The Dominican Republic is a lush, tropical Caribbean isle perfect for growing cocoa, and farms and tourist initiatives across the island offer the best ways to savor the flavor of chocolate, right where it’s grown and produced.
Dominican cocoa is primarily grown in the northern region of the half-island nation, but there are opportunities to explore and taste locally grown chocolate from anywhere in the Dominican Republic.
In Santo Domingo, for example, the Caribbean’s Spanish Colonial past combines with some of the best chocolate experiences. Travelers can immerse themselves in the growing of cocoa and even sleep in rural accommodations at La Cueva del Eden. They can even make their own chocolate bars at the Cortes Hermanos Visitors Center.
Travelers can take part in a true adventure travel experience in Hermanas Mirabal, home to Las Golondrinas waterfall, the pools of Río Partido and the “Chocolate Jungle,” a rural accommodation project that provides a place to stay and a sanctuary full of unique experiences like chocolate therapy, all in a forest of cocoa plants.
Further north, in San Francisco de Macorís, is where travelers will find the Sendero del Cacao, where specialized guides take travelers on a chocolate journey from seed to bar. Families can enjoy a traditional Dominican lunch at the end of the tour.
Lastly, but certainly not least, is the popular city of Puerto Plata. Right where many travelers can enjoy the plethora of resorts and beaches along the island’s scenic coastline is also where they can explore Dominican chocolate, too. Guananico offers a cultural experience combining music and folklore with chocolate, while Altamira offers two cocoa routes in a rural tourism initiative that sheds light on other cocoa products, like cocoa butter, soap and even wine.
The Dominican Republic is home to some incredible culinary and agricultural wonders: chocolate is only one incredibly delicious one. To learn more about the half-island nation, visit GoDominicanRepublic.com.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
This winter could be a lot warmer for some travelers, thanks to American Airlines. The carrier this week announced plans to expand its footprint in the Caribbean and Latin America with eight new routes and additional service on popular flight paths to warmer-weather coastal destinations.
There’s been a late change of plan for Airbus’ new plane. The A321XLR is the company’s flagship single-aisle jet and until recently, Aer Lingus was due to fly it before anyone else.
Carbon neutrality, zero waste and serving seafood solely from responsible suppliers: Many boutique eco-tourism destinations — particularly those catering to small numbers of luxury travelers — can reach or come close to sustainability goals such as these, but what about a decades-old resort company operating 97 properties across 14 countries?
There’s nothing like tanning on the beach or bar-hopping into the night in Barcelona—but between all of the sun, sand, and sangria, the city has a lot to offer culturally-minded travelers hoping to grasp a better understanding of the pulse of the city and its unique history.
More than 20 universities from around the world will present research at the Tenerife Global Summit 2024, which will be held from 19 to 21 June 2024. The conference will bring together national and international experts from different fields related to the tourism sector to discuss the state of the art of the industry and the challenges it faces.
It's hard to resist the allure of Europe, where travelers can find iconic historic sites waiting around seemingly every corner. But the continent's perennial popularity has also meant that many of those best-loved spots are impacted by overcrowding – and the visitor caps, ticketed entry and other restrictions that follow.
It’s been a dazzling spectacle of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, since Friday, May 11, across the night sky of the U.S., Canada and Europe, high-energy particles from the sun interacting with the earth's magnetic field to cause dazzling and mesmerizing geomagnetic storms.
Princess Cruises will return to San Juan, Puerto Rico, next year for the first time in more than 10 years, sailing week-long voyages from the U.S. territory.