18 Dec 2024
We traveled to Guayaquil, Ecuador, as part of a Linbladt National Geographic Expedition. Arriving two days earlier and looking for a tour of Guayaquil. At Hotel Oro Verde, Juan Pablo recommended a local tour guide (Banana tours). I highly recommend Juan Pablo. He set up a tour for two of us senior females. A half day tour of the city of Guayaquil plus a tour of a cacao farm. Chocolate is big business in Ecuador, and the Mango and Cacao farm is locally owned. The farmer and his family run the farm and they gave us a tour from plant to chocolate bar. We were able to buy the bars produced in the farm to bring home to the US. Contact Juan Pablo at Hotel Oro Verde in Guayaquil. Guayaquil was under a security alert in December 2024. Thus, It was important to feel and be safe.