The Chocolatada: A Peruvian Christmas Tradition That Gives Back

The Chocolatada is an eagerly anticipated annual event and longstanding Peruvian Christmas tradition. Every December, local organizations, companies, and municipal governments give out sweet bread (usually panetón), toys, and enormous pots of hot chocolate to Peru’s rural and disadvantaged communities.

Children from the local community

Perhaps most excited for the annual holiday event are the children from these communities. Many come from miles away to receive their fruit cake-like slices of panetón, steaming cups of hot chocolate, and Christmas presents.  

The event brings hope to these rural communities and lets them know that they are not forgotten. In other words, the Chocolatada delivers the true meaning of Christmas – joy, love and sharing Christmas cheers to communities in Peru.

Community of Umasbamba

For nearly a decade now, Kuoda has been hosting a Chocolatada for the weaving community of Umasbamba, a place we pour our hearts and resources into on a year-round basis. If you have traveled with us on a private Peru tour, there’s a good chance you visited Umasbamba’s Andean Children’s Learning Center or attended a weaving workshop with the village’s talented weavers.

The Chocolatada is our chance to give back and celebrate the community that continues to open their doors so generously to our travelers throughout the year. Their unique traditions and way of life need to be celebrated, supported, and maintained. Our truckload of toys, panetón, and an 80-liter pot of homemade hot chocolate is our way of showing them just how much they mean to all of us at Kuoda.

Chocolatada, Kuoda Travel

This past Saturday, we hosted our annual Chocolotada in Umasbamba. Games were played, gifts were given, and plenty of panetón and hot chocolate were consumed by all. It was a Chocolatada to remember and one that left us already eagerly anticipating next year’s event.

For more information about Kuoda Travel’s philanthropy projects, please visit kuodafoundation.org and get in touch with your Kuoda Travel Designer today to include meaningful travel experiences like this one in your custom Peru itinerary.