Beach time on the Paria peninsula |
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Hacienda BukareOur favourite in this area has long been a small cacao hacienda which we pioneered shortly after it opened as a homely posada. Dating from 1908, the hacienda is set in the cool of the green hills above the best beaches on the edge of the village of Chacaracual with its kinetic art murals. There is a small bar and dining area for guests, with a verandah leading to rooms set around a simple garden with a plunge pool. The owner is an amiable and thoughtful host, and an avid chef and chocolatier. With micro-project support he has imported small-scale refining equipment from Europe so that the estate now turns its fine organic cacao beans into high-quality chocolate in bars and delicious truffles, so you can ‘stay on a chocolate farm in paradise’! A typical day at Hacienda Bukare starts with a breakfast of fresh mango, papaya and melon with local coffee and chocolate pancakes. You can choose to spend your time at the beach, with a picnic lunch of salads and fruit in a cool box provided by the hacienda. The best beaches are a 30-40 min drive on country lanes. The hacienda will also organise little trips into the nearby countryside: there are hot springs where you can smother yourself in volcanic mud washed off in steaming open-air pools, there are local families who are delighted to invite you for a coffee and show off their traditional homesteads, a buffalo farm with conservation credentials offers a llanos-type landscape with wildlife and birds, and there are walks into the cloud forests of Cerro Humo NP, which is also good for birdwatching. Nearby Río Caribe makes a pleasant trip. The market town of Carúpano is also fun to explore. Back at the hacienda one can walk in the grounds, or relax on the verandah, before an ice-cold drink at sunset and a dinner of thoughtfully-prepared mainly traditional-style dishes using locally grown produce, often with a chocolate something, prepared by enthusiastic local ladies trained to good standards. Books or conversation while away the quiet evenings. A stay on a chocolate farm in ParadiseDay 1 Fly from Caracas to Carúpano (1hr), to be met and driven to the hacienda for 5 nights full board. Rest of the day free by the small pool, or to explore the hacienda and learn about chocolate making. Days 2-5 Daily trips to the beach are included. On some days you might choose instead to go exploring on one of a variety of other excursions at extra cost. Day 6 Driven back to Carúpano for the Caracas flight. Beach hotelTo stay right by the sea we recommend a small Caribbean-style hotel set behind a small cove. Its beach is covered at high tide, and the ratio of rock to sand depends on recent seas, but there is a very nice pool and deck area, and an alternative larger beach just over a small headland. A bar and restaurant serves simple but appetising food. Rooms are tasteful, airy and spacious. Paria beach hotelDay 1 Fly from Caracas to Carúpano, where you are met and driven to the hotel. Rest of the day free to relax by the sea or at the pool. Days 2-5 At the hotel. Day 6 Driven back to Carúpano for the Caracas flight. Río Caribe boutique hotelA boutique hotel in Río Caribe in a restored colonial house is among other attractive options. |
The places you will visit:
Hacienda Bukare /
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