Tour Reviews

Randy Garret
Temple, TX
Mayan Experience
RCCL Voyager of the Seas

An experience we'll remember for the rest of our lives.

To say we enjoyed our tour is an understatement

Hello Senor Ivan,

I was reviewing details of the excursion we had with you on line and came across your e-mail address. The experience you provided my family (Zumo/Garrett) will be remembered for the rest of our lives. Your spontaneous talks on a variety of subjects were priceless. If I had known I would have brought my video camera. I hope the throwing of my hat on the floor during the senora’s dance was received in the respectful way I intended it. I suppose we were really getting into the Mayan experience of the moment. The experience seems like a dream now, it was so exotic and pleasant.

Let me know if you want any more photos of the ruins, you, or the home you took us to in the village.

Hasta la vista,
Randy Garrett

Danny & Valerie Aaron
Marshallville, Georgia
Chacchoben Ruins
Carnival Glory

A really special tour!

We toured the ruins of Chacchoben with Ivan in February 2009 from our cruise on the Carnival Glory. It was certainly one of the highlights of our trip. The ruins themselves are magnificent. But what made the tour really special was Ivan's vast knowledge and personal attention.

On the drive to the ruins, Ivan gave us a background about the Mayan people and culture as well as the surrounding area. He even stopped by the road and bought some fresh pineapple for us to try. It was topped with a locally grown pepper -- delicious. My husband enjoyed it so much, he asked to stop on the way back to buy some of the spice to take home. He was happily accommodated. I think that little bag of spice is his most prized souvenir of the trip!

Our group was relatively small - about twelve of us. This allowed Ivan to give us personal attention and answer all of our many questions. I noticed that several other tour groups went through that were much larger than ours and seemed to move much faster. We were so happy to have the individualized attention.

I cannot say enough about Ivan's knowledge - simply amazing. He gave us a through background on the ruins and answered every question we through at him. He even gave us a lengthy (and very interesting) explanation of the Mayan calendar and why it ends at 2012! He also has a huge knowledge of the native plants and their medicinal uses. He gave me an allspice leaf and suggested I make a tea of it to help me sleep -- it worked!

We cannot recommend this trip enough! Definitely tour Chacchoben with David & Ivan!

The Eagles Family
New Orleans, LA
Mayan Experience
Carnival Glory

Definitely the highlight of our cruise.

I felt that I needed to drop a note to you, Ivan, to let you know how much we enjoyed our recent Mayan Experience tour. We learned so much about the Mayan culture. This was definitely the highlight of our cruise. The meal with our Mayan family was truly a special experience. Our kids continue to talk about the food and the people.

We will be cruising to Costa Maya again in Feb 2010 and will definately book another tour with Native Choice and would be honored to have you as our guide. Also, we wanted to let you know how pleased we were with the drive with Noel. She was so easy to talk to and answered all of our questions. It was truly a pleasure to spend time with her. We will be letting all of our friends know to book with your company!

Thanks again for the memories!

The Yarger Family
New Columbia, PA
Chacchoben Ruins
Carnival Glory

Would recommend this tour to anyone.

We cruised on the Glory two weeks ago. We booked the Chacchobben Mayan Ruins tour a few months before. We met David at the Port, where he got the group together (only about 20 of us) and loaded us onto an air conditioned bus. The ride to the runis took about an hour, but David made it interesting by sharing facts about Belize, the culture, the people.

We made a brief stop on the way at a roadside pineapple stand where David jumed off the bus and then came back with fresh pineapple slices for al of us to try. Yum! David made the tour of the ruins very interesting, even for my two kids & nephew! He shared his vast knowledge of the Mayan culture with us as we toured the site.

We would recommend this tour to anyone, of any age!! Not to be missed!

Diane Baker
Gainesville, FL
Chacchoben Ruins
Grandeur of the Seas

The most knowledgable guide you could hope for.

Like everybody else booking tours, you always hope you're going to get the best one. Stop looking. This is it. This tour will give you the small group, the comfortable ride but most importantly, the most knowledgable guide that you could hope for. Ivan is a native of this very place. He doesn't just rattle off a bunch of pat, well memorized phrases. He loves this land, this culture and these people. He wants to share this with you.

You will not be disappointed, I promise.

Marla Chiriboga
Orlando, Florida
Chacchoben Ruins
Carnival Miracle

Wonderful tour.

Ivan was our guide for this wonderful tour. We had a small group (maybe 6 people?) and we thoroughly enjoyed it. He is knowledgeable about the ruins, having grown up in the area, and was very informative. We enjoyed walking around and taking lots of photos.

The van ride was also interesting as we learned so much about the culture and the area. Ivan stopped to purchase pineapple with chili powder from a local woman for us to taste. Sounds strange, but very good!

We would highly recommend this company to anyone wanting to see and learn about the ruins.

Gayle Horton
Cincinnati, OH
Mayan Experience
HAL Veendam

A first class operation

We were met at the cruise terminal by Ivan and his staff. This is a first class operation. I was impressed as to how easy it was to tour with Native Choice. We were on our way before the cruise ship tours started. I had a party of 9 and we shared our van (in excellant condition) with another lady who was traveling with another party in the van following us. Ivan told us about what was happening to his country and the impact it will be having on his countrymen. For tourists it will be spectacular, but for the "natives" something to be sad for. Ivan took us to Chacchoben Ruins, which is where he grew up. As Ivan took us around the ruins, you can hear in his voice, the feelings he has for this magnificient place. We had plenty of time to spend looking around and taking in the beauty. I ran into a cruise ship tour that was left to roam around by themselves, not ever getting to have the special "small" tour we had. I asked what their arrangements were after the tour, and the reply was they were to be given box lunches. The best part of our tour was yet to begin. We were having lunch in Ivan's Mayan Village, where he still lives. Unbeknowst to us, our tour was at least double in its size and the ladies who prepared the food did not miss a beat in the food quanity or quality. The hospitality and friendliness of the hosting family was amazing. We cannot say enough about the food and how it was prepared. We brought a few gifts for the ladies, and felt we could have done more. This was the best tour our entire trip. Much Luck to you Ivan and David. Thank You for sharing your knowledge and your village with us.
Gayle, MaryLou, MaryEllen, Joyce, Jane, Kim, Elaine, Nellie, and Gordon.

Carole Blank
Montreal, Canada
Mayan Experience
HAL Veendam

A perfect day

As I look out of my window at the falling snow, I think back to last week when my husband and I were in Costa Maya and enjoying "different" weather. Most definitely a perfect day, even tho' we ended up not taking the exact trip we had anticipated. (we had booked the Extreme). We couldn't have been more delighted and greatly appreciated your efforts to get fish meals for us at such late timing. I have already told my travel agent to encourage clients to use your company.

Thank you again and again.... we were delighted, in every aspect of t he day.

Sincerely, Carole and Howard from Montreal, Quebec, Canada
until our next visit....