Cacao and Coffee tour

Cacao and Coffee tour Manta Ecuador

This is our favourite tour. Mixing amazing flavours with stunning natural environments. We will start the day with a visit to a secluded and tranquil coffee farm located right in the middle of the Pacoche Rainforest. The views, pure air and peace are worth the trip alone for me, but we have much more for you. The Ecuadorian Coffee bean, while not as famous as the Columbian industry, is known for its fruity undertones and is a booming business as more and more coffee lovers discover them. We will take you through the cultivation, harvest and production with an interactive exhibition. We are fortunate enough to have one of only 2 beachfront drying beds in the world at this farm. This gives the coffee beans a delicious seaside flavour that can´t be replicated. After touring the scenic farm and seeing the bean process you can try out some great coffee. Take a moment to relax in the time-honoured local hammocks and explore the fruit-filled garden.  Odds are you will see the colourful hummingbirds that are almost always present, as well as quite often you can hear or even see howler Monkeys.

Next up Cacao. If you have ever wondered where the finest chocolate in the world comes from you are in luck. The worlds best cacao beans have been time and again recognised as coming from Ecuador. After leaving the coffee farm we will drive down to the beachfront home of the farm owner where  a local chocolatier will we waiting. We will see the fascinating history and varieties of Cacao. The interactive exhibition takes you through the whole tree to table process. We will try some delicious local products freshly made, not just from the cacao bean but also the sweet and succulent white pulp found inside the Cacao pod.

After working up a healthy appetite, we will take some time to relax in the traditionalbeach front restaurant.  Watch as the food is prepared in the traditional manner with fresh seafood being a particular speciality here.. This style of cooking produces some intense woodsmoke flavours mixed with the ancestral knowledge of herbs and spices. Order from the range of local countryside or seafood dishes. 

Next, we will travel to the home of the famous Panama Hats, Montecristi. Sheltered at the feet of the Landmark Mountain is the town that birthed these sombreros many generations ago. Once in the small town centre, your guide will show you the Panama hat makers workshops and stores as well as a huge variety of local artisan goods. We can also see some of the last examples of the traditional wooden architecture in the central plaza next to the cathedral.

This is a great light activity tour that requires very little walking and very easily accessed throughout. Which makes it a foavourite with our cruise ship clients.