Costa Maya is a popular port for cruise shore excursions in Mexico. It offers crystal clear waters, clean beaches, authentic Mexican food, local artifacts shopping, snorkeling and plenty of kids activities including dolphin adventure.
Costa Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico
After visiting beautiful Cozumel island, we took overnight cruise journey to reach Costa Maya, Mexico. Our plan was to visit a famous Mayan Ruins site located at Chacchoben, The Land of the Red Corn. This archaeological site showcases the history of ancient Mayan city that flourished around 300 AD.
We took a guided tour and were lucky to have a local guide that was well versed in the history of the site. The one hour drive passed quickly with plenty of learning about Mayan history, including their early settlement, flourishing and eventual downfall. Serious efforts have been made in recent years to revive the ancient temples and sacred sites.
As fresh graduates of Mayan history we anxiously reached the site. The site requires plenty of walking and climbing so make sure you wear comfortable shoes, carry plenty of water and apply sunscreen. The service area at the site offers water, snacks and rest rooms.
After a short walk, we came across multiple pyramids and temples located at the site. Each pyramids had a different architecture and represented different purpose in the Mayan lifestyle. There were dedicated structures and sites for religious ceremonies, cultural events and astronomy.
Some of the famous temples of the site are Templo 24, Plaza B and Temple One. We climbed Gran Basamento and experienced stunning views of the green forest around the site. Many pyramids and temples are still covered in vegetation and excavations are continuing to restore them.
We also learned interesting details about local flora and fauna. The site is perfect blend of nature and history, encircled with palm trees and variety of unusual plants. The surrounding jungle hosts animal species like deer, fox, monkey and jaguar. Be careful if you plan to venture on your own!
On the way back we stopped at a local restaurant that served freshly-cooked authentic Mexican food. It was super tasty!! After grand fiesta, we headed back to our cruise ship with fond memories of the ancient history of a lost world.
Rating: 4* out of 5.
Helpful Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chacchoben