Have You Ever ...

• wanted to take an eco-tour to a warm place in the middle of winter?
• wanted to learn where cacao is grown and visit a plantation to see pods—up close and personal?
• wanted to see how chocolate is made using traditional techniques?
• wanted to learn how to make your own great-tasting chocolate at home?

Then you definitely want to join chocophile.com founder and editor Clay Gordon on a fascinating trip to Discover Chocolate in Belize from December 27th, 2007—January 2nd, 2008.

Discover Chocolate in Belize offers chocolate lovers of all ages an in-depth look at chocolate from harvesting cacao pods through making chocolate using kitchen appliances. The family-friendly eco-tour will take place at the Cotton Tree Lodge outside of Punta Gorda in the Toledo District of Southern Belize.

Jump to tentative program.
Jump to pricing.
Jump to the list of group and other discounts.

Late-December is a perfect time to get away from the ice and cold in the North to the early beginnings of the main cacao harvesting season in Belize. Rich in Mayan heritage and centered in the Toledo District, Belizean cacao farmers are working hard not only to grow their crops but also to use the latest methods of sustainable production while re-introducing strains of relic (ancient) cacao varieties traditionally grown in the area since before its “discovery” by Europeans.

Cacao farmer Juan Cho giving a lesson in orchard management techniques

Cotton Tree Lodge, a brand new eco-lodge situated on the Moho River about a thirty-minute boat ride from Punta Gorda will be home base for this nearly all-inclusive program. You’ll be met at the Punta Gorda airfield and transported to the launch (weather permitting) that will take you to the Lodge. At the Lodge you’ll be warmly greeted by the staff, who will escort you to your cabana. There are ten cabanas at the Lodge that can each accommodate from one to four people. All of the cabanas, which have been built using local materials (such as rosewood) and construction techniques, feature en-suite bathrooms with eco-friendly toilets and hot showers.

Cabana #9 at Cotton Tree Lodge

The center of activity during your stay is the Main Lodge which houses the kitchen, bar, dining room, office, library, an assortment of board games, and gift shop. Even though you are quite literally in the middle of nowhere, WiFi access to the Internet is available if you can’t bear to be away from e-mail for even a few days.

All meals are included in the package, and accommodation can be made for specific dietary requirements you might have. The kitchen staff is native Belizean and prides itself on preparing native specialties. The Lodge has arrangements with local fisherman and the evening menu often features something caught fresh that day in the Moho River or out in the Bay of Honduras, and breakfasts always feature fresh local fruits (many grown on the Lodge grounds) and juices. Many days feature Happy Hour snacks by the bar to whet your appetite for dinner.

Belize is home to one of the widest and wildest assortments of animal life in Central America and the Lodge, which has its own family of howler monkeys, provides easy access to many of the most scenic areas in Southern Belize. When weather permits, the night sky provides spectacular stargazing opportunities (and when it’s wet you’ll find yourself serenaded by frogs). Most all guide and entrance fees are all included in the price of the trip, even if you decide to take part in activities that are not a part of the Discover Chocolate program. This makes the trip very family friendly as parents with children (we don’t recommend younger than 10) can swim, kayak, ride horseback, learn Mayan weaving, visit Mayan ruins, swim in caves, go snorkeling, and dozens of other activities that are on hand—including just relaxing in the hammock on the porch of your cabana and watch the river flow slowly by.

Kayaking on the Moho River

The Mayan ruins at Lubantuun

For more information and to reserve a place on this trip, contact Clay Gordon by e-mailing him at

Cyrilla Cho demonstrating hand-winnowing roasted cocoa beans

Tentative Program

• Thursday, December 27
  
  • Fly to Belize City, Belize
  • Fly from Belize City to Punta Gorda
  • Transfer from Punta Gorda airport to Cotton Tree Lodge (CTL) (by boat, weather permitting)
  • Check-in to CTL, unpack in your Cabana, intro to CTL in Main Lodge
  • Happy Hour and Welcoming Reception in Main Lodge
  • Dinner
  • Discover Chocolate Program Orientation
  
  
• Friday, December 28
  
  • Breakfast
  • Punta Gorda Market tour
  • Visit Toledo Cacao Growers Association offices/warehouse (buy cocoa beans)
  • Visit Green and Black’s local representative’s offices
  • Lunch at CTL
  • Group activity: build a comal (a traditional Mayan stove)
  • Late afternoon class @ Cotton Tree Lodge—Local plants/herbs and their medicinal uses
  • Happy Hour
  • Dinner
  • Evening class @ CTL: How chocolate gets its taste
  
  
• Saturday, December 29
  
  • Breakfast
  • Visit to cacao orchard
  • Basics of orchard management
  • Overview of local plants: food in the forest
  • Harvest pods, remove pods from orchard
  • Lunch
  • Afternoon group activities:
    Split pods, separate seeds, start fermentation
    Roast and clean cocoa beans
    Overview of cocoa drying
  • Happy Hour
  • Dinner
  • Evening Class @ CTL: tbd
  
  
• Sunday, December 30
  
  • Breakfast
  • Tour: Mayan chocolate making with Cyrilla Cho
  • Lunch
  • Tour: Mayan Ruins at Lubantuun OR Barranco Village
  • Late afternoon: Free, activities around lodge
  • Happy Hour
  • Dinner
  • Evening class @ CTL: tbd
  
  
• Monday, December 31
  
  • Breakfast
  • Morning class @ CTL: how chocolate is made
    Grind/refine/start conching chocolate
  • Lunch
  • Tour: tbd OR Activities around lodge
  • Happy Hour
  • Dinner: Special NY Eve BBQ
  • Evening party/bonfire
  
  
• Tuesday, January 1, 2008
  
  • Late breakfast
  • Check in on chocolate
  • Check in on fermenting beans
  • Lunch
  • Check in on comal
  • Make chocolate using a metate
  • Afternoon: Activities around lodge
  • Late afternoon class @ CTL: tbd
  • Happy Hour
  • Final Dinner
  • OPTIONALLY: Check out early, travel to Placencia, and overnight on the beach
  
  
• Wednesday, January 2
  
  • Early Breakfast
  • Check out, travel to Punta Gorda, fly to Belize City, fly home
  • OR SUPPLEMENTAL TOUR: All-day Snorkeling Trip to Snake Caye
    FOUR PERSON MINIMUM for this trip
  
  
• Price
  
  • $1595 p/p double occupancy, adult
  • $1000 p/p double occupancy, child (12-16)
  • $ 300 p/p single occupancy supplement (roommate matching service offered, where possible)
  • Price is INCLUSIVE upon arrival at Punta Gorda airport with the exception of: bar bill (alcoholic beverages), laundry service, and (optional) gratuities. Transfers to/from Punta Gorda airport, local transportation, tour admissions, guide fees, WiFi internet access, necessary materials, all meals, and soft drinks at the bar are included in the price.
  
  
• Discounts (max 2 discounts per person)
  
  • $ 100 p/p discount for ANY Chocolate Meetup Group member - anywhere in the world!
  • $ 100 p/p discount for Chocolatier Magazine Gold Club members.
  • $ 100 p/p discount for members of the Chocophiles network on Ryze
  • $ 100 p/p early-bird registration/payment discount
  • $ 100 p/p discount for 3+ unrelated people in a cabana
  • $ 100 p/p family discount (3 people, min 1 adult)
  
  
• Schedule
  
  • Early-bird registration deadline: May 15
  • Early-bird payment deadline (payment in full in advance): June 27
  • Final registration deadline (40% deposit required): June 27
  • Final payment deadline: November 27
  
  
• Notes
  
  • Daily program schedule as outlined above is tentative and subject to change, however the activities engaged in will be substantially the same.
  • Family members do not have to partake in chocolate activities if they don’t want to. Alternative activities will be available each day. The activities include: tours and excursions, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, swimming, wildlife viewing, native crafts, swinging in hammocks, relaxing, reading, etc.
  • You are responsible for your own travel arrangements to Belize, but the Lodge prefers to make reservations on your behalf from Belize City to Punta Gorda so that the transfer from Punta Gorda airport to the Lodge is as smooth as possible.

All photos © Copyright 2007 Clay Gordon. All Rights Reserved.