November 14th - 19th, 2025

Roots of Cacao: A Journey Through Land & Story

Our signature Cacao Route experience visits sacred cacao-growing regions and immerses travelers in the ancestral traditions of Tabasco and Chiapas.

6 Days, 5 Nights • Nov 14-19 • Limited to 10 guests

Led by Rocio Cervantes

WHAT YOU'LL EXPERIENCE

Ceremony with Mayan Cacao guardians
Lineage teachings: the 13 sacred Mayan cacao beverages and cacao within Mayan cosmovision (cosmovisión)
Taste Tabasco’s ancestral gastronomy—Yokot’an, Zoque, Olmec & Maya—prepared by traditional cooks with pre-Hispanic smoke-kitchen dishes
Origin visit: cacao hacienda + smallholder farm
Living context: culture, history, society, and current cacao trends.
Guided time at ancient sites & jungle temples (incl. Palenque)
Hands-on cacao: roast, peel & ground on a metate
Stay in a historic hacienda with courtyard gardens
Private transport - Small group of 10

THE CACAO HEARTLANDS OF TABASCO & CHIAPAS

WHY THIS JOURNEY IS DIFFERENT
Because the lineage is intact, you’ll learn directly from true cacao gatekeepers — elders who have carried this responsibility for 10 generations. Nothing here is borrowed, re-packaged, or shaped by new-age trends. You’ll receive authentic teachings, subtle energetic alignment with cacao, and the protection of a genuine transmission.

THE CRADLE OF CACAO

This is the birthplace of cacao, the sacred seed that nourished ancient civilizations and continues to ripple across the world.

A CULTURAL & SPIRITUAL IMMERSION

Walk sacred sites, share meals with local chefs, visit farms tended for generations, and sit in ceremony with elders and artisans who keep ancestral wisdom alive.

AN INVITATION TO REMEMBER

This is a call to feel, to remember, and to walk gently in a world where ancestral memory lingers in the land. If your heart is open, the journey is ready.

SIX DAYS, FIVE NIGHTS IN SOUTHERN MEXICO

UNITED STATES TO VILLAHERMOSA

Arrival & Welcome

Arrive in the city and check into a 4½-star hacienda-style retreat, where arched corridors, tiled floors, and sunlit courtyards echo the elegance of Mexico’s Porfiriato era.

Cultural Visit
Visit an open-air archaeological setting where colossal Olmec stone heads and sacred altars rest beneath the shade of native trees.

Opening Cacao Blessing & Dinner
Gather for an ancestral cacao blessing led by a respected Mayan Chontal elder. Through sacred words, copal, and cacao, the journey is blessed and intentions are set, followed by a welcoming dinner.

Includes
Airport transfer to the hotel
Overnight stay in a double room with breakfast the following morning
Dinner on arrival day

A Day with the Maya Chontal Elders: Spiritual Traditions of the Cacao Lands

Spend a day in the heart of the cacao region, guided by Maya Chontal elders who carry generations of ancestral knowledge. This immersive experience blends cultural exchange, spiritual connection, and a deeper understanding of cacao as both a sacred plant and a living part of the ecosystem.

Walk among the cacao trees, hear the stories that link them to creation and ceremony, and witness the ways the land, the people, and the traditions are woven together. Through ritual, shared meals, and moments of quiet reflection, you will be invited to connect not only with the spirit of cacao, but also with the history and living culture that have shaped this region for centuries.

Learn about the 13 Sacred Maya Cacao Beverages
Participate in a Mayan altar and Pago a la Tierra (offering to the Earth)
Visit the ancestral cacaotal and hear stories of plant spirit and lineage
Engage in ceremonial and hands-on preparation of cacao
Lunch with the elder’s community

Return to Villahermosa at night, reflective integration and rest.

Includes:

Transportation and guided tour
Breakfast and Buffet lunch
Hotel stay in a double room

Exploring Ancient Maya Sites and Cacao Haciendas: A Journey Through History and Tradition

Early Departure – Maya Archeological Site & Cacao Haciendas
Set out in the morning to explore a remarkable Maya archaeological site, the only one of its kind built with fired bricks and mortar. Walk among its ancient structures and learn about the ingenuity of its builders.

Continue the journey through the cacao heartland, visiting traditional estates where history, culture, and flavor intertwine. Experience the stages of cacao cultivation and artisanal chocolate-making, from the tree to the finished product.

Savor a regional lunch where local flavors and cacao-based creations reflect the deep culinary traditions of the area.

Return to the city for rest and an evening at leisure.

Includes
Transportation and guided tour
Hotel stay in a double room with breakfast

Includes a traditional lunch at a local culinary gem, featuring regional dishes and cacao-infused flavors.
General admission to archaeological site

Palenque & the Chiapas Jungle

Day Four – Palenque & the Chiapas Jungle

After a day immersed in the sacred cacao lands with the Maya Chontal elders, the journey carries us deeper south, crossing into the lush state of Chiapas. Here, the jungle opens to reveal Palenque, one of the most celebrated Maya cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Accompanied by an experienced guide, you will wander among towering temples, intricate stone carvings, and expansive plazas that still hold the echoes of ancient voices. Learn about the city’s history, its role in the Maya world, and the spiritual significance that continues to draw visitors from around the globe. Between the ruins, the calls of tropical birds, the hum of cicadas, and the distant rush of waterfalls remind us that the jungle is very much alive.

This is more than a historical visit—it is a chance to connect with the rhythms of nature and the legacy of a civilization that understood its harmony.

Includes

Breakfast and lunch

Transportation and guided tour

Park entrances fees

Pueblo Mágico

Day Five – A Magical Village in the Sierra

Today leads you to a charming Pueblo Mágico nestled in the foothills two hours from the city. Wander its cobblestone streets lined with whitewashed homes and red-tiled roofs, feel the rhythm of local craftsmanship, and breathe in the lush river-valley air. This day invites you into the rhythm of timeless rural Mexico—where culture, nature, and serenity converge.

Includes
– Breakfast and lunch
– Round-trip transportation
– Time to explore the village at your own pace

Apply to The Journey

What is Included

Included

6 days /5 nights of accommodation in stated hotels
Breakfast at all hotels
Lunches included
Tours as stated in the itinerary with English speaking guides
Transfers and entrance fees

Not Included

Airfare
Airport taxes
Tips
Travel insurance

PRICING & OPTIONS (per person, USD)

SHARED ROOM WITH TWIN BEDS

Early-bird (until Sept 22): $2,222 USD
Normal Pilgrimage Price (from Sept 23): $2,400 USD

PRIVATE ROOM (limited)

Early-bird: $2,472 USD
Normal Pilgrimage Price: $2,672 USD

Prices are per person. We keep the group intimate—10 guests max—so we can offer personal attention to each participant.

How to Reserve

Deposit: $500 non-refundable (applied to your total) to secure your place
Payment plan: available

Discover More

Arrival & Welcome Stay

Settle into a serene colonial-style hacienda blending neoclassical charm with modern comfort. Spacious rooms open to lush gardens or private courtyards, creating a peaceful sanctuary in the city. Relax by the tranquil pool, stroll the gardens, or enjoy the quiet elegance of the art-filled lobby—a perfect beginning to your journey.