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Consider this day an adventure in every way. From the moment you depart your ship or hotel, you will become an explorer in a new land with traditional values. The passion of your guide and the stimulation of the sites and experiences you will have will, most likely, make this the most memorable day of your vacation.
Today you will truly connect with Costa Maya with every one of your senses.
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"The Place of Red Corn" The name, Chacchoben, is probably unfamiliar to you, unlike Uxmal, Tulum and Chichen Itza. That is easy to understand as this site has only been open to the public since 2003. During the forties, a gentlemen and his family settled here to farm. It was not until 1972 that the family realized there was an amazing city under their backyard. Yet, though it had been officially documented by the Mexican government, nothing was excavated until 1994. Excavation and restoration has continued since then and, in 2003, the land was expropriated from the original owners and has since been opened for your visit.
It is believed that this city originated between 500-700 C.E. The ceremonial center of the ruins will bring you to the heart of the Mayan culture. The ruins themselves are situated amidst a mix of jungle, allowing you to see the indigenous plants and wildlife. Learn about different medicinal plants and how they are used. The setting is too perfect for words, as you imagine the interaction of the peoples of the past in days of business and pleasure.
You will also find some local craft stands at the ruins. Be prepared to barter and pay cash for souvenirs. Bartering is half the fun. There is also a snack stand with snacks, soda and bottled water.
After a wonderful, personally narrated tour of Chacchoben, you will be taken to a traditional Maya village. We tour you through the different areas so you can see homes and have a chance to see people engaged in their daily activities. What guests seem to enjoy the most is observing the Maya ladies, wearing their colorful typical dresses.
Listen to the language of these people and observe how their lives are filled with both the ancient and modern culture. You will visit with a local family, where they will greet you with a sweet welcome drink known as "pozole", made from dough of overcooked corn mixed with coconut water. Also take time to watch the ladies making tortillas for you to sample.
The lunch menu includes slices of tamale, as well as chicken, both cooked in steam or in an underground oven. On the table you will find the traditional beans cooked with garlic, onions and spices; different varieties of chili pepper sauces, salsas & chips, and hand made tortillas.
This is an incredible day of learning and sharing that will stimulate and excite you.
At the end of your tour, your guide will give you the option of returning to the Toursim Village. Or if you have plenty of time left, you can ask to be dropped in Majahual to enjoy the beautiful local beaches. Return taxi from Mahahual will be approximately $3.00
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In some cases we take our groups to see the shaman (hmen). Sometimes he throws his "stones of vision" and gives one or two lucky tourists a brief description of their personality according with his perception, and tells them about their totemic "animal companions". I must mention that we don't guarantee or commit any visit to the shaman during the tour. It all depends entirely on him to decide if he wishes to receive tourists or not. We reserve this as a surprise and inform the group only if the shaman is available to receive them.
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Traveler Reviews
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| 4/21/2009 |
COSTA MAYA.... Blackmar |
| You guys are great!! Very accommodating. We booked an excursion for the Mayan ruins in Costa Maya. Once we got there, we basically got a private tour our guide was very knowledgeable. And once we got to the gift shop area the tour was over for some people (they booked through another agency) but not for us. Another couple joined my Husband and me and the second part of our excursion was to visit and eat with a Mayan family. That was the best part!! They cooked a feast for us!!! It was wonderful!! When we got back to the ship everyone was envious of our trip. |
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| 4/1/2009 |
COSTA MAYA L. Vucich--Travel Agent |
| I have been remiss in not sending you an e-mail earlier but I must tell you that our Shore Trips Experience CHACCHOBEN RUINS AND MAYA ADVENTURE was, without a doubt, one of the “Experiences of a lifetime” that you hear about. Our guide was wonderful, funny and warm, and very proud of his heritage and his job. We were greeted and without delay quickly led to our van. I had an issue with the shoes I was wearing and had realized, after walking down that long dock, that they would not work out for the tour of the ruins and when I told our guide that I needed to find a pair of sandals quickly, he personally showed me a place that had just opened their doors for the day and actually had a pair of very comfortable Mayan sandals that fit me and proved to be much more comfortable than the “walking shoes” I had intended to wear. Whatever he said to the proprietor helped me get 50% off and I was set for the day! Our driver greeted us with a huge smile and after loading the 8 passengers onto the very comfortable van, we were off. Unlike most guides that I have experienced who talk so much that you can’t take it all in, he took a few minutes to tell us about the area, what we were going to see and about his home town where we would have lunch and then told us to “relax and enjoy the ride because it was going to be about another ½ hour”. Once we arrived at the site and “merged” with another group. As I had been there before I was tickled to see the changes and to find that we would be approaching the ruins from a different perspective than on my first trip (I had injured my ankle prior to the last one and didn’t get the opportunity to see the entire tour and this time we came in from the direction that I missed before)I think this is a beautiful site and our driver was wonderful about moving us along in a way that kept us from being taken over by larger groups from the cruise ship, stopping where there was ample shade for everyone and talking about the various stages of reconstruction, temples and their purpose as well as explaining about the various plants and their medicinal uses. This was truly a wonderful experience but the best was yet to come. Only 6 of us were signed up for the luncheon and the rest had no idea what a treat they missed. The home we went to was located in very beautifully landscaped and natural surroundings and our hostesses were fabulous. The meal was absolutely incredible and while none of us was very accomplished at making tortillas, they were wonderful too. One of our hostesses made a last minute habenaro sauce for us and kept telling us it was CALIENTE! Yes, it was but yummmm. And for dessert we were presented with a fabulous flan the likes of which I have never sampled. This flan was firm, with the texture of the best cheesecake you have ever eaten and the caramel sauce was thicker and richer and not one of us left a speck on our plates. The hibiscus tea we were served was refreshing and everyone kept going back for more. After our lunch the younger hostess (daughter) danced the tray dance for us and showed us around their home. The simplicity of it all, the fabulous day, the rich and warm heritage of these people will not be forgotten and whenever possible I will recommend this tour for my clients. I understand the need to keep the numbers of people to a minimum and am happy to know that this tour will never be a huge mainstream tour, as it would definitely defeat the purpose. Thank you so much. This was definitely the highlight of our cruise. P.S. I inadvertently left my camera on the van when we returned to the port and upon discovering this, I went to the ticket area where we had started our trip. A wonderful security guard got on his walkie talkie and whomever he spoke with managed to get hold of Ivan and within 10 minutes we were at the security gate where both guide and driver showed up with my camera and a bottle of water I had left. They both hugged me and told me they would have mailed it back because they didn’t want me to lose my vacation memories. THAT IS GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE! You have picked a very honorable tour company to work with! |
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| 1/26/2009 |
COSTA MAYA A. Graziano |
We recently took the Chacchoben Ruins and Maya Adventure Tour. This was a very special day for us. Ivan was our guide and he was so informative, explaining the Mayan culture, the alphabet, the calendar and even the medicinal properties of many of the native plants. The ruins were amazing and the work that still needs to be done overwhelming. The hospitality of the family that served us lunch was beyond compare. You have given us a wonderful experience!!
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| 1/15/2009 |
COSTA MAYA Peters Family |
| We just wanted to let you know what a fantastic time we had on our Ruins and Maya Adventure Tour. This was no ordinary tour where you're rushed from site to site, sometimes too far in the back to hear the guide properly. Our group was relatively small (15 in our group, probably 50 in each of the other groups at the site), and we were able to spend some time at each site before our guide (David, who is amazing) gathered us together. He didn't limit the tour to the ruins though; he gave us insight into the cultural, political and religious aspects of the Mayan people. As we were walking from site to site, David was hopping into the bushes to pull out plants that are significant to the Mayan culture. And we can't say enough about the lunch that we had. The ladies were so gracious, and they certainly can cook! This company deserves the highest praise, and I hope you continue to use them. We feel so lucky that we booked our tour through you. I know we had a MUCH better experience than the people who booked their tour directly through the cruise line. We have already recommended your site to people who were on the cruise, and we will continue to do so with our friends who cruise in the future. |
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| 11/21/2008 |
COSTA MAYA G. Malak |
| Our guided tour, led by Ivan, was a highlight of our vacation. His knowledge of these ruins, discovered by his father, and his sharing of the Mayan Culture of the past and of today was entertaining as well as educational. Ours was a small group of nine people so we felt as if he was talking to us as individuals and not as a large group. Other formed groups from the ship were larger, rushed and didn't seem to get the same treatment and courtesy as he shared with us. I don't know why anyone would want to take one of these larger tours when this one, led by Ivan, was far superior and also less expensive. After we toured the ruins we had the privilege of going to his Mayan village and were treated as special guests. We ate a fabulous Mayan meal and we were entertained and informed of Mayan life today. The Mayans were most gracious and even invited us into their homes. As a retired tourism professional, having twenty-nine years in the business I have seen and experienced good and not so good tours throughout my career. I would rate this tour at the top of all the tours I have taken. If I use many more superlatives you will think I am exaggerating but I'm not - this was a superb day. |
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| 7/4/2007 |
COSTA MAYA Wright Family |
| Last week my wife and I went on the Chacchoben Ruins and Maya Adventure Tour. To say it was outstanding would be an understatement. The Chacchoben Ruins tour exceeded all expectations. I'm sure that by now you've heard plenty of wonderful comments about the guide. He's awesome,--a tour leader with a natural gift for teaching. Using a small white board, he illustrated temple building, the Mayan calendar, the use of chicle, the relationship of the temples to the equinoxes, and so on. I am so grateful that a ShoreTrips representative recommended we take a tour that included the Mayan meal. Dona Victoria and her daughter Lupita prepared a feast that in both appearance and taste was exceptional. Dona Victoria clearly takes great pride in her home. The dance performed by her daughter and her daughter's husband was also very special. |
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| 5/29/2007 |
COSTA MAYA Lyons Family |
| We went on our cruise with two other couples. And this excursion was the only one that we all chose to go on together. (Previous activities included other ruins, cave tubing, stingrays, dunebuggys, ziplines, etc.) We went on excursions in every port and this one by far was the favorite of all three couples!!!! We don't know how much our guide or his partner, are paid but in our opinion it needs to be tripled. Their knowledge of the area and the plants and the site was amazing. When you said native guide..none of us knew how true that statement would be. I can't say it enough our guide really made the difference in this excursion, we still are talking about it today. When people ask, this was our favorite stop! |
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| 4/10/2007 |
COSTA MAYA The Bartletts |
| Our tour was excellent. Our guide was from the village of Chacchoben & the ruins was discovered on his father's property. He was extremely knowledgeable. Our lunch at the home of some of the villagers was delicious. They made us feel so welcome, & we were honored to have them share their home with us. We would highly recommend this tour. |
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| 3/9/2007 |
COSTA MAYA A. Risenthal |
| We LOVED our excursion,out of the 3 cruise ports of call, this was our best. We had done our research, and you offered exactly what we wanted to see, experience, and learn at the best price. First of all, we too are "interpreters" of nature, history, culture, and heritage, belonging to three organizations of such businesses, and have seen many "interpreters." So, when we say that Davide and Silvana were top notch, we are comparing them to many. The event used all our senses. They both were able to make the explanations understandable and relate to us and our own lives. Their English was excellent, and Davide's accent charming. We had hoped to stand on the ruins, at least touch them, and did. We had no idea how many there would be. We also appreciated the "interpretation" of several of the plants and trees along the way. The final "icing on the cake" was to get to see the Mayan village, meet the family, make our own "wah", eat the delicious dishes, see the dance, and have a tour of their church and land. It was all more than we had hoped. I hope to have future contact with David and Silvana, for whom I have much admiration. They were both friendly and professional. |
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| 1/3/2007 |
COSTA MAYA B. Hague |
| Just wanted to let you know that the Costa Maya excursion to the Chacchoben ruins with the Mayan village visit was one of the most amazing experiences we've had. Our guide, Carolina, was extremely knowledgeable - I think I learned more in one day that I've learned in a semester of college. And the visit to the village was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our family. I'll never again take for granted the blessings that I have in my life. The small group size allowed us to have a more intimate experience than we'd have had with the larger groups based from the cruise line. Everything was flawlessly smooth and trouble-free. I will continue to use Shore Trips for our excursions as we cruise - a great experience. |
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| 9/26/2006 |
COSTA MAYA D & J. Dodson |
We enjoyed our trip. We appreciated the small group (8 in our van) vs. the big bus from the cruise ship tour (40+ people). We watched as the bus came in, unloaded the passengers, then boarded the bus. Participating in a tour with a smaller group afforded us the opportunity to walk through more of the ruins.
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| 8/15/2006 |
COSTA MAYA J. Garza |
| This excursion was wonderful. Our guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about the Mayan culture. Turns out he was the last Mayan born in Chacchoben and he actually lived in the ruins before they were taken over by the government. We felt the excursion was very personal and not the canned type of presentation given by other guides. The lunch with the Mayan family was excellent and really made us feel like we were truly experiencing the Mayan culture. |
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| 8/4/2006 |
COSTA MAYA C.McPherson |
| I can't say enough about the guides on this trip - they could not have been better - very considerate and knowledgeable. They were prepared with rain ponchos and insect repellant on a day when we needed both. Both guides were friendly and attuned to the group's interests. They provided more info than we would have expected - on both the ruins and ancient culture as well as the current Mayan culture. The lunch with the Mayan family was a real treat. I would whole heartedly recommend this tour to anyone!!! |
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| 4/24/2006 |
COSTA MAYA G.Bornder |
| I will have to say that this shore excursion exceeded our expectations. Our guide was from a small village. His knowledge of the history of the Mayan people and the stories he told really added to the tour. The ultimate was the tour of his village and finally dining with a local family. The work that was put into preparing the food was interesting and time consuming. They fixed tortillas by hand and roasted chicken in a pit in the ground for several hours. The food was delicious. Truly this will be something that we will remember for years and years. Thank you. |
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| 1/25/2006 |
COSTA MAYA J.Richardson |
| My 5 children ages 23-20-19-12-13 and their grandfather did the trip, and came back with rave reviews. What impressed them the most was the guide, and his knowledge of the plants, that was right up their alley. They also really enjoyed the meal, and the hospitality of the family. My two college age sons actually gave them a tip with their own money because they had such a nice time. THAT was impressive! My daughters loved the meal, and learning the Mayan terms for different types of food. My father had never done anything like that before, and was just impressed with everything! I have recommended your site to many people. We did the Belize Cave Tour last year, and our group was so much smaller than the cruise ship ones. We also had an excellent guide there too. Keep up the good work. This is a great tour to get a more personal experience in Mexico, and those are the best kind! |
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| 1/20/2006 |
COSTA MAYA M.White |
| I can speak for both me and my travel companion, we had a blast! The Mayan ruins seem to be their best treasure and apparently are being treated as such and the tour through the poverty areas was extremely eye opening. Most Americans are not used to seeing that sort of lifestyle and it makes us want to reach out and touch these people. I've already made arrangements for a contribution to a family in need. It makes one realize that "I" could really make a difference! |
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| 1/5/2006 |
COSTA MAYA M.L. Johnston |
| The tour of Chacchoben was, literally, the best tour I've ever experienced. Our tour guide who lived at the ruins as a child, shared his knowledge and passion for the ruins with uncommon depth and intensity. His partner, gave us a taste of the surrounding jungle with samples of herbs and a mini course on their medicinal properties. My husband and I will be talking about this experience for the rest of our lives! |
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| 11/23/2005 |
COSTA MAYA T & J Brown |
| There were so many good things to say about the tour, it's hard to know where to start. The guide that we had, Luis, was so knowledgeable, intelligent and fun that we learned a tremendous amount about the Yucatan Peninsula as well as the Mayan Culture and Mexico to boot! The bus driver was courteous and efficient. The home that we visited in Chacchoben was such a gracious example of the life lived by these wonderful, warm people. The food was quite good, although there may have been too much of it! |
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| 9/7/2005 |
COSTA MAYA T.Regher |
| This trip got us to see the true nature of the country. We had an incredibly knowledgeable tour guide who gave us a wealth of information about Mexico and Maya culture and we were absolutely fascinated with every word he said. The best thing was that he wasn't just a tour guide regurgitating information he had read in books about Maya culture. He was half Maya himself and had grown up in the Maya village that we visited, and had actual lifetime experience finding artifacts in and around the Chacchoben Ruins. The lunch was fantastic ~ authentic Mexican cuisine like we had never tasted before. The tortillas, enchiladas, and sauces were absolutely delicious, with fresh ingredients they grow on their land. It was a wonderful experience and we wished we could have stayed longer. This was an experience that we never would have gotten by going on a cruise ship-sponsored tour, and it's precisely this type of experience that we had hoped to have despite the glitzy, extravagant vessel that had brought us there. I would definitely recommend ShoreTrips to anyone taking a cruise, if you want to see the true essence of a country. |
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