Lavaloha Tree-to-Chocolate Cacao Farm Tour (Hilo)

Overview

The Lavaloha Tree-to-Chocolate Tour is a one-hour Hilo chocolate farm tour by open-air electric bus through 25 acres of cacao, with a fresh pod tasting and a guided chocolate tasting. It suits families and cruise passengers with a short window. The biggest drawback: since a May 2026 fire, the chocolate-making step is shown on video, not live.

Highlights

• About one hour, running six days a week with six departures a day; closed Sundays (operator site, October 2026).
• Priced at $47.61 for adults 13 and up on Greetwell, with $36.53 resident and military rates; a 2026 blog review lists $42 adult and $15 for children 12 and under.
• Guests ride an open-air electric bus (or may walk) through the orchards, cut open a fresh cacao pod and taste the pulp and raw seed.
• Tasting covers cacao nibs, melted chocolate and bars from 90% down to 50% cacao plus flavored varieties; the blogger counted seven tastings.
• Google rating of 4.9 from 2,550 reviews (2,440 five-star, 20 one- or two-star) shown on Wanderlog as of October 2026.

What to Expect

1. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early at the visitor center, 1820 Amauulu Road, about 10 minutes above downtown Hilo at roughly 1,000 ft elevation, and sign the liability waiver.
2. Choose to ride the electric minibus or walk; tours are shared with other parties and run rain or shine, with umbrellas and towels provided.
3. At the first stop the guide explains the cacao varieties grown, opens a ripe pod and lets you taste the white pulp and then the bitter seed.
4. You see the fermentation boxes and drying racks and hear why Hilo's humidity slows drying; the lava tube garden and a private waterfall viewpoint are passed on the loop.
5. In the tasting lounge a video replaces the live production step while the factory is rebuilt after the May 2026 fire; you then taste nibs, melted chocolate and a range of bars.
6. The tour ends in the gift shop, which sells the farm's chocolate, coffee and cocoa-butter products and is open to non-tour visitors.

What to Bring

• A layer or light rain jacket; the visitor center sits at about 1,000 ft and the bus is open-air
• Closed-toe shoes if you plan to walk; the ground gets muddy after rain
• Cash or card for the gift shop

Restrictions and Requirements

• Every guest must sign a liability waiver; refusing means no tour and no refund
• Arrivals 15 or more minutes late are treated as no-shows with no refund
• Resident and military rates require ID at check-in
• Tours are shared with other parties; private tours only by phone
• Closed Sundays

Cancellation Policy

Cancel or reschedule at least 48 hours before the tour for a full refund or free date change. Inside 48 hours there is no refund, and rescheduling costs $30 with no further changes allowed afterward. Late arrivals of 15 minutes or more and no-shows are not refunded. If Lavaloha cancels for weather you get a full refund or free reschedule. Requests go by phone to (808) 987-3649. Checked October 2026 on lavaloha.com/policies.

Location

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Hilo, Big Island, Hawaii

Meeting Point

Lavaloha Visitor Center, 1820 Amauulu Road, Hilo, HI 96720

Check-In

10–15 minutes before the scheduled start (Greetwell listing)

Parking and Getting There

Not stated on any fetched page

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact