Short answer: Blue Valley Chocolate offers nine distinct experiences at its Brasilito factory and Tenorio Volcano farm, from a 45-minute walk-in tasting to a $100-per-person Truffle and Bonbon-Making Class. If you want to make chocolate with your hands, start with the Bean-to-Bar Chocolate-Making Class ($80, 2 hrs) or the Truffle and Bonbon-Making Class ($100, 2-2.5 hrs). If you are short on time or couldn't get a workshop slot, the Cacao Tasting Board and Chocolate Dipping Experience are available walk-in, no reservation needed.
All Blue Valley experiences at a glance
Hands-on workshops (advance booking required)
| Experience | Price | Duration | Best for |
| Bean-to-Bar Chocolate-Making Class | $80 pp | 2 h | Families, couples, first-timers who want to make a real bar and take it home |
| Discovering Chocolate | $55 pp | 45-60 min | First-timers, younger kids, groups who want the tasting story plus a hands-on moment |
|
Truffle and Bonbon-Making Class |
$100 pp | 2 - 2.5 h | Food lovers, special occasions, the most dedicated chocolate fans | |
| Kids Chocolate-Making Workshop | $40-50 pp | 1-1.5 hrs | Families with younger children; tourist drop-in slots available |
| Half-Day Cacao Farm Tour | From $325 (private) | Half-day | Nature lovers, families, guests who want to see where chocolate actually begins |
| Luxury Picnic + Private Cacao Tasting | Contact us | - | Honeymooners, private groups, luxury itineraries |
| Private Master Chocolatier Villa Visit | Contact us | - | Luxury villa guests who prefer we come to them |
Walk-in (no reservation needed)
| Experience | Best for |
| Cacao Tasting Board | A self-paced flight of fresh cacao juice, nibs, caramelized cacao, and finished single-origin chocolates. Drop in any time during store hours. |
| Chocolate Dipping Experience | Dip store-made freeze-dried fruits into warm melted chocolate and take home what you make. Walk in anytime. |
Can't get a workshop slot? The Cacao Tasting Board and Chocolate Dipping Experience are available every day during store hours, no booking needed. Many guests combine both walk-in experiences for a full tasting afternoon.
How to choose
You want to make chocolate with your hands
Bean-to-Bar Chocolate-Making Class ($80) is the place to start. In two hours you roast and grind cacao beans, temper real chocolate, mold your own bars, and add Costa Rican inclusions to take home. It is the most popular class and runs Tuesday through Friday.
You want the full craft experience, the premium version
Truffle and Bonbon-Making Class ($100) goes deeper into professional technique: tempering, molding, and finishing at a level that will change how you think about store-bought chocolate. Book at least 7 days in advance; this one fills up.
You want a tasting-led intro before committing to a full class
Discovering Chocolate ($55) is a 45-60 minute guided tasting from fresh cacao fruit to finished bar, with a hands-on chocolate-making moment at the end. A good warm-up if you are new to craft chocolate, or if you want to add a tasting layer before or after a class.
You have kids
The Kids Chocolate-Making Workshop ($40-50) is designed specifically for younger guests. It follows the same hands-on format as our adult classes in a pace and format built for children. Book in advance; tourist day slots are available and fill quickly in high season.
If you want the simplest walk-in option for mixed ages, the Chocolate Dipping Experience works for all ages with no booking required.
You want to go deeper, to the farm itself
The Half-Day Cacao Farm Tour takes you to Finca Blue Valley at the base of the Tenorio Volcano in Llano Azul, about 2.5 hours from the Brasilito factory. You walk the organic cacao farm, learn about the trees, fermentation and drying, and taste along the way. The farm and factory are separate destinations; plan for separate days.
English-speaking guides are available with advance notice. Private tours from $325 for small groups; groups of five or more qualify for group rates.
You are planning something special
- Luxury Picnic + Private Cacao Tasting at El Higuerón farm: ideal for honeymoons, anniversaries, and private groups who want something truly off-menu.
- Private Master Chocolatier Villa Visit: we bring the workshop to your villa or hotel. Contact us to discuss your group and dates.
What makes a Blue Valley experience different
Every other chocolate workshop in Guanacaste sources its cacao or beans from outside. Blue Valley is the only maker in the region that owns the full chain: organic cacao farms, on-site fermentation and drying, a working bean-to-bar factory, and the retail store and workshop all in one place.
When you make chocolate here, you are working with cacao that came from our own certified-organic trees, fermented and dried on our own farm, roasted and ground in the factory you are standing in. That is what "bean-to-bar" actually means, and it is rare.
- 9 International Chocolate Awards, including Gold for the Maleku line
- USDA Certified Organic (Kiwa BCS Costa Rica, NOP Operation ID 4191121374)
- 26 proprietary cacao selections grown on our farms, named the Maleku 1-26
- 99% renewable energy operation
- Pre-Columbian heritage on site: the Caju archaeological site (registry A-549 Ca, circa 300 BC - 300 AD) sits on our El Higuerón farm
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a reservation?
Yes for all workshops and farm tours. Walk-in experiences (Cacao Tasting Board and Chocolate Dipping Experience) never require a booking.
How far in advance should I book?
The Bean-to-Bar and Discovering Chocolate classes: as early as possible, especially December to April. The Truffle and Bonbon-Making Class requires at least 7 days advance notice. The farm tour requires advance notice if you want an English-speaking guide.
How long do the experiences run?
Discovering Chocolate: 45-60 minutes. Bean-to-Bar Class: 2 hours. Truffle and Bonbon-Making Class: 2-2.5 hours. Farm tour: half-day. Walk-in experiences: self-paced, typically 30-45 minutes.
Are the experiences good for kids?
Yes. The Kids Chocolate-Making Workshop is designed for younger guests. The Bean-to-Bar class suits ages roughly 7 and up. The Chocolate Dipping Experience and Cacao Tasting Board are walk-in and work for all ages.
Where is the factory?
Blue Valley Chocolate factory and store, Centro Comercial "The Village" #127, Playa Brasilito, Guanacaste. Google Maps → https://maps.app.goo.gl/pSFDpMVCz1WmEmkd8
About an hour from Liberia International Airport (LIR). A short drive from Flamingo, Conchal and Tamarindo.
Is the cacao farm in the same place as the factory?
No. The factory is in Playa Brasilito. The farm (Finca Blue Valley) is in Llano Azul, near the Tenorio Volcano, about 2.5 hours away. Plan for separate days if you want to do both.
Is the farm tour available in English?
Yes, with advance notice. Contact us when booking and we will arrange an English-speaking guide.
What languages are workshops offered in?
Factory workshops are offered in English and Spanish. The farm tour is primarily in Spanish; English available with advance notice.
Can you come to our hotel or villa?
Yes. The Private Master Chocolatier Villa Visit brings the workshop to you. Contact us for availability and pricing.
What is included in the price?
All tastings and materials. You take home what you make in the hands-on workshops. The Cacao Tasting Board and Chocolate Dipping Experience are walk-in and priced separately.
Book your experience
Factory and store
Centro Comercial "The Village" #127, Playa Brasilito, Guanacaste
Mon-Fri 8 AM - 4 PM | Sat 9 AM - 12 PM
Phone: +506 4101 8315
Email: info@bluevalleychocolate.com (mailto:info@bluevalleychocolate.com)
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