Davao’s been called the cacao capital of the Philippines for good reason. With rich volcanic soil and a tropical climate, it’s the perfect spot to grow cacao trees. Cacao farming here isn’t new; it’s been part of the community for generations. The region produces over 80% of the country’s cacao, supplying both local chocolate makers and exporters. Its cacao has even earned international recognition.

So for a person who loves chocolate like me, Davao is a dream!

Thank God Cebu Pacific Air invited me to a four-day tour of Davao City and Davao del Sur to experience its cacao culture. The tour, which also explored Davao’s coffee and local culture, was organized by the Department of Tourism Region XI in partnership with Park Inn by Radisson Davao, our comfortable home in the city during the trip.

Our cacao tour, curated by Ces Travel & Tours, started at Belviz Farm in the Calinan District of Davao City. The farm is run by husband and wife Emmanuel “Nel” and Mary Grace “Eyeth” Belviz, who shared their family’s story where cacao runs deep and treated the durian-lovers in our group to a buffet of this iconic Davao fruit.

Belviz Farm was originally started by Nel’s father, Severino Belviz, a well-known durian farmer. Nel and Eyeth took over the farm after his passing in 2016 and have worked hard to improve how they market their products. They make value-added items under their brand, including chocolate bars filled with fruits grown right on their farm.

Of course, no chocolate tour in Davao City would be complete without a visit to Malagos Garden Resort, one of the pioneering chocolate processors in the city known for its award-winning bars.

Although I had stayed at Malagos before, this was my first time going through the chocolate-making process. We experienced the Tree to Bar Chocolate Experience, where we saw how the cacao trees are cared for, how pods are harvested and opened, and how the beans are dried and roasted. We even got to mold our own chocolate bars by hand. We also toured their museum, which tells the story of cacao farming and chocolate production.

Later, we visited Cacao City, a lively spot filled with local chocolate products and cacao-based treats that are perfect for pasalubong or gifts. The place is managed by a group of cacao processors who came together to form the Cacao City Marketing Cooperative. Some of the featured brands include NutriRich Philippines, Sikwate Organic, Malagos Chocolate, Cacao and Beyond, Cacao de Davao, Davao Artisanal Chocolate, Rosario Davao, Chocolate de San Isidro, and Wit's Sweet and Savories.

We also visited Cacao Culture, a modern shop located in Poblacion Market, one of Davao City’s most popular pasalubong spots. Kenneth Reyes-Lao, co-founder of Cacao Culture, let us sample some of their creations, including their take on the viral Dubai chocolate, made with the Mindanao delicacy, lokot-lokot.

We finished the day with dinner at Balik Bukid Farm and Kitchen, a farm-to-table restaurant that uses ingredients grown on their own organic farm. 

If you want a trip that feeds your curiosity and your heart, consider a cacao tour in Davao. Cebu Pacific flies to Davao City from Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Iloilo, making it easier than ever to visit.