Chacchoben Mayan Ruins & Mahahual Lighthouse Tour
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 2 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Chacchoben is the heart of this experience — but the journey reveals a little more of Costa Maya along the way. Explore an ancient Maya city surrounded by tropical jungle, walking among temples, ceremonial grounds and plazas as your professional guide brings Chacchoben’s history, beliefs and astronomical knowledge to life. Beyond the ruins, discover small glimpses of the region as you travel. Learn about locally produced honey and traditional salsas, pass through Pedro Santos, a present-day Maya community known for its sweet honey pineapples, and see another side of Maya life beyond the ancient city. Your journey eventually brings you back to the Caribbean coast, with a stop at the Mahahual Lighthouse for views and photos before returning to Costa Maya Port. Come to discover ancient Chacchoben and leave having experienced a little more of Costa Maya along the way.
Inclusions
What's included
- Beer, juice, soft drinks & bottled water
- Stop at Pedro Santos – Pineapple Village
- Roundtrip Transportation From Costa Maya Port
- Guided tour of Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
- Brief visit to a local ranch featuring regional honey & salsa production
- Photo stop at Mahahual Lighthouse
- Certified Tour Guide
- Entrance fees to Chacchoben Archaeological Site
- Snacks
What's not
- Gratuities
- $5 USD fee for the use of cameras in the Mayan City. This fee is paid directly at the site.
Itinerary
Your adventure begins one hour after your cruise arrives at Costa Maya Port. Meet your guide and enjoy the approximately 50-minute drive to Chacchoben, traveling through the landscapes and small communities of southern Quintana Roo. Along the way, make a brief stop at a local roadside ranch to discover how regional honey and traditional salsas are produced, before continuing into the tropical jungle surrounding Chacchoben. At the archaeological site, follow your professional guide through ancient plazas, ceremonial grounds and impressive temples as you discover the history, beliefs and astronomical knowledge of the Maya civilization. Walk the same paths once traveled by the ancient Maya and learn how this remarkable city developed centuries ago. As you explore, discover the jungle’s native flora and keep an eye out for tropical birds and spider monkeys in their natural habitat.
Leaving Chacchoben behind, continue toward the coast through Pedro Santos, a lively Maya community affectionately known as Pineapple Village, famous for the exceptionally sweet honey pineapples grown in the area. Enjoy a glimpse of everyday life in a present-day Maya community as you travel through the village and, when available, make a brief stop to discover fresh seasonal fruit, including the region’s famous honey pineapples. Then continue toward Mahahual and the Caribbean coast.
Return to the Caribbean coast and arrive in Mahahual, the colorful seaside town just outside Costa Maya Port. Make a stop at the Mahahual Lighthouse, one of the town’s most recognizable landmarks, with the Caribbean Sea as your backdrop. Take some time to enjoy the coastal views and capture a few photos before completing your journey back to Costa Maya. After a day exploring ancient Chacchoben and experiencing glimpses of local life along the way, enjoy the short ride from Mahahual back to the cruise port.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
3.7
- 52
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 11
Ratings come from 3 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
- Please provide your ship name and arrival time when booking. Meet at Costa Maya Yellow Cab, about a 15-minute walk outside the port complex. Your guide will hold a sign with your name. The tour departs one hour after ship arrival, so please allow enough time to reach the meeting point.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 80 travellers
- Operated by
- Next Experience Travel
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Departure Time: Your tour departs one hour after your cruise arrives at Costa Maya Port.
- Please note that the total walking time from your cruise ship to the meeting point is about 15 minutes.
- Cruise Ship Information: Cruise ship guests must provide the full name of their cruise ship when booking. This information is required to coordinate your tour with the ship’s arrival and departure schedule.
- No Port, No Pay: If your cruise ship does not call at Costa Maya Port, you will receive a full refund.
- Meeting Point: Please note that the total walking time from your cruise ship to the meeting point is approximately 15 minutes.
How it compares in Costa Maya
- Its from-price is 19% below the median of the 74 day trips we list in Costa Maya.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 37 of 74.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Costa Maya
Costa Maya is the southern Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatán, a quiet shoreline of white beaches and mangroves beside the reef, with Maya ruins inland.
Costa Maya is the name given to the southern stretch of Quintana Roo's Caribbean coast, south of the Riviera Maya and close to the border with Belize. Its shore is a quiet strip of white sand, palms and mangrove, backed by low forest, and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef runs just offshore. Mahahual, a small seaside village with a long boardwalk, is the main settlement and has a dock for cruise ships. Xcalak, a fishing village at the southern tip, sits beside a protected reef park.
Special offers in Costa Maya
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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