Kohunlich Mayan Ruins Private Shore Excursion

Visiting Kohunlich felt like a bit of a gamble, given how far it is from the cruise port, but it was absolutely worth the extra travel time. There were two large cruise ships in port that day, yet when we arrived at Kohunlich we pretty much had the entire place to ourselves. It was an incredible experience and a huge contrast to some of the much busier tourist sites. Our guide was excellent — very knowledgeable without overloading us with information, and we had just the right amount of time to explore the site properly. One of the best things about Kohunlich is that you are actually able to climb and explore many of the ruins, which made the visit particularly enjoyable. On the journey back we stopped at a roadside fruit seller and had quite possibly the freshest pineapple I’ve ever tasted — a simple little stop, but one of those memorable parts of the day. My only minor negative would be the vehicle. It was a little old and quite cramped for the five of us, plus our guide and driver and not all the seatbelts worked but it got us there and back without any issues. If you’re visiting from a cruise and wondering whether Kohunlich is worth the longer journey, I would definitely recommend it. Having such an impressive Mayan site almost entirely to ourselves made the extra travel time completely worthwhile.

My sister's and I visited the Kohunlich Mayan Ruins during our time in Costa Maya, and we had a fabulous time. We decided to book our excursion through Royal Caribbean because it was priced well, and we were guaranteed to return to our ship on time. Our group met up at the port and awaited our tour guide, to gather us all onto the bus. The ride was comfortable with plenty of seating, air conditioning, and packed lunches for us. It took approximately 2 hours to reach the site, but the time passed quickly. The ruins were definitely worth seeing. Walking through the jungle, viewing the Temple of the Masks, climbing the Temple of the Kings, exploring the living quarters, and learning about their trade and the games they played was exciting. Our tour guide was knowledgeable about the Mayan Culture and spoke with great pride about his people’s history. Although it was tough to hear that so much was taken from their land, it was also uplifting to know that the descendants of the Mayan people still exist, that their dialect is being passed on, and historical sites are being well-preserved. It was interesting to hear that they didn’t sacrifice people everyday, only specific times of the year (not that this makes it any better lol) Also that many words in the English language do not mean the same to them (ie- to “Wish” means to “Pee” and “Kiss” means to “Fart”) so the kids had a ball with that! This was one of the few temples that you could actually climb, and so we did and had a great time while doing it. There wasn’t a huge crowd at this site, which gave it a more intimate experience. No vendors selling souvenirs or food, just our small group enjoying nature at its best.

+8

Octavio was an excellent guide—very knowledgeable, friendly, and funny. As a group, we decided to visit Ichkabal instead of Konulich since it was closer to the cruise port and less crowded, and it turned out to be a great choice. The ruins were incredible, and we also stopped at Cenote Azul in Bacalar, which was another highlight of the day. Overall, it was a fantastic experience. Thank you so much!

Octavio did a great job sharing his knowledge. He clearly has a passion for the Mayan culture and made the experience interesting for everyone- even our 15 and 13 year olds. The setting was gorgeous, and there were not any crowds, which made it even better- easy for us to explore as much as wanted. It is about 2 hours from Costa Maya port but the van had AC and plenty of water. They even offered stops at fruit stands or tamales! We made it back to the ship in time, too, despite the last minute departure time change by the ship.

This experience was the highlight of our cruise. It was a bit of a drive but well worth it to get a bit away from the crowds and see some truly magnificent mayan ruins. The car was very comfortable and we were able to stop on the way, making it overall very pleasant. Daniel was an excellent, well informed guide who brought the ruins to life for us. The site itself is magnificent with several sets of buildings to explore of varrious types and the temple of the masks to climb. I would highly recommend for anyone who is interested in history and would like a personalized small group experience.

+1

OMG, it was wonderful! I was in awe. The tour guides Paola and Ali are fabulous. They must have a college degree and 500 hours with archeologists before certifications and must recertify ever 2 years with 150 hours. They knew their stuff. This particular ruin was post classical and we got quite an education on this topic. I was so humbled. It is a 2-hour drive from Costa Maya and 2 hours back, but I enjoyed the chance to rest before and after as I was on a cruise. Wow! Just Wow!!

Raul was amazing. We got to see all 3 Mayan ruins, tour guide was very informative we learned a lot. Snacks and drinks were nice to average. Air conditioned van was a plus.

The guide was very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. The tour was fantastic. We traveled with a group of 12 of us. My mother was in a wheelchair. The driver of the van took my mother on her own private tour.

Had a wonderful time visiting ruins on a shore excursion. The instructions for pickup were clearly communicated and easy to follow. When our port times changed, they proactively let us know and suggested another itinerary to ensure we could have a great experience and get back on time. Our crew wanted to eat at an authentic stop, and they very happily accommodated that as well (and the food was stellar!). Loved having a guide to explain about the region on the way to the ruins and then provide information and point out things we would have missed at the ruins site. It was the perfect combination of information, guide, and time to explore.

Amazing time! Our guide and the ruins were top notch!! Thank you for making our trip special, we appreciate your kindness and attention.