Experience traditional Mayan chcolate making in San Filipe Village and visit true Garifuna village Beginning at around 8.30am in the morning, a thirty minute drive will take you to San Filipe Village where you will meet with Mrs. Cyrila Cho and Mrs. Abelina Cho in the Cyrila’s Chocolate Factory.
These two ladies produce chocolate bars, cocoa powder, and cacao wine under the label Cyrila’s Chocolate, all from cacao grown on their family farm. On the visit to the farm you will learn how the cacao tree is grown from the little seedlings to the cacao pod bearing trees. You will also find out what is involved in collecting the cacao pods that are harvested, how the fermentation process works so you end up with cacao beans and how the Mayan traditional drink is prepared. During your visit you will learn how Cyrila and Abelina make chocolate from scratch on a matate (grinding stone) made of volcanic rock.
You will help them crack and winnow the beans, grind in local allspice, sugar, and vanilla, and sample your completed work. You also will be served traditional Mayan lunch (Caldo) at the Cyrilas place. After this unforgettable experience you will drive on to Barranco Village, the last true Garifuna village in Southern Belize. Here, you will have a guided tour of Barranco village. You will visit the Garifuna Museum and local Garifuna Da Buyamba Temple and learn about the Garifuna culture. You will return to Punta Gorda around 4pm full of new experiences and knowledge about ancient chocolate making techniques and Barranco Garifuna Village. So come and discover the real beauty of Toledo.
PRICE:
Please Contact TIDE Tours for prices
TIDE Tours is a subsidiary of the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE), a local environmental organization. You will be satisfied to know that all profit goes towards natural resource conservation and community development.
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