Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Chacchoben Ruins tour

als310

By als310,
in Costa Maya

Recommended Posts

SunFunCruiser

SunFunCruiser

Posted
Posted
I booked the ruin trip for April and wondered if you hear anything else until you arrive at that port from David. Where did you get the transportation to the town? I am doing this trip alone as the DH is going on a different excursion.

 

 

I never did hear back from him again after I booked the tour.

You can't miss the transportation. There is only one place you can get it. You have to stand in line to purchase a transportation ticket. Then take the ticket and get on a bus. You walk to the end of the shops past the pools and restaurants, near the restrooms. Everyone just started to walk over there, so we followed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SharleneinTexas

SharleneinTexas

Posted
Posted

just got back the confirmation and believe it or not, our cruise isn't until Nov 20......according to the ship calendar there are going to be quite a few ships in port that day and wanted to make sure we didn't miss out....... :)

 

Splendour sails out of Galveston and is already on central time - we arrive at 7am and Ivan let us know that the tour would start 1hr after we docked - about 8am and is supposed to last 3.5-4hrs.......means we should be back in Mahajual at around 11:30-12:00 and the ship doesn't leave port until 3pm.......gives us time to check out the beach there and maybe have a drink or two........and the tour includes 'refreshments' on the trip back from the ruins which includes beer for those that want it. I don't see any problem in doing the ruins tour to Chacchoben and still enjoying time in Mahajual as long as we have the alloted 8hrs in port.

 

our last trip to Costa Maya we bought a hammock chair and love it. we stayed at the port shops because it was an unexpected port and we didn't have the advantage of all this great info - this time we are going to see a different side of Costa Maya.....

 

can't wait! :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
essgee_ca

essgee_ca

Posted
Posted

I inquired about reserving with David and Ivan about a week ago and have not heard from them yet. I know that the internet connections are not consistent and there are sometimes difficulties for them to contact guests for excursions. I was just wondering if anyone has heard from them in the past week. I really want to book with them for the Chacchoben Ruins. They sound like the best tour guides.

S.G.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
San10s

San10s

Posted
Posted

I sent out a request for booking to Ivan and David on Monday, January 23rd and I got Ivan's reply on Wednesday, January 25th. Ivan did mention computer issues. I would re-send it since it has been over a week now.:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Cshell5

Cshell5

Posted
Posted

My family went on a tour w/Ivan last August,05 with my husband, 2 boys ages 23 & 21 and 14 year old daughter. When I asked them at the end of our vacation, what was their favorite part they said the tour with Ivan. You would think they loved the pool, casino, snorkling, comedy show or food. Ivan brought the Mayan culture to life for us. He showed us where he played hide and seek as a kid and showed us what was left of his home and explained how his father built his kitchen. It was awsome!!:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
m61376

m61376

Posted
Posted

Just returned from Costa Maya aboard the Zenith. We took the tour with David and were incredibly impressed. My husband is a real history buff and we were amazed at David's knowledge and passion about the area. We didn't simply see a bunch of ruins, but learnt about Mayan life. As we walked he stooped to pick up and identify a small relic, noted a grinder (mortar) on the ground, took small relics accumulated over the years out of his pocket and described them, plucked leaves off of various trees and gave them to us to smell; he gave us both a tour of the jungle and of the ruins. I normally do not like tours, but his passion and knowledge really gave us a feel for the people and the era. We learnt the significance of how the various structures were built and a little about how the people lived. We felt like we were taking a stroll through history. These guys are terrific; they run a very professional tour. They are easy to find- just a quick $3 cab ride into town and they are right there. The day we were there it poured in the mroning, so many people didn't show up. When it cleared late morning they came into town and were accomodated with a later tour (our van passed theirs on the road and David transferred over; he made sure we were accompanied back to port with someone else). At the end of the tour they gave the option of being dropped off in town or by the port. We loved the entire cruise, but this was the highlight!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
m61376

m61376

Posted
Posted

They always run the Chaccoben ruins tour, so that is the one being referenced. I would have liked to do the Extreme tour, but they need a minimum of 8 people on a given day to run that one. If you are interested in another tour, let them know; how they worked it was told me they would run it if they had enough interest, but gave us the option of making a reservation for the ruins tour alone if they didn't run the Extreme tour. It turned out the weather in the morning was lousy so they only ran one tour to the ruins. As I said, it was wonderful and there is enough to keep you busy at the pier for the rest of the day.

 

The pier itself has nice shopping, beach with lounges and hammocks and a pool, so that alone makes a great afternoon. Others have raved about Majahual (the fishing village) closeby, so there is plenty to do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DigiPix71

DigiPix71

Posted
Posted

We had hoped to do the Mayan Experience, too, but there were not enough people. We did go to the village and brought things for the children, so we were not disappointed at all. David and Ivan are VERY accomodating and take a lot of pride in their village, their heritage and their business -- I'm sure they will work as hard as they can to show you anything you want to see, as long as they are able. Like someone else mentioned -- it's not just a tour of the ruins -- it's the information and experiences they share that separates this tour from the rest.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
ArtM

ArtM

Posted
Posted

The David and Ivan tour sounds great. However, I'm getting an error message when I try to contact their internet site to look at the tour and make a reservation.

 

I'm using the link that has been posted numerous times, so I'm in the clear on spelling :)

 

Anybody know anything about a problem??

 

Thanks

 

Art

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Eliot Ness

Eliot Ness

Posted
Posted
........ I'm getting an error message when I try to contact their internet site to look at the tour and make a reservation..........Anybody know anything about a problem??......

Like Sheffie mentioned it was working for me last night also, but tonight I'm getting an error. I'm sure it will be back up pretty soon.

 

John

Link to comment
Share on other sites
dawne577

dawne577

Posted
Posted

We inquired about the extreme tour and were told that only 3 others had signed up(this was mid-January). Since then I've asked a few questions directly through their email and got no response. So, a few days ago I went back through the info page, signed up again and have heard nothing back. What should I assume? We are not going to be home when they call for confirmation. After everything I've read hear I was extremely excited about the tour with them but know I'm wondering if I shouldn't book through the cruiseline. HELP!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Linda the Book Lover

Linda the Book Lover

Posted
Posted

I booked a tour for myself in April but since I have not come across any other CC people going I am concerned about going alone. I don't know if I am just being a nervous Nelly because that is a long way in a van that might break down (and I am without a travel companion). The DH suggested booking with the ship (though it will not be as nice as this personalized tour with stories). Has anyone else traveled alone and your thoughts would help. Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SunFunCruiser

SunFunCruiser

Posted
Posted
I booked a tour for myself in April but since I have not come across any other CC people going I am concerned about going alone. I don't know if I am just being a nervous Nelly because that is a long way in a van that might break down (and I am without a travel companion). The DH suggested booking with the ship (though it will not be as nice as this personalized tour with stories). Has anyone else traveled alone and your thoughts would help. Thanks!

 

 

I really wouldn't worry. When we went we went on a big, new Mercedes bus!!

He had a cell phone and pkenty of people he knew drove by.

I'm sure you'll be just fine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
debdawn62

debdawn62

Posted
Posted

Linda, my dh and two dd's are booked with David & Ivan for the extreme tour (if it makes it) on 4/7. Their site states this is a 6hr tour, which seems to be cutting it close since we are only in port for 7hrs. on the Holiday. I informed them of this concern and they still booked us on the Extreme, so they must know more than us. I hope!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kelz66

kelz66

Posted
Posted
My thought exactly kelz66...I booked it two weeks ago!

 

But, now I think I'll be crushed if Liberty diverts to Jamaica on our cruise :(

 

Oh well...fingers & toes crossed!

 

WOW...I'll even cross my eyes for that...LOL

We were just informed that we are going to Costa Maya instead of Cozumel, so that is why I was looking into this.

 

Why would they divert your cruise away from here?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...