NCL Ratings and Reviews
Top-Rated
Browse destinations at NCL
Costa Maya or
Choose a destination
- Alanya
- Alesund
- Alexandria
- Antigua
- Arrecife (Lanzarote)
- Aruba
- Ashdod
- Astoria
- Athens (Piraeus)
- Baltimore
- Bar Harbor
- Barbados
- Barcelona
- Belize City
- Bergen
- Berlin (Warnemuende)
- Boston
- Cabo San Lucas
- Cannes
- Cartagena
- Charleston
- Charlottetown
- Copenhagen
- Corfu
- Corner Brook
- Costa Maya
- Cozumel
- Curacao
- Daylight Transit Panama Canal
- Destinations
- Dominica
- Dublin
- Dubrovnik
- Ephesus (Izmir)
- Falmouth
- Florence/Pisa (Livorno)
- Freestyle Connect
- Funchal
- Gaspésie
- Glasgow (Greenock)
- Granada (Malaga)
- Grand Bahama Island
- Grand Cayman
- Great Stirrup Cay
- Haifa
- Halifax
- Helsinki
- Hilo
- Honolulu
- Huatulco
- Icy Strait Point Bay
- Istanbul
- Juneau
- Katakolon
- Kauai
- Ketchikan
- Key West
- King's Wharf
- Kona
- Koper
- La Baie
- Lerwick, Shetland Islands
- Limassol
- Lisbon
- London (Dover)
- London (Southampton)
- Los Angeles
- Marseille
- Maui (Kahului)
- Mazatlan
- Mbj
- Messina
- Miami
- Misc Categories
- MyNcl
- Mykonos
- Nanaimo
- Naples
- Nassau
- New Orleans
- New York City
- Newport
- Norfolk
- Ocho Rios
- Onboard Activities
- Orlando & Beaches (Port Canaveral), Florida
- Oslo
- Palma
- Ponta Delgada
- Port Said
- Portland
- Provence (Toulon)
- Puerto Chiapas
- Puerto Quetzal
- Puerto Vallarta
- Puntarenas
- Quebec City
- Reykjavik
- Roatan
- Rome (Civitavecchia)
- Rotterdam
- Saint John (Bay Of Fundy)
- Samana
- San Francisco
Top Rated
Product Reviews
Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
You'll journey to the ancient place of Mayan pilgrimage known today as Chacchoben also known as The Place of Red Corn. At the pier, you'll be greeted by a bilingual guide who will direct you to an air-conditioned bus. Onboard the bus your guide will brief you on the interesting history and unique culture of the tour ahead. Upon arrival at Chacchoben you'll be surrounded by jungle. Your guide will escort you through the ruins, giving you complete explanations of the sacred temples and other structures seen there. See original red paint on the stucco walls of one of the pyramids and the temple where a mural was found showing the astronomical positions of the planet Venus. You'll have time to climb the Gran Basamento taking you above tree level. Here archaeologists found ceremonial offerings dating to around 1000 B.C. Your guide will also explain about the wildlife and medicinal plants that are used by the modern-day descendants of the ancient Mayan people.
Note: Tour includes complimentary beverages. There is a government tax of $5-8 US for the use of video cameras at the site. No tripods and/or professional video cameras are allowed. We recommend that you bring insect repellent.
Average:
(22 Reviews) 22
Rating Snapshot (22 reviews)
5 stars
11
4 stars
6
3 stars
2
2 stars
3
1 star
0
18 of 22(82%)customers would recommend this to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Review 1 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
1
out of
5
Adventurous:
1
out of
5
Family Oriented:
5
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
5
out of
5
Naps
Location:Tampa, FL
Date:April 24, 2013
BORE!
This excursion was extremely boring. It was definitely educational but a waste of time. I suppose if I did the excursion with the beach, I may have appreciated it more. I liked that the excursion didn't start right when the ship reached port. We had a couple hours to walk around and shop and what not. The Chacchoben Mayan Ruins was simple. You walked in a circle that couldn't have been more than a mile, stopping off every now and then. Climb the pyramids and take pictures. Very, very boring.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 2 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
4
out of
5
Adventurous:
4
out of
5
Family Oriented:
5
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
5
out of
5
BirdTravels
Location:Virginia
Party size:1
I traveled with:Family
Cruise Date Month:March
Cruise Date Year:2013
Favorite activities:Educational
Favorite port:Cannes, France
I want to go here next:Bahamas and Florida
Date:April 15, 2013
Fun and Culture
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
A fun, cultural-packed day in Costa Maya. On the drive out to the ruins, our guide provided a comprehensive history of the Mayan people and local culture. Our visit to the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins was at a good, leisurely pace with ample time for picture taking and exploring. Our guide provided an overview of each areas in the ruins and then allowed us to wander around for that perfect vacation photo. There were a few shops at the ruins and a shopping area at the port.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 3 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
5
out of
5
Adventurous:
3
out of
5
Family Oriented:
5
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
5
out of
5
RoamingRabbits
Location:Newburgh, IN
Party size:2
Cruise Date Month:March
Cruise Date Year:2013
Date:April 1, 2013
Great Site, Great Guide, Well Worth Going
Our guide was very knowledgeable, able to answer additional questions, and didn't seem hurried. Both reconstructed and untouched ruins are present here; the comparison between them was striking. We had a good, professional bus driver. The tour was well organized and exactly as described. The only caveat is to plan on a line for the women's restroom. Its good sized but the lines can be long at times. We really enjoyed this tour and recommend it.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 4 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
4
out of
5
Adventurous:
4
out of
5
Family Oriented:
4
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
4
out of
5
MargeG
Location:Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Party size:4
I traveled with:Friends
Cruise Date Month:March
Cruise Date Year:2013
Date:March 11, 2013
Interesting
Lisbeth our guide was very informative. We were on a bus for an hour and she gave us interesting fact about the Mayan people and their customs. The ruins were in the early stages of being excavated so you had to use your imagination to how it would have looked like when it was an active community. Lots of trees around so you were not in the hot sun. All in all it was a great informative trip.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 5 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
4
out of
5
Adventurous:
3
out of
5
Family Oriented:
4
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
5
out of
5
BolierUp
Cruise Date Month:February
Cruise Date Year:2013
I want to go here next:Canada and New England
Date:March 2, 2013
Very informative and enjoyable
The ruins are an hours bus ride from Costa Maya but our guide, Jesus, spent the time educating everyone about the mayan culture and civilization in a very entertaining way. His knowledge and assistance when at the ruins was invaluluable. The ruins themselves are possibly the most professionaly excavated of any I've visited. Would highly recommend this shore excursion.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 6 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
2
out of
5
Adventurous:
1
out of
5
Family Oriented:
3
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
4
out of
5
babybear19
Party size:more
I traveled with:Family
Cruise Date Month:February
Favorite activities:Adventure
Favorite port:Cozumel, Mexico
I want to go here next:Europe
Date:February 18, 2013
Okay for history buffs
There was not much to see in Costa Maya, but we had intrest in visiting the Mayan Ruins. The bus ride was over an hour long with not much to look at along the way. Once there our Guide gave us all of the history of the site. We lost interest and began to stray away from the group. You were allowed to climb parts of the ruins and it made for some great photos. However, the tour was long and the sun was hot. Our only source for food was a small over priced snack stand, so be sure to pack food!! I think our day would have been better spent shopping in the plaza or laying poolside.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 7 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
4
out of
5
Adventurous:
3
out of
5
Family Oriented:
4
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
4
out of
5
kirapuppy
Location:chicago, il
Date:February 9, 2013
Good overview
After a one hour ride in a very comfortable bus you arrive at a site that is still undergoing excavation. Unilke some others ruin sites you will not get to climb on the ruins much. Still there are quite a few and a lot ot see. If you can get Lisbeth as your guide--very knowledgeable and keeps you on schedule. Good trip that will stil leave you some time to wander around in Costa Maya if you want.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 8 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
4
out of
5
Adventurous:
4
out of
5
Family Oriented:
4
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
5
out of
5
queenz
Cruise Date Month:December
Date:January 7, 2013
Beautiful
This was a fabulous introduction to Mexico on our family's first cruise. I agree with another reviewer that says the only thing missing was food! You take a long bus ride to the ruins and once there, you feel like you are actually on vacation somewhere few people get to go. There are some small shops setup with pottery and some snack type food but you get very little time to visit them so shop quickly! There are also bathrooms at the site but again, you must be quick. The bus is very comfortable and modern. Bring your own water because it is hot and you'll need it. Bring snacks too. Had no problems with insects. Sunscreen recommended but there are lots of trees/shade if you forget. Guide does a lot of talking about Mayan history so kids may get antzy.
19 of 19 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 9 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
5
out of
5
Adventurous:
4
out of
5
Family Oriented:
3
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
5
out of
5
CaitM
Location:Philadelphia, PA
Party size:2
I traveled with:Friends
Cruise Date Month:December
Favorite activities:Adventure
Date:January 4, 2013
Great Intro to Mayan Culture
The only thing this excursion was missing was food. Everything else was great. The free beverage after the tour was perfect timing, and the actual ruins are utterly beautiful and gorgeous. Great pictures, as it wasn't very crowded.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 10 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
5
out of
5
Adventurous:
4
out of
5
Family Oriented:
4
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
5
out of
5
dolphyn2004
Party size:2
I traveled with:Family
Cruise Date Month:December
Favorite port:Roatan, Honduras
I want to go here next:Alaska
Date:December 9, 2012
Awesome
This was the first stop on my very first cruise. I was looking forward to seeing the Mayan Ruins and could not be more pleased. Our guide Diana was most wonderful and knowledgeable, if you are able to request a guide, choose her. The bus ride over was about an hr long and we were on charter buses that were air conditioned and quite comfortable. The roads were a bit scary at times as they were very narrow at places and not made for big buses. Being December I didn't think for it to be quite so hot but it was a very hot sticky humid day but tolerable. Overall it was a wonderful experience and I would definitely do it again if given the chance.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 11 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
4
out of
5
Adventurous:
4
out of
5
Family Oriented:
4
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
4
out of
5
marieregina63
Location:Tybee Island, Ga
Party size:1
I traveled with:Family
Cruise Date Month:October
Cruise Date Year:2011
Favorite activities:Educational
Favorite port:Belize City, Belize
I want to go here next:South America
Date:October 12, 2012
Love Ruins!
Have been to ruins all over the world. This is one of our fave things to do when going on a cruise. Every ruin is different and very interesting. They are always worth the trip. My 76 year old mother with 2 knee replacements went on this excursion with me.
21 of 22 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 12 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
2
out of
5
Adventurous:
1
out of
5
Family Oriented:
3
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
3
out of
5
Grandbug
Location:Oregon
Party size:1
I traveled with:Family
Cruise Date Month:March
Date:May 8, 2012
Not Worth the Money
Our guide was so heavily accented that he could not be understood. He did not provide facts about the ruins or the history of the people. We would have been better off taking a taxi to the ruins.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 13 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
3
out of
5
Adventurous:
5
out of
5
Family Oriented:
3
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
5
out of
5
northerner
Location:Conneticut
Party size:2
I traveled with:Family
Cruise Date Month:February
Cruise Date Year:2011
Date:March 11, 2012
Excellent tour
Never expected this tour to be so exciting and educational. Our tour guide "Jesus" was great and answered all our questions. Would recommend this to all. 2/28/2012
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 14 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
2
out of
5
Adventurous:
2
out of
5
Family Oriented:
2
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
3
out of
5
Cyclone
Location:Des Moines, Iowa
Cruise Date Month:February
Date:February 7, 2012
Did not enjoy this trip.
I've been to the Mayan Ruins in Chichzen Itza. This tour did not come close to that trip. Far fewer ruins. The guide we had did not speak clear English and was way to soft spoken on the bus ride to the ruins even when asked multiple times to speak louder. Once at the ruins our guide shared very little information with us other than answering questions asked by those of us on the tour. Took this tour in early Feb 2012.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 15 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
3
out of
5
Adventurous:
4
out of
5
Family Oriented:
4
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
5
out of
5
pardeegirl
Location:Pensacola, Florida
Party size:3
I traveled with:Family
Cruise Date Month:December
Cruise Date Year:2011
Favorite activities:Relaxing
Favorite port:Costa Maya, Mexico
I want to go here next:Alaska
Date:December 21, 2011
Worth the money
From the moment we got on the bus our Tour Guide Diane, began educating about the Mayan people of ancient days and the people of Mayan tribe today. Saw the country scenery and the people with roadside markets. Diane was not rushed in the presentation, she answered questions. I would probably take this tour again. I would recommend this tour to my friends. Tour date was Dec.13,2011 (No Bugs to Bite)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 16 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
5
out of
5
Adventurous:
5
out of
5
Family Oriented:
5
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
5
out of
5
suziewde
Party size:1
I traveled with:Other
Cruise Date Month:October
Cruise Date Year:2011
Favorite activities:Adventure
Favorite port:Belize City, Belize
I want to go here next:Alaska
Date:December 14, 2011
This was a great adventure. The Mayan ruins where very impressive and the tour guide was well informed. Well worth the time on the bus, but if you are traveling with a real man, please take snacks along as the lunch provided is HORRID!
13 of 16 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 17 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
5
out of
5
Adventurous:
5
out of
5
Family Oriented:
5
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
5
out of
5
CatieK
Date:November 25, 2011
Great choice
You really need to be fully mobile for this. Long, quick walks with some climbing. We had a great time. Would be a good choice for grade school and older children. Bring water, bug repellant and sun screen.
17 of 19 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 18 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
4
out of
5
Adventurous:
3
out of
5
Family Oriented:
5
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
5
out of
5
cborr81
Location:Georgia
Date:November 13, 2011
Great New Adventure
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
This was a great excursion. As the ruins are a ways from the port, there is a bus ride, but this was on a comfortable and air conditioned bus. We had a wonderful and knowledgeable guide who was full of neat information not only during our tour, but also on the ride to and from the ruins. The site isn't huge, but it's big enough and has a good variety of different types of ruins. The only downside, as with any guided tour, is that you can only go as fast as the slowest person in your group. There was, however, time at the end of the tour to go off and explore some on your own, which is definitely worth doing. There's also a cute little area where locals sell different local goods. Make sure to wear sunscreen, and bring water to have while you walk the ruins. The tour does provide beverages, however, as you are getting back on the bus for your trip back to the port. We had a wonderful time, and would absolutely recommend this to others.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 19 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
3
out of
5
Adventurous:
3
out of
5
Family Oriented:
5
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
4
out of
5
somd
Location:Maryland
Party size:1
I traveled with:Family
Cruise Date Month:October
Cruise Date Year:2011
Date:October 23, 2011
Okay
These ruins are easy to get around compared to others. The paths are pebbled and wide. However, the ruins are smaller than in other ports and you can't climb them. Find something else to do in Costa Maya and go see Lamanai in Belize. Note that even in October it was very hot and humid. Bring bug spray.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 20 for Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
Overall:
Fun:
5
out of
5
Adventurous:
4
out of
5
Family Oriented:
5
out of
5
Cultural/Educational:
5
out of
5
ddm1
Date:August 3, 2011
Best Ruin excursion
Very interesting excursion. Our guide Leticia was very informative and interesting to listen to.
The ruins were beautiful and not as crowded as the ruins in Belize.
The ruins were beautiful and not as crowded as the ruins in Belize.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.
Share this review:
