Chocolate Museum

Chocolate Museum (Choco-Story México) is just off Mex. 261, across the road from the Uxmal Ruins. This open-air museum, on the grounds of a cacao plantation, showcases the history of cacao production in the Yucatán region. After passing through the neo-colonial entrance building, visitors walk along a trail where thatched palapas contain exhibits about cacao's sacred link to the Mayan people and a more general overview of chocolate production. Background information is in both Spanish and English.

Along with demonstrations of how the dried and fermented fatty seed of the cacao tree—one of the fundamental building blocks in the creation of chocolate—is processed, visitors can sample a traditional Mayan drink made from organic cocoa and spices that is not the sweet beverage one might expect. A re-enactment of a traditional Mayan ceremony is also presented. The lovely grounds feature a variety of orchids and labeled plants as well as habitats for spider monkeys and jaguars rescued from the wild.

Bus transportation via ADO (the Puuc Route bus) departs Fri.-Sun. at 8 a.m. from the Union Terminal in downtown Mérida, at Calle 69 #554 (between calles 68 and 70).

Food is available. Time: Allow 1 hour, 30 minutes minimum.