Experience Chocolate Tourism in Costa Rica During Your Costa Rica Vacation

Experience Chocolate Tourism in Costa Rica on Your Costa Rica Vacation

Just like fine wine, each location and each variety of cacao produces different notes, aromas, and flavors that are becoming a ‘big-hit’ among Costa Rica tourists. Costa Rica cacao, a deep aroma cacao mainly used to produce fine, dark chocolate, reflects Costa Rica’s rich history and deep traditions and is drawing in a new market for tourism in Costa Rica .

Originally used as a form of currency, Costa Rica cacao has always been a vital part of its economy and culture. Today its popularity is leading the way in a new craze, chocolate tourism in Costa Rica, and tours of these historic, native plantations are becoming a “must-do” when planning your Costa Rica vacation.

Brought to Central America over 3,000 years ago, Costa Rica cacao has gone from currency to a culinary delicacy and is now becoming a large attraction among Costa Rica tourists.

After falling prey to a rampant fungal disease in the 1970s and 80s harvests were threatened and farmers were forced to stop growing this valuable crop.  Today over 2,000 families in Costa Rica’s northern zone have rescued the Costa Rica cacao plantations and are now producing one of only three varieties of cacao that exist in the world:  creole cacao.  And now, many Costa Rica tourists have the opportunity to enjoy its rich delicious flavors. This rare form of cacao is among the highest grade of cacao beans and produces some of the world’s finest chocolate.

Don’t Miss the Chance to Enjoy Chocolate Tourism in Costa Rica on Your Costa Rica Vacation

Still growing richly under the shade of Costa Rica’s thick forest canopy, the popularity of these treasured beans is giving way to a new market for tourism in Costa Rica, Chocolate Tourism.  As native cacao trees form “chocolate plantations” in Costa Rica’s tropical forest you can take advantage of chocolate tours as well as chocolate tastings during your Costa Rica vacation.

As you hike across bridges and tropical rivers in the lush Costa Rica forest, you’ll learn the history of Costa Rica cacao and the techniques of processing the cacao bean into fine chocolate.  And of course, no tour would be complete without getting to savor the fruits of your labor.  Just imagine tasting fresh Costa Rica cacao as it is mixed with condensed milk and poured as chocolate over fresh and locally grown Costa Rica fruit.

While fueling a new market for tourism in Costa Rica, Costa Rica cacao also provides many other benefits to the country.  Not only is the revival of cacao plantations rescuing Costa Rica’s indigenous traditions, the bean is also environmentally friendly and organic, keeping with the importance of preserving the environment in Costa Rica.

Just when you thought a Costa Rica vacation couldn’t get any sweeter, the jewel of Central America throws chocolate into the mix.