IXCACAO Maya Belizean Chocolate

Often on tours we just get facts told to us and eventually it gets old. But Henry was amazing, we got information but it was personal, stories that related to facts. As a tourist I was invested in the story and learning as we went. He was one of the best guides on our trip to Belize. I will not forget what I learned here.

How to describe our experience today at Ixcacao... in a word, incredible! I have traveled to Belize many times over the past decade and been fortunate to go on many excursions - our day at Ixcacao easily tops my list of must-do adventures. Henry is a proud yet humble host with a passion for his heritage. You will have an authentic, hands-on adventure that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for chocolate, Mayan culture, and this wonderful family business. Don't miss this opportunity, it's nothing short of life-changing. Thank you Henry and Abelina!

During our visit to Belize, we booked an excursion here for a chocolate tour/demonstration through Taste of Belize. We had an absolutely amazing time. Ixcacao provided an amazing lunch spread before letting us sample several kinds of chocolates. The chocolates were like nothing I had ever had before, so delicious! Henry explained the process for turning cacao beans into chocolate and we even got to help make some chocolate for our group. We left the gift shop with a bag full of goodies to take home with us. Highly recommend this place for both the experience and the delicious chocolate.

Absolutely amazing experience! Henry walked us through the cacao plantation and explained many details not only about cacao but also about the Maya culture, fruits, spices and much more and we even tried many of the fruits and spices they have in their garden. This was followed by a very delicious lunch, tasting of different chocolates and more information on the chocolate making process. Really can recommend a visit there. It is absolutely worth it :) Thanks a lot to Henry and the chocolate queen!

Can't say enough good things about this. The experience, making our own chocolate, and the FOOD. OMG. Will definitely come by again next time we're in Belize :)

An unforgettable experience. One of the best things we did in the whole of Belize. Such a fascinating tour by incredibly knowledgeable and captivating people who clearly care a lot about not only the cacao and chocolate but also preserving Mayan culture...and our planet. Henry explained everything in a very clear and scientific way that just made you want to know more. Special mention for the delicious meal that we were served for lunch too. Again, one of the best meals we had during our whole time in Belize. Thank you, for everything.

HIGHLIGHT of Belize and likely the best tour I've ever done. I have taken many tours in my travels to 30+ countries, but this is almost certainly the best tourism experience I have ever had. Many reviews mention the chocolate, the lunch, the farm. All of these things were outstanding - some of the best chocolate I've had in >10 different flavors and samples, the best meal I had in Belize, and an outstanding farm. But it was Henry, our guide, who made this experience so special and so unique. I have a short attention span, but Henry's words, stories, and explanations (even getting into the science of different processes!) were constantly enthralling for over 5 hours. He is incredibly charismatic, knowledgeable, and an amazing storyteller. We got to see and be part of the entire chocolate-making process, and THEN get to see an amazing spice/herb/fruit farm with so many flavors: cinnamon, turmeric, curry leaves, chilis, allspice, custard apples, mangoes, lemongrass, etc. We could come back at different times of year and have a totally different tour with different crops in season. My girlfriend and I were the only ones there, so Henry was able to take extra time to answer our questions about the chocolate-making process, sustainable agriculture more broadly, growing up in a Mayan family and community, relations between Mayans and the Belize government, and so many other things. He and his parents (the "chocolate king and queen") were incredibly kind and hospitable, and their story of growing their family-run operation to what it is today is fascinating. The lunch here was the best meal that my girlfriend and I had in our 10 days in Belize, by far. The chocolate chicken was to die for. My girlfriend had a vegan lunch, and that was also incredibly flavorful and delicious. Chocolate, spices, everything. And of course the chocolate was amazingly rich and delicious, with a variety of locally grown flavors (either in their farm or nearby) like cinnamon, coffee, etc. to accentuate the perfectly smooth and deep flavors of the chocolate. I've taken chocolate plantation tours before, and they're all great, but this was uniquely special. SPECIFICS: We did the Gold tour, and booked directly through Ixcacao by sending them a WhatsApp message to schedule ahead (though you can also pay upcharges to book through tour agencies). The road to get to Ixcacao is a bit bumpy if you take your own car, but it wasn't too bad. The entire tour took ~5 hours, and we were able to ask lots of questions.

We spent a leisurely afternoon at ixcacao, and we were so blown away by our experience! Lunch was delicious (and homestyle and hearty - and vegetarian friendly!). Every bit of chocolate we tried was wonderful, from the hot cacao beverage to the samples of their chocolate bars to our own handmade chocolate. We got to use a 1000+ year old tool to grind cacao by hand! Our tour guide Henry was kind and knowledgeable and eloquent. It was really a tour of the world of chocolate that engaged all senses, including my sense of history and community. Highly recommend!