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Revenue managementDynamic pricingChannel managementOTA managementBooking.com managementListing optimizationVacation rental marketingA full-day tour from Costa Maya featuring the Chacchoben ruins and Bacalar Lagoon for swimming or kayaking, with a local lunch included.
This full-day tour begins as soon as your cruise ship docks at Costa Maya. You’ll first travel about an hour to the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins, an archaeological site that dates back to 200 BC and one of the lesser-known gems of the Maya Zone. Wander through the jungle as you take in the impressive monuments and the surrounding flora and fauna.
After exploring the ruins, head to Bacalar Lagoon, renowned for its stunning seven shades of blue. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to swim, kayak, or simply relax by the water. A tasty lunch of fajitas is included, served with your choice of drink, allowing time to appreciate the beautiful landscape and gentle breeze. This tour is recommended for first-time visitors to Costa Maya.
Reviews
The tour guide was both informative and enjoyable, catering to our group of 12 with an air-conditioned bus. The ruins were stunning, and the guide shared extensive knowledge about them. We also enjoyed the lagoon, where complimentary tacos and drinks were provided, and the kayaks were a fantastic bonus. The lagoon was beautiful, and we all had a great time; I would recommend this to anyone.
Exploring the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins was truly an unforgettable experience. The history contained within this peaceful and pristine location is remarkable. Our guide's extensive knowledge greatly enhanced the visit. The trip was absolutely worthwhile. We capped off the day with a soothing swim in the beautiful and tranquil Bacalar Lagoon.
This tour offered an ideal mix of history and leisure. The Mayan ruins were captivating, and our guide provided numerous intriguing insights into the region's past. Later, we went to Bacalar Lagoon and appreciated the stunning waters. It was a wonderful day, and the lunch and beverages by the lagoon were exactly what we wanted. I strongly suggest this tour for anyone traveling to Costa Maya.
This tour was fantastic! The Chacchoben Mayan ruins were truly a standout, showcasing a wealth of history in one location. It's impressive how well-preserved they are for their age. Following that, the Bacalar Lagoon provided a serene retreat, featuring stunningly clear waters and a calming vibe. The lunch and drinks complemented the experience perfectly—a wonderful conclusion to the day.
Even though our cruise couldn't reach Costa Maya because of the weather, I was truly impressed with the outstanding customer service from the company. They quickly refunded our tour without any problems. It's uncommon to come across such professionalism and empathy, and I will certainly book with them again on my next visit to Costa Maya.
Exploring the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins was akin to traveling back in time. The site was serene and truly stunning. After the tour, the lagoon offered a wonderful place to unwind, especially with kayak rentals available. Service was attentive all day. This tour was truly unforgettable.
The journey from the cruise terminal takes more than an hour, meaning you spend a significant amount of time in a comfortable, air-conditioned van. On the day of our visit, three cruise ships were in port, resulting in large crowds at the ruins, making it difficult to hear the guide’s historical insights. The lagoon is essentially a large freshwater lake, but we didn't have enough time to fully enjoy it due to the lengthy return ride to the port, as we only had just over an hour there instead of the planned two. Lunch consisted of tacos, salsa, and chips, with only Coke and Diet Coke available for kids, who were hoping for Sprite. However, the drinks from the bar were quite tasty.
The experience was not only enjoyable but also very educational. Our guide, Elliot, shared insights on history, language, and writing, and even demonstrated how the Mayans performed mathematics.
The cruise company was unresponsive to my attempts to adjust my reservation by phone or message. I had to cancel and rebook, only to find out they claimed the tour was full despite my request for one fewer person. However, when we arrived, they still had us down for the original group size. Our guide, Rosie, was very loud on the bus intercom and spoke for 45 minutes without providing much useful information. The visit to Chachobben felt chaotic, as everyone was instructed to explore on their own. The bus driver was good, and the Mayan site was fascinating. The lagoon and lunch were enjoyable, but the lack of structure meant we were all pretty much left to our own devices. I wouldn't choose this company again.
The excursion was divided into two segments. The first part involved visiting the Chacchoben ruins, where our guide Rosie was excellent and passionately shared insights about the Mayans. However, the ride there was about 45 minutes and rather dull. The bus was comfortable, and we received complimentary water upon arrival and at the ruins, which was thoughtful. Note that there’s little time allocated for shopping at the vendors at Chacchoben. In the second part, we headed to the 7 Colors Lagoon, a 20-25 minute drive away. We started with lunch featuring a selection of four different tacos, which I found limited due to my meat preferences, but others enjoyed them and could order more. Hibiscus tea and horchata were also provided and quite enjoyable. At the lagoon, you enter the water from a dock rather than a beach, and while kayaks were available, there weren’t enough paddles for everyone, limiting the activity. Two alcoholic drinks were included, generously mixed. However, we were disappointed as we couldn’t see the "7 colors" of the lagoon; it resembled a regular lake. Despite plenty of chairs and shade, the return trip back to the port took an hour and 15 minutes with nothing much to see. I would revisit the ruins but skip the lagoon portion. The staff at Native Choice were, however, very friendly.
Reviews are paraphrased traveller feedback sourced from Viator. Original ratings and sentiment preserved.
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