The Best Cacao Tour
Nortico Chocolate Workshop
The Nortico Tour offers an immersive Farm-to-Bar experience in the green heart of Costa Rica, showcasing the journey from fine cacao to fine chocolate. After a participating introduction to the world of cacao where you get to properly taste a variety of fine chocolates, we hike through our lush cacao plantation where we harvest fresh cacao pods ripe from its tree, taste the tangy pulp and learn about sustainable farming.
We walk through our Post-Harvest Center where we teach about the important stages of fermentation and drying, before concluding your visit with a hands-on workshop where you craft your very own chocolate from our newly roasted cacao beans.
Duration: 2.5 Hours
Price: $50 per Adult
The Best Cacao Tour & Chocolate Workshop
What You Need To Know Before Booking
Prepare for the Tour
Read the following information to prepare before coming to Nortico
Introduction to Cacao & Chocolate Tasting
From its origins
Our journey starts with an introduction of Theobroma Cacao - Food of the Gods, an exotic tropical fruit that has been consumed sacredly by indigenous cultures in the Americas for thousands of years. We invite you to discover the history behind cacao, connecting its trajectory to the discovery of the "New World", and how its cultivation and consumption has been modified over time, until obtaining the different chocolates we know today. During the talk we serve a minimum of 5 different types of high quality craft chocolate, while we explain how to properly taste dark chocolates in order to identify the flavour notes in chocolates of origin.
Walk Through Our Cacao Plantation & Post-Harvest Center
To the Process
After a participatory introduction at our terrace we take a short hike through our beautiful cacao farm where we harvest, open and taste the delicious and fresh cacao fruit ripe from its tree. We continue with a visit to our post-harvest center where we show and explain the delicate and very important processes of natural fermentation and drying. Nortico is a modern- and fully operational working farm, with carefully selected varieties of fine flavour cacao that we graft in the field. Education, innovation and creating community are all important factors in our business model, making sustainable agriculture and food-security attractive for the next generation.
Chocolate Workshop
The art from Bean to Bar
Our tour ends with a fun and hands-on workshop where you will transform our freshly roasted cacao beans into your own craft chocolate treats.
Our Cacao Tour & Chocolate Workshop has been enjoyed by travelers of all ages. Most visitors tell us when they leave that "cacao and chocolate will never be the same again". Welcome to an inspirational and educational experience at Nortico Cacao Farm!
Tour FAQs
Please fill out the form below this FAQ
See our updated price sheet HERE
The tour is free of charge for children under 6 years old.
Nortico is located at: From the Catholic Church in Jabillos, 150 meters east, 1 km north, Cartago province, Turrialba)
Google Maps: Nortico Cacao Farm
- From San José / Cartago / Turrialba:
Follow Route 10 towards Siquirres. Pass Pavones village and continue to Jabillos. Look for "Mini Super Barato" on your left. Turn left immediately after the mini-market, following the Nortico signs along a 2 km gravel road. The last section is downhill, and Nortico is on your left after a narrow gravel road. Approximate drive time: 20 minutes from Turrialba center. - From Puerto Viejo / Cahuita / Siquirres:
Follow Route 10 toward Turrialba. Pass Tres Equis and Chitaría villages. After the Jabillos school, take the first right into a gravel road marked with a Nortico sign. Follow this gravel road for 2 km downhill. Approximate drive time: 30 minutes from Siquirres.
Google Maps/Waze: Search for Nortico Cacao Farm.
By Public Transportation:
- From Turrialba:
From the Transtusa bus terminal, take a bus to Tres Equis or Siquirres (departs hourly). Get off at "Mini Super Barato" in Jabillos. Cross the main road, walk left for 250 meters, and turn right at the first Nortico sign. Walk 1 km along the gravel road (15 minutes). - From Siquirres:
Take a bus to Turrialba and get off at "Mini Super Barato" in Jabillos. Follow the same walking directions as above.
Taxi or Uber:
Any car can access Nortico (no 4x4 required). We can assist with arranging transportation through trusted local drivers.
The tour lasts 2 to 2.5 hours.
Yes! Families are welcome, and children enjoy tastings, exploring the farm, and the chocolate-making workshop. We also have a playground for younger visitors.
- Comfortable closed shoes (tennis/hiking/boots)
- Light clothing for the tropics
- Water bottle (refill stations available)
- Sunblock, insect repellent, and a hat
- Raincoat during the rainy season
Yes, booking in advance ensures we are ready for your visit. Book directly through our website.
We offer tours in English and Spanish. Please specify your preference when booking.
Yes, you’re welcome to bring your pet to Nortico!