Comalcalco Chocolate Tour: Maya Ruins & Cocoa Hacienda

Walk through a jungle city of clay bricks, then taste chocolate made from local cacao beans

This seven to eight hour tour in Tabasco combines two stops: the archeological zone of Comalcalco, the only known Maya city built of clay bricks, set deep in jungle; and a working cocoa hacienda called Jesus Maria where a host walks you through how the Mayans and Olmecs used cocoa, how it became a European luxury, and how it turned into the industry it is today. Round-trip shared transfer and a live guide in English or Spanish are included. Children welcome from age 3.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Comalcalco and Cocoa Hacienda

• Visit ancient Maya city Comalcalco
• Explore archeological zone of Comalcalco
• Visit Cocoa Hacienda Jesus Maria “CACEP”
• Learn history and elaboration of chocolate

The experience

The tour starts at Comalcalco, an ancient Maya settlement in the Tabasco jungle that stands apart for one reason: it's the only known city the Maya built from clay bricks instead of stone. The site once served as a crucial trade hub connecting the Gulf Coast to the Yucatan Peninsula and Central America. You walk the ruins with a guide who explains how this pre-Hispanic enclave fit into the larger Chontalpa region and why the building method mattered.

After the archeological zone, the route moves to Jesus Maria, a cocoa hacienda still operating in Comalcalco. Here the focus shifts from stone to seeds. Your host traces cocoa's journey from the trees the Mayans and Olmecs cultivated, through its transformation into chocolate, to its rise as a luxury good in Europe and its evolution into the global business it is now. You see the trees that produce the beans and learn the actual steps of elaboration, not a museum display, but how it happens on the land.

The day runs seven to eight hours total. Round-trip shared transfer is included, so you don't arrange your own transport between stops. You'll need moderate physical fitness for walking the ruins and the hacienda grounds. Wear smart casual clothing. A guide in either English or Spanish leads the group. You pick your language when you book.

What’s included

• Round-trip shared transfer.
• live guide in English or Spanish.
• access to both Comalcalco archeological zone and Jesus Maria cocoa hacienda.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Options for this experience

2 options

Spanish tour08:30Sedan car, pickup is included

English tour08:30Sedan car service in English, rate valid for English tours only, includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30Last departure this season: 31 Mar 2027

Book up to15h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical level

Operated by Mexitours

Is this one for you?Book the English tour if you want the guide's full explanation of Maya history and cocoa trade. The Spanish tour suits Spanish speakers and runs the same route and schedule. Either way, the shared transfer means you travel with other visitors, which keeps the price lower than a private option and builds the group as you go.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What makes Comalcalco different from other Maya ruins?

Comalcalco is the only known Maya city built from clay bricks rather than stone. The construction method reflects how the Maya adapted to the local landscape of Tabasco, where stone was scarce, and the ruins sit within jungle that has grown around them over centuries.

How long does the tour take from start to finish?

The tour runs seven to eight hours total, including the round-trip transfer between your pickup point and the two stops. The time covers both the archeological zone and the cocoa hacienda, plus travel between them.

What happens at the cocoa hacienda?

At Jesus Maria hacienda, a host walks you through the history and process of cocoa, from the trees themselves to how the Mayans and Olmecs used the beans, how it became chocolate, and how it transformed into a luxury item in Europe before becoming the major industry it is today. You see the working trees and learn the actual steps of elaboration.

What's included in the price, and what should I bring?

The price covers all taxes, fees and handling charges, plus round-trip shared transfer from your location. Food and drinks are not included, so bring water and snacks if you prefer. Wear smart casual clothing and bring sunscreen and a hat for the jungle sections.