Toledo, Belize - the birthplace of chocolate
Cacao - or cocoa as many of us know it - has played a dominant role from ancient times, when the Maya first discovered the 'magical' process that transformed cacao into chocolate, right through to the modern day. The Toledo District of southern Belize is today home to the organic cacao orchards where the pods are grown and harvested, and later transformed into chocolate. Join us next year for CacaoFest 2009, held from 22nd to 24th May over the Commonwealth Day Holiday Weekend.
Toledo CacaoFest 2008 - 23rd to 25th May
Come and join us at the second annual Toledo Cacao Festival for a family weekend celebration of chocolate, and the unique flavours of our District!
You'll recognise all your favourite events from the previous Festival, with some exciting new additions - including a special performance of the Deer Dance held at the wonderful Maya site of Lubaantun, as well as a presentation by Dr Jaime Awe, the director of the Department of Archeology, on the revitalisation of old traditions and the meaning of the Deer Dance in Maya ritual.
The Festival opens with a Wine & Chocolate evening, Saturday brings you the Taste of Toledo cookery and craft fair, Cacao for Kids children's activities, Sea Toledo marine and kayak trips, and free evening Culture in Harmony musical performances.
Sunday's Cacao Trail takes you inland to Toledo's chocolate country to visit the cacao plantations and on to one of Toledo's beautiful natural attractions, followed by a special performance of an excerpt from the Maya Deer Dance at Lubaantun's atmospheric plaza. Round off the weekend at the free Festival Finale with music from the Garifuna Collective and our Grand Raffle, followed by a spectacular firework display over the Bay of Honduras.
Click on the tabs on the left for more details of the specific activities, or download our Festival Programme for full details of the weekend's celebrations - click for Page 1 and Page 2 of the Programme.
Use our contact form if you have any questions about the Festival, email us at info@ToledoChocolate.com, or call the Festival Office on 722-2531.
CacaoFest 2008 is held in conjunction with Toledo Cacao Growers' Association, Tropic Air, Smart!, Green & Black's, BTIA and Toledo Tourism, the Institute of Archaeology and NICH, and the Belize Tourism Board.
Our grateful thanks to our festival sponsors, and the numerous partner businesses and organisations who have helped make Toledo CacaoFest possible!