A worker at the fermenting step on the Tour de Chocolate in the Dominican Republic. Photo courtesy of Tour de Chocolate

Partaking in local tourism gives us a concrete and practical approach to better understanding how the various communities around the world evolve. Going local is not always the easiest way to plan a trip because usually it doesn’t come in a package. But the research is worth the effort because it makes us take a new avenue. An avenue that is full of authentic experiences. Cultural encounters with locals are an opportunity for all to enrich their mind. Effectively, diversity inspires mind changes that help us discover new approaches to life and new ways to improve our world.

CONACADO, a democratically run cooperative organization helping more than 10,000 small-scale cocoa producers in Dominican Republic, initiated in a rural community the creation of a social project called Tour de Chocolate. The tour is based on an ecological route where organic cocoa beans are destined for fair trade. It is worth mentioning that the Dominican Republic is the largest producer of organic cocoa in the world.

During the tour, tourists get the chance to understand how producers have managed to unite in order to create the cooperative. In addition to admiring the magnificent scenery and learning about chocolate making, tourists have privileged access to the local culture. At each station, visitors are invited to experience for themselves every step of the process, from cocoa harvest to final production. Everything is taught by members of the community to ensure that tourists are in real interaction with the locals. There is also a demonstration of other social projects financed by the CONACADO like support to school, a first aid center and a drinking water distribution center.

In this way, visitors get completely local.

Continue reading this article on the Tour de Chocolate blog