• Cocorna Restaurant and Viewpoint - 1) After picking you up from your Airbnb or hotel in a comfortable private vehicle, we’ll head east of Medellín towards the picturesque countryside. Along the way, we’ll pass various landscapes, farms, and small towns. After a 60-minute drive, we’ll make our first stop at the famous “Mirador de Cocorná” to stretch, use the restroom, and take in the extraordinary scenery.

The “Mirador de Cocorná” is a traditional restaurant with a scenic viewpoint at the highest part of the mountain, offering a magnificent view of the Andes Mountain Range. Located near the typical town of Cocorná, it’s a must-visit spot for anyone passing by.

• San Francisco - 2) Next, we’ll visit a beautiful local family cacao farm, surrounded by natural beauty and diverse crops, flowers, and plants. Here, you’ll experience the entire chocolate-making process, from the cacao tree to the final product.

Amidst the stunning landscapes of Antioquia, you’ll learn about the art and science of cacao and its rich history. From picking the fruit to roasting the cacao nibs, you’ll witness the complexity and dedication involved in producing a simple cup of chocolate.

Here’s the process we’ll observe:

1. Cacao Cultivation

Cacao trees thrive in tropical climates below 1500 meters, producing cacao pods that are the starting point of chocolate. These unique, oval-shaped fruits come in various colors. You’ll see different growth stages and learn about the importance of the environment in cultivating high-quality cacao beans.

2. Harvesting the Pods

We’ll observe the careful handpicking of ripe cacao pods, which are ready when they reach a good size and bright color. The pods are then opened to reveal cacao beans inside a sweet, sticky pulp. The beans are hung upside down for a few hours to let gravity pull the pulp down, leaving the beans mostly clean.

3. Fermentation

The freshly harvested beans are placed in shallow wooden boxes, barrels, or covered with banana leaves to ferment for 5-6 days. This crucial stage develops the beans’ flavor and color, affecting the final chocolate’s quality and taste.

4. Drying the Beans

After fermentation, the beans are spread out under the sun to dry, covered with a plastic bag to create a greenhouse effect. This process usually takes several days, depending on the sun, ensuring the beans reach the proper moisture content.

5. Roasting

Once dry, the beans are roasted to bring out their rich, complex flavors. The roasting time and temperature vary depending on the desired flavor profile. During the tour, you’ll see the roasting process in action and perhaps sample some freshly roasted beans.

6. Winnowing

Roasted beans are cracked and winnowed to separate the cacao nibs from the husks. The nibs are the purest form of cacao and the essential ingredient in making chocolate. You’ll see how machinery or traditional methods are used for this separation.

7. Grinding

The cacao nibs are ground into a thick paste known as chocolate liquor or cocoa mass. This step usually involves heavy machinery, but we’ll use a traditional method to release their natural ingredients (cocoa butter) and transform them into a smooth, liquid form, which we’ll use for exfoliation later in the river.

8. Conching

The chocolate liquor is refined through conching, where it is continuously mixed and aerated at controlled temperatures. This step can last from several hours to several days, depending on the desired smoothness and flavor, impacting the final product’s texture and taste.

9. Tempering

To achieve the perfect snap and glossy finish, the chocolate is tempered. This involves carefully cooling and reheating the chocolate to stabilize the cocoa butter crystals. You’ll observe the precise techniques used to temper chocolate and perhaps try it yourself.

10. Molding and Packaging

Finally, the tempered chocolate is poured into molds to create bars, truffles, or other delicious shapes. After cooling and hardening, the chocolate is ready to be packaged. You’ll make and package your own chocolate bar to take home as a souvenir.

• Pailania - After our enriching cacao experience, we’ll head to a stunning, crystal-clear river with a small waterfall. Here, we’ll use the cocoa butter we made earlier for an exfoliating session. We’ll spread it over our bodies to remove dead skin cells, moisturize, and rejuvenate our skin, finishing with a natural massage under the waterfall.

This natural treat will leave you feeling refreshed and glowing.

• Private transportation
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Snacks
• Insurance