Shopping tours in Guayaquil connect visitors directly with Ecuador’s famous cacao trade and local culture. The best tours feature family-owned cocoa farms where you’ll learn traditional chocolate-making methods – from seed to finished product. Our favorite options combine hands-on chocolate making with city exploration, offering excellent value and authentic experiences. Most include transportation and traditional meals, while some add outdoor adventures in Cajas National Park or mangrove forests.
We especially love the small-group tours that let you toast, husk, and grind cacao seeds yourself – it’s a true farm-to-bar chocolate experience. Private tours offer more flexibility and personal attention, perfect for families or serious chocolate enthusiasts.
Check out these top-rated Guayaquil shopping tours that showcase the best of Ecuador’s chocolate heritage.
Key Points
- Guayaquil offers a range of shopping tours that highlight the city’s vibrant markets, artisanal crafts, and unique local products.
- Tours typically visit the Artisan Market, the Mercado San Agustin, and other popular shopping destinations in Guayaquil.
- Experienced guides provide insights into the history, culture, and production processes behind the handmade goods available for purchase.
- Some tours also incorporate visits to historical landmarks, cacao farms, or other attractions, offering a comprehensive cultural experience.
- Pricing for shopping tours in Guayaquil starts around $50 per person, with options for private or group tours available.
Small Group Guayaquil and Cocoa Farm Full-Day Tour
While visiting Guayaquil, travelers can embark on a captivating full-day tour that combines the city’s vibrant sights with an immersive cocoa farm experience.
This private tour offers a unique opportunity to visit a rural cocoa farm, tour the plantation, and learn the art of chocolate-making firsthand.
Sightseeing in Guayaquil includes exploring the charming Las Penas neighborhood, strolling along the Malecon 2000, and discovering the Parque Historico.
With a 99% traveler recommendation and a 5.0 overall rating, this tour promises an exceptional experience, complete with knowledgeable guides, delicious meals, and a safe, accessible itinerary.
Travelers can also enjoy the flexibility of free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour.
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Cacao Farm Excursion Day Trip From Guayaquil
Travelers seeking an immersive farm experience can embark on a captivating 4-hour tour from Guayaquil to a family-owned cacao farm. The tour boasts a 96% recommendation rate and a Badge of Excellence, offering a hands-on exploration of the cacao-growing process.
Guests will participate in toasting, husking, and grinding cacao seeds, as well as enjoy a typical farm lunch featuring organic ingredients grown onsite. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, and a sample menu item with a chocolate flavor.
Despite some logistical challenges, the experience receives excellent reviews, with highlights including knowledgeable guides, delicious meals, and educational value. Prices start from $120.90 per person, with free cancellation and reserve now, pay later options available.
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Guayaquil to Cuenca One-Way Tour With Cajas Park and a Cacao Farm Visit
This one-way tour from Guayaquil to Cuenca, Ecuador, offers travelers a compelling blend of natural and cultural experiences.
The tour includes stops at a cacao farm, where visitors can learn about chocolate production and taste the fruit, and Cajas National Park, featuring a scenic hike through high-altitude paramo moorland.
With a 4.9 rating from 42 reviews and 100% recommendation, the tour provides an immersive experience led by knowledgeable guides.
Transportation, including pickup, and optional lunch are included, making for a seamless and enjoyable day trip.
Whether you’re a chocolate enthusiast or outdoor adventurer, this tour promises to deliver a memorable exploration of Ecuador’s diverse landscapes and cultural heritage.
Read our full review: Guayaquil to Cuenca One-Way Tour With Cajas Park and a Cacao Farm Visit Review
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Cocoa Farm and Chocolate Making!
Eager to enjoy Ecuador’s rich chocolate heritage, visitors can embark on a captivating 4-hour private tour from Guayaquil to a local cocoa farm.
The tour boasts a 100% traveler recommendation based on 47 reviews and includes round-trip private transportation, a hands-on experience harvesting cocoa beans and creating a cocoa infusion, and a personalized exploration of chocolate production uniqueness in Ecuador.
Experienced guides provide in-depth knowledge on cocoa farming, ensuring a personalized experience with opportunities to learn about the family-run farm’s culture and practices.
Highlights include harvesting cocoa, making chocolate, tasting local fruits, and savoring a delicious lunch featuring traditional Ecuadorian cuisine in a scenic countryside setting.
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Churute Mangrove Ecological Reserve and Cocoa Farm
The Churute Mangrove Ecological Reserve and Cocoa Farm tour offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience Ecuador’s diverse wildlife and rich chocolate heritage.
Located near Guayaquil, this tour includes a canoe ride through mangrove forests, a hike through a tropical dry forest, and a visit to a cocoa plantation.
Travelers can spot howler monkeys and freshwater birds, learn about the cocoa production process, and savor a traditional Ecuadorian lunch.
With a maximum group size of 10, the tour provides an intimate and immersive experience.
While some customers have reported scheduling issues or limited wildlife sightings, the tour generally receives positive reviews for its knowledgeable guides and connection to local culture.
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Half Day Bliss Cacao Farm Adventure & Guayaquil City Highlights
Guiding visitors through Guayaquil’s vibrant city highlights and immersing them in the captivating world of Ecuadorian cacao, the Half Day Bliss Cacao Farm Adventure & Guayaquil City Highlights tour offers a multifaceted exploration of the region’s rich cultural and culinary heritage.
Travelers can expect a private, personalized experience as they visit a nearby cocoa plantation for a hands-on chocolate-making workshop and discover Ecuador’s largest city, including the iconic Malecon Simón Bolívar.
With hotel pickup, private transportation, a knowledgeable guide, and all fees and taxes included, this highly-rated tour provides a seamless and immersive way to experience the best of Guayaquil and its renowned cacao industry.
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Day Trip From Guayaquil to Howler Monkey Trail and Cacao Farm
Travelers seeking a captivating day trip from Guayaquil can embark on a wildlife-filled adventure to the Howler Monkey Trail and an immersive exploration of an authentic cacao farm.
This highly-rated 8-hour tour boasts a 100% recommendation from previous guests, earning a stellar 4.9 overall rating. Visitors will marvel at the diversity of species, including howler monkeys, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, within the wildlife reserve.
The cacao farm tour provides a hands-on chocolate-making experience and a delicious local lunch. Comfortable transportation, meals, and admission fees are all included, making this an excellent choice for those seeking a well-rounded cultural and natural experience near Guayaquil.
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Half Day Tour Cocoa Farm Fruits and Plantations From Guayaquil
Immersing oneself in the vibrant agricultural landscape surrounding Guayaquil, this half-day tour offers an enchanting exploration of the “Route of Fruits and Plantations.”
Participants will discover a captivating array of exotic crops, from the luscious mangoes and pineapples to the enigmatic cocoa pods. The tour includes a hands-on chocolate-making experience, allowing visitors to indulge in the unique flavors of cocoa fruit and by-products.
Travelers will also visit a banana and rice plantation, learning about the customs and traditions of local farmers.
With private transportation, complimentary hotel pick-up, and highly rated customer reviews, this tour provides an immersive and fulfilling experience for all.
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Full Day Tour Mangroves Dolphins and Cocoa Farm From Guayaquil
Guayaquil’s diverse natural wonders come alive on this captivating full-day excursion. Priced from $225 per person, the tour takes visitors on a journey through a tropical plantation to learn about artisan chocolate production, followed by a boat ride to observe bottlenose dolphins and migratory seabirds in Puerto del Morro.
Travelers can then enjoy free time at the beach. While reviews are mixed, the host emphasizes adaptability to nature’s unpredictability, offering alternatives or cancellations when necessary.
This tour provides a unique opportunity to take in Guayaquil’s mangroves, wildlife, and chocolate-making culture, all within a single day.
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Half Day: Visit to Cocoa Farm From Guayaquil
For those seeking a hands-on chocolate experience, the half-day visit to a family-owned cocoa farm from Guayaquil provides an immersive glimpse into the local production process.
With a 5.0 rating from 6 reviews, the private tour offers travelers the chance to learn about cacao growing and chocolate-making firsthand. Participants can get involved in fermenting, drying, shelling, and grinding the beans, as well as taste fresh cacao and other fruits.
The tour also includes a typical handmade lunch prepared with your’ help. Praised for its informative and fun experience, the cocoa farm visit is often mentioned as a top travel highlight in Guayaquil.
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Full Day to Ecological Reserve Churute Mangrove and Cocoa Farm Visit
Travelers can embark on a captivating full-day excursion exploring the Ecological Reserve Churute Mangrove and visiting a local cocoa farm near Guayaquil.
This tour, priced from $370 per person, includes transportation, a multilingual guide, and a boat trip on the reserve’s river. Visitors can expect to see diverse wildlife, like howler monkeys and birds, while walking the trails.
Lunch is provided at the Hacienda Cacao. Although not wheelchair accessible, the tour is suitable for most travelers, who should bring hats, sunblock, and mosquito repellent.
While reviews praise the wildlife sightings, there’s room for improvement in the guide’s communication, especially for English-speaking guests.
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Full Day Private Churute Mangroves Reserve and Cocoa Farm Tour
This full-day private tour whisks visitors into the heart of Ecuador’s captivating Churute Mangroves Reserve and a local cocoa farm near Guayaquil.
Priced at €249.01 per person, the tour includes hotel pickup, a bilingual guide, and all transfers. Travelers can expect a three-course meal, a welcome drink, and alcoholic beverages at an additional cost.
The experience isn’t wheelchair accessible but is suitable for those with moderate fitness levels.
With an impressive 5-star rating based on a single review, the tour is praised for its knowledgeable guide, engaging activities, and delicious cuisine.
Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time.
Read our full review: Full Day Private Churute Mangroves Reserve and Cocoa Farm Tour Review
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Sum Up
Guayaquil offers a variety of tours that allow visitors to explore the region’s rich cacao heritage. These tours typically include visits to local cacao farms, where travelers can learn about the chocolate-making process and sample delicious products. Plus, some tours also incorporate other natural attractions, such as the Churute Mangrove Ecological Reserve, providing a well-rounded experience. With numerous options available, travelers can easily find a tour that suits their interests and preferences.