HIGHLIGHTS

Indulge your thirst for knowledge and your passion for coffee and chocolate on this 8-day cultural journey to Guatemala. Immerse yourself in the “coffee: from crop to cup” experience, learn how to make chocolate in a hands-on class and take a morning gastronomic market visit. You will have an opportunity to discuss and see the oldest recorded books in Guatemala on the subject of coffee and chocolate, hear the pros and cons of Fair Trade, and celebrate your journey with the Coffee & Chocolate inspired tasting menu created by Jose Luis of La Gastroteca. A feast for the senses! You will also be hosted for a wine and chocolate reception by the Director of the Museum of Modern Art in Guatemala City before having a private tour of the Museum.

What’s included:

• Wine & Chocolate at the Museum. Join the director of Guatemala’s Museum of Art on a private tour followed by an informal wine & chocolate reception.
• Gastronomic market visit. We are introduced to Guatemala’s exotic local produce and seasonal fruits such as zapote, huisquil, chipilin and loroco
• Coffee: Crop to Cup Immersion. Experience it all, from picking coffee cherries at an organic coffee farm, to understanding the drying & processing of beans. Enjoy lunch with the owners and finish sipping fine roasted coffee at a professional style tasting at Antigua’s finest roastery/café
• Fair Trade Forum. Point, counterpoint discussion between a fair trade advocate and a fair trade critic.
• Hands-on Chocolate Class. An internationally trained chocolatier now living in Guatemala takes us into the kitchen for a hands-on class showing us how to use local ingredients to create fine artisan chocolates.
• Browse Ancient Archives. Visit the National Library in Guatemala City. There, the Director discusses recorded books in Guatemala on the subject of coffee and chocolate.
• Coffee & Chocolate Inspired Tasting Menu. Jose Luis, the talented young chef of Gastroteca one of Central America’s finest restaurants creates a tasting menu for our celebration dinner inspired by our two themes: chocolate and coffee.
• Specialist guides, local friends, hosts and invited experts join us during the trip.
• Signature experiences listed in the itinerary.
• All lodging - double occupancy, 4 nights at the 5 star Casa Santo Domingo and one night at the Westin Guatemala City.(or similar)
• Breakfast and lunch daily, including gourmet theme meals, catered, private receptions an outdoor BBQ and a top chef’s tasting menu.
• All ground transportation: private, air-conditioned van with bottled All entry fees (museums, national parks, monuments, etc.).
• Airport pick-up and drop-off coordinated with the group’s arrival and departure