Ecuador Chocolate Expedition

Welcome to Quito! Upon arrival, you will be transferred to our hotel where you will be on your own to relax and rest up for your upcoming adventures. 

Hotel: Hotel Cultura Manor  

After breakfast, you will enjoy a guided visit to the famous Equator Line or Mitad del Mundo, located just 40 minutes north of Quito. This monument marks the closest point from where the Equator passes. Archaeological evidence indicates that the pre-Incan and the Inca civilizations recognized and worshiped the path of the equator as the marker of the equinox.   

Next, we will travel to the northwest of Quito to visit the amazing Cloud Forest of Mindo where you have the option to participate in some of the cloud forest adventures:  

• Visit a butterfly farm, where the local guides will explain about the metamorphosis of this insect and will introduce you to a different world, the butterflies' world where they can eat from your hands.   

• Zip Line tour, a wonderful experience on which you will travel through 10 cables of different sizes that permit you to fly from tree to tree like a bird.  

In the afternoon, we visit El Quetzal of Mindo, a small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate company, where you will experience the chocolate-making process and enjoy tastings and pairings with chocolate from the source.  

Welcome dinner with our trip leader Jenny Samaniego at Quetzal’s restaurant, El Quetzal, which focuses on local cuisine and chocolate before transferring to Sachatamia Lodge where we will overnight. 

Hotel: Sachatamia lodge 

Meals: B, L, D 

Today, we enjoy a visit to Mashpi Artisanal Chocolate farm, a small, family farm that has been brought back to health using biodiverse agricultural practices, and then taste their award-winning hand-crafted chocolate bars. 

During our chocolate tour, we will visit agroforestry systems of organic cacao, where we will learn about the trees, the fruit and the seeds of the cacao pod and the different harvest and processing methods used by Mashpi. We will also learn about the history and cultural aspects of this intriguing crop, which has been cultivated in Ecuador for millennia.  

After a full day at this amazing farm, we will return to Sachatamia lodge in Mindo, where you can relax in the pool, dinner and overnight. 

Hotel: Sachatamia lodge 

Meals: B, L, D 

We wake up early this morning for birdwatching at the Paz de las Aves Refuge, and see the famous Lek of the Andean Cock of the Rock.  

We may also see four species of Antpittas, the Giant Antpitta, the Mustached Antpitta, the Ochre Bellied Antipittas, and the Yellow Breasted Antpitta. We will visit the feeding station to see Black Chinned and Blue Winged Mountain Tanagers, Toucan Barbet, Dusky Piha, Sickle Winged Guan and Crimson Rumped Toucanet.  

We return to the main house of the reserve to enjoy a typical breakfast of the region and continue watching birds. Other birds we may see include Ocellated Tapaculos, Yellow Vented Woodpeckers, Powerful Woodpeckers, Crimson Mantled Woodpeckers and Orange Breasted Fruiteaters.  

We will return to Sachatamia Lodge for lunch before returning to Quito, where we will enjoy dinner at Zazu, one of Quito’s best restaurants.  

Hotel: Hotel Cultura Manor  

Meals: B, L, D 

After an early breakfast, we begin our journey to Tena, the Amazon Rainforest’s commercial center, with a drive through Ecuador’s renowned waterfall route.  

We stop to admire some of the spectacular waterfalls in the area, such as Pailón Del Diablo (Devil’s Cauldron) and Manto de la Novia (Bride’s Veil). Switching to four-wheel drive, we drive until we reach Puyo, an Amazon frontier town where we learn about the manufacture of products made from Balsa wood, bamboo, ceramics, and other local materials. We enjoy lunch in Puyo before setting out along the Amazon highway to reach La Casa del Suizo, our jungle lodge, where we will enjoy a peaceful evening surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest.  

Hotel: La Casa del Suizo 

Meals: B, L, D 

Enjoy a full day engaging with families in the Kichwa community in the Amazon Rainforest, followed by a choice of optional outdoor activities at Casa del Suizo and its surroundings, such as hiking, canoeing, rafting, butterfly house exhibit and guided nocturnal excursions.  

We begin our visit to a Kichwa community with a short canoe ride from La Casa del Suizo to Isla Anaconda where Doña Carmela (the mother’s family) will welcome you and introduce you to the Kichwa culture, crafts, traditions and traditional use of natural resources of the Amazon. You will have time to practice target shooting with a blowgun. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. 

Hotel: La Casa del Suizo 

Meals: B, L, D 

Today is an educational day engaging with the Santa Rita community, which grows arriba nacional cacao, Ecuador’s prized, native varietal of fine flavor cacao. We will visit the cocoa farms and trails inside the nearby forest, leading to petroglyphs, estuaries, spas and a viewpoint, and then enjoy chocolate prepared with the native guides of the community. 

After breakfast, you will depart from Casa del Suizo and head to the Santa Rita community in Archidona where you will begin your chocolate workshop in Santa Rita. You will experience the community’s approach to cocoa farming and chocolate production including a visit to the working farms where the beans are harvested and fermented, before being turned into Ecuador’s renowned chocolate. 

After a full day engaging with the Santa Rita community, we will wind our way to the Papallacta Hot springs Resort & Spa. The richness of the hydrothermal waters of Papallacta stems from a volcanic complex with more than 3 million years of persistent activity called Chacana, consisting of a large volcanic caldera. The hot springs that feed Termas Papallacta arise from deep geological layers through fissures up to the surface, offering healing elements from the earth’s minerals. The Spa's hydrotherapy area consists of five hot thermal pools and one cold pool. The Thermo ludic Area is the ideal place to experience a variety of different hydro massages using either water jets or air bubbles. 

 Hotel: Termas del Papallacta Resort and Spa 

Meals: B, L, D 

After breakfast we walk through the landmarks of Quito’s colonial, historical downtown, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We meet local artisans and immerse ourselves in the city vibe, visiting the San Francisco market, sampling local ingredients and learning about history and Andean healing traditions. We continue our exploration of the city historical center walking down an area called La Ronda, full of art and ancestral trades.  

After a welcome lunch, we will visit TO’AK Chocolate  at the former home of Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamin which is now a museum showcasing the art of Ecuador’s most famous artist. Our visit combines chocolate making with an analogical interpretation of the precolonial pieces related to the use of the cacao, followed by a chocolate tasting and wine pairing at the private wine cellar of the Guayasamin home. Afterward, you will return to your hotel where you will enjoy a fun cooking class of delicious typical Ecuadorian food with an expert chef. 

Hotel: Hotel Cultura Manor  

Meals: B, L, D 

Experience Otavalo and learn about Ecuador’s indigenous culture and heritage with a visit to one of Latin America’s most spectatular markets.

After lunch in a local hacienda we drive up to Cuicocha Crater Lake, located 10,000 feet (3,068 meters) above sea level within the Cayapas-Cotacachi National Park. Cuicochoa Lake is the freshwater-filled caldera of a dormant volcano, located at the foot of a volcano of the same name, and surrounded by stunning cloud forest scenery. We hike around the shore of the Crater Lake, admiring the lava dome islands in the center and keeping an eye out for birds and other interesting wildlife.

Later, we return to Quito to your hotel where our expert chef will be waiting for you in order to enjoy a fun cooking class of delicious typical Ecuadorian food.  

 
 Hotel: Hotel Cultura Manor

Meals: B,L, D

After breakfast, return to Quito and enjoy a chocolate making class with República del Cacao.This is your moment to become a chocolate chef and design your own chocolate bars. Learn how to temper chocolate and create your own chocolate bars and chocolate drops. 

After lunch on your own, you can buy some last minute gifts of some of the world’s finest chocolate in Quito’s while visiting local chocolate shops. 

Afternoon to rest before evening transfer to the airport for your flight home.  Or, stay longer for Galapagos Island visit!

Meals: B

• Immerse yourself in the history and culture of Ecuador 
• Learn from cacao farmers about the cultural, historical and agricultural aspects of Ecuador’s famed nacional cacao
• Learn from industry experts about the craft of processing some of the world’s best cacao while enjoying guided chocolate tastings 
• Explore Ecuador’s natural beauty, including hiking and birdwatching in the cloud forest. 
• Learn about daily life in the Amazon Rain Forest from indigenous families 
• Enjoy delicious meals made with local ingredients

Photo:  Narci, Chief of Production loving her at Mashpi Chocolate Artesanal, Quito-Ecuador.  (Credit: Mashpi Chocolate)

Jenny Samaniego founded Conexion Chocolate after nearly 10 years in the industry. She is unique in believing it is possible to produce exquisite, high-end chocolate in the country of origin. What better place to do this than her home country of Ecuador, birthplace of the famed Arriba Nacional heirloom cacao beans. Jenny is one of the only women in the heavily male dominated world of bean-to-bar and couverture chocolate company founders.

In 2008, shortly after moving to New York City, she started working in the world of chocolate for a number of well-known chocolate companies. Since then she has worked in many areas of the industry – production, sales, and founding the sourcing company Cocoa Provisions to name a few – and she has learned the needs of everyone along the way.

In 2013, Jenny started making Ecuadorian couvertures under the company name Chukulat. Three years later, Jenny returned home to expand her offerings and take an even larger hands-on role in production at origin. That is when she decided to rebrand as “Conexion” – to help make the connection between local cacao farmers and consumers of fine Ecuadorian chocolate throughout the world.

Through this connection, the company empowers small family farms. By keeping our chocolate production in the country of origin, we add value to the local economy. Not long after launching Conexion Chocolate, our products won awards from the Academy of Chocolate and the International Chocolate Awards in 2017. Since then, we’ve won a total of 33 awards from the international chocolate community.

• Enjoy a private tour with To’ak Chocolate and Fundación Guayasamín’s Chocolate & Art Experience, a one-of-a-kind journey in Quito that celebrates the rich history, art, and chocolate of Ecuador.
•  Learn how chocolate is made by local chocolate company El Quetzal of Mindo. Owner Barbara Wilson will give us a private, guided tour that includes chocolate tasting.
•  A chocolate tour at El Quetzal of Mindo and dinner in their restaurant that focuses on local foods and, of course, chocolate
• Visit an indigenous group of Kichwa cacao farmers in the Amazon rainforest, taste their cacao and their chocolate.
• Enjoy a farewell chocolate making session in Quito with Republica del Cacao

Much more than a traditional tour operator, Global Family Travels’ mission is to “Learn, Serve and Immerse” through community-based travel programs.  In partnership with non-profit organizations and schools, we offer family-friendly and sustainable travel experiences in support of education, gender equality, access to clean water, preservation of local cultures, conservation and economic growth, all of which foster cross-cultural understanding and global citizens.  

Our trips include a unique mix of cultural and educational activities, homestays and participation in local service projects aimed at improving the lives of people in the communities we visit.    
 
Expect to expand your family circle when you embark on a Global Family Travels trip!  Visit our website for more information: Global Family Travels