We've compiled answers to the most common inquiries to help you quickly find the information you need about our tours and services. Take a look below to get your questions answered.
Please don't hesitate to contact us for any further questions or assistance.
Chacchoben is located approximately 90 kilometers (56 miles) west of Costa Maya. The drive typically takes about 50 minutes to 1 hour.
To preserve these ancient structures, visitors are not permitted to climb the steps of the temples. However, you are welcome to climb the Gran Basamento platform to reach the temples on top of it.
Chacchoben features a small service and shopping area where local vendors offer a variety of products sourced from different regions of Mexico.
During the rainy season (May - October), you can expect mosquitoes at Chacchoben, especially after rainfall. While they are usually more active at dawn and dusk, we strongly recommend bringing and applying bug repellent throughout the day to ensure a more comfortable visit.
Chacchoben is open to the public every day from 8:00AM to 5:00PM. Last entry is at around 4:00PM.
The main paths and trails within the ruins are generally leveled, and rocks and roots have been removed, making it possible to navigate with a wheelchair or stroller on a sunny day.
On rainy days, the dirt paths can become very muddy, which can make wheelchair use difficult or impossible.
There aren't accessible vehicles available in Costa Maya. If you use a wheelchair, you might need to be able to transfer to a standard van or sedan, and your mobility equipment would need to be stored.
We can adjust these tours to meet your needs. We kindly ask that you check in with us 10-15 minutes before your scheduled departure time. Starting promptly allows us to maintain a comfortable pace, ensure you complete the tour safely, and return to the port on time. To maximize your exploration, we will cover most of the tour's informational content during the drive to the ruins, reducing rest stops and shopping time. This provides more dedicated time at Chacchoben Village (for the Mayan Experience Tour) or the Bacalar Lagoon (for Chacchoben Extreme).
Please note that this tour will likely be your only activity in Costa Maya. If you plan to explore the port area or go shopping, we recommend opting for the shorter Chacchoben ruins tour instead.
We proactively monitor incoming reports from the local port authority for any potential ship delays. Should your ship arrive later than its scheduled time, we will adjust our tour departure accordingly and wait for your arrival, ensuring you won't miss your excursion.
If yor ship cancels its port of call in Costa Maya for any reason, your deposit will be refunded. This is an automatic process, you don't need to contact us; we'll process refunds once the local port authority makes the cancellation official.
We operate our tours rain or shine. However, if you decide not to participate on a rainy day, simply inform us, and we will cancel your reservation without penalty. Please note, we reserve the right to cancel our operation if extreme weather conditions pose a risk to our staff or guests. In such cases, all guests with confirmed reservations will be notified, and a full refund of their deposit will be issued automatically.
Our standard cancellation policy requires 48 hours' notice before the tour to avoid a $15.00 USD per person penalty. Any instances with a different cancellation policy will be clearly specified in the tour description and on your tour confirmation.
No-shows are penalized with a $15.00USD per person fee.
The Costa Maya port is cruise line-controlled, meaning local tour operators cannot access it directly. To meet your service provider, you will need to exit the port terminal. Our meeting point, The Native Choice kiosk, is conveniently located just a one to two-minute walk from the port's exit. When you reserve with us, we will send you a confirmation email including clear directions and a map to ensure a smooth start to your tour.
We appreciate your interest in collaborating with us and showcasing the beauty of Chacchoben. We often receive requests for complimentary tours in exchange for coverage.
While we value the work of content creators, we have made the decision to no longer offer complimentary tours in exchange for promotional coverage. Unfortunately, our past experiences in this area have not consistently resulted in the promised outcomes.
Instead, we have chosen to focus our complimentary tour offerings exclusively on orphanages and institutions providing care to patients with terminal illnesses. This allows us to direct our resources towards initiatives that align with our core values of community support and social responsibility.
We hope you understand our position. We welcome you to experience our tours, and we look forward to providing all our guests with an exceptional and memorable visit to Chacchoben.