Puerto Vallarta: Chocolate Tour & Cacao Workshop in Nayarit

Summary

Learn cacao’s story taste ancient drinks and craft chocolate near Vallarta

You’ll wander through a working cacao garden near Puerto Vallarta with local farmers guiding you, taste an ancient-style chocolate drink made with corn, get your hands sticky crafting chocolate from scratch in their rustic kitchen, and sample homemade cookies fresh from the oven. It’s slow-paced, welcoming, and leaves you thinking about flavor long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

“If you close your eyes, you can smell the rain before it falls,” our guide, Don Luis, said as we stepped into the cacao garden outside El Tondoroque. He grinned at us like he was letting us in on a secret. The air was thick and sweet — not just from the trees but from the kitchen too, where someone was already grinding beans. I kept brushing off little flecks of dirt from my sandals (should’ve worn closed shoes), but honestly, it felt right to be a bit messy here.

I didn’t expect to laugh so much during a chocolate tour near Puerto Vallarta. Don Luis told stories about how cacao has been grown in Nayarit for over a thousand years — he even showed us old tools that looked like something my abuela might have hidden away. We tasted a warm cacao and corn drink that was earthy and kind of smoky, not sugary like I thought. Li tried saying “chocolate” the way he did (“chocolahtay”), but she got shy halfway through and just giggled. The kitchen smelled like wet clay and cinnamon, which I still think about when I open a chocolate bar back home.

The workshop part was hands-on — literally sticky fingers, bits of shell under my nails, grinding roasted beans with a heavy stone. At one point I zoned out watching sunlight flicker through the leaves while Don Luis explained fermentation. There were cookies too (I ate two), and no one judged me for it. Everything felt slower out here than in town; even the way people talked had this gentle rhythm.

We wandered through their little shop at the end — homemade bars lined up next to painted mugs — and I caught myself wishing I could stay longer just to listen to more stories or maybe help out in that mud kitchen. The ride back to Puerto Vallarta felt quiet compared to all that color and laughter. So yeah, if you want something real (and messy, in a good way), this day trip is worth it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Chocolate tour and workshop experience

• Travel to Planeta Cacao garden
• Learn cacao history and cultural uses
• Explore cacao cultivation and processing
• Taste traditional cacao and corn drink
• Participate in artisan chocolate workshop
• Visit chocolate store and exhibition area

Top questions

How far is Planeta Cacao from Puerto Vallarta?

It’s about 15 minutes by car from Puerto Vallarta to El Tondoroque in Bahía de Banderas Nayarit.

Is this chocolate tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas including transportation options are wheelchair accessible.

What do you do on this Puerto Vallarta chocolate tour?

You learn about cacao history, see traditional tools, taste cacao drinks, join a hands-on chocolate workshop, and try homemade products.

Are kids or infants allowed on the tour?

Yes, infants can sit on an adult’s lap or use a stroller/pram during the visit.

Do they offer any food or drinks during the experience?

You’ll taste a special cacao-corn drink plus sample artisan chocolate and Mexican cacao cookies.

Is public transportation available nearby?

Yes, there are public transportation options close to Planeta Cacao’s location.

Can service animals come along?

Service animals are allowed on this tour.

What’s included

Your day includes tasting an ancestral-style cacao beverage inspired by Mesoamerican tradition, sampling artisan chocolate and Mexican cacao cookies during your hands-on workshop in El Tondoroque’s rural kitchen before heading back toward Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta.