Cocoa Trail tour from Accra: Learn Ghana's chocolate history

See where Tetteh Quarshie planted the beans that made Ghana a cocoa giant

The Cocoa Trail is a guided tour from Accra through Ghana's cocoa-growing heartland, visiting the historic Tetteh Quarshie Farm and the Cocoa Research Institute to learn how cocoa arrived in Ghana in 1870 and transformed the country into the world's second-largest producer. Pickup from your hotel or airport is included, along with lunch and an English-speaking driver-guide. The tour runs Monday to Friday and takes seven to nine hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit cocoa farms and research center

• Pick up from lodging or airport
• Drive through Akwapim ridge
• Visit Tetteh Quarshie Farm
• Tour Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Return to Accra

The Experience

The tour starts with pickup from your lodging or airport for a drive through the mountainous Akwapim ridge. The first stop is the Tetteh Quarshie Farm, the experimental plot where cocoa cultivation began in Ghana in 1878: the place that launched the country from zero cocoa production to the world's number-one producer by 1910. You'll walk the grounds where that history took root and learn how a single voyage to Fernando Po changed the country's economy.

From there you continue to the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), where a guide takes you through the laboratories and experimental cocoa farms to show you how cocoa becomes chocolate. You see the research behind the crop that still defines Ghana's agriculture. Lunch at a local restaurant breaks up the day before the return drive to Accra.

The tour runs weekdays only and includes bottled water throughout the day. An experienced English-speaking driver-guide handles both the navigation and the storytelling, so you don't need to arrange separate transport or worry about finding your way.

What’s included

• Pickup and dropoff from your hotel or airport.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• an experienced English-speaking driver-guide.
• entry to the Tetteh Quarshie Farm and the Cocoa Research Institute.

Days and timesMon–Fri

Ages19 to 65 years · Seniors (66+) · 12 to 18 years · 2 to 11 years · Under 2

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup22 pickup points to choose from.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Blastours Ghana

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you're based in Accra and want a driver to navigate the Akwapim ridge roads while you focus on the cocoa plantations and processing: hotel or airport pickup gets you started on a weekday schedule that works around city life.

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Top questions

Can children come?

12 to 18 years; 2 to 11 years; under 2.

How does the tour start if I'm staying at a hotel in Accra?

Hotel pickup is included. The driver collects you from your lodging and brings you back at the end of the day. If you're arriving by air, airport pickup is also available.

What exactly happens at the Tetteh Quarshie Farm?

The Tetteh Quarshie Farm is the experimental plot where cocoa was first planted in Ghana in 1878, making it the birthplace of the country's cocoa industry. You walk the farm and learn how that single planting led Ghana to become the world's second-largest cocoa producer.

What do you do at the Cocoa Research Institute?

At CRIG you tour the laboratories and experimental cocoa farms with a guide who explains the science of how cocoa becomes chocolate and the research that keeps Ghana's cocoa industry competitive.

What days does the tour run?

The Cocoa Trail operates Monday to Friday only. Weekend departures are not available.

Is lunch included, and where do you eat?

Yes, lunch is included at a local restaurant along the route. Bottled water is also provided throughout the day.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs seven to nine hours from pickup to return, depending on traffic and how long you spend at each stop.