HACIENDA SAN JOSÉ DEL REAL

At 175 hectares, Hacienda San José del Real is the largest cocoa plantation in Central America (this large-scale farm also grows sugar cane and bananas). The tour is very interesting, as it explains in detail the entire cocoa production process: from planting the cacao trees to the various drying methods. You can even taste the fruit of the cocoa tree: when it has just been picked, and then after the drying process. Here, cocoa is grown naturally (without the use of products that could contaminate the environment) and following an artisanal process. The main harvesting period is from March to May. Three types of cocoa trees are planted: forastero (more resistant), criollo (tastier) and trinitario (which is actually a hybrid species, the result of a cross between forastero and criollo). Two drying processes are followed: cocoa lavado (sold in El Salvador) and cocoa fermentado (for export). Puerto Barrillas Lodge offers different types of visit: a more "classic" tour of the plantation on foot, or a tour for the more adventurous, where you combine the visit with a bicycle excursion. You'll pass through the forest and along a pond, then on to the Monkey Sanctuary, where you can admire spider monkeys in their natural habitat (there are over thirty of them!).