Toledo, southern Belize - the birthplace of chocolate!

Cacao - or cocoa as many of us know it - has played a dominant role from ancient times, when the Maya first discovered the 'magical' process that transformed cacao into chocolate, right through to the modern day.

The Toledo District of southern Belize is today home to the organic cacao orchards where the pods are grown, harvested and processed, and later transformed into chocolate.


Toledo CacaoFest - 21st to 23rd May 2010 - featuring the "Three Kings of Belize"

The fourth Festival promises to be better than ever! Join us over the Commonwealth Day holiday weekend for a family weekend celebration of cacao, culture, and the rich flavours of the Toledo District. Click here to see the PDF copy of the Festival overview, with times, prices and more details.

Friday 21st May
The Festival opens with its signature Wine and Chocolate evening, held on the rooftop terrace of the University of Belize. Guests will enjoy fine wine and food, chocolate delights from Belize's four chocolate producers - Kakaw, Goss, Cotton Tree, and Cyrila's - live music, from Pablo Collado, and a fireworks display.

Photo by kind permission of www.karelkuranphotography.com - copyright applies

Saturday 22nd May
Saturday sees the return of the Taste of Toledo cookery and craft fair, this year in its new seafront location at Petillo Park and the Grounds of the Father Ring Parish Hall. The Fair showcases local and national artisans work, local food and cookery demonstrations, as well as music and dance performances and masterclasses, and a special screening of the newly released award-wining "Three Kings of Belize" DVD.

New Cacao for Kids activities include a sock-puppet class, and a puppet show by the National Library. We will also create the longest rainforest mural in Belize, with a chalk pavement art scene along the Fishermen's Co-op wharf and although we can't hope to compete with the current world record 75,000 square feet creating, we'll be setting a record for Belize!

The Sea Toledo kayaking, snorkelling and boat trips will depart from the Fisherman's Co-op wharf, giving everybody the chance to appreciate the beautiful coastal waters of Toledo. The inland Cacao Trail tours take you through the organic cacao orchards in Toledo, to learn how the pods are grown, harvested and processed before being turned into chocolate - the food of the Gods! We're offering two very special tours - The Lodge at Big Falls' tour will include a visit with Florencio Mes (one of the "Three Kings"), and Sun Creek Lodge's tour features cave-swimming at the stunning Hokeb Ha Cave at Blue Creek.

Saturday evening activities include a Teen Dance at the Civic Centre in aid of the PG Library, and DJ Stone Jam party at PG Sport's Bar. There'll be "Culture in Harmony" live music at Beya Suites and at Earth Runnin's in Punta Gorda, or head out to The Lodge at Big Falls  or Cotton Tree Lodge for special chocolate dinners at these two lovely riverside lodges (advance reservations required).

Sunday 23rd May                                                                                                                       Photo courtesy of Stonetree Records, copyright applies

On Sunday the focus moves inland to the ancient Maya site of Lubaantun - the place of the fallen stones - and you can learn more about the current excavations being led by Dr Geoff Braswell as part of the National Georgraphic sponsored Toledo Regional Interaction Project.

As in previous years, a Maya dance will be performed in the plaza, with a special introduction by Dr Jaime Awe, the Director of the Institute of Archaeology.

This year sees the villagers of San Jose perform the Monkey Dance - a tradition that goes far back in time, and performed to influence the corn harvest. Six dancers dress as "ba'atz" and six as "ma'ax" - howler monkeys and spider monkeys respectively - with the 13th dancer representing the devil and the father of the monkeys.

Our Grand Raffle will be drawn at Lubaantun, with a host of great prizes, including weekend breaks at some of Belize's top accommodation and resorts!

The Festival closes with a very special live performance by the Three Kings of Belize, along with Carlos Perotte. The thee kings - Toledo's very own Florencio Mes and Paul Nabor, and Wilfred Peters from Belize District - are the stars of the newly released DVD which shares moments from their daily lives, and offers a glimpse of three very different cultures, whilst the musicians quietly battle to preserve their musical heritage.


Copies of the programme will be available at the Festival, for those of you who want to keep it as a souvenier, but click on the thumbnail for the Festival Overview. Please use our contact form if you have any questions about the Festival, email us at info@ToledoChocolate.com, or call the Festival Office on 722-2531.


CacaoFest 2010 is the product of a committed group of volunteers from the Toledo community, including Ya'axche Conservation Trust, Toledo Cacao Growers Association, BTIA Toledo, and Sustainable Harvest International, but it would not be possible without the invaluable help and support of our Festival sponsors: