ChocoFinca: The Original Chuncho Cacao Route of La Convención, Cusco

What is ChocoFinca in Cháhuares?

ChocoFinca is a private rural agritourism venture located in the sector of Cháhuares, district of Echarati, Province of La Convención (Cusco), 45 kilometers from Quillabamba. ChocoFinca is the result of years of family work dedicated to sustainable agriculture, fish farming and experiential tourism.

What makes ChocoFinca unique in the entire province of La Convención is that it is the only rural venture offering the complete experience of “The Original Chuncho Cacao Route of La Convención”, from the plant to the final product in its different artisanal forms.

Chuncho Cacao: the brown gold of the Cusco Jungle

ChocoFinca specializes exclusively in the cultivation and processing of chuncho cacao (Theobroma cacao), Peru’s finest and most valued native variety. This cacao is not cloned; it is a native cacao with unique organoleptic characteristics that place it among the finest high-quality cacaos in the world.

Key facts about chuncho cacao:

• Only 1,000 metric tons of chuncho cacao are produced annually in all of Peru, out of a total of 85,000 metric tons of all varieties.

• According to analyses by the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, cadmium and pesticide levels are undetectable.

• Its international price is stable and is not subject to fluctuations in commodity stock markets.

The Cacao Route: what will you experience at ChocoFinca?

The tour through ChocoFinca takes you through every stage of the chuncho cacao process:

• Planting and cultivation: You will learn about planting densities, formation and canopy pruning techniques, and plantation management.

• Harvest: You will learn how to identify ripe cacao pods and take part in the harvest depending on the season.

• Post-harvest: You will observe the fermentation process in wooden boxes and drying on African mesh drying beds.

• Artisanal processing: In the handmade ovens and processing room, you will see how the final products are made.

• Tasting: You will taste cacao paste, cacao nibs with dried fruits and cacao paste ice cream, all made on site.

What else does ChocoFinca offer?

Beyond chuncho cacao, ChocoFinca is part of the Cacao and Lemon Route, which includes the sectors of Miraflores, Cháhuares and Illapani. During your visit, you will also find:

• Paco fish farms: 0.5 hectares dedicated to raising paco (Piaractus brachypomus), the tastiest Amazonian fish in the region, used to prepare the traditional “fried paco”.

• Serpentarium with bonsai: A unique space where the “chimuco”, the only boa constrictor species in the area, lives surrounded by bonsai trees.

• Tropical orchards: More than 8 hectares with coffee, citrus fruits such as Valencia and Huando oranges, mandarin, Tahiti lime, avocado trees, bananas, cassava and other tropical fruits.

• Rural restaurant: Food and beverage service prepared with fresh products from the farm.

• Camping areas: Space for camping and experiential stays for those who wish to spend the night on the farm.

Activities available at ChocoFinca

ChocoFinca offers a variety of activities for all interests:

• Interpretive tour through chuncho cacao plantations

• Experiential workshop on artisanal chocolate processing

• Experiential fishing in the paco fish farms

• Tasting of local gastronomy, including fried paco, seasonal fruits and cacao drinks

• Nature and tropical flora photography

• Serpentarium observation

• Night camping

• Agricultural studies and research for academic groups

How to get to ChocoFinca from Quillabamba

ChocoFinca is located 45 km from Quillabamba, in the sector of Cháhuares, district of Echarati. The trip by vehicle takes approximately 1 hour. The best way to get there is through the Illapani Waterfall – Cacao Route Tour organized by Quillabamba Travel, which includes private transportation and a specialized guide.