the farm’s artisanal chocolate products to take back.

Is There a Minimum Age Requirement for the Activities?

There is no minimum age requirement for the activities, which are suitable for all ages. Families with children can participate in the farm tour, chocolate-making, and other outdoor experiences at the Hacienda La Danesa.

Can the Tour Accommodate Food Allergies or Dietary Restrictions?

The tour can accommodate food allergies and dietary restrictions with advance notice. Guests should inform the tour provider of any special needs when booking to ensure the menu and activities can be tailored accordingly.

The Sum Up

Enjoy the rich chocolate culture of Ecuador at Hacienda La Danesa. Explore the cacao plantation, craft your own chocolate bars, and savor a delectable farm-to-table meal. This hands-on experience offers a unique opportunity to discover the flavors and traditions of Ecuadorian cacao and cuisine.