Private Tour: Cocoa, Coffee & Cigars in Dominican Republic

Taste cocoa, coffee and cigars straight from the source, not a tourist shop.

A private full-day tour from Puerto Plata through Dominican countryside and Santiago de los Caballeros, visiting small-scale cocoa production, a local coffee house, the city market, and La Aurora Cigar Factory. You taste organic chocolate and Dominican coffee at their source, eat a traditional lunch with locals, watch hand-rolled cigars being made, and return through the Northern Mountains with rum cocktails included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Santiago de los Caballeros4h
2. La Aurora Cigar Factory1h

Explore cocoa, coffee, market and cigars

• Visit small cocoa manufacture
• Have Dominican coffee at local house
• Explore Santiago de los Caballeros market and main square
• Enjoy typical Dominican lunch
• Visit La Aurora cigar factory
• Drive back through Northern Mountains with coffee stop
• Stop at Playa Dorada beach for cocktail

The experience

The tour starts in Puerto Plata and moves through authentic Dominican spaces, not commercial attractions built for tourists. First stop is a small cocoa manufacture run by local women in the countryside, where you see every step of production from bean to chocolate and taste the organic result on the spot. Then you sit in a typical Dominican house among fruit trees, where your host makes coffee the traditional way over a fire. The family doesn't speak English, but that's the point. You're eating and drinking as a guest, not as a visitor.

The drive to Santiago de los Caballeros takes you through the Northern Mountains, famous for amber mines. Once there, you walk the real local market, not a curated version, where vendors sell fruits, vegetables, natural medicines and religious artifacts. You see the cathedral and the city's main square, built in the 15th century, then climb to the Monument for the Heroes of the Restauration War for the best view of the city. Lunch is what locals eat: rice and beans, meat or a vegetarian option, and salad, served in a restaurant the guide knows.

La Aurora Cigar Factory has been making hand-rolled cigars since 1903. You watch the whole process, learn the technique, and taste a cigar if you want to. On the return to Puerto Plata, the route cuts through the Northern Mountains again. There's a stop at a viewpoint for another cup of Dominican coffee if you're interested. The final stop is Playa Dorada beach at Pueblito, a spot locals favor, where you have a rum cocktail (either a classic Cuba Libre or a Santo Domingo Libre with Brugal rum and sprite) before heading back.

What’s included

• Organic chocolate tasting at the cocoa plantation.
• Dominican coffee made the traditional way.
• traditional Dominican lunch of rice, beans, meat or vegetables and salad.
• Cuba Libre or Santo Domingo Libre with Brugal rum at Playa Dorada.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• pickup from your hotel or accommodation.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to Friday

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Polish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Pepino Polaco

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup is included, so you don't need a car or arrange your own transport from Puerto Plata. The guide handles the full route through the countryside, Santiago de los Caballeros and back to the beach, leaving you free to focus on the tastings and the stops themselves.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Polish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly happens at the cocoa plantation, and can I buy anything there?

The small cocoa manufacture in the countryside shows you every step of production, from the raw cocoa to finished chocolate, with a guide explaining the process and a tasting included. If you like the organic products made on-site, you can buy them there. The operation is run by local women as a community project.

What is the local market in Santiago de los Caballeros actually like?

Santiago de los Caballeros market is where locals shop for fruits, vegetables, and everyday goods, with stands selling natural medicines and religious artifacts. It's not staged for tourists. You're seeing Dominican daily life as it happens, then walking toward the main square and cathedral in a city founded in the 15th century.

How long does the cigar factory visit take, and will I have time to buy cigars?

La Aurora Cigar Factory, operating since 1903, shows you the hand-rolling process and teaches you about the craft during the visit. You can taste a cigar if you'd like and have the chance to purchase, though the factory stop is part of the full day's itinerary rather than a dedicated shopping block.

What drinks are included, and when do I get them?

A Cuba Libre or Santo Domingo Libre made with Brugal rum is included at the final beach stop in Pueblito. Bottled water comes with you throughout the day, and Dominican coffee is served at the local house in the countryside.