Are you looking for tasty things to do on Kauai with kids (or without)? Keep scrolling to read my honest review of the Kauai Chocolate Farm tour at Lydgate Farms.
This Kauai chocolate farm tour review was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Look, I get it.
You’re planning your Kauai trip, scrolling through tour options, and wondering if a $135 chocolate tour is really worth your time and money.
Let me save you some decision fatigue and tell you straight up: yes, this tour is absolutely worth it.
My eight-year-old and I spent three hours at Lydgate Farms, and he still talks about it months later.
Here’s everything you need to know before you book.
What Makes Lydgate Farms Special
Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. where cacao grows, which makes Kauai pretty unique for chocolate lovers.
But Lydgate Farms isn’t just riding on that novelty factor.
They’ve won awards at the Cacao of Excellence Awards in Paris three times (2017, 2019, and 2023) for producing some of the best-tasting chocolate in the world.
That’s not marketing hype. That’s actual recognition from people who know chocolate.
The farm has been in the Lydgate family for five generations, dating back to when William Lydgate arrived in Hawaii in the 1860s to work in the sugar industry.
My mom lives on Kauai, so I love seeing these multi-generational island families keeping agriculture alive in a way that respects the land and shares Hawaiian culture with visitors.
Check Kauai chocolate farm tour availability.
The Tour Breakdown
You’ll spend three hours walking through their 46-acre farm in the Wailua homesteads, just up the mountain from Kapaa.
The whole thing feels more like hanging out with a friend who happens to be a chocolate expert than sitting through a lecture.
Tropical Fruit Tasting
This part surprised me. I thought we’d just eat chocolate, but we started by sampling whatever fruit was ripe that day.
We tried longan (dragon’s eye), Kauai sugarloaf pineapple, fresh mango, papaya, and banana. My son loved throwing the scraps to the chickens running around the property.
If you’re visiting Kauai and don’t have time to hit up a farmers market, this gives you a solid introduction to Hawaiian fruit you can’t find on the mainland.
Learning About Cacao
You’ll see cacao trees at different stages, watch them cut open a fresh cacao pod, and actually taste the fruit inside.
It’s sweet and tropical, nothing like the bitter chocolate it becomes. This is where you learn how they turn those seeds into award-winning chocolate.
The guides explain everything without making you feel like you’re back in school.
Our guide made it fun, kept my kid engaged, and answered every single question we threw at him.
The Chocolate Tasting
This is the main event. You’ll taste around 10 different chocolates, starting with Lydgate’s own beans and comparing them to chocolate from other parts of the world.
It’s like a wine tasting, but better because it’s chocolate.
You’ll taste everything from raw cacao nibs to finished bars. My favorite was the Lydgate Farms Dark with Koloa Rum. My son preferred the Valrhona Dulcey White Chocolate.
They’re generous with samples, and if you want to try something again, they let you.
The Practical Stuff You Need to Know
Price & Booking
- Adults: $135
- Kids (ages 7-12): $95
- Kids under 7 aren’t allowed on the farm tour (they can visit the tasting room in Kapaa instead)
- Book at least a month in advance because tours sell out fast
- Tours run Monday through Friday only
- Maximum 25 people per tour
What to Bring
- Closed-toe shoes (trust me on this one, we wore flip-flops and regretted it)
- Long pants if you’re mosquito bait like me
- Your own water bottle (there are water stations, but having your own helps)
- A hat for sun protection
What They Provide
- Bug spray (generous selection at the check-in area)
- Umbrellas for sun or rain
- All the chocolate you can handle
Getting There The farm is at 5730 Olohena Rd in Kapaa. Put “Lydgate Farms” into your GPS, NOT “Lydgate Beach Park.”
Those are completely different places about 15 minutes apart. You want the one going up toward the mountain.
There’s a dirt parking lot right behind the meeting area. Staff will direct you where to go.
Is It Good for Kids?
My eight-year-old loved it. He’s into trying new foods and learning random facts, so this was perfect for him.
The walking isn’t hard (about 200 yards total with lots of stops), and there’s enough variety to keep kids interested.
That said, younger kids might struggle with the three-hour timeframe. I
f your child is under seven or has a short attention span, check out their tasting room in downtown Kapaa instead.
It’s open Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm, and you can sample chocolate without committing to the full tour.
Should You Actually Book This?
Here’s my honest take: if you like chocolate even a little bit, book this tour. If you’re looking for something educational that doesn’t feel like homework, book this tour.
If you want an activity that works on rainy days (and it rains a lot on Kauai), definitely book this tour.
The only reason I’d skip it? If you genuinely don’t like chocolate, have severe mobility issues that make walking difficult, or your budget is super tight.
Otherwise, this is one of those experiences that gives you a completely different appreciation for something you thought you already understood. My son and I haven’t looked at chocolate the same way since.
Ready to plan your Kauai trip?
Grab my Kauai Travel Guide for Families for detailed itineraries, kid-friendly activities, and insider tips I’ve gathered from 40+ visits to the islands.
You can also join my free 7-day email course on planning a trip to Kauai for step-by-step planning help.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed trying to plan everything, I offer personalized Hawaii travel consultations where we can map out your perfect trip together.
As a professional tourist with decades of Hawaii experience, I can help you skip the planning stress and get straight to the good stuff.
And if you want more Kauai farm tour options, check out my reviews of the Kauai ATV tour, Kalalea View Farm, and the Kauai Coffee Farm tour.
Book your Lydgate Farms tour, wear those closed-toe shoes, and prepare to become a chocolate snob. You’re welcome.
