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Belize🇧🇿 | festivalsChocolate Festival of BelizeCacao groves, bean-to-bar workshops, Toledo craft bars, Punta Gorda | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Chocolate of Belize
👍 Recommendedfestival ranked #3
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 23, 2026

Warm chocolate runs down your wrist while a Maya cook stirs ground cacao in a clay pot, and the air smells of toasted beans, woodsmoke and wet jungle. That is Chocolate Festival of Belize, held in the spring in Punta Gorda, in the far south of Belize in Toledo District. Over about four days, cacao farmers, bean-to-bar makers, Garifuna drummers and Maya cooks share the town with a mostly Belizean crowd and a few food-minded travelers. It is sweaty, friendly and small, nothing like a polished expo. Village tours can run late and the dirt roads turn to red mud after rain, so choose two tours rather than cramming in five. Card readers fail often, so carry small cash for tastings and bars. Buses to the south are slow, so leave slack in your schedule. Reserve your Punta Gorda bed before anything else, because rooms vanish early.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #3 festival in BelizeWhat sets this place apart

Chocolate Festival of Belize gives you a reason to travel to the far south, a region most routes skip in favor of the cayes. Here the main attraction is the people who grow the cacao. Q’eqchi’ and Mopan Maya families open their village farms in Toledo District to visitors, and you can crack pods, ferment beans and grind them on a stone metate with the person whose land produces them. That access is hard to arrange on an ordinary week.

The second pull is the crowd. Punta Gorda is small enough that you will keep bumping into the same farmers, cooks and fellow travelers, and by day two it feels like a temporary neighborhood. Evenings bring Garifuna and Maya music to the waterfront, and strangers end up sharing tables.

It also fits a longer trip well. Toledo has Maya ruins, rivers, caves and … read more 👉
Chocolate Festival of Belize gives you a reason to travel to the far south, a region most routes skip in favor of the cayes. Here the main attraction is the people who grow the cacao. Q’eqchi’ and Mopan Maya families open their village farms in Toledo District to visitors, and you can crack pods, ferment beans and grind them on a stone metate with the person whose land produces them. That access is hard to arrange on an ordinary week.

The second pull is the crowd. Punta Gorda is small enough that you will keep bumping into the same farmers, cooks and fellow travelers, and by day two it feels like a temporary neighborhood. Evenings bring Garifuna and Maya music to the waterfront, and strangers end up sharing tables.

It also fits a longer trip well. Toledo has Maya ruins, rivers, caves and the overland route toward Guatemala, so the festival can anchor a week in the south. Bars from small local makers cost far less here than the same bars in a tourist shop on the cayes.

💡 HighlightsDon't-miss highlights and experiences

  1. Cacao farm tours in Maya villages: The signature experience. Families around Punta Gorda walk you through their cacao groves, show you how to open a pod and taste the sweet white pulp, then roast and grind beans by hand. Many farms are organic and run by cooperatives, so the money goes straight to the growers.
  2. Bean-to-bar workshops: Local chocolate makers teach you to turn roasted nibs into a bar, from winnowing the shells to tempering. You taste the texture change as the grinding progresses, gritty at first, then glossy. You leave with a bar you shaped yourself.
  3. Tastings of Toledo craft chocolate: Small Belizean makers set up tables so you can compare bars side by side. Flavors range from dark and fruity to versions with local ingredients like chili, coconut or allspice. This is the best place
… read more 👉
  1. Cacao farm tours in Maya villages: The signature experience. Families around Punta Gorda walk you through their cacao groves, show you how to open a pod and taste the sweet white pulp, then roast and grind beans by hand. Many farms are organic and run by cooperatives, so the money goes straight to the growers.
  2. Bean-to-bar workshops: Local chocolate makers teach you to turn roasted nibs into a bar, from winnowing the shells to tempering. You taste the texture change as the grinding progresses, gritty at first, then glossy. You leave with a bar you shaped yourself.
  3. Tastings of Toledo craft chocolate: Small Belizean makers set up tables so you can compare bars side by side. Flavors range from dark and fruity to versions with local ingredients like chili, coconut or allspice. This is the best place to stock up on gifts you will actually want to eat.
  4. Traditional Maya cacao drinks and cooking: Cooks prepare the old-style drink of ground cacao, often served frothy and lightly sweetened or spiced, alongside village dishes such as corn tortillas, stews and tamales. The flavor is earthy and bitter compared with sweet hot chocolate, and it shows how cacao was used long before bars existed.
  5. Evening music and town gatherings in Punta Gorda: When the farm visits end, the action moves to town. Garifuna drumming, Maya marimba and local bands play near the sea while stalls sell food and chocolate treats. It is relaxed and sociable, and a good time to meet other travelers and swap tour tips.
Chocolate Festival of Belize costs least when you simply wander the town stalls and listen to the evening music, since browsing and the public performances are free and you only pay for what you taste.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Chocolate Festival of Belize

Private Guided Tour in Toledo with Ricardo Guia Oficial Toledo

Private Guided Tour in Toledo with Ricardo Guia Oficial Toledo

4.8(39) 2h 30m
From €190
per personViator
Drumming Dancing and Dinner Indigenous Garifuna Style

Drumming Dancing and Dinner Indigenous Garifuna Style

5.0(4) 1h 30m
From €59
per personViator
Half-day Garifuna drumming, dancing and cultural meal experience

Half-day Garifuna drumming, dancing and cultural meal experience

0.0(0) 3h
From €109
per personViator
Half-Day Drumming, drum-making and cultural meal experience

Half-Day Drumming, drum-making and cultural meal experience

0.0(0) 3h 15m
From €109
per personViator
Private Transfer from Punta Gorda to Belize City BZE Airport

Private Transfer from Punta Gorda to Belize City BZE Airport

0.0(0) 4h
From €192
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?When is the celebration of Chocolate Festival of Belize?

The Chocolate Festival of Belize takes place over a long weekend in mid-May (usually Friday to Monday), centered on Punta Gorda in Toledo District, with events at the town’s waterfront, in Maya villages and at nearby cacao farms.
  • Best day: Saturday has the biggest street fair, the most chocolate makers and the busiest tasting stalls. Friday is calmer and better for farm tours, and Sunday is good for village visits.
  • Weather: Expect 24 to 32°C (75 to 90°F), high humidity and afternoon downpours as the wet season starts. Bring a light rain jacket, sandals that dry fast, insect repellent and a refillable bottle.
  • Booking: Reserve beds and farm tours four to six weeks ahead, since Punta Gorda has limited rooms. Rates often rise 10 to 25 percent for the weekend.
  • Travel timing: Southern Highway buses
… read more 👉
The Chocolate Festival of Belize takes place over a long weekend in mid-May (usually Friday to Monday), centered on Punta Gorda in Toledo District, with events at the town’s waterfront, in Maya villages and at nearby cacao farms.
  • Best day: Saturday has the biggest street fair, the most chocolate makers and the busiest tasting stalls. Friday is calmer and better for farm tours, and Sunday is good for village visits.
  • Weather: Expect 24 to 32°C (75 to 90°F), high humidity and afternoon downpours as the wet season starts. Bring a light rain jacket, sandals that dry fast, insect repellent and a refillable bottle.
  • Booking: Reserve beds and farm tours four to six weeks ahead, since Punta Gorda has limited rooms. Rates often rise 10 to 25 percent for the weekend.
  • Travel timing: Southern Highway buses fill on Friday and Monday, so aim to arrive Thursday and leave Tuesday morning. Rain can slow unpaved village roads in the afternoon, so schedule rural trips for the morning.
Reserve farm tours before you arrive, because the best ones sell out first.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: not recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: not recommended for travelingAPRApril: not recommended for travelingMAYMay: not recommended for travelingJUNJune: not recommended for travelingJULJuly: not recommended for travelingAUGAugust: not recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: not recommended for travelingOCTOctober: not recommended for travelingNOVNovember: not recommended for travelingDECDecember: not recommended for traveling

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

Punta Gorda town is the best base for backpackers at the Chocolate Festival of Belize, because the main events, the waterfront, the market and the bus terminal are all within a short walk. Budget guesthouses and small hostels cluster around Front Street and the streets behind it. You can leave your bags, wander to evening events and meet other travelers over dinner without arranging taxis. The compact grid is safe to walk after dark in the main core, though a flashlight helps on unlit side streets.
For a quieter and more social alternative, consider the Maya villages in the hills, such as San Pedro … read more 👉
Punta Gorda town is the best base for backpackers at the Chocolate Festival of Belize, because the main events, the waterfront, the market and the bus terminal are all within a short walk. Budget guesthouses and small hostels cluster around Front Street and the streets behind it. You can leave your bags, wander to evening events and meet other travelers over dinner without arranging taxis. The compact grid is safe to walk after dark in the main core, though a flashlight helps on unlit side streets.
For a quieter and more social alternative, consider the Maya villages in the hills, such as San Pedro Columbia or Blue Creek. Village homestays and basic eco-lodges let you eat with families, see cacao drying and join farm tours at dawn before the heat. Transport is the limit, as buses run infrequently, so you will need a shared taxi or a ride with a tour operator.
The coastal stretch along the bay outside town offers beachside cabins for a calmer sleep, but you will rely on taxis to reach evening events. Solo travelers meet people most easily in town, where tour desks and café communal tables bring festival visitors together. Book early, as rooms fill quickly.
Best hostels in Belize


Best quality hotels in Belize

👛 Costs (as of 23 October 2026)How expensive it really is

A weekend at the Chocolate Festival of Belize costs roughly US$85 to 135 a day for a backpacker, with about US$110 typical in festival high season.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$0 to 25Street events are free, while ticketed tastings, workshops and village tours generally run US$10 to 25 each. Pay in cash.
AccommodationUS$25 to 60Dorm beds and simple guesthouse rooms in Punta Gorda go for US$25 to 60 in festival weekend high season, and sell out early.
Local transportUS$5 to 15Local buses cost a few dollars, shared taxis in town about US$2 to 4 per person, and village rides US$10 to 20 split between passengers.
Food & drinksUS$15 to 30Market meals and festival stalls cost US$4 to 10, a craft beer or rum drink US$3 to 6, and chocolate bars US$3 to 8.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$5
… read more 👉
A weekend at the Chocolate Festival of Belize costs roughly US$85 to 135 a day for a backpacker, with about US$110 typical in festival high season.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$0 to 25Street events are free, while ticketed tastings, workshops and village tours generally run US$10 to 25 each. Pay in cash.
AccommodationUS$25 to 60Dorm beds and simple guesthouse rooms in Punta Gorda go for US$25 to 60 in festival weekend high season, and sell out early.
Local transportUS$5 to 15Local buses cost a few dollars, shared taxis in town about US$2 to 4 per person, and village rides US$10 to 20 split between passengers.
Food & drinksUS$15 to 30Market meals and festival stalls cost US$4 to 10, a craft beer or rum drink US$3 to 6, and chocolate bars US$3 to 8.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$5 to 15Cacao nibs, soap and souvenirs, plus tips for guides and sunscreen or repellent.
Total Daily BudgetUS$110Per person, per day, in high season.


source: travelbelize.org
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🍲 FoodLocal Flavors for Backpackers

Chocolate rules the weekend at the Chocolate Festival of Belize, and the best way to taste it is to start with the cacao itself. Stalls and farm tables serve drinking chocolate made the Maya way: roasted beans ground on a stone, whisked with hot water, often spiced with allspice, cinnamon or chili. It is bitter, grainy and far more intense than the sweet cocoa you may know. Try it beside a bar of dark chocolate from a Toledo maker, then sample chocolate ice cream, brownies and cacao nibs sold in small bags.
For real meals, look for Belizean staples at the food booths: stew chicken with rice and beans, fry jacks, tamales and fresh grilled fish. Maya villages often serve caldo, corn tortillas hot off the comal and local cohune cabbage or seasonal fruit, so a farm visit can double as lunch. Cold … read more 👉
Chocolate rules the weekend at the Chocolate Festival of Belize, and the best way to taste it is to start with the cacao itself. Stalls and farm tables serve drinking chocolate made the Maya way: roasted beans ground on a stone, whisked with hot water, often spiced with allspice, cinnamon or chili. It is bitter, grainy and far more intense than the sweet cocoa you may know. Try it beside a bar of dark chocolate from a Toledo maker, then sample chocolate ice cream, brownies and cacao nibs sold in small bags.
For real meals, look for Belizean staples at the food booths: stew chicken with rice and beans, fry jacks, tamales and fresh grilled fish. Maya villages often serve caldo, corn tortillas hot off the comal and local cohune cabbage or seasonal fruit, so a farm visit can double as lunch. Cold craft beer, rum punches and fresh juice such as lime, watermelon or cacao fruit pulp help beat the humidity.
Bring cash, as most stalls and village vendors accept only Belize dollars or US dollars in small bills, and card machines are rare. Portions are generous, so sharing a plate lets you taste more. Lines peak around Saturday midday, so go early or late. Many makers offer free small samples, so ask before buying a whole bar.

FAQFrequently asked questions about Chocolate of Belize

The Chocolate Festival of Belize is held every year over a long weekend in mid-May, usually from Friday to Monday. The main base is Punta Gorda in Toledo District, with events along the waterfront and at cacao farms and Maya villages nearby. Saturday is the busiest day, and many visitors arrive on Thursday.
Attending the Chocolate Festival of Belize costs about US$85 to 135 a day for a backpacker, including a bed, food and local transport. Street events are free, while tastings, workshops and farm tours typically cost US$10 to 25 each. Dorm and guesthouse beds in Punta Gorda run US$25 to 60 a night.
Entry to the main street events at the Chocolate Festival of Belize is free, so a general ticket is not required. Guided farm tours, workshops and some tastings need advance booking, ideally four to six weeks ahead, since spaces are limited. Rooms in Punta Gorda also fill quickly, so book beds early, especially for the Friday and Saturday nights.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Belizean festivals near Chocolate of Belize

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We 💚 feedbackKey takeaways before you go

Chocolate Festival of Belize suits curious eaters, slow travelers and anyone who would rather talk to a farmer than queue at a stage. If you need nightlife and big crowds, skip it. I would book two farm visits in different villages to see how techniques vary, and I would bring a small cooler bag so the bars survive the heat on the bus home.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Belize. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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