Cacao and Coffee Tour

Cacao and Coffee tour

This is our personal favorite tour. If you’ve ever wondered where the best chocolate in the world comes from, you’re in luck. Ecuador is renowned for its exceptional cacao beans. This tour offers a fascinating journey through the history and varieties of cacao, including an interactive exhibition that takes you from tree to bar.

Overview

Begin your adventure with a visit to a small yet incredibly well-built and modern artisan chocolate factory, run by the Moreira family. The production line is uniquely set up in a 40-foot shipping container with a glass end. Around this, they have built a cozy coffee and chocolate shop. Walk through the factory, observe the chocolatiers’ bean-to-bar process, and sample a variety of their exquisite products. You’ll also get to see how the Incas made hot chocolate and try making some yourself.

Chocolate Factory Visit

The factory visit is a highlight of the tour. You’ll learn about the entire chocolate-making process, from harvesting the cacao pods to the final delicious product. This hands-on experience includes making your own chocolate, which adds a fun and interactive element to the visit.

Interactive Chocolate and Coffee Experience

From the chocolate factory, we move on to exploring the Ecuadorian coffee bean, known for its fruity undertones. Despite not being as famous as Colombian coffee, Ecuadorian coffee is a booming industry. This part of the tour includes an interactive exhibition where you’ll learn about the cultivation, harvest, and production processes. End with a tasting session of freshly brewed coffee and sample local coffee-based delicacies, including the surprising Coffee Mojito drink.

After working up an appetite, relax in a traditional thatched-roof restaurant. Watch as your food is prepared with wood-burning grills and stoves made from wood, mud, and bamboo. Enjoy the intense wood-smoke flavors combined with ancestral herbs and spices. Choose from a range of local countryside or seafood dishes, then unwind in local hammocks and explore the fruit-filled garden. You might even spot colorful hummingbirds.

Coffee Plantation and Montecristi

Next, travel to Montecristi, the home of the famous Panama hats. Sheltered at the foot of a landmark mountain, this town birthed these iconic hats many generations ago.

Relaxing Lunch and Local Crafts

Your guide will show you the Panama hat makers’ workshops and stores, as well as a variety of local artisan goods. Discover some of the last examples of traditional wooden architecture in the central plaza next to the cathedral. Before returning to Manta, make a quick stop at a clifftop viewpoint for stunning photos. If time permits, visit an artisan chocolate factory with an amazing coffee shop built around their production line. Enjoy hot chocolate, coffee, and other local products like wines, spirits, and sauces.

Itinerary

• Pick-up: From Port, Hotel, or Agreed location.
• Historic Fish Market: Drive past the market and traditional wooden boat builders with a 20-minute stop.
• Cacao Exhibition: A short drive to the cacao exhibition followed by a 60-minute interactive tour.
• Coffee Plantation: A 30-minute drive to the coffee plantation for a 45-minute interactive tour.
• Traditional Restaurant: Enjoy a 60-minute lunch at a traditional bamboo restaurant with wood-fired Ecuadorian cuisine.
• Montecristi Hat Workshop: A 30-minute drive to Montecristi for a 60-minute demonstration and shopping experience.
• Return to Manta: Drive back to the original pickup location, concluding the tour in 5 to 6 hours.

What’s Included

• English-speaking guide
• Licensed driver
• Air-conditioned modern vehicle (Minivan, Minibus, etc.)
• All entrance fees to attractions
• Bottled water and local snacks on the bus
• Pickup and drop-off at the port or hotel
• Lunch stop (food and drinks not included)

FAQ

1. Do you pick us up and drop us at the port? Yes, we ensure timely pickup and drop-off from the port, planning to return at least 90 minutes before the ALL ABOARD call. We keep a backup bus ready for any potential mechanical issues.
2. Is this tour suitable for somebody in a wheelchair? Yes, all areas are accessible for wheelchairs.
3. Will we have time for lunch? Yes, ample time is provided to enjoy lunch.
4. What if we are late getting off the cruise ship? We will wait for the entire group. If there are a few stragglers, they can catch up with the main group in a taxi with one of our staff members.
5. What currency do we need? US dollars are the currency used. For lunch and personal expenses, $100 cash should suffice. Tips are not included but appreciated and can be given directly to the guides and drivers.
6. How do I find the shuttle at the port? The port provides shuttle buses from the dock to the passenger terminal. We will be waiting in our red uniforms by the door with name cards. You will see us immediately. For more details, read our blog “What is Manta Cruise Ship Port Like”.