Local Connections: Hands On Chocolate Experience with Women's Co-op
Exceptional Value
Exceptional Value
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Points of Interest
- Cultural Experience
Description
Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.
What you will visit:
Chocal-a Cacao, Women's Chocolate Cooperative
Located in the rural community of Altamira, Chocal was formed in 2007 by a group of industrious women who were looking for the opportunity to work close to home and family. The Dominican Republic is a major world producer of cocoa and a leader in organic and Fair Trade cacao, much of which comes from small-scale farms. With the aid of machinery from the United States and training from European chocolatiers, the co-op now produces five kinds of organic chocolate bars – milk chocolate, orange flavored, one with cacao nibs, one with chocolate chips, and a 70% pure chocolate. The co-op is an important source of income for the Puerto Plata region, and volunteers are an integral part of the production process, helping the organization increase sales and thrive within the community.
What you will see along the way:
An approximately 40-minute drive to Altamira outside of Puerto Plata takes you past rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys and charming farming communities.
Special Notes:
Minimum age required to participate is 8 years old. Activity takes place both indoor (inside chocolate factory) and outdoor (at cacao trees nursery). Comfortable clothes and closed toes shoes recommended, bring sunscreen, sunglasses, cap, umbrella or rain poncho, cash for souvenir.Details
Tour timeline may vary to avoid overcrowding, etc.
Depart from Pier to Chocolate activity
- Transport type:
- Air Conditioned Transportation
- Transport Capacity:
- 50
- Travel time:
- 00:45
- Air conditioned:
- Yes
Arrival, welcome intro, educational talk, explanation of the day's activities. Group will be divided into subgroups and assigned to stations
- Time at site:
- 00:20
Activities at the Cacao Plant Nursery. This part includes: filling grow bags with soil planting Cacao Seeds, transporting filled bags to nursery (then wash-up)
- Time at site:
- 00:50
Tour of the area, to learn organic cacao cultivation process
- Time at site:
- 00:15
Travel time to factory
- Transport type:
- Air Conditioned Transportation
- Transport Capacity:
- 50
- Travel time:
- 00:10
- Air conditioned:
- Yes
Arrival to Chocolate Factory, welcome intro and snack (hot chocolate and fresh bread)
- Time at site:
- 00:20
Activities at the Chocolate Factory. This part includes: Sorting cacao beans, cleaning cacao nibs, wrapping and molding chocolate
- Time at site:
- 00:50
Gift Shop and bathroom break
- Time at site:
- 00:15
- Restroom available:
- Yes
- Shopping available:
- Yes
Drive back to port
- Transport type:
- Air Conditioned Transportation
- Transport Capacity:
- 50
- Travel time:
- 00:45
- Air conditioned:
- Yes