Nov 18, 20236 min read

Uncovering the Mysteries of Chacchoben: A Journey through the Maya Ruins of the Yucatán Peninsula

Traveling to Chacchoben Mayan Ruins

My travels to the Chacchoben Maya Ruins began at the port of Costa Maya, Mexico. I traveled to the port of Costa Maya by sailing on the beautiful Carnival cruise ship Mardi Gras. Prior to sailing, I booked all of my on-shore excursions via the cruise line website, and I highly advise all travelers to do the same for safer, more convenient on-shore travel experiences. When deciding on exciting on-shore excursions, prices will vary depending on your travel preferences. However, for this on-shore excursion, I booked the VIP Chacchoben Maya Ruins small group tour because this archeological site had been on the top of dream destination list for several years. The small-group tour cost around $100 U. S. dollars and it was well worth the extra cost.

For travelers not interested in on-shore excursions, the Costa Maya port offers a full day of fun with lovely shops, swimming pools, restaurants, and other beautiful exhibits. The stunning mural that represents the self-portrait painting of the legendary Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) is a must see, and all travelers should make sure to check out the majestic coral creatures seen in the video below.

During my VIP experience to the Chacchoben Maya Ruins, I traveled in a comfortable, air-conditioned van with less than 10 other travelers. We had an exceptional tour guide who was an expert in ancient Maya culture and history. Since the trip to Chacchoben from the Costa Maya port is approximately a one-hour drive through the Yucatán Peninsula, the small number of travelers and air-conditioned bus made the excursion extremely comfortable and a lot of fun. While driving to Chacchoben, we learned many fascinating details about the Yucatán Peninsula and ancient Maya civilizations. Once we arrived at Chacchoben, we truly felt connected to the people and culture that once existed among the ruins of this archeological site.

Arriving at Chacchoben Archeological Site

Once we arrived at Chacchoben, our tour guide led us through this marvelous ancient city where a community of Maya people lived nearly 2000 years ago. My tour guide even offered to take photos of the members in our tour group and easily answered every question we had about the ruins and the people who once lived there. Although it is optional, we also had the privilege of being able to climb up the Gran Basamento Temple, the largest existing temple on this archeological site. A photo of me standing at the top of the steps of the Gran Basamento Temple is shown at the end of this blog. It is important to take a moment to note that travelers who want to take videos while visiting Chacchoben will be required by the Mexican government to pay a small fee, which can be paid on site at the Chacchoben Visitor’s Center. Once the required fee is paid, travelers will receive a small ticket with a permission number that should be kept in a safe place, even after your trip, in case you decide to post any of your travel videos on the Internet.

Brief History of Chacchoben Maya Ruins

Nestled in the jungle of the Yucatán Peninsula, just an hour from the Costa Maya port, sits the Chacchoben Maya Ruins, one of the most sophisticated ancient Maya civilizations in all of Mexico. Chacchoben, meaning the "place of red corn," is one of 4,400 known ancient Maya cities located across Mesoamerica, an historical area that includes, but is not limited to, modern-day Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala. Chacchoben is thought to have been inhabited by Maya people between 200 and 300 B. C.; however, some sources speculate that it may have been inhabited as early as 1000 B. C. The ruins of the architectural structures at Chacchoben are believed to have been completed by 700 A. D. and serve as the main attractions of this archeological site. These impressive, pyramid-shaped, stone structures were used as temples, places of worship, administrative centers, and trade centers by the Maya people who once lived there. Chacchoben was abandoned around 900 A.D..

Our tour guide told us that many Maya people knew about the ancient city of Chacchoben long before it was reported to the Mexican government in 1972. In fact, in the 1940s the Chacchoben Maya ruins were discovered by a Maya family who lived near the archeological site for many years (Mark, 2019). However, it wasn’t until 1972 that the existence of this site was reported to the Mexican government by American Archeologist Dr. Peter Harrison. Harrison happened to be flying over the jungle of the Yucatán Peninsula and caught a glimpse of the ancient city of Chacchoben, which had been hidden from the public for over 1000 years. The archeological survey and excavation did not begin until the late 20th century, and, subsequently, Chacchoben opened to the public in 2002. Sources inform us that the original name of this city is unknown.

History does reveal, however, that the people of the ancient Maya civilizations were highly gifted in astronomy, mathematics, music, art, and archeology, as evidenced by the Chacchoben Maya temples towering over this archeological site. In addition, the ancient Maya people, along with the Sumerians, Egyptians, Indians, and Chinese, were one of only five groups of people throughout history to have created a root writing system that did not mimic any previously established language. The ancient Maya civilizations were also known for their sophisticated calendars that accurately predicted astrological events hundreds of years before modern-day scientific and technological advancements. Archeological finds have also uncovered pieces of art from ancient Maya civilizations indicating that religious ceremonies and music were an important part of their culture. Although to my knowledge, there is no existing music from the Chacchoben archeological site, many sources indicate that the music of ancient Maya civilizations included vocal chants, percussive rhythms, wooden flutes, rattles, and bugles or trumpet-like instruments. Some of the instruments would have been used to mimic sounds heard in nature, such as bird calls and the rattling of snakes.

What To Bring and Wear to Chacchoben

I took this excursion at the end of June when the weather is quite hot in Central America. So, I decided to wear linen shorts and a light-weight cotton and silk top made by Tommy Bahama. Tommy Bahama is a company well-known for manufacturing beautiful long-lasting linen clothing. Travelers should also make sure to wear a sun-hat and sunglasses to Chacchoben. I wore a beautiful sun-hat manufactured by Nordstrom and one of my favorite pairs of sunglasses, which were designed by Gucci and purchased at Bloomingdales. I also made sure to wear sunscreen, although much of the walk throughout the archeological site is nicely shaded by the trees in the Yucatán Jungle. Travelers may also want to bring bug repellent in case of pesky mosquitos and flies. However, during my trip, there was no need for bug repellent, and the walk through the site was quite comfortable, except for a small muddy passage along the path. Therefore, make sure to wear comfortable closed-toe shoes for this type of excursion. I wore a pair of Nike’s Airmax 270, which I also purchased at Nordstrom. One last thing to note about the weather, although it was very hot in the month of June, there was barely any humidity, so a pair of jeans and a She Trips USA and Beyond travel t-shirt would have been perfectly comfortable. Also, do not forget to bring a comfortable backpack or a day-trip travel bag for carrying your travel journal, wet-wipes, snacks, drinks, and any souvenirs that you may want to purchase while visiting Chacchoben. You will also need to bring cash because the gift shop offers an array of beautiful souvenirs. You may also purchase snacks at the visitor center before or after you begin your tour. However, if you take a VIP small-group tour, refreshments are offered while driving to and from the Costa Maya port.

Chacchoben Maya Ruins, Mexico — The Gran Basamento Temple

P. S.

You may be happy to know that although wild animals such as Pumas, Jaguars, and Ocelots do live in the jungle of the Yucatán Peninsula, there is no need to worry about these creatures invading the Chacchoben archeological site while you are visiting. You might, however, hear happy tourists blowing jaguar-sounding instruments, but breathe easy, it's just a souvenir that can be purchased across the Yucatán!

As Always Safe Travels!

Nadine Traveler