Chacchoben Mayan Ruins Tour from Costa Maya: Ruins & Village

The ruins are still standing, but the village is where the culture lives.

This guided tour from Costa Maya takes cruise passengers to Chacchoben Mayan Ruins, an ancient city dating to around 200 BC surrounded by jungle, then to the modern village of Chacchoben where you meet a local family, learn about traditional practices, and eat a meal they prepare. The tour departs one hour after your ship arrives, includes round-trip transport, guide, entrance, and a traditional Maya lunch with drinks, and is timed to get you back before your cruise leaves port.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Chacchoben ruins and Maya village

• Depart from Costa Maya port
• Drive to Chacchoben archaeological site
• Explore Chacchoben Mayan Ruins with guide
• Travel to Maya village of Chacchoben
• Meet local hosts and learn traditions
• Experience traditional tortilla making
• Discover medicinal plants and remedies
• Enjoy traditional Maya meal with family
• Return to Costa Maya port

The experience

The tour starts with a drive from Costa Maya port through the jungle to Chacchoben Mayan Ruins, where your guide walks you through temples and ceremonial structures built over two thousand years ago. You'll see the layout of the ancient city and learn how the Maya who lived here organized their society, what these buildings meant to them, and how archaeologists piece together the story. The jungle around the ruins is part of the experience. You're walking through the landscape the Maya knew, with the same trees and wildlife they would have encountered.

After the archaeological site, you move to the village of Chacchoben itself, where descendants of the Maya still live. A local family hosts you in their home and shows you how they make tortillas by hand, which plants they use for medicine and cooking, and which traditions have stayed the same across generations. This is not a museum display. It's a conversation with people who live the culture every day. Then you sit down to eat a traditional Maya meal they've prepared using fresh local ingredients and cooking methods passed down through their families. You'll drink horchata and hibiscus, taste the food, and have time to ask questions and listen.

The whole tour runs about five and a half hours from the moment you leave the port. Transportation is air-conditioned, and the guide speaks English or Spanish. You'll need comfortable walking shoes for uneven ground at the ruins, and the tour runs whether it rains or not. The meeting point is just outside the cruise port, a 15-minute walk from your ship. If your cruise doesn't call at Costa Maya, you get a full refund. The operator's guarantee is "no port, no pay."

What’s included

• Round-trip air-conditioned transportation from Costa Maya.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• entrance to Chacchoben Mayan Ruins with guided tour.
• cultural experience with a local Maya family in Chacchoben village.
• traditional Maya meal prepared by your hosts.
• horchata and hibiscus drinks with lunch.
• soft drinks and bottled water throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 120

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Costa Maya Shore Excursions

Is this one for you?Book this if your cruise stops at Costa Maya and you want to move between two places (the ruins and the living village) in one trip, since the tour connects both in sequence rather than requiring separate excursions.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

How long does it take to walk from my cruise ship to the tour meeting point?

The meeting point is located just outside the Costa Maya cruise port, and the walk from your ship takes about 15 minutes.

What exactly happens at the Mayan village part of the tour?

You meet a local Maya family in Chacchoben village, learn how they make tortillas and prepare traditional medicines and remedies, then sit down to eat a traditional Maya meal they've prepared for you using fresh local ingredients and ancestral cooking techniques.

Is the tour designed to work with my cruise ship's schedule?

Yes, the tour departs approximately one hour after your cruise ship arrives in port and is timed to get you back before your ship leaves, so you don't have to worry about missing your departure.

Can I climb the temples at Chacchoben Mayan Ruins?

Climbing at the Mayan temples is not permitted, but you'll explore the site on foot with your guide, walking through the archaeological area and viewing the structures from ground level.

What food and drinks are included in the tour?

The tour includes a traditional Maya meal prepared by your local hosts, plus traditional horchata and hibiscus drinks served with lunch. Soft drinks and bottled water are also provided throughout the day.

What should I bring or wear for this tour?

Wear comfortable walking shoes, light clothing, a hat, and sunscreen; bring insect repellent, especially for the jungle areas and archaeological site; and check the weather forecast, as the tour operates rain or shine.