Tailor-made adventures.
Days: 12-15 | From: $8,450/person
Our Most Popular Trip: Two of South America’s most spectacular destinations in one itinerary
Days: 13 | From: $11,250/per person
The best of Patagonia on both sides of the border
Days: 8 | From: $5,050/per person
Explore this fascinating country's most iconic sites
Days: 9 | From: $4,690/per person
Explore Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Rio de Janeiro all in one trip
Days: 9 | From: $7,550/per person
Visit Costa Rica's highlights and the beautiful, remote Osa Peninsula
Days: 8 | From: $7,450/per person
Explore the pristine jungles of Belize, Mayan ruins, and idyllic Caribbean islands
Days: 9 | From: $6,390/per person
Experience the highlights of this fascinating and culturally rich country
Days: 8 | From: $7,690/per person
Combine the pristine rainforest and barrier reef of Belize with striking Guatemalan ruins
Days: 10 | From: $9,790/per person
The best of South Africa: a world class safari, spectacular Cape Town, plus magnificent Victoria [...]
Days: 10 | From: $7,750/per person
Track the Great Migration through the breathtaking landscapes of Kenya and Tanzania
Days: 8 | From: $7,250/per person
Experience Rwanda's gentle mountain gorillas in the wild, and discover its varied wildlife and lush [...]
Days: 11 | From: $12,950/per person
From the renowned Okavango Delta to extraordinary Hwange National Park via Victoria Falls
Days: 11 | From: $4,130/per person
Get to know the classic parts of Vietnam
Days: 10 | From: $5,900/per person
Temples, Taj, and Tigers: see quintessential India on this immersive journey
Days: 10 | From: $5,560/per person
The highlights of Bangkok, northern Thailand, and the southern beaches
Days: 16 | From: $22,400/per person
An immersive exploration of the art, culture, and history of Japan
Days: 10 | From: $10,310/per person
The Best of Italy: Venice, Florence & Rome
Days: 11 | From: $8,495/per person
An Extraordinary Private Journey from Barcelona to Andalucía via Madrid
Days: 11 | From: $10,680/per person
Where Castles, History, and Culture Come to Life
Days: 11 | From: $13,380 per person
An Extraordinary Alpine Journey from Zurich to Zermatt
Days: 16-23 | From: $9,395/person
One of the most classic of Arctic programs, with polar bears and magnificent scenery.
Days: 10-23 | From: $8,590/person
The most popular and classic Antarctica cruise option
Days: 6-23 | From: $6,950/person
Choose from our list of the top vessels in each category
Days: 6-23 | From: $4,795/person
Choose from our list of the top vessels in each category.
Days: 10| From: $12,450/per person
Follow the herds of the Great Migration through some of Africa's most iconic safari destinations [...]
Posted by Rachel Harris on December 16th, 2014
When I think about really good chocolate (a not infrequent occurrence), my thoughts tend to drift toward Europe. Belgian chocolate, German chocolate, Italian chocolate: these are the gold standards of fine gourmet confectionery. These countries don’t actually produce the cocoa used in their products, however. Theobroma cacao, the cocoa tree, grows best in very particular conditions found within about 20 degrees of the equatorial band. Western Europe, for all its charms, doesn’t cut it for cacao.
Currently, roughly 5% of the world’s cocoa supply comes from Ecuador. It’s a small percentage, but it equates to approximately 200,000 metric tons of the stuff annually. More importantly, when it comes to so-called “fine” or “flavor” cocoa beans, the highest-quality varieties used in gourmet products, Ecuador is one of the world’s top producers. Traditionally this raw product has been exported wholesale to European confectioners, but there is a growing movement in Ecuador to keep chocolate production local – and the world is taking notice. Pacari Chocolate, producers of the first single-origin organic chocolate made entirely in Ecuador, swept the prestigious International Chocolate Awards in London in 2013, taking home seven awards and putting the country on the chocolate-making map.
And Pacari doesn’t stand alone when it comes to excellent Ecuadorian chocolate. I recently stopped into Chez Tiff, a family-run chocolate company based in Quito, to learn about their processes and sample a kilo or two of their product. Founded by a Swiss-born chocolatier and his Ecuadorian wife, this small family-run company uses local cocoa, fruits, and quinoa to create their luscious treats. Their tiny café, located on a patrimonial street in Quito’s historic center, offers colorful truffles, rich chocolate bars, cakes and pastries. They even have high-percentage dark chocolate for those with sugar sensitivity. (“We tested it on my diabetic aunt!” the proprietor’s daughter told me cheerfully.)
The owners of Chez Tiff are seriously passionate about what they do. If you’re interested in learning about Ecuadorian chocolate and the process of converting cocoa beans to the refined product (or if you’re just looking to eat some fantastic chocolate), their café is a great place to visit. The family offers tastings, presentations, and demonstrations.
If you’re interested in setting up a chocolate tasting or presentation on your next trip to Ecuador, just let us know! And be sure to pick up a few artisan chocolate bars while you’re there for family and friends. They’re sure to be well-received – provided you can get them home without eating them.
Explore related journal entries.
Nearly all visitors to Chile pass through Santiago at some point during their trip. The city’s [...]
Nothing says ‘vacation’ more loudly or clearly than sipping on a cocktail in your swimsuit or [...]
One of our most popular itineraries, the Highlights of Chilean and Argentine Patagonia, includes a one [...]
Coffee, for me, is an essential part of the morning routine – and it’s a part [...]
Find out why our discerning travelers consistently rate us with 5-stars.
We take our environmental and social responsibilities seriously.