Toledo, 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 and harvested, and later transformed into chocolate. Join us each May for a family weekend celebration of cacao, culture, and the rich flavours of the Toledo District.

Toledo CacaoFest - 22nd to 24th May 2009

Commonwealth Day holiday weekend in May once again saw the return of the Toledo Cacao Festival in Punta Gorda and the Toledo District of southern Belize.

Our opening event was the Wine & Chocolate evening, with live Marimba music and a selection of Garifuna and Creole songs performed by the Delile Academy Choir, as well as marimba music performed by students from Tumul K'in.

Saturday saw a hive of activity in Central Park at the Taste of Toledo Fair, with the chocolate tent featuring local chocolate from Toledo and other Belizean artisans. The children will be kept amused throughout the day by the Cacao for Kids' team, by engaging them in games such as punch board, face painting, a chess tournament and much more!

This year's Festival introduced the crowning of the first Miss Teen Toledo CacaoFest 2009, followed by Culture in Harmony musical performances at a variety of venues.

The range of tours throughout the Festival - weekend Sea Toledo marine trips, and the CacaoTrail tours of the cacao farms which start on the 18th May - introduced new visitors to the delights of the Toledo District.

Expanding on the success of last year's Deer Dance performance, the ancient Maya site of Lubaantun this year hosted the traditional Maya Moro Dance, story-telling and live marimba music.

The weekend was rounded with a free concert in PG's Central Park, with great performances by the mighty Cool J's Band, and the Queen of Bruk Down, Ms Leela Vernon.

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 2009 was organised by the Toledo Cacao Growers' Association and the Toledo Chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association.