Ancient Chacchoben Mayan Ruins from Costa Maya
Description
Discover the ancient Maya city of Chacchoben, where impressive temples and ceremonial structures rise from the tropical jungle of Costa Maya. Walk through the archaeological site with a certified guide and uncover the history of a city dating back to around 200 BC. Explore ceremonial centers and structures once connected to Maya rulers and nobles while learning about the traditions, beliefs, and daily life of the people who once called Chacchoben home. The jungle is part of the experience. As you explore the ruins, learn about native plants, listen for tropical birds, and keep an eye out for spider monkeys and other wildlife among the trees. Join us for an unforgettable adventure into the Maya past!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your adventure begins one hour after your cruise ship arrives in Costa Maya. Meet our team at the designated meeting point outside the port and enjoy an approximately 50-minute ride to the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins, surrounded by tropical jungle. Explore this ancient Maya city, dating back to around 200 BC, on a guided walk through the archaeological site. Discover impressive temples and ceremonial structures while your guide shares the history, culture, and stories of the Maya civilization. As you walk through the jungle, learn about native plants and keep an eye out for local wildlife, including tropical birds and spider monkeys that are often seen around the site. After exploring Chacchoben, enjoy a comfortable ride back to Costa Maya Port with plenty of time to continue enjoying your day before returning to your cruise ship.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your tour will depart one hour after your cruise arrives to port from Plaza Las Fuentes, just a few steps away from Costa Maya Port. Once your reservation is confirmed, we will send you detailed and easy to follow directions to the meeting point and a map. Please consider the total time to walk from your cruise to the excursion office is about 15 minutes. IMPORTANT Travelers coming by cruise ship must provide the ship's full name.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This tour will depart one hour after your cruise arrives to port from Plaza Las Fuentes, conveniently located just a few steps away from the main access of Costa Maya Port.
- Please note that the total walking time from your cruise ship to the meeting point is about 15 minutes.
- No port, no pay! Guaranteed full refund if your cruise ship does not call port in Costa Maya at all
- Please provide your full cruise ship name and scheduled docking time when booking.
- This experience is best appreciated by children ages 6 and older.
- Visitors are not permitted to climb the temples.
- Tripods and drones are not permitted inside the archaeological zone.
- Wildlife sightings, including spider monkeys, cannot be guaranteed.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for Chacchoben.
- Bring extra cash for personal expenses, as credit cards may not be accepted at Chacchoben.
- The tour operates rain or shine, so please dress according to the weather.
- Late Arrivals / No-Shows: Guests who arrive late or fail to show up for their scheduled activity are not eligible for a refund.
- This tour involves walking outdoors on jungle trails, with some rocks, roots, and uneven surfaces.
Reviews(7)
Our trip to the Mayan ruins was through Viator and was absolutely incredible. Our guides, Miguel and Olanda, were phenomenal from start to finish. They were extremely knowledgeable and engaging, and they went above and beyond to make sure everyone in our group had a fantastic time. Their passion for the history and culture really brought the ruins to life. I highly recommend booking this tour, and if you get Miguel and Olanda, you are in for an amazing day! The company we used was Native Tours through Viator; you will not be disappointed.
Joel did a great job explaining the Mayan culture. We learned a lot. We would definitely recommend this tour.
Hi Roberta, We’re so glad you had a wonderful time exploring the Ancient Chacchoben Mayan Ruins with Joel during your cruise on the Star of the Seas! It’s great to hear you enjoyed learning about the fascinating Mayan culture and history — he’ll be thrilled to know his explanations made your visit special. Thanks for spending your day with us in Costa Maya, right here in the beautiful Mexican Caribbean! We’d love to see your photos and stories — tag us on Instagram or Facebook at @NextExperienceTravel so other travelers can get inspired to discover this incredible destination too! Best regards, The Shore Excursions Team
The tour was great. The guide was extremely knowledgeable. The park was full of wildlife. Monkeys just in and out of trees. Guide was patient with us and the excitement everyone had while watching them!
Hi Ann_R, We’re thrilled you had such a great time exploring the Ancient Chacchoben Mayan Ruins with us during your cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas! How amazing that you got to see monkeys in the wild—sounds like a magical moment! Huge thanks to your guide for making it such a special day with patience and knowledge. Thanks for choosing to spend your day with us in the heart of the beautiful Mexican Caribbean! Feel free to share your amazing stories and tag us on Instagram or Facebook at @CostaMayaShoreExcursions—we love seeing your adventures and helping future travelers discover this stunning destination. Hope to see you again soon! Warm wishes, The Shore Excursions Team
Marie was a great tour guide, and Miguel ensured our safety as the driver. The site talk was informative but took too long in the heat. But, the site was only half excavated.
Dear Tonya_J, Thank you for sharing your experience on our Ancient Chacchoben Mayan Ruins Tour! We’re delighted to hear that Marie and Miguel were excellent companions on your journey. Your insights about the tour duration in the heat are invaluable, and we'll look into ways to enhance the comfort of our guests. It's fantastic that you chose to spend your day in Costa Maya with us while aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines' Harmony of the Seas. We’d love to see your pictures and hear more about your trip, so please share your stories and tag us on Instagram and Facebook at @NextExperienceTravel. We look forward to welcoming you back to explore more beautiful destinations! Tropical Regards, The Shore Excursions Team
This was fun and educational. A great way to see the the cities and experience the culture. We also enjoyed the history of the ruins. Yoshi and Pedro with Native Choice were amazing. Yoshi took the time to explain things and was very informative. Definetly look forward to more with Nati e Choice.
Dear Tammy, Thank you so much for choosing us for your Ancient Chacchoben Mayan Ruins Tour during your cruise vacation aboard the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines "Harmony of the Seas"! We're thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic time exploring the cities, immersing yourself in the culture, and delving into the rich history of the ruins. Yoshi and Pedro are indeed incredible guides, and we're delighted to hear that they made your experience memorable by sharing their knowledge and passion with you. We'd love for you to share your amazing stories and photos on Instagram and Facebook, tagging us at @NextExperienceTravel, so other travelers can also enjoy the beauty of this destination. Looking forward to welcoming you back for more unforgettable experiences! Warm regards, The Next Experience Travel Team
Rosa did a great job telling us about the ruins and answering all our questions. We were given multiple waters, time to explore and even taught Mayan math!
Dear Kristina, Thank you so much for choosing our Ancient Chacchoben Mayan Ruins Tour during your cruise vacation aboard the Norwegian Breakaway! We're thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful experience exploring the ruins with Rosa. It's fantastic that she provided informative commentary and made sure all your questions were answered. We're delighted you enjoyed the multiple waters, time to explore, and the fascinating lesson in Mayan math! Your feedback means the world to us, and we're grateful for the opportunity to be part of your adventure in the beautiful Mexican Caribbean. Feel free to share your amazing stories and tag us on Instagram and Facebook at @NextExperienceTravel, so other travelers can also experience the magic of this destination! Warm regards, The Next Experience Travel Team
Recommend-as of 6/22-Our guide was amazing! He really made the day fun. We learned so much about the Mayans and how the culture lives on. Then we went to the village. We learned more about surrounding villages, history, and watched our authentic and delicious lunch be prepared by the beautiful women. You will be back to meet the cruise.
Dear April_E, Thank you for taking the time to write your comments and appreciation on Tripadvisor. We are thrilled you enjoyed your day at Costa Maya with us and have highlighted all the wonderful moments of your trip. Chacchoben Mayan City and the Mayan village are such special places and we are so happy that we can cater to every type of traveller and offer a memorable experience. :) I will be sure to pass on your comments to the team, we love receiving good feedback. We hope you can visit us again soon! Muchas gracias The Shore Excursions Team
