Meet in in Hotel Lobby at 8 a.m. on Sunday the 5th.  Return Monday evening 

The day at Las Botadas and Tour de Chocolate   

 8:00 AM:  Meet in hotel lobby for trip to Las Botadas near El Seibo

10:00AM:  Arrive at Grupo Conacada (a national confederation of Dominican chocolate produceers), Region Este ,at their cacao processing center in El Seibo.  Tour begins with a snack of bread and hot cocolate! You'll see the fermentation, drying, and preparation of the cacao for export and quality control

11:00 AM  The tour continues in the the lush countryside of Las Botadas,.You'll learn about the cultivation of cacao, harvest  the cacao from the tree and taste the natural fruit within the cacao pod.  You'll sample the fresh organic fruits cultivated among the cacao. 

 The Club de Mujeres Amor y Paz will show you the traditional way to make hot chocolate using the naturally grown cacao.  You'll also see cacao wine and marmaled making. 

1 PM:   The, the women's association will cook you lunch from their own gardens.  Handicrafts, cacao products, dulces and candies will be offered for sale.

2 PM:   Free time -- relax and walk around in the country side, rest in hammocks, get to know PCV's secondary projects and community.

6:30 PM:  Dinner, prepared by the women of Club de Amor y Paz.

Night time:  Sleep in a traditional Dominican style house in the community of Los Botados (see details below).
The Day at Pedro Sanchez--Tesoro del Este 

8 AM:  Breakfast, again prepared by the women's Asociacion de Amor Y Paz.  

9 AM:   Leave for Pedro Sanchez, a community of about 7,000 inhabitants between two rivers and corresponding mountain chains. Pedro Sanchez is a stunning green, beautiful area. 

10 AM:   Hike through rolling hillside and along El Seibo River, break to sample fresh fruit, before arriving at Salto Grande-Cascada Blanca, a waterfall measuring over 60 meters in height. You'll be able to take a refreshing dip in the waterfall's natural rock pools!   You'll try locally produced snacks and fruit juices.  Your local guides are trained in naturalist interpretation, first aid, and Leave-No-Trace ethics.

1 PM  Enjoy a specially prepared traditional Dominican meal cooked up by the project's women's cooking group, Las Mujeres en Progreso.  Afterward, you'll have an opportunit to relax, talk with local families, and purchase local art and handicrafts.  
 
3:30 PM  Return to Santo Domingo arriving about 6 PM Monday evening.

We also offer a post conference day tour option: 
Saturday --February, 11 --Tour to Pedro Sanchez -- Tesoro del Este--Leaves at 8 AM from hotel
Sunday -- February 12--Tour de Chocolate-- El Seibo and Las Botadas -- Leaves at 8 AM from hotel

Register and Pay:

This link will take you to our Registration Info page providing information and/or links to sign up and pay, either through mail or Pay Pal.   

Your deposit will be refunded if the minimum participation is not reached.  Recruit your compadres y madres to ensure the tour!
Final payment is due by January 9.   If you change your mind, we can either

• Refund your payment by original method
• You can donate your deposit to the Community Challenge Fund