April 30 to May 6- Visit to the Chocolate Farm & an afternoon of Sailing

We did two wonderful new trips during this visit of our friends from home, Di & Murray.

The first was a tour I have always wanted to go on, the Chocolate Farm Hacienda El Castillo http://www.haciendaelcastillo.ec/home.php

We hired Victor who has a 7 person van to take 6 of us on this trip. His email is victorcolorado85@yahoo.com . 

This farm is located about an hour and a half from Chipipe just past the exit to Progreso from the main highway to Guayaquil. We arrived around 11AM and after a delicious chocolate juice drink (and yes, they do make juice out of the pulp surrounding the cacao seed) plus some rum, we were taken on a tour of the beautiful hacienda house.

Beautiful huge rooms are available to rent for a night or two of tranquility.

A guide took us on a tour of the Chocolate Farm. This walk lasts about an hour along paths that could be quite muddy if you come just after the rain. The guide only spoke Spanish so bring an interpreter with you if required. And, as we found out, please bring bug spray as the little buggers were in fine biting form.

                                            We saw the cacao trees

Checked out the inside of the seed pod- and yes the pulp surrounding the seed was yummy

                        We saw where the seeds were dried

And where they were crushed and molded into the finished chocolate product.

We all bought several bars, both 55% & 70% dark chocolate- delicioso!

We had decided to treat ourselves to lunch at the hacienda. The tour cost was $15 person and was only in Spanish. Our driver, Victor, translated for us. The total cost for 7 persons including lunch was $34/each- not a cheap trip.

                                   Lunch on the beautiful patio

                                          Our motley crew

The second trip we took with our friends plus another couple who live here in Salinas was a Sailing trip on a two masted 54’ sail boat for 4 hours one beautiful afternoon.

Arnaud ,our captain, was a wonderful host, and ran the whole boat by himself while we ate snacks, drank beer & wine and watched the incredible scenery.

We had booked it for 6 of us-see his web site  http://arnaudchandesais.wix.com/phoenixtravel

Or email him at  phoenix_travel@hotmail.com

Some of the wonderful scenery- Salinas from a different view

                                          Our group of friends

                                  And the captain entertained us with music

If you are into sailing with none of the work, this is a fun trip to take with a group of friends!