Why Every Chocolate Lover Needs to Plan a Trip to Belize

We're clearly fans of food festivals here at Food & Wine. And while we always encourage you to come to ours, there are a few food festivals around the globe that are worthy of your time and travels, too. And there's one in Belize that is particularly sweet.

Every year, the tiny Central American nation throws an all-out bash in the name of its favorite dessert: chocolate. And from May 16 to 18, you're invited to celebrate its 18th anniversary. 

“The Chocolate Festival of Belize is a vital celebration that highlights the country’s cultural, economic, and social richness. Rooted in ancient Maya traditions, it honors Belize’s deep historical connection to cacao, preserving the legacy of one of the world’s earliest cacao-producing regions,” Shanice Rhaburn, the industry relations coordinator for the Belize Tourism Board, shared with Food & Wine. “The festival also strengthens community bonds through inclusive events, training, and mentorship that create jobs and improve livelihoods. Its growing international recognition further enhances Belize’s reputation as a unique cultural and culinary destination.”

And truly, if there was ever a place to indulge in as much chocolate as you wanted, this is it. According to World Archaeology, Belize may, be the home of chocolate, pointing to research by archaeologists from the University of Texas at Austin who, in 2002, found chocolate residue on a “teapot” that dates back to 600 BC. It added that the Maya were believed to have lived in southern Mexico, the Yucatan, and the highlands of Belize between 500 BC and AD 1500, and this residue evidence pushes “back the earliest known use of cacao by more than 1,000 years.”

The modern-day event takes place in the community of Punta Gorda, also known as the “chocolate capital of Belize.” The seaside community in southern Belize is also the smallest town in the country, with fewer than 5,000 full-time residents. Beyond its chocolate festival, the teeny town is renowned for its azure waters, which offer up a delicious daily catch that travelers can enjoy at one of the town's waterside restaurants like Waluco’s Bar & Grill. 

According to the Chocolate Festival's official site, the event, which takes place over the three-day Commonwealth weekend, highlights chocolatiers who come in from all over the nation to display and share their confections. There are also a few (friendly) competitions, musical shows, and plenty of family-friendly events. And it culminates at the sacred, 121-acre Maya site of Nim Li Punit, which dates back to the 5th century AD. 

As for one must-try item if you're attending the festival, Rhaburn recommends going for the “ancient Maya chocolate drink.”

“It's especially popular during the Chocolate Festival of Belize,” Rhaburn said. “This rich beverage is made by grinding roasted cacao beans into a paste and blending it with water and spices like chili or cinnamon. Rooted in the sacred traditions of the ancient Maya, it offers a flavorful and authentic taste of Belize’s cultural heritage and the origins of chocolate.”

Just make sure to pack a few favorites to come home with you so you can savor the flavors of Belize for just a little while longer.