Dominican Republic Chocolate Adventures

Experience the Caribbean Rainforest

May 22-27, 2022

Adventure Overview

Join the good folks of San Francisco’s Dandelion Chocolate for an immersive experience in the thriving cacao culture of the Dominican Republic.

Visitors will get hands-on experience with cacao production, while also engaging in a healthy amount of chocolate tasting, cultural engagement, and rest and relaxation on the pristine beaches that make the Caribbean islands famous.

On this trip, you will:

  • Gain hands-on experience across the full cacao supply chain – see how cacao is grown and processed
  • Tour Reserva Zorzal, a 1,019 acre protected forest and sustainable cacao farm and get your hands dirty
  • Spend time in the bird sanctuary at Reserva Zorzal and meet the Bicknell’s Thrush
  • Learn how sustainable farming can lend itself to a thriving ecosystem and healthy economy
  • Hike in the surrounding rainforests and swim along the coasts
  • Make and taste fresh chocolate right on the farm

Discover

Meet our farmers and master fermenters and experience cacao production and wildlife conservation in action.

Learn

Gain hands-on experience growing and harvesting and everything in between!

Explore and Protect

We’ll hike through the protected rainforest of Reserva Zorzal. This 1,019 forest focuses specifically on habitat restoration and climate change mitigation, a community-based bird monitoring program for the Bicknell’s Thrush.

Relax

Rest and relax on the pristine beaches that make the Caribbean islands famous.

Here's a sample itinerary

Subject to change

Day 1 – ARRIVAL IN CABARETE
Fly into Puerto Plata, settle into your room, and come meet the gang!

Day 2 – KAYAKING AND CULTURE
In the morning, we’ll go kayaking to get acquainted with our surroundings in the Dominican Republic.

Day 3 – RESERVA ZORZAL
Visit Reserva Zorzal, where we’ll gain experience harvesting cacao pods and you’ll get hands on with Zorzal’s farmers. Stay the night at the reserve.

Day 4 – FERMENTARIES: OKO CARIBE + ZORZAL
Visit a large fermenting and drying center. First, we’ll go to OKO Caribe, a medium scale fermenting and drying facility and one of the main suppliers of Dominican specialty cacao to craft chocolate makers. Then, we’ll head to Zorzal’s new fermentation facility!

Day 5 – FREE DAY
This is a day to do whatever you’d like to do: go kite surfing, surfing, caving or kayaking!

Day 6 – DEPARTURE
Depart from the Dominican Republic with a keen understanding of cacao production and a sunkissed glow from spending a week in the tropics.