Bocas del Toro Permaculture Farm and Chocolate Tour

Take a Tour of our Permaculture and Chocolate Farm in Bocas del Toro, Panama

      Up in the Hill is our family-owned, organic, permaculture and chocolate farm on Isla Bastimentos in Bocas del Toro, Panama. We specialize in making 100% cacao and coconut oil based natural body products incorporating the fruits, flowers and herbs from our garden. Our farm is also a model for living sustainability in the Bocas del Toro archipelago. We also offer one of the top rated chocolate farm tours in Panama, so book in today for unforgettable (and delicious) experience!

Jump to the Chocolate Tour:

sustainable and low impact

We are Organic and Eco-Friendly

Our farm is eco-friendly and we hold a great respect for the environment. Our goal is to be as sustainable and low impact as possible. For this reason, we use solar power and we catch all of our water from the rain. We have a natural spring as a backup water source for the dry months. We recycle plastic, aluminum, cardboard and glass on-site, and all of our compost is turned into organic waste which we use as soil.

Drone image of up in the hill eco lodge on Isla Bastimentos in Bocas del Toro Panama.
Up in the Hill Chocolate Farm in Bocas del Toro is a sustainable reforestation project.

cow pasture turned rainforest

We are also a Reforestation Project!

Our farm was once a sprawling cow pasture with little vegetation or rainforest growth aside from a few coconut and cacao trees. After buying the land in 2002, we began to plant hundreds of timber and tropical fruit trees. In fact, almost all of the vegetation you see when you visit us was planted by us! 

Our Bocas del Toro Chocolate Tour

"Best. Tour. Ever."

Our “Bocas del Toro Chocolate Tour,” takes you on a circuit around our four hectare permaculture and chocolate farm where we show and explain everything from the forest and fauna, medicinal plants and wildlife, as well as our cacao and coffee plantations. (Indeed, our Chocolate Tour is about a lot more than just chocolate!)

Cacao is one of our main productions and at the end of the tour we demonstrate the process from bean to powder. You will get to taste and try it at every stage, ending in when it becomes chocolate with the addition of sugar. The chance to see animals is high as we have an array in the garden including the famous Isla Bastimentos red frog, white faced Capuchin monkeys, sloths, snakes, spiders, leaf cutter ants, armadillos, red eyed tree frogs (sleeping!), as well as many insects and birds!

After the tour, a farm-fresh lunch is served that incorporates many of the plants and fruits you just saw and learned about! Enjoy this healthy and organic meal knowing exactly where it all came from!

Additional Tour Information

Book Your Chocolate Tour!

  • Chocolate tour is $40 per person.
  • Must call/ email us before to arrange the tour.
  • Contact us for tour bookings via email: upinthehill.shop@gmail.com
  • Or give us a call via Telegram, Signal, or Whatsapp: +507-6607-8962

"BEST. TOUR. EVER.'' Our Reviews...

Wow! Wow! This place is insane. We got the know Up the Hill via via because it’s not really advertised much in bocas town. But is so worth it!! Javier gave a tour trough there eco garden and explained about every flower, plant and tree. At the end you can taste many of plants, fruits, coffee and chocolate you’ve seen during a very nice lunch. We loved everything about it!! Many thanks to Up The Hill!
Alinde B
Alinde B
2022-02-14
Wunderbarer Ausflug Ein Highlight auf der Isla Bastimentos! Super Tour und sehr interessant. Haben viel über die Pflanzen, Früchte etc. erzählt bekommen. Das Essen nach der Tour war ein Traum. Definitiv ein Muss wenn man mehrere Tage hier auf Bocas ist.
MatthiasNoti
MatthiasNoti
2022-02-02
An experience not to be missed! What an incredible way to learn about sustainable organic farming. The place is a beautiful lush forest literally up in the hill on bastimentos island. Javier is so passionate about his work on the farm and is full of information about everything he grows there. He is very nice and funny too. At the end of the tour, you get to sample and taste a lot of different local products all grown and prepared at the farm and all very delicious. A really cool experience not to be missed.
MMG07
MMG07
2021-09-13
Beautiful place and fun tour Fantastic tour! We loved learning about permaculture, sustainability, and walking around the property. Javier and Jeanette have such a beautiful thing there. We went on this tour Jan 2021 and they are open! Just contact them ahead of time. The food they prepared was amazing as well. This was one of the highlights of our trip to Bocas.You have to be ready for a decent hike, and it can be slippery and muddy so come wearing tennis shoes and be prepared for a fun few hours! You don't need to be in amazing shape or anything but able to walk uphill a bit. We brought our 2 year old son, and he did great! Kids are welcome there.
Naomi M
Naomi M
2021-01-22
Amazing few hours on the farm Amazing few hours spend on the farm! Loved the tour, food and my skin loooves the organic coconut oil !!! Don’t even get me started on the brownies!!!! Up on the Hill should be a must stop if you’re happen to be on Bastimentos!
Petra V
Petra V
2021-01-14
Unique and unforgettable experience This place is special and you should make it a must-do if you're in Bocas del Toro. Javier gave our group of four an incredible tour of their one-of-a-kind farm with an enormous variety of flora and fauna unlike anything I've ever seen. He and his wife started this place in 2002 and it's really remarkable what they've built. They are clearly very proud and passionate about their work, and their knowledge and enthusiasm shines through in the tour, gift shop, and the delicious (included) meal served following the tour.If you want a fun, affordable tour that doesn't feel the least bit "touristy", this is it. Highly recommended.
Doc
Doc
2020-12-28
Fantastic farm tour in a beautiful tropical jungle setting The tour of this quaint but flourishing organic farm was definitely a highlight of our recent trip to Panama. We learned so much about the flora and fauna of the island, particularly about harvesting coffee and cacao, and especially self-sustainability. We saw several red tree frogs while out on the farm. The hike from the boat drop-off spot up to the farm was just enough of a workout to build up the anticipation of the tour. Following the tour, our hosts prepared a lovely and delicious meal consisting of a variety of fresh produce grown directly on the farm (my favorites were probably the papaya with mint, sweet bananas with shaved cacao, and fried yucca with hot chili pepper sauce). The hosts - a husband and wife team - were fully accommodating both while scheduling the tour and during the actual visit itself (their adorable dogs tagged along for the tour as well), and it was impressive to see how the hard work that they've put into the farm has very much paid off. If you're planning on staying in the Bocas del Toro area of Panama, I would highly recommend getting some sturdy shoes, water, and plenty of bug repellant and paying this place a visit.
KP C
KP C
2020-12-23
Best. Tour. Ever. Both the tour and "snack time" were absolutely amazing. You do need to be in half-way decent shape to get all the way to the highest point on Isla Bastimentos -- so wear your hiking boots or shoes and bring water. Amazing tour (starting at 10:30 -- make a reservation) and gift shop. What a beautiful and inspiring place. Some of the best, freshest organic food on the planet. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Wow. Wow. Just wow.
Small-Island-Nation
Small-Island-Nation
2020-12-15
Kakao ist klasse Auf dem umWeg zum wizard Beach ergab sich eine kleine Wanderung mit Zwischenstopp auf der Kakao Farm. Eine Führung auf der Farm ist möglich und der Kakao ist eine willkommene geschmackssensation.
Wolf Coaching
Wolf Coaching
2020-03-19
A Farm Like No Other A diversely expansive organic farm?!? What else needs to be said? With just a short hike, you are blessed with the grandeur of a farm expertly integrating permaculture and self sustainability. While walking through nature’s pantry, your guide introduces your palette to new flavors and textures by pointing out edible leaves, roots and flowers around you. His expertise allows you to taste a faux-garlic plant, turmeric and sweet leaves to name a few. After the tour of the farm, a lavish spread of soup, fresh bread, and fruits and vegetables from the farm is served. It was a refreshing end to a tiring day.The brownie was the best thing I have ever eaten in my life. I dream about this brownie and will not forget it.
Rational Consumer
Rational Consumer
2020-03-14
Scroll to Top