Enjoy these photos - taken Feb 20-27 in Southern Belize, where Gnosis Chocolate and The Chocolate Life teamed up to organize a trip to the source of chocolate : visiting Mayan cacao farms, co-ops, and learn the medicinal flora and beautiful fauna! This trip was not only so much fun, but is also part of Chocolate Girl's Raw Integrity Project. Expect to taste some of what she learned in Belize in upcoming bars!
We are SO excited to travel with you to Belize and guide you through 8 days in Chocolate Heaven! Clay and Vanessa will take you to Cacao Plantations, Mayan Ruins, Cave Snorkeling, Medicinal Plant Walks, Nutrition Support Talks, and you will return with chocolate that you made yourself - from bean to bar!!! Below is the incredible schedule!
Day 1, Saturday, February 20th - Welcome!
Travel Day. Guests arrive at BZE, xfer to PG (guides take last flight out)
Arrive in PG, xfer to CTL, Check in to Cotton Tree Lodge
Unpack, clean up, relax
Orientation Reception (featuring fresh local juices)
Welcoming Dinner
Gnosis chocolate tasting for dessert
From this point on, daily activity schedule is somewhat weather dependent
Day 2, Sunday February 21st - Ease into it... by Making Chocolate!
Tour of CottonTree Lodge's organic garden, cacao trees, medicinal plant walk
Start making chocolate, from bean to nib
Rio Blanco
Day 3, Monday February 22nd - Cacao Farm!
Visit Eladio Pop's cacao farm, lunch with the family, return with cacao pods!
Extract seeds from pods, start fermentation
Cacao tea demonstration
Clay Talk: ethnobotanical history of cacao and chocolate
Day 4, Tuesday, February 23rd - Beautiful Belize!
Visit Mayan ruins at Lubantuun
Blue Creek Cave swim
Day 5, Wednesday, February 24th - Sun, Bathe, Relax!
All-day snorkel trip to Snake Caye
Day 6, Thursday, February 25th - Explore the Chocolate Connection!
Tour PG (market, Taino crafts, etc)
Toledo Cacao Grower's Association visit
Finishing the batch of chocolate
Barranco
Day 7, Friday, February 26th - Giving Back & Farewell Festivities!
Sustainable Harvest International activity TBD
Return to CTL after, relax, pack, etc.
Farewell dinner
Garifuna drumming / dancing
Day 8, Saturday, February 27th - Parting is such sweet sorrow...
Check out of CTL
Xfer to PG, fly to BZE, return to USA
