Discover Chacchoben
The word 'chacchoben' in Maya means “the place of the red corn” and you can find these spectacular ruins less than an hour south of Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Not as touristy as other ruins on the peninsula, Chacchoben was founded around the year 200 B. C. in the pre-classic era of the Maya civilization and it’s one of the most important Maya cities of La Region de los Lagos.Spanning nearly six square kilometers, the site is surrounded by jungle so expect to see monkeys, tropical birds and other wildlife. It’s said that the site was originally discovered in 1942 by a local Maya family who decided to settle and farm the land in and around the unexcavated ruins. It wasn’t until 1972 that the site was recorded by the Mexican government when a traveling archaeologist stumbled across the family. El Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) began excavating in the mid-90s and the site started welcoming tourists and enthusiasts in 2002. Despite making it their private home for three decades, the Maya family could not officially own the land around this culturally significant site. Instead they took the title of Honorary Guards and still live nearby where their house can be seen amongst the ruins. Chacchoben is a site riddled in mystery. The earliest human settlements in the area around Chacchoben are suspected to be 1000 B.C. although the earliest evidence found by archaeologists within the ruins dates from 200 B.C. The evidence collected during the excavations suggests that the site was abandoned and reoccupied a few times and this would explain the significant difference between when many of the structures were built. It is suspected that the site was abandoned for the final time around 1000 A.D.Visitors to the Chacchoben site today are able to walk and see three excavated pyramids, as well as many smaller artifacts and buildings. Excavation continues on several mounds which are known to contain further buildings but progress is slow. In some places you can see traces of the red paint which the stones were originally coated, and at the base of the largest pyramid is a large slab with a Maya hieroglyphic inscription which is not to be missed.Sign up for a guided excursion with us to Chacchoben and the nearby Bacalar lagoon as part of your Spanish or Maya immersion program, or, if you are wanting to explore on your own, your best bet is to rent a car and head south on the highway from Felipe Carrillo Puerto towards Chetumal. Follow directions towards Lazaro Cardenas (don’t be confused by Chacchoben village) and you will see the ruins on the west side of the road. The site is open from 8:00am-5:00pm every day*. Cruise ships that dock at the Costa Maya Port in Mahahual sometimes include Chacchoben in their excursions so if you’re making your own way there we’d suggest arriving early or waiting until the late afternoon to avoid the crowds and have this amazing Maya ruin site to yourself. *Hours may change so always check beforehand.
If you would like to read more about Mexican culture, history, cuisine and language, check out our blog page for our latest monthly articles. You can also sign up to our newsletter to receive these straight to your inbox along with the latest news about our non-profit school for local and Indigenous students in Felipe Carrillo Puerto.
The best way to experience the Mexican lifestyle is in person, with a Na’atik Immersion experience. Not only do you live with a local Mexican-Maya family, sharing home-cooked meals and free time, but also receive expert instruction in your chosen language at our school. Best of all, every immersion experience helps fund our subsidized and free local education program, helping local students to access opportunities and make their own futures.