Chocolate Lovers Shore Excursion Puerto Limon

Who doesn't love rich chocolate? And who would have thought the culture behind chocolate in the Caribbean would be even richer than it tastes? Well, we invite you to come along with our exceptional guides as they take you to explore the importance of chocolate in both the Afro-Caribbean culture, and the BriBri indigenous cultures alike. Add in a nature walk in both a cacao & banana plantation, a visit to a chocolate museum, and of course sampling the tasty treats we learn to make; this Costa Rica shore excursion packs it all in. Whether you love chocolate, or just love a good cultural exchange, the Chocolate Lovers shore excursion in Puerto Limon is going to be the highlight of your cruise vacation.

Explore the Cacao Plantation & Nature Trails of Cacao Trails Takyu Cultural Center & Chocolate Museum in Cahuita

After a 45 min scenic ride along the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica, we will arrive at the Cacao Trails Takyu Cultural Center, and the best chocolate tour in Costa Rica. But before we dig right into the sweet stuff, we will take a walk through the cacao plantation. Here you will find the 2 types of cacao plants that grow here, the yellow ones, and the sweeter purple ones. As you wander through the plantation, they have also collected all sorts of historical artifacts of the harvesting and transporting process dating back 100 years.

Naturally, while wandering through the rainforest cacao plantation, we will also be treated to some wildlife viewing. You can find exotic critters you may or may not want to encounter such as bullet ants, the largest in Latin America. Or tarantulas, scorpions, and maybe a poison dart frog or two. There are also the friendlier critters such as howler monkeys, sloths, iguanas, armadillos and even crocodiles in the lagoon. You guide will point out the wildlife while also explaining the medicinal uses of the plants you encounter as well.

You will also visit a U SULE, which is a traditional ranch home of the BriBri & Cabecar indigenous of this region. U SULE are typically used by the Shamans to hold ceremonies and other acts such as healing using the medicinal plants you will see as you stroll the nature trails.

Visit the Cacao Museum & Learn to Make Chocolate with Indigenous BriBri Women

The history of cacao is very important to the Afro-Caribe culture in this region. At the same time, the process of making chocolate is a sacred right for the women of the indigenous BriBri tribes of the Talamanca. So, it is no wonder there is so much to learn about on this chocolate tour.

Visit the chocolate museum curated by the family who has been growing and processing chocolate in this region of the Caribbean for over 100 years. In that time, they have gathered multiple artifacts and put together a very unique choco museum including photos, cultural facts, and of course all the necessary ingredients and tools to process chocolate.

Here you will also learn to make chocolate the traditional way with BriBri women. Sample the cacao bean in its raw state, then discover how it turns into your favorite chocolate treats. You will get to see how the cacao beans are processed from beginning to end and participate in the whole process. Learn about how the BriBri combine natural ingredients such as sea salt, nutmeg, vanilla, hot chili and black peppers to create uniquely different chocolate flavors. Yummy!

Organic Banana Plantation & Punta Riel Train Station Monument

Your visit to Cacao Trail Takyu concludes with a visit to their organic banana farm. You will learn the importance of organic farming practices and see how the bananas are currently processed. And, you will step back in time and learn a bit about the importance of the banana plantations and how they were transported with a visit to the old train station. Prior to the trains, the route taking the bananas and cocoa was all done by burro.

Tortuguero Canal Boat Tour - Nature on the Waterways

Last but definitely not least, we will visit the famous Tortuguero Canals. If there is one thing that Puerto Limon is proud of, it is the abundance of wildlife you can find just a hop, skip and jump from the cruise pier. A Tortuguero Canal boat tour is probably the most popular shore excursion in Puerto Limon. Referred to as the Amazon of Costa Rica, the Tortuguero Canals are some of the most bio-diverse waterways of Costa Rica. Hop aboard one of our comfortable safari style boats designed for wildlife viewing along the Tortuguero Canals.

Your guides will help you spot sun bathing iguanas, turtles or caimans and crocodiles on shore. In the trees you can find monkeys howling, sloths…well, being sloths and even bats lined up for a snooze on the tree trunks. And of course, since we are on the waterways, there are several species of water fowl. Take out your binoculars and cameras, the Tortuguero Canals are full of Nat Geo worthy photos!

Talk about a spectacular shore excursion in Puerto Limon! Spaces are limited, so grab your friends and book your Chocolate Lovers + Tortuguero Canals shore excursion in Costa Rica today!