Where to Find the Finest Chocolate in the World

Chocaholics assemble! From gourmet choccy treats to sophisticated desserts and soul-soothing beverages, these are the best Culture Trips to book a spot on if you’re searching for the world’s tastiest chocolate.

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Sample fine chocolate in Quito, Ecuador

Ecuador is the ultimate pilgrimage site for chocolate-lovers around the world. This small country’s rare Arriba cocoa beans are widely regarded as the richest on the planet, with around two thirds of the classified ‘fine’ chocolate originating here. Always remember to leave some space in your luggage before going to Ecuador, because you’ll want to take as many bars and boxes of chocolate as you can home with you. On day two of our Adventurous Ecuador trip we’ll be in the city of Quito, which is surrounded by world class chocolatiers. Having toured the city and taken part of an authentic cooking class, we’ll wrap up proceedings for the day with a luxurious chocolate tasting session.

From US$1459

Next available from 9th Dec 2023

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Quito, Ecuador

ENDS AT

Quito, Ecuador

DURATION

8

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Close up of Cioccolato di Modica (chocolate froma Modica, Scily)

Feast on specialty chocolate in Sicily, Italy

Italy is often associated with the finer things in life, from gelato to wine and beyond. Chocolate is mostly associated with the northwestern region of Piedmont, home to the Ferrero company and Turin, Italy’s so-called capital of chocolate. Real connoisseurs know, however, that you need to all the way south to Sicily to find the most extraordinary cocoa creations in Italy. Up in the Unesco-listed Val di Noto region – a gorgeous collection of hilltop baroque towns – is the small city of Modica. This place still uses ancient techniques thought to have been brought over from Aztec cultures during Spanish rule of Sicily. It’s ground manually and made cold, which means the sugar crystals don’t dissolve, giving a delicious crunchy texture. No added fats are used, just cocoa and sugar, and the cold-making process means that the supposed beneficial properties of cocoa, such as antioxidants and flavonoids, are retained. Locals even claim that a square of their dark chocolate a day staves away sugar cravings and helps you to lose weight! Our eight-day Spectacular Sicily trip includes a tour of the Val di Noto region, stopping off for a walking tour of Modica, with plenty of time to do some sampling and shopping. We recommend visits to ancient Antica Dolceria Rizza and Caffe del’ Arte.

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Next available from 1st Jan 1970

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STARTS AT

Palermo, Italy

ENDS AT

Siracusa, Sicily

DURATION

8

GROUP SIZE

14

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

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Mug of hot chocolate photographed from above

Sip on hot chocolate in Mexico City

If the Sicilians have mastered ancient Aztec chocolate-making, it’s certainly worth going to the source. In fact chocolate is generally agreed to have originated in Mesoamerica, most likely in modern day Mexico. Back then cacao seeds were believed to be a gift from Quetzalcoatl, the god of wisdom, and the Aztecs and Mayans originally only used it to make a drink. Considered an aphrodisiac, xocolatl was even consumed before war, as it was said to give the drinker strength. Over the centuries chocolate practices evolved drastically, but delicious chocolatey drinks never went away, and hot chocolate is still extremely popular in Mexico. We’ll toast our arrival in the capital, on our Express Mexico City trip, not with a tequila or a mezcal, but with a soul-warming cup of hot choc from a famous CDMX establishment, called Cafe de Tacuba.

From US$802

Next available from 9th Nov 2023

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STARTS AT

Mexico City, Mexico

ENDS AT

Mexico City, Mexico

DURATION

5

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Easy

STYLE

Discovery

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Selection of brigadeiro – a delicious chocolate truffle treat made with sweet condensed milk and coated in chocolate sprinkles – in Brazil

Gorge on brigadeiro in Rio, Brazil

Brazil is one of the largest cocoa-producing countries on the planet, so you can expect plenty of chocolatey treats wherever you go in South America’s largest country. Mostly focusing on milk chocolate, Brazilians have historically had a particular taste for bonbons and truffles. If there’s one sweet snack you have to try in Brazil, it has to be the brigadeiro, delicious little round truffles made with condensed milk and sprinkled with an extra helping of chocolate. The best place to try them is in Rio de Janeiro, thought to be where they were first invented, but quite frankly you’ll find delicious brigadeiro wherever you go. Our Dazzling Brazil trips starts in Sao Paulo and ends with four days in Rio, so you’ll have plenty of time to pop into PikurruchA’S, famed for their incredible selection of sweet treats.

From US$2099

Next available from 8th Dec 2023

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Sao Paulo, Brazil

ENDS AT

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

DURATION

9

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

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Slice of sachertorte – a traditional Austrian chocolate cake – served in Hotel Sacher, Vienna

Tuck into a sublime slice of sachertorte in Vienna, Austria

Surely the most sophisticated, indulgent creation ever to come from the cocoa bean is Austria’s sachertorte. This rich chocolate cake was invented in Vienna during the 19th century, consisting of a dense chocolate sponge, a thin layer of apricot jam and an opulent coating of dark chocolate icing, usually served with a generous dollop of whipped cream. It’s a truly spectacular cake, which simply has to be sampled on any trip to Austria, but especially the capital. Our Berlin to Budapest Rail Trip stops off in Vienna, where you’ll have plenty of free time. We recommend going directly to where it all started, Hotel Sacher. There’s a cafe there serving the most authentic, and arguably the tastiest, sachertorte on the planet. Just be prepared to queue a little – trust us, it’s worth the wait.

From US$2473

Next available from 13th Apr 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Berlin, Germany

ENDS AT

Budapest, Hungary

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

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Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

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It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

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I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

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