Chocolate farms of Ecuador

Ecuador is home to some of the world's finest, single-origin dark chocolates. Indulge in everything chocolate here. Start by visiting a chocolate plantation, called cacao locally. Remember to carry some mosquito repellent as cacao plantations are notorious for severe mosquito bites. Visit a farm where chocolate pods are cracked open, dried, roasted and processed. Register yourself in one of the many chocolate culinary classes. Visit official chocolate bar shops (easily spotted at the airport as well) and hoard up on different ranges and blends of chocolates. Do not forget to carry a dried cacao bean for yourself as a souvenir. If you have time on your hands, you can choose to volunteer at one of the countless small farms owned by local farmers. Here are two little secrets—the world's biggest chocolate manufacturers procure their chocolate from Ecuador; and the world's first cacao bean had been traced to Ecuador.