The Chocolatada: A Peruvian Christmas Tradition That Gives Back

Chocolatada Umasbamba

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 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

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

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 kaypikunan.org/ and get in touch with your Kuoda Travel Designer today to include meaningful travel experiences like this one in your custom Peru itinerary.

5 Michelin Recommended Restaurants in Lima
June 07, 2025
Food & Drink

5 Michelin Recommended Restaurants in Lima and What To Get There on Your Next Trip to Peru

Peru’s culinary scene is world-renowned with dishes like ceviche, and lomo saltado that need little introduc...

Read Post
Coffee Region Tours in Colombia
May 23, 2025
Food & Drink

Coffee Region Tours in Colombia: Taste, Wander, and Discover in Luxury

In the heart of Colombia, nestled between green mountains and mist-covered valleys, lies one of the country’...

Read Post
Culinary Experiences in Peru
May 21, 2025
Food & Drink

Culinary Experiences in Peru: Savor the Soul of a Culture

Discovering Peru Through Its Flavors Peru’s culinary reputation has soared in recent years, earning int...

Read Post