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The intention is to rescue the culture of cocoa cultivation that has been part of the region’s history for decades.
The route involves the entire Cocoa Coast in Bahia and passes through four cities in the region: Ilhéus, Itacaré, Uruçuca and Canavieiras.
The Chocolate Road, connecting Ilhéus and Uruçuca, is 45km long.
The Chocolate Road is home to cocoa farms and chocolate factories, as well as the biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest. At the centenary Capela Velha farm. At the site, tourists can learn about the history of cocoa and the entire process of ploughing the fruit, up to the drying of the almonds used in the production of chocolate.
See the map of the Cocoa Coast.
Visitors to the Cocoa Coast will have the opportunity to visit a cocoa farm and follow all the stages of transformation of the fruit until it becomes the final product, chocolate.
In addition to farms, the itineraries include visits to a chocolate factory, workers’ cooperatives, a chalana ride along the Pardo River and the Sloth Protection Centre.
Famous tourist spots in Ilhéus such as Bataclã and night tours are also included.
Video Caminhos do Chocolate
Chocolate Paths on the Cocoa Coast
1. Chocolate Paths Route 1
The Caminhos do Chocolate Route I has six days and five nights. On the first day, you will visit the Quarteirão de Jorge Amado, with lunch in the Historic Centre and dinner at Bataclã.
On the second day, in addition to visiting the Mãe da Mata Private Natural Heritage Reserve, tourists will visit the Provision Farm and see how the cacao is grown and then head to the Itacaré Chocolate Factory to learn about the production process of the fruit.
On the fourth day, visitors head to Itacaré, where they attend cultural presentations and can enjoy the city’s bustling nightlife.
Fazenda Sant’ana is the attraction of the fifth day and before leaving on the sixth day, visitors will get to know Café Cacau.
2. Chocolate Paths Route 2
The Caminhos do Chocolate II Route has five days and four nights, the first two in Ilhéus and the others in Itacaré. The first day has the same programme as Caminhos do Chocolate I.
But on the second day, visitors get to know the farm and the Ceplac Research Centre, the largest in the world specialising in cocoa.
In the same place there is the Centro de Preservação do Bicho Preguiça, another must-see attraction in Ilhéus.
On the third day, there are tours to Ilha das Garças and Eco Parque Una. The attractions of the last two days, which are in Itacaré, include the Serra Grande Viewpoint, the Tijuípe Waterfall and a tree climbing circuit.
Cocoa farms to visit in Ilhéus
1. Provision Farm
The farm that produces fine cocoa offers tourists the chance to learn about the cocoa production process, including the fermentation of the beans in the lame and the drying of the seeds in the barges.
In addition, you can visit the house preserved since the 19th century, where there are several objects used by the colonels of the time, as well as the chapel built on the site, which is full of sacred art.
Tourists can also stay in the historic mansion and sleep in rooms with period furniture. In addition, the farm offers tours and trails in the region.
Km 27 of the Ilhéus – Uruçuca Highway, 27 km away from Jorge Amado Airport – Ilhéus.
2. Riachuelo Farm
This is the farm where Mendoá chocolate is made. During the visit it is possible to see all the stages of cocoa production, in the process from bean to bar.
This means that tourists will get to know the plantation in the cabruca system (that is, in native vegetation and in a sustainable way), in addition to the fermentation of the almonds and their drying. Next, they will visit the Mendoá Chocolates factory, where the tablets and chocolates are manufactured.
The factory has extensive machinery and several laboratories. To enter the factory, you need to wear caps, clothes and hygienic masks, after all, you can’t be too careful with food. While learning about each stage of production, tourists get their mouths watering.
3. Alegrias Farm
It is on this farm, whose focus is on quality almonds, that Senô fine chocolate is produced, in addition to other products, such as cocoa honey, nibs and cocoa jelly, for example.
You can also do 3 sightseeing tours around the farm
- Pau-Brasil Tour, to get to know the production system from cabruca to the warehouse, with cocoa tasting and, of course, chocolate (duration up to 2 hours).
- Jequitibá Route, with an ecological walk inside the cabruca, getting to know the farm while cocoa and chocolate are tasted (duration up to 3 hours).
- Gameleira Route, which includes the entire production process of the almond, as well as sensory and practical experiences, with tasting of cocoa, cocoa honey and chocolate (duration up to 4 hours).
BR 415, km 14 – Ilhéus.
4. Santa Ana Farm
The farm receives groups for rural tourism, and also produces Morbeck chocolate, with fine organic cocoa grown in-house, without the use of pesticides.
The visit is made in the system bean to bar, which allows you to know all the stages of chocolate production, and the place serves groups for day use with lunch included.
Highway Itacaré Taboquinhas, km 20 – Itacaré.
5. Vila Rosa Farm
The tour of the farm shows the entire cocoa production process, from planting to the chocolate factory.
The tourist can take a guided tour through the Atlantic Forest, passing by the cocoa plantation, barge, chocolate factory, Vila Rosa mansion and surrounding gardens, with tasting of products such as cocoa, cocoa honey, homemade chocolate and brownie, for example. It is also worth visiting the gardens and natural pools, as they not only make the place more beautiful, but also guarantee a good dose of fun.
Visitors can also stay in the historic mansion, which has large rooms with queen size beds (the daily rate in the colonel’s suite). In other words, a complete experience about the history of cocoa.
At the end of the tour, there is a shop at the entrance of the farm that sells all the products made with cocoa, from jellies to teas and various types of chocolate. Therefore, there is no shortage of souvenir options. The journey home will undoubtedly be sweeter and more educated.
Rua Pedro Longo, 174 (Pituba) – Itacaré.
Bahia.ws is the largest tourism and travel guide of Bahia and Salvador.
Chocolate Paths and Road on the Cocoa Coast
