Toledo Chocolate Festival History 

• Formed in 2007 with the intent to organize an annual community cultural event as a sustainable tourism product to raise awareness of the Toledo District and ‘put Toledo on the map’.
• The festival is more than a traditional ‘party’ event. It combines a range of activities for every interest, age, and budget.
• Training, mentoring, and economy-boosting to local community members are a significant part of the festival objectives ensuring new opportunities for the community backed by training and mentorship to ensure quality products, services, and successful sales. The result of the festival is to improve the lives of many families and community members through direct employment in the tourism industry or through the ripple effect of spending dollars being shared throughout the district.
• Belize Tourism Industry Association Toledo, as a membership association, is responsible for leading the annual Chocolate Festival of Belize along with the key support of local cacao grower organizations and businesses who has provided tremendous contribution to cacao farming development in the south over the years.

Where is the Chocolate Festival of Belize?

The festival takes place in Belize’s southernmost district of Toledo, and each year a new event planning is created to celebrate all the best of the Toledo District. During the 16th anniversary for the 2024 Chocolate Festival of Belize, three events will take place. See the schedule for details on these three events, there locations and event times.

How do I get to the Chocolate Festival of Belize?

• By Air: Fly via Tropic into PNG (Punta Gorda) airstrip
• By Car: Travel from Belize City to Punta Gorda in 3.5 hours via the Coastal Highway
• By Bus: Travel via Floralia Belize or James Bus Line for an economical transfer
• By Water Taxi: Travel via Requena’s Charter Service from Puerto Barrios and Livingston to Punta Gorda

Where and when will tickets be available for purchase?

Online ticket sales will be available in April and May 2024, with debit and credit cards accepted. Alternative ticket purchase methods are also available (cash, bank transfer, and Ekyash). Call the BTIA Toledo office at 614-7299 for additional information.

BTIA Toledo Chapter BELIZE BANK ACCOUNT: 105245010120001

Additional questions:
Email: BTIA Toledo at btiatoledobz@gmail.com
Call: BTIA Toledo at +501-614-7299

Tell me more about the Toledo District, Southern Belize

• Best Kept Secret: For years Toledo has been identified by astute travelers as a tourism destination waiting to happen. While a less-touristed destination, Toledo offers the very best of Belize within a single, easily navigable destination.
• Ridge to Reef Highlight: Toledo is the only District that can offer travelers a ‘ridge to reef’ experience – from the foothills of the Maya Mountains, the Columbia Forest Reserve, and the area’s other national parks through to the coastal lowlands, and out to the World Heritage Site Sapodilla Cayes. It’s a haven for lovers of nature, adventure, and culture, caving at Blue Creek and several other systems throughout the district, to jungle and rainforest hiking with their wealth of flora and fauna, kayaking the major waterways such as the Moho River and the Rio Grande, and snorkeling and diving at the Port Honduras Marine Reserve and the Sapodilla Cayes.
• Kaleidoscope of Cultures: While the Kekchi and Mayan cultures dominate the interior, it should not be forgotten that Toledo is home to probably the most diverse range of cultures found anywhere in Belize. The Garifuna founded Peini and Barranco, and the US Confederate refugees shaped the Toledo settlement, and, in turn, introduced the East Indian culture to Belize. Creole and Chinese influence are seen throughout the district, and later Mennonites settled at Blue Creek and Pine Hill, further adding to the ethnic diversity.
• Maya Sites: Our Mayan sites are both intimate and atmospheric: Lubaantun, home of the mysterious Crystal Skull, features a unique building style; Nim Li Punit houses the largest Stella found in Belize. Uxbenka offers visitors a unique opportunity to feel they have ‘discovered’ their very own Mayan ruin with a significant amount of history to reveal.
• Tradition, Language & Talent: Ethnic diversity is evidenced not only through differences in dress, but through the plethora of languages that can be heard, the wide range of traditional dishes, and the disproportionately high number of world-renowned musicians from the District – Paul Nabor, Andy Palacio, Florencio Mes, Leela Vernon and more talent in the new generation.