Just last week I had the chance to visit Costa Maya’s Chacchoben Maya Ruins. While I have only been to Costa Maya once, I have been to Mexico over a dozen times and have never visited any of their famous ruins. So, this felt long overdue.
These ruins were not discovered until June of 1994 over 1000 years after Chacchoben was expected to have been occupied by the Maya civilization. After 8 years of excavation and restoration of the ruins, Chacchoben opened to the public in October 2022.
At the ruins you will see about 6 structures that represented ceremonial centers, temples, and homes of some of the Maya population. Upon visiting you will walk through a jungle, seeing monkey, plenty of natural plant remedies, and so much more.
Planning your visit you will need to prebook a tour that will pick you up right at the cruise terminal. We booked through Viator. You will drive about 45 minutes to the ruins where you will then be guided around the ruins for about an hour and a half with time to explore on your own. Be prepared for a lot of walking and stair climbing. Bug spray, sunscreen, a hat, and shoes you are okay getting dirty is a must. It would also be wise to bring water as it gets incredibly hot in Costa Maya. Our tour guide carried a backpack full of water for our group which was clutch.
After you tour the ruins there are local merchant gift shops as well as a concession stand cooking up local Mexican dishes. The pico and guacamole was AMAZING!
So on your next visit to Costa Maya I would highly recommend a visit to the Chacchoben Ruins or if you find yourself in other parts of Mexico, be sure to do your research and find some ruins. I promise it is worth the visit.
