A trip with chocolate flavor in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Cocoa route in the Amazon

Chocolate Route

The Amazon is one of the four worlds that make Ecuador a unique and biodiverse country. In this area of lush forests, cocoa offers a tourist alternative on the “Chakra, chocolate and tourism ” route; a proposal that brings together ventures from the cantons Archidona, Tena and Carlos Julio Arosemena Tola.        

This area of extensive jungle and wild animals, shows a variety of products and tourist attractions that meet the expectations of travelers, and always looking to return to learn more about this destination. The tour begins in Archidona, in the Temple of Ceremonies, here is a cavern and a secondary forest that covers a long maze, where rock formations are observed, reflecting an anaconda and a devil's face, its inhabitants say. The cavern is entered by a descent of 3 meters, in a cavity of approximately 1 meter. On this site you can see small stalactites and stalagmites.  

Also, in the tour a cleaning of the body and soul of bad energies is performed, a shaman of the community performs an ancestral ritual. Once the energies are renewed, the route to Pueblo del Cacao and Chocolate continues, a project managed by the Santa Rita Community Tourism Center. On the site there are walks through the farms to learn about the process of cultivation and harvest of fine aroma cocoa, and subsequently participate in the production of artisanal chocolate.    

Chocolate Taste and Knowledge

The elaboration process includes the drying of cocoa, in a wood stove. After being dried it is placed in a pot to toast it, for at least 20 minutes in constant motion so as not to burn, then it is ready to take out its shell and then grind it in a baton with a round stone. The process is carried out until the cocoa paste is obtained, and mixed with ground brown sugar to obtain the sweet taste. Then you are ready to taste one of the ways chocolate is made in Ecuador! 

The tour continues in the Tena canton, in the Kallari collection center, here we find a variety of pasta chocolates and bars with flavors of banana, ginger and with different percentages of cocoa averaging 60%. 

The day cannot end without tasting the delicious cuisine. In the Community Tourism Entrepreneurship Sacha Waysa, site of delicious lunches, tilapia ceviches with palm heart, Creole chicken broths, fish maitos, mayon skewers, chicha de chonta, guayusa water, among others are offered.

You are invited to enjoy these beautiful experiences on the Chakra, Chocolate and Turism route or to enjoy some chocolate made with Ecuadorian cocoa.