Tour of Costa Rica Cacao
Ecole Chocolat - Chocolate Making School

"First of all thank you for the great program.

It was truly a great dream come true. An amazing course with top notch instructors and program leaders."

Elizabeth - 2008 Graduate

Costa Rica Cacao Farm

"The trip far exceeded my expectations

and I am looking forward to venturing more into the world of chocolate"

Amy - 2008 Graduate

 

"Not only did many of my misconceptions about chocolate get clarified and elucidated [by Steve],

but Julio added a dimension of history, culture and ecology that was like having a pop-up guide book. Amazing. I could sit back on our long stretches of drive and just listen as Julio expounded on everything we pointed to and more. Being able to have access to areas most tourists never see made the trip a unique, once in a lifetime experience. I came home full of energy, ideas and of course, pictures! I would most definitely go on another Ecole Chocolate trip. Thanks for the great experience."

Leigh - 2008 Graduate

 

"The program was incredible and I loved every part of it....

the daily cacao activities, the people, the chocolate sharing, Costa Rica culture, the daily dose of gallo pinto! The whole experience was amazing and opened up a whole new world of possibilities. You guys did a phenomenal job. Many thanks for a wonderful experience!"

Caroline - 2008 Graduate

more testimonials

Master Chocolatier Program in Costa Rica

Costa Rica - Join Steve De Vries and Julio Fernandez as we explore fine flavor cacao in Costa Rica. This week long (six night) adventure will take you to the historical roots of cacao growing during harvest. Not only will your chocolate making benefit from a much better understanding of cacao cultivation and processing but you will engage in spirited dialogue on the future of fine chocolate flavor.

Cacao in Costa Rica
Next Chocolate Course

March 8 - 13, 2009

Only 4 seats left!

our unique curriculum

The chocolate bean, which is harvested from the cacao tree, has a long history in Costa Rica. Cacao beans were originally used as currency in the pre-Columbian times by local Indians and continued to be a form of currency into the 1930's. It was one of the major industries in Costa Rica before the introduction of coffee in the late 1700's outpaced it. Cacao remained an important export until a blight in 1979 swept through the plantations, dramatically reducing cacao production in Costa Rica by 95%.

Almost all of Costa Rica's cacao is produced in the Caribbean lowlands where plentiful rainfall and available land go hand in hand for sustainable cacao plantations. Much of Costa Rica's wildlife and migrant bird species are finding shelter and homes in these rejuvenating cacao plantations. It is one of the only agricultural industries that does not require de-forestation like other Costa Rican products such as coffee, banana and sugar cane. It is emerging as one harvest that may actually do more good than harm. (Excerpt from www.costarica.com)

Tour Itinerary:

Legend for meals included in your tour: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Itinerary subject to change: every effort will be made to keep the itinerary as it appears here; however, the final itinerary may vary due to schedules, availability and factors beyond our control.

Sunday:
Independent arrival at Hotel Bougainvillea, San Jose, Costa Rica.

Arrival in Costa Rica

Monday: B,L,D
Tour and lunch at CATIE Center for Tropical Agriculture and Higher Learning

Wild Cacao

Tuesday: B,L,D
Full day at Finmac organic cacao plantation with lunch at cooperative.

Steve DeVries in the orchard at Finmac

Cacao Fermentation

Cacao Harvest

Wednesday and Thursday: B,L
Visit to wild cocoa in the forest and indigenous peoples communities with stop for lunch.

Katsi Community Leader

Eating Raw Beans

Friday: B,L
Return to Central Valley, Farewell lunch at Sibu Chocolate,free evening for dinner in San Jose and overnight in Hotel Bougainvillea

Sibu Chocolate

Saturday: Independent departures from host hotel.

"I slowed down the drying even more than before and the result is the best beans I've ever had. They were actually developing some cocoa tones and flavors at the end of the drying that I've never had before.
It's really a large step forward.
" Steve De Vries

award winning instructors

Program Dates March 8 - 13, 2009

Registration fees (does not include travel to and from Costa Rica):

US or International participants: $2400.00 US per person - single occupancy
(shared rooms may be available at a rate of $2100.00 US per person - see note below)

Canadian participants - $2623.32 CDN funds (includes GST) per person - single occupancy
(shared rooms may be available at a rate of $2295.41 CDN funds includes GST per person - see note below)

Registration Fee is based on SINGLE Occupancy and includes:

6 nights lodging (including sales tax and lodging tax).
5 Breakfasts
5 Lunches including Farewell Lunch
2 dinners
All in-country land transportation and private driver expenses
All entry fees to tours and attractions specified in itinerary
Bottled water while traveling

Tour does not include:
Gratuities
Alcoholic beverages
Any meals and transportation not specified in itinerary
Personal expenses
$26 airport tax

Note re Shared rooms - Ecole Chocolate will pair participants wishing to share a room in the order of receipt of their deposit (click shared room payment button below). Please be prepared to pay the single room registration fee if we are unable to pair you with an appropriate roommate.

We use a very secure bank sponsored e-commerce system to accept and validate all credit card payments. We do not see or store your credit card information. The payment form and transaction is safely handled by the bank's secure credit card transaction system which is why you will notice that the payment form resides on another site. At Ecole Chocolat, we respect your privacy and are very diligent about payment security.

Non-refundable Deposit due no later than December 1, 2008

US and International Participants pay by VISA or MC:

NON-REFUNDABLE deposit for One (1) Individual Participant ROOMING ALONE: $1000.00 US funds. Register by clicking the green button:

NON-REFUNDABLE deposit for One (1) Individual Participant requesting to SHARE A ROOM if available (see note above): $1000.00 US funds. Register by clicking the beige button and we will know you wish to share a room if we can arrange that:

NON-REFUNDABLE deposit for TWO (2) Participants SHARING A ROOM and paying together: $2000.00 US funds. Register by clicking the green button and in the top Name field of the form put both participant's names (i.e. John and Mary Smith or John Smith and Frank Jones):

Canadian Participants pay by VISA, MC or AMEX:

NON-REFUNDABLE deposit for One (1) Canadian Individual Participant ROOMING ALONE: $1000.00 CDN (GST will be included in final payment) Register by clicking the blue button:

NON-REFUNDABLE deposit for One (1) Canadian Individual Participant requesting to SHARE A ROOM if available (see note above): $1000.00 CDN (GST will be included in final payment) Register by clicking the gray button:

NON-REFUNDABLE deposit for TWO (2) Canadian Participants SHARING A ROOM and paying together: $2000.00 CDN (GST will be included in final payment) Register by clicking the blue button and in the top Name field of the form put both participant's names (i.e. John and Mary Smith or John Smith and Frank Jones):

Final Payment due no later than January 10, 2009

US and International Participants pay by VISA or MC:

Final Payment for One (1) Individual Participant ROOMING ALONE: $1400.00 US funds. Register by clicking the green button:

Final Payment for One (1) Individual Participant SHARING A ROOM: $1100.00 US funds. Register by clicking the beige button:

Final Payment for TWO (2) Participants SHARING A ROOM and paying together: $2200.00 US funds. Register by clicking the green button and in the top Name field of the form put both participant's names (i.e. John and Mary Smith or John Smith and Frank Jones):

Canadian Participants pay by VISA, MC or AMEX:

Final Payment for One (1) Canadian Individual Participant ROOMING ALONE: $1623.32 CDN funds - includes GST for entire payment amount. Register by clicking the blue button:

Final Payment for One (1) Canadian Individual Participant SHARING A ROOM: $1295.41 CDN funds - includes GST for entire payment amount. Register by clicking the gray button:

Final Payment for TWO (2) Canadian Participants SHARING A ROOM and paying together: $2590.82 CDN funds - includes GST for entire payment amount. Register by clicking the blue button and in the top Name field of the form put both participant's names (i.e. John and Mary Smith or John Smith and Frank Jones):

Once you have paid, we will be notified of your payment automatically and you will be forwarded to a confirmation page. If you are not automatically forwarded to the confirmation page after filling out the payment form, please don't hesitate to .

Costa Rica Cacao
NOTES:

Here is a link to an adventure in Costa Rica's cacao by Mirjami Simula of Geneva Switzerland that you will find delightful.

*As noted above, Itinerary subject to change: every effort will be made to keep the itinerary as it appears here; however, the final itinerary may vary due to schedules, availability and factors beyond our control.

Program participants and travel companions must be adults - 17 years of age or older. Also note that the program involves a lot of walking (with bags at times) so good mobility and strength is important. Because we go into small towns, handicap access is not available.

Our minimum requirement for this program to run is 8 participants and the maximum is 13 participants. You will want to wait to book and confirm your flight schedule to Costa Rica until we confirm that the minimum number of students have registered.

Cancellation Policy:

Our Ecole Chocolat Maitre Chocolatier Programs and Tours only accommodate a limited number of students and are usually full with a waiting list. As these programs involve a travel component - we need to contact those on the waiting list in enough time to for them to make travel arrangements. If you have to cancel, we will do everything in our power to find a replacement but cannot guarantee that we will be successful - please remember that your deposit is "non-refundable". No refunds will be given after 45 days prior to the program start date. Please make sure that you are committed to the program before paying your non-refundable deposit. We also suggest that you take out travel insurance when booking your travel to and from the program in case of an emergency.

About Steve De Vries

De Vries Chocolate Steve De Vries

Steve DeVries opened DeVries Chocolate with a tag line of “one hundred years behind the times” in 2005 after six years of studying chocolate — for three years as an intense hobby and three years full time after selling his glass company.

He produces both bulk chocolate for use by chefs, candy makers and chocolatiers and retail bars that can be found in specialty food shops or purchased through his website.

Steve is intimately involved in the whole process of chocolate making, from working directly with growers to being hands-on with the manufacturing process using all antique equipment. He has learned with chocolate that changes in production processes can mean major improvements in flavor.

About Julio Fernandez, Sibu Chocolate

De Vries Chocolate George Soriano and Julio Fernandez

Julio Fernandez Amón (on the right above) has been leading specialized natural and cultural history trips to Costa Rica since 1991 and holds a Master’s degree in History from the University of Texas. A former teacher and expert in Central American culture, Julio is eager to share local insight on his country’s past and present with signature humor and sincerity.

Julio is a trained naturalist and will help visitors identify and observe wildlife in the field. Since beginning a small chocolate business in 2007, Julio now finds himself in the kitchen more often than in the field.

For Fernández, starting a chocolate shop that features only organically grown cacao from Costa Rica became his way of helping protect the natural world, as well as a way to spark new interest in a growing industry for his home country. He also hopes his business will highlight the importance of cacao to Mesoamerican cultures throughout the ages.

Today, with his partner, George Soriano, they have the only chocolate business in the country that features chocolate made from fine organic Costa Rican cacao from a single plantation.


Chocolatier Resources
Our Celebration of Chocolate Shops
Find a chocolate shop near you
Our Favorite Chocolate Books

The Chocolate Tree by Allen M. Young

The Chocolate Tree
by Allen M. Young

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