chacchoben ruins question

[PrincessCindi]

Hello
I am cruising Nov 6th and I spoke w/ DCL yesturday and it is up i the air if we will be going to Grand Cayman or Costa maya... so I was doing some research on Costa maya.
The chacchoben ruins tour looks very interesting can anyone give me feedback if you have done this and even more importantly what are the walking conditions like ... my parents are interested too and I was wondering how much walking and climbing there is???
Thanks

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

We just took this excursion last Thursday and very much enjoyed it. We have two children, ages 5 and 8 who found it very interesting. For the most part, the walk is flat and in shaded areas. There is, however, a large elevated platform with two temples at the end of the path that seniors would probably not be able, or want, to climb. The steps are high and steep without any railing. You could, however, walk up them while touching the "side" wall to give you a little more balance. There were a few in our group that just decided to sit it out and wait for the group to come back down the steps. The bus that goes to the site was very comfortable and our tour guide, Dora, very informative. We're glad we did this one. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to IM me.

 

[allears]

Hi!
We were just on the 9/27 cruise that went to Costa Maya. We did the Chacchoben excursion and enjoyed it very much. It is a long bus ride, about an hour and ten minutes. But the bus was great and it is where you get a good portion of the history from your guide. Ours was named Diana and she was wonderful. The site is really neat. The walking is a little rocky and you need to watch your step, but there isn't a lot of rugged terrain or hills to climb. You have the option toward the end to climb the temple steps at two different spots - one is easier to climb than the other - or to wait at the bottom. My 77 year old Aunt was with us and she decided not to climb but there were many other seniors who did. We were out there for about an hour and 45 minutes, but a lot of that time was spent standing and listening. She did great and recommends the tour; if they're in walking condition they should be just fine.

It is a site that is still being excavated so it's not one of the larger more reconstructed sites. We still found it very fascinating and a great tour.

 

[ppiew]

We were there a year ago and really enjoyed it! The bus ride is long, but the busses were very nice and the tour guide was excellent. He was so proud of his heritage and it really showed! The ruins are in the process of being restored/excavated so it is great to see the past - present - and future, as some are fully restored and others are not. It was a relaxing walk in the shade to see the ruins. We were 2 seniors (65 yrs old) daughter (39), son (40). daughter in law (38) children ages 2 and 7. We were very glad we had the opportunity to see this area.

 

[PrincessCindi]

Thank you so much for your responses ... it helps alot!!!

 

[AnnMorin]

For our Dec. 4th cruise. Those ruins look great with the temples and such! Much more inviting than tulum.

 

[Skuba2]

You may want to search for some Grand Cayman sites to see if the island is open yet. Last I heard, they were still closed to visitors and only allowing people to fly in to transfer to Little Caymen or Caymen Brac.

I will be interested to hear from the cruisers who finally do make it there. The island was pretty devastated. I heard the turtle farm was "gone". Now, exactly what gone means I don't know----anyone else know? We have been to the island a few times for dive vacations and live-aboard dive boats.

DG

 

[Bumbles]

The Turtle Farm is not gone. This is straight from the Cayman Islands newspaper:

http://www.caymannetnews.com/2004/10/741/turtles.shtml

And Tulum is much more interesting than Chacchoben. I saw my first set of ruins there and they were nice. Then I hit ruins in Guatemala and then Tulum...both blew Chaccohoben away.

Is it a nice way to spen time in Costa Maya? Sure. Are they the best ruins in Mexico? Not by any means

 

[AnnMorin]

Originally posted by Bumbles
The Turtle Farm is not gone. This is straight from the Cayman Islands newspaper:

http://www.caymannetnews.com/2004/10/741/turtles.shtml

And Tulum is much more interesting than Chacchoben. I saw my first set of ruins there and they were nice. Then I hit ruins in Guatemala and then Tulum...both blew Chaccohoben away.

Is it a nice way to spen time in Costa Maya? Sure. Are they the best ruins in Mexico? Not by any means

I thought Tulum did not have any temples or pyramids?

 

[allears]

Is it a nice way to spen time in Costa Maya? Sure. Are they the best ruins in Mexico? Not by any means

I don't think the OP was looking for the best ruins ever, just some specific feedback on Chaccohoben.