Chocolate Tour Arenal
Go from raw cacao pod to melted chocolate on a family farm at the foot of Arenal, with a hands-on tasting of every step.
From Cacao Pod to Pure Chocolate at the Foot of Arenal
Crack open a cacao pod with your own hands, taste the fruit few travelers ever try, and follow it all the way to warm, melted chocolate on a family farm beneath Arenal volcano. This is the sweetest hour in La Fortuna, the full story of cacao told through aromas, history and plenty of tasting.
Your bilingual guide walks you through every stage of the chocolate journey, from the seed to the drink and the bar, and you take part in the process yourself: grinding, mixing and sampling cacao the way it has been made here for generations. Along the way you will likely spot sloths in the treetops, tropical birds and the everyday wildlife of the Costa Rican rainforest.
Arenal weather turns fast, from strong sun to sudden downpours, so the whole trail is under cover and fully paved, which keeps you dry whatever the sky does and makes it easy for wheelchairs and strollers. There is safe monitored parking and a warm welcome for families: children ages eight to thirteen enjoy a reduced price and kids seven and under join free. The tour runs with a minimum of two guests, and reservations are recommended in advance.
Pura Vida 🌿
Highlights
- Bean-to-bar cacao journey at the base of Arenal
- Crack fresh pods and taste the pulp
- Roast and grind on a traditional stone metate
- Tasting flight of spiced chocolate
- Indigenous cacao history with bilingual guide
- Family-friendly, no fitness requirement
- Volcano views from the farm
What's included
Bilingual guide (English and Spanish), guided bean-to-bar chocolate experience, chocolate tasting, wildlife spotting along the trail, accessible paved and covered path, safe monitored parking
What to bring
Closed-toe shoes Comfortable clothes (avoid white) Camera Insect repellent Small bills for chocolate purchases Reusable water bottle
What's not included
Transportation (available on request for an extra fee depending on your hotel zone, offered for the 9:00, 10:00, 14:00 and 15:00 departures; many downtown La Fortuna hotels are free), chocolate products and souvenirs, gratuities
Cancellation policy
Full refund for cancellations made at least 48 hours before the tour's start time. Cancellations made less than 48 hours before the start are non-refundable.