Authentic Mayan Cuisine Cultural Tour
- 5–6 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Experience authentic Mayan cuisine while also learning customary pottery-making techniques. A full-day trip from San Ignacio to a Maya village of San Antonio takes you to the San Antonio Women’s Cooperative where you can uncover the surprisingly flavorful diet of the Maya and the techniques used to create their main dishes. Visitors have the opportunity to learn more about Mayan pottery and then enjoy a mouthwatering traditional local lunch. After lunch, we head back to San Ignacio to visit Ajaw Chocolate where we learn about the discovery of the world’s favorite comfort food, Chocolate. Discover how the ancient Maya became pioneers in the chocolate industry today.
Inclusions
What's included
- Rum punch
- Local guide
- Transport by private vehicle from San Ignacio and back
- Lunch with a drink
What's not
- Gratuities
Itinerary
San Antonio Village locally known as “Osh Multun Kakab” is a community of 3,500 people most of which share Mayan roots. The village currently practices subsistence agriculture, most farmers in the area grow crops such as peanuts, corn, squash, and beans, much like their ancestors, and sell their products at the San Ignacio market or local restaurants. A local Women’s Group made up of nine Mayan women formed the San Antonio Women’s Co-op, to support and empower women and youths of San Antonio by preserving culture and traditional arts and crafts. The women started the cooperative to find a way to earn an income, learn new skills, and share their traditional knowledge not only with the younger generation but also with visitors looking to know more about the Mayan world. This tour offers an Authentic cultural experience, from the women dressed in their traditional and colorful clothing to griding their corn using the tools of the ancient Maya, true to their heritage.
Located in San Ignacio Town, Ajaw Chocolate takes visitors back to the time of the ancient Maya when chocolate was served only to the elite. When we hear chocolate today, we think about rectangular chocolate bars or even triangular or heart-shaped pieces. However, the origin of chocolate stems from seeds found in a green, yellow, orange, red, purple, or maroon ellipse-shaped fruit (Cacao) that had to be fermented, ground, and made into a paste for tea. Visitors can experience true Mayan chocolate made using a traditional Mayan Stone. See how the seeds are ground into a paste and taste the rich chocolate drink with added spices just like the Elite of the ancient Maya consumed.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.5
- 52
- 42
- 30
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 4 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Departure Point for most tours: Address: MayaWalk Tours Main Office 19 Burns Avenue San Ignacio Town Cayo District Belize, Central America Directions: MayaWalk Tours Main Office located between Tandoor Restaurant and Belize Bank Return point: Returns to original departure point
- Pickup
- Pickup is offered, or you can meet at the starting point.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 25 travellers
- Operated by
- MayaWalk Tours
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Vegetarian meal option available upon request
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- Due to the nature of this tour and the safety of all guests, the tour operator reserves the right to refuse service to passengers who are intoxicated or show signs of intoxication. If, as a result, your tour is canceled, you will not be entitled to a refund
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
How it compares in San Ignacio
- Its from-price is close to the median of the 71 day trips we list in San Ignacio.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 43 of 71.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About San Ignacio
San Ignacio is a market town in western Belize, set in the Cayo hills beside the Macal River, close to Maya ruins, caves and the Guatemalan border.
San Ignacio stands on a ridge above the Macal River, the main town of the Cayo District in western Belize, with its twin town of Santa Elena across the water. A Saturday market fills the centre with produce and crafts, and the main street has cafés, guesthouses and shops that serve the visitors who base themselves here to explore the forest and the ruins around it.
Top-ranked sights in San Ignacio: Actun Tunichil Muknal, Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, San Jose Succotz.
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