Cacao Trail - from Monday 18th to Sunday 24th May
8am departures from PG Town, BZ$100 per person

The Cacao Trail takes you into Toledo's heartland, with its lush green interior blanketing the foothills of the Maya Mountains. Leaving from Punta Gorda, you'll journey north-west up the Southern Highway, before turning off onto the unpaved roads which lead to the villages nestled throughout Toledo's chocolate country!

You'll visit the organic cacao orchards, and meet the farmers who are all members of the Toledo Cacao Growers Association. Enjoy a traditional Maya lunch, and try the kuku drink and homemade chocolate, before moving on to one of Toledo's beautiful inland attractions.

Cacao Trail tours:

1. Justiniano Bol's farm in San Antonio
Join the three generations of the Bol family for a tour of their cacao farms. Mr Justiniano Bol Sr still farms the 11 acres containing 3200 cacao trees which he planted over 60 years ago and which, today, produce around 7000 lbs of cacao beans.

Mr Bol's son, also Justiniano, lives with his wife, Florentina, on their 5 acre farm in the Maya village of San Antonio. They have 9 children, ranging from 36 years old to 10 years old. Their farm has over 700 cacao trees, as well as orange, mangoes, coffee and all-spice  which they sell both locally and in Belize City, and Florentina also makes chocolate truffles and traditional Maya embroidery to supplement the family income.

Having worked with his father and grandfather, Justininano Bol Jr, the third generation, is  now developing his own cacao farm. Planted as part of the Green & Black's Maya Gold project his 500 cacao trees are set to produce their first harvest next year. Planted among the cacao trees to provide the necessary shade for the trees to flourish are several varieties of fruit trees, including soursop, noni and gooseberry, with oregano and culantro grown below these.

2. Luciano Sho's farm in San Antonio
(reasonable level of fitness required, due to the hilly terrain)

Mr Sho inherited a small part of his 7 acre cacao farm in the (Mopan) Maya village of San Antonio from his father, with many of the cacao trees nearly 90 years old. One of the TCGA's most productive members, Luciano lives with his wife, Eugenia, and the younger of their 13 children, while some the older children are studying at the University of Belize, and  others are in the Belize Defence Force.

Seeing the potential cacao provided for a family income which allowed him to send his children to school, Mr Sho took the decision to expand his farm by another 20 acres, and the hilly terrain is now planted with over 11,000 trees of varying ages, and currently produces around 5000 lbs of beans each year, as well as fruit from the cherry, banana and avocado trees planted among the cacao. The farm provides regular work for between 5 and 8 people.

3. Eladio Pop's farm in San Pedro Columbia
Mr Pop's 32 acre "Agouti Farm in the Kekchi village of San Pedro Columbia is so named for the many agouti which disperse the cohune around the farm! Now 49, he began work on the farm at 15 years old, with a dream of creating a beautiful and productive farm that he could share with his family and with visitors. He and his wife Viriginia have 15 children, ranging from 20 years down to their 9 month old baby!

Mr Pop has experimented and observed over time to come up with his successful forumula of planting distance, pruning methods, and ant prevention to produce his annual cacao crop. He boasts 5 varieties of cacao on his farm, including the balam which produces a nut delicious combined with chocolate, or on its own.

In common with many farmers he has additional trees to provide both shade and fruit, including the breadnut which is similar to a chestnut, as well as sweet potato, corn, and 33 american coffee plants.

4. The Teck Family Farm in San Jose
Luis Teck is a second generation cacao farmer who works alongside his father, Alfonso Teck, on their 6 acre hillside farm in San Jose village.

San Jose lies off the tourist trail, such as a tourist trail exists in Toledo, and remains a traditional (Mopan) Maya village, with many of the villagers engaged in farming.

Alfonso began planting cacao trees at 16 year of age, and the family farm provides the main source of income for he, his wife Isabella, and the family.

As well as their 1,800 cacao trees which produce around 2000 lbs of cacao each year, they grow a significant proportion of their own food - corn, beans, rice, and vegetables - and sell the surplus locally and in Punta Gorda.

5. Cyrila's Farm, San Felipe village
The Cho family farm is situated in the lowland village of San Felipe, along the banks of the Moho River, where they grow 2 varieties of cacao, in addition to the many shade-giving fruit trees.

Started by husband and wife team, Victor and Cyrila, the 5 acre farm has over 1,500 trees and produces around 1200lbs of cacao each year, and is their main source of income. Their six children grew up surrounded by cacao, and their son, Juan, and daughter-in-law Abelina have taken this a stage further with the development of the homemade chocolate business started by Cyrila.

Once you have toured the farm, you will visit their chocolate-making kitchen to learn more about the chocolate-making process.

Please note that each tour will be kept to a maximum of 10 people. Tickets are available from the Toledo Travel Centre, IBTM Tours (email suncreek@hughes.net), or from the CacaoFest Tent at the Taste of Toledo Fair on Saturday 24th May in Central Park, PG.

Grateful thanks to the TCGA, member farmers, and IBTM Tours.