Cocoa Lunch Tour in Trinidad: 3-Course Meal in Lopinot Village

Eat three courses built around cacao in a mountain village where hummingbirds arrive at the table.

A half-day lunch tour from Port of Spain to Lopinot village in Trinidad's Northern Mountains features a 3-course meal using locally harvested cacao at Cafe Mariposa, a restaurant set deep in the former cocoa plantation where hummingbirds visit. Hotel pickup is included, and the drive takes one hour each way. The main course offers a choice of pork, chicken, or fish, and cocoa tea in the local style is served.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cocoa lunch tour in Lopinot village

• Pick up at Port of Spain hotel
• Drive one hour to Lopinot village
• Visit Lopinot Historical Complex
• Enjoy 3-course cocoa lunch at Cafe Mariposa
• Drive back to Port of Spain
• Drop off at hotel or Independence Square

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel in Port of Spain or a meeting point at Independence Square, then drives an hour into the Northern Mountains to reach Lopinot village. Along the way, the route passes through Lopinot Historical Complex, the grounds of a former cocoa plantation that shaped the region for centuries. The village itself sits surrounded by cocoa trees, and the landscape shifts noticeably as you climb away from the city.

Lunch happens at Cafe Mariposa, a restaurant built into the mountain setting where the meal centers entirely on cacao grown in the village. The 3-course structure moves through dishes that use locally harvested cacao as an ingredient rather than as chocolate: the kitchen works cacao into savory and sweet preparations across the menu. The main course lets you choose between pork, chicken, or fish, each prepared with cacao in the preparation. Hummingbirds move through the outdoor space during service, drawn to the flowering plants around the tables. Cocoa tea prepared in the local style rounds out the meal.

The return drive to Port of Spain takes the same hour, with drop-off at your hotel or back at Independence Square. The full tour runs four hours from pickup to return, and an air-conditioned vehicle handles the mountain road both ways. A live guide in English or Japanese travels with the group and explains the cacao history and the meal as it unfolds.

What’s included

• Three-course lunch using locally harvested cacao.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the round trip.
• cocoa tea in the local style.
• hotel pickup from Port of Spain or meeting point at Independence Square.
• live guide in English or Japanese.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 10:30

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 20 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Island Buddy

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Port of Spain means you don't need a car or arrange your own transport to the mountains. The guide handles the full route and explains the cacao history as you travel.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).

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 is the 3-course meal, and does it use cacao as an ingredient or is it chocolate-based?

The 3-course lunch uses locally harvested cacao as an ingredient woven through savory and sweet dishes, not chocolate desserts. The main course offers a choice of pork, chicken, or fish prepared with cacao, and cocoa tea in the local style is included with the meal.

How long is the drive from Port of Spain to Lopinot village?

The drive to Lopinot village takes one hour each way, so the full tour from pickup to return is four hours total.

Will I see hummingbirds during lunch, or is that just mentioned in the description?

Hummingbirds visit the outdoor dining area at Cafe Mariposa during service, drawn to the flowering plants around the tables. They are a regular presence during the meal, though sightings depend on the time of day and season.

What is Lopinot Historical Complex, and do we spend time there?

Lopinot Historical Complex is the grounds of a former cocoa plantation in the village, part of the region's cacao-growing heritage. The route passes through it on the way to Cafe Mariposa, giving context to the landscape and the meal you are about to eat.

Is hotel pickup included, and what if I don't have a hotel in Port of Spain?

Hotel pickup from Port of Spain is included in the tour price. If you don't have a hotel, you can meet the group at Independence Square in Port of Spain instead.