Hacienda Chuao (Chuao Plantation) is a cultural landscape based around a plantation in the cloud forests of the Venezuelan coastal mountain range that is famed for its cocoa production. The cocoa production has been documented back to the 16th century, and the plantation contains numerous structures demonstrating how cocoa was produced over the past 400 years. The plantation was originally run by African slaves, and is now predominantly operated by their free descendants who have preserved their unique Afroamerican cultural heritage.
Full screen map of Hacienda Chuao (On tentative list - Venezuela)
Beautifully situated and relatively easy to reach (provided you are in Puerto Colombia in Henri Pitier NP). The village itself is relatively modern with only a few old colonial buildings and old church but what really counts are cocoa plantations that are abundant there. Taste real cocoa chocolate (quite expensive in fact) is recommended. And allow at least half a day for taking a boat and wandering throughout a village.
