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Chacchoben Mayan Ruins and Mayan Experience from Costa Maya

Costa Maya, Mexico
  • 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Make the most of your port visit in Costa Maya with this group excursion that lets you experience history, culture, and Mayan food in one tour. Explore the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins with a local guide, walking among temples and ceremonial structures, then visit a Mayan family for a tortilla-making demonstration and traditional lunch.
  • Pickup and drop off are provided from the cruise port
  • Visit the ruins and have a cooking demo, too
  • Keep costs down and make new friends on this group tour
  • Tour for around 5.5 hours, then the rest of the day is free

What's Included

  • Round-trip transportation from Costa Maya in an air-conditioned vehicle
  • Certified tour guide
  • Entrance fees and tickets to Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
  • Guided tour of Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
  • Authentic Mayan Experience with a local family in Chacchoben village
  • Traditional tortilla-making demonstration and hands-on experience
  • Meals
    Authentic home-cooked Maya dishes prepared with fresh local ingredients and traditional flavors
  • Bottled water
  • $5.00 USD fee for the use of cameras at the Mayan City. This fee is paid directly at site
  • Souvenirs
  • Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Pickup point

  • Costa Maya | Cruise Port
    Av. P.º del Puerto, 77976 Mahahual, Q.R., Mexico

Pickup details

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.

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Meeting point

  • Plaza Las fuentes
    Al lado de costa maya cruises, Av. P.º del Puerto Lote Othónl, Casitas, 77976 Mahahual, Q.R., Mexico

    Your tour departs one hour after your cruise arrives at Costa Maya Port. Meet at Plaza Las Fuentes, just outside the port area. Allow 15 minutes to walk from your ship. Provide your full cruise ship name when booking. Detailed directions and a map will follow confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Arranged start time

Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
  • 03/04/2020 - 10/06/2027

    Monday - Sunday : 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Itinerary

1

Zona Arqueologica De Chacchoben

1 hour 30 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

2

Chacchoben

2 hours Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Infant seats available
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Most travelers can participate
  • 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.
  • Please provide your full cruise ship name and scheduled docking time when booking.
  • 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.
  • Vegetarian and gluten-free meals are available upon request. Please advise us in advance of any dietary requirements or food allergies.
  • Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a hat and sunscreen.
  • Bring extra cash for shopping or 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.
  • Guests should be comfortable walking outdoors on jungle trails with some rocks, roots, and uneven surfaces.
  • Transportation vehicles can accommodate foldable wheelchairs only. Vehicles are not wheelchair-adapted, and non-folding wheelchairs cannot be accommodated.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 120 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Crystal_E
Edder and Abner were very informative about the area and took the time to make sure we understood the history and culture of the Mayan’s. Edders knowledge and personality were amazing. Edder especially took the the time during the tour to make sure our family was well attended to. The trip was also moderate difficulty.

Reviews

4.6
based on 9 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Worst experience ever stay away from this company

St_E, Aug 2025
This was the worst experience I’ve ever had with a short excursion. These people are thieves. My ship arrive at 8:26 AM.The driver called 8:35 am and I told him that I will there in 10 minutes. I called him in three minutes, 8:38 am to ask him where he was at I was not able to locate him at the location indicated for me to wait for them. The tour guy did not answer. I continued to call him and the company but neither one answered. I had to get assistance from local Mexicans to call them. The tour guy answered the local call, and then when the local person told him that we were waiting for him, he hung up the phone. When the local people called the company Amanda answered after few attempts. She told me that I did not show up for the excursion, which is not true as they were nowhere to be found outside of the port. By the time I reached Amanda, the local people had walked around and asked from all companies that Viator works with until we were able to find the office, which no one was there. Amanda told me to call Viator to get a refund as she has not gotten paid from Viator. I specifically asked Amanda what should I tell Viator as she’s asking me to call Viator. Amanda told me to ask Viator for a refund, but when Viator representative call Amanda, she told them not to give me the refund. When I called Amanda to ask her what did she say to Viator she wouldn’t answer me and she hung up the phone when the Viator representative came on the phone. Viator representative told me that Amanda said to them not to give me a refund because I did not show up, which is a lie. This company stole about $450 from me for an excursion that did not attend. They left me and my family, they were not answer my calls. They were not at the port. No one knew where they were out of the port. My trip was ruined. We spent the whole day miserable and we had nothing else planned as this excursion was supposed to be most of our day. I will never book with this company or Viator again as Viator allows company to do such things and not able to help me get the refund.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Hi St_E, Thank you for choosing us during your vacation in Costa Maya in the beautiful Mexican Caribbean. We’re truly sorry to hear about your frustration on the day of your tour. We’d like to clarify that our tours depart one hour after the ship’s arrival, with clear meeting instructions (including a map and Google Maps link) sent in advance. Our team even called you before departure, but unfortunately, you didn’t arrive until well after the tour had already left. Out of fairness to all guests, we cannot delay beyond the scheduled departure, and unfortunately no refunds are granted for late arrivals or no-shows. As your booking was made through Viator, your refund request was reviewed by them and declined based on the documented no-show. While we regret that this caused disappointment, we hope to welcome you again in the future under better circumstances. Best regards, The Shore Excursions Team

Great visit

David_B, May 2025
Great site to visit. Loved the ruins and the locals were very nice. The lunch at the village was nice too. We never paid the $5 photo fee, no one approached us and I didn't see anyplace to pay for it,

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Hi David_B, We’re thrilled you had a great time exploring the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins with us during your cruise on the Carnival Jubilee! It’s awesome to hear you enjoyed the ancient site, the warm hospitality of the locals, and the village lunch experience—such a special way to connect with the culture here in the beautiful Mexican Caribbean. Thanks for choosing to spend your day in Costa Maya with us! Feel free to share your favorite moments and tag us on Instagram or Facebook at @CostaMayaShoreExcursions—we’d love to see your adventure and help inspire fellow travelers too! See you on your next journey! Warm regards, The Shore Excursions Team 🌴

Great Tour/Hot bus

Bridget_L, Jun 2024
Was an informative tour. Enjoyed Joel's information on the ruins. The local Mayan cooked food was delicious. Even thought there were thousands of people at the port because of 2 ships in port that day. The tour was run well as not to feel so crowded. Only draw back which is not the tour operators fault is that it is very hot this time of the year. The a/c on the bus was having a difficult time with the group of 18 on the bus keeping us cool and it takes 1 hr or more each way.

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Dear Bridget, Thank you so much for choosing us for your Chacchoben Mayan Ruins and Mayan Experience Tour during your Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas cruise! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the tour and appreciated our guides' expertise and politeness. We understand the kiosk location could be tricky, but we’re glad you found us and had a great time despite the overcast weather. We hope your hubby enjoyed the kayak! Feel free to share your amazing stories and tag us on Instagram and Facebook @NextExperienceTravel. We’d love for other travelers to see how beautiful Costa Maya is! Safe travels and hope to see you again! Tropical Regards, The Shore Excursions Team

Great excursion

christy_w, Mar 2024
Lorenzo was a wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable. The food in village was excellent. Loved looking at ruins.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Dear Christy, Thank you so much for your glowing review! We're thrilled to hear that Lorenzo made your Chacchoben Mayan Ruins and Mayan Experience Tour unforgettable with his expertise. It's fantastic that you enjoyed the delicious food in the village and were captivated by the beauty of the ruins. Your experience aboard the MSC Seashore sounds absolutely incredible, and we're honored you chose us to make your day in Costa Maya so special. Feel free to share your amazing stories on Instagram and Facebook, and don't forget to tag us at @NextExperienceTravel! We can't wait to welcome you back for more unforgettable adventures. Warmest regards, The Next Experience Travel Team

Authentic bridge of the ancient to modern Mayan

Hazelle_W, Dec 2023
What an amazing experience! We wanted to visit the Mayan ruins to learn the history of this ancient civilization and jumped at the chance to visit the community decendents and share lunch. What we got was so much more educational, as our excellent tour guides, especially Joel, explained the culture of this community as it was passed down from his ancestors. We were given history from the Mayan perspective as they lived it in 500 bc. We were transported to looking at the site from the eyes of the Mayan people as they knew it before officially discovery was recorded. Then topping it off with a delicious authentic Mayan lunch, we are beyond pleased with our experience.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Dear Hazelle, Thank you so much for your glowing 5-star review of your Chacchoben Mayan Ruins and Mayan Experience Tour with us! :) We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your journey through the ancient world and the modern-day Mayan community with Joel as your guide. It's wonderful to know that your experience was not only educational but also deliciously authentic! Your kind words mean the world to us, and we're delighted we could make your time in Costa Maya aboard Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas so memorable. Don't forget to share your incredible stories and photos by tagging us on Instagram and Facebook at @NextExperienceTravel. Wishing you happy holidays and many more adventures! Warm regards, The Shore Excursions Team

Must do with Joel

Eugena_T, Dec 2023
Joel was an amazing guide!! It was a very educational experience. He took us deep into the Mayan culture and history!! Highly favored in my eyes!

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Dear Eugena, Thank you so much for your fantastic 5-star review of our Chacchoben Mayan Ruins and Mayan Experience Tour! :) We are thrilled to hear that Joel provided you with an unforgettable journey into the heart of Mayan culture and history. It's wonderful to know that we could add to your cruise vacation on the Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas with such a positive experience. We're honored that you chose Shore Excursions for your adventure in the beautiful Mexican Caribbean and hope to see you again on your future travels. Don't forget to share your memorable moments with us on Instagram and Facebook @NextExperienceTravel – we love seeing our guests' stories! Warm regards, The Shore Excursions Team

Wonderful excursion

James_T, Oct 2023
It was not only experiencing the ruins, it was also getting to experience an authentic Mayan village and enjoy a home cooked meal in a Mayan home.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear James, Thank you so much for choosing our Chacchoben Mayan Ruins and Mayan Experience Tour during your cruise vacation on board Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas! We're thrilled to hear you had a wonderful time exploring the ruins and immersing yourself in the authentic Mayan village. Sharing a home-cooked meal in a Mayan home truly adds a special touch to the experience. We hope you created some unforgettable memories, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the future! :) Tropical regards, The Shore Excursions Team

Amazing excursion for everyone.

Crystal_E, Jul 2022
Edder and Abner were very informative about the area and took the time to make sure we understood the history and culture of the Mayan’s. Edders knowledge and personality were amazing. Edder especially took the the time during the tour to make sure our family was well attended to. The trip was also moderate difficulty.

Response from Host, Sep 2022

Dear Crystal_E, Thank you for your review! We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed your time with us and enjoyed a true Mayan experience. Costa Maya is such a special place and we always hope our guests have a memorable one. I will pass your compliments to Edder, Abner and the rest of the team and we do hope you can visit us again soon! :) Thank you again for taking the time to review your experience. The Shore Excursions Team

Genuine Experience

kathy_k, Mar 2022
Loved visiting the Mayan family . Guide was knowledgeable friendly and funny. Price was right. Experience was authentic.

Response from Host, Jun 2022

Hi kathy_k, We are so thrilled you had a wonderful experience with us during your visit to Costa Maya! We will pass your compliments to the staff, and we do hope you can visit us again soon! Best wishes, The Shore Excursions Team
Member Pricing
From

$113.05

per person
Was $119.00(-5%)

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 87 days in advance.

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