Alto Beni, in the Amazon foothills of Bolivia's La Paz Department, is a smallholder and cooperative cacao region, much of it organically certified. It is the home of El Ceibo, a long-established cooperative federation, and a large share of the country's organic cacao.
Country
Bolivia
Region
La Paz Department (Alto Beni)
Growing region
Americas
Coordinates
-15.50°, -67.10° (approx.)
Elevation
300-700 m
Producer
cooperative
Genetic groups
admixture
Traditional class
mixed
Bean notes
Cultivated cacao on smallholder and cooperative farms; the area was originally home to native criollo, nativo and silvestre types but saw an influx of higher-yielding hybrids from the 1960s. Local nurseries today propagate several selected genetic types.
Harvest season
main Mar-Jun; smaller secondary crop later in the year
Fermentation
Cooperative box fermentation.
Drying
Sun-dried, often under cover given high rainfall.
Flavour
fruity · nutty · honey · balanced
Certifications
organic
Updated
2026-05-22
Sources
Confectionery News: 'FAO supports El Ceibo cocoa cooperative in Bolivia' — https://www.confectionerynews.com/Article/2018/04/05/FAO-supports-El-Ceibo-cocoa-cooperative-in-Bolivia/
FiBL: 'Advancing organic cacao cultivation in agroforestry: successful training in Bolivia' — https://www.fibl.org/en/info-centre/news/organic-cacao-cultivation-agroforestry-training-bolivia