Tour Reviews

Barbara Christe
Indianapolis, IN
Chacchoben Ruins
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Ivan's stories were the highlight of the trip

Our tour with Ivan went far beyond an identification and explanation of the ruins.

Ivan is able to provide an insight into the lives of Mayans that brings history alive. My children were fascinated as Ivan explained what the ruins looked like when he was a child and where he played hide and seek. Ivan described how the structures fit into daily life and simply brought the culture and the landscape into focus. This was not like other tours! Ivan, himself, is a fascinating individual who blends tradition and the modern world. His stories were the highlight of the trip for myself and my children.

We are grateful to have spent time in Chacchoben!

Barbara Christe Program Director,
Biomedical Engineering Technology Associate Professor,
Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology Department Indiana University
Purdue University Indianapolis

Tom & Terri Reinman
Portland, OR
Chacchoben Ruins
Carnival Miracle

Very professional and intimate tour

Dear Ivan and David,

Thank you so very much for a very professional and intimate tour of the Chacchoben Ruins. We visited Costa Maya on the MS Miracle in January, and were very impressed with the excellent tour that you provided for us.

We learned so very much about the Mayan culture, the Yucatan, and the ruins during our tour.
We really appreciated the nearly new passenger van that you used, and the speaker system that allowed those of us at the back to hear your wonderful narration as we drove.

There were six in our group (compared to 50-60 on other tours) which made it very easy for any of us to ask questions during the ride to the ruins.

We would highly recommend your tour to anyone who wants more than just a look at the ruins.

Sincerely,
Tom and Terri Reiman

Karen White
Carrollton, TX
Chacchoben Extreme
RC Splendour of the Seas

The experience of a lifetime

Dear Ivan,

I wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our tour with Carolina.
We went on the Chacchoben Extreme Tour, and it was the experience of a lifetime.

Carolina was wonderful - she answered all our questions and
took awesome care of us. She made us feel like her family.

I would highly recommend your tours to anyone. We learned so much about the Mayan culture not only the culture of the past, but we now have much appreciation and admiration for the current Mayan culture as well.

Our lunch was amazing!

Thank you!

Karen White
Carrollton, TX 75010

Michael and Terri Taylor
Montgomery, AL
Chacchoben Ruins
Carnival Holiday

One of the best experiences of my life.

This was one of the best experiences of my life. Before our trip, I had researched different excursions and read many positive things about Ivan and his tour of the ruins. Thirteen members of my family were on this trip and nine of us went with Ivan's tour and my brother's family of four bought the excursion from the ship and rode on a bus separate from us with a different tour guide.

We had an awesome time and learned so much. Ivan gave us such a personal tour. Needless to say, my brother and his family did not enjoy the trip. I got to say "I told you so" many times! I have emailed Ivan several times this past year since our trip because he felt like such a friend to our family. I can promise that if you choose "the Native Choice" for your tour, you won't feel like you were dumped together in a crowd or be bored in any way. I hope that we can return to this beautiful place again someday.

The Taylor Family - Mike, Terri, Kristian, Sarah Kate, Anna Beth, Amanda, and Sydney

Richard and Bethany Creas
Derby Line, VT
Chacchoben Ruins
Carnival Miracle

Amazing experience

Our appologies for taking so long to write.

We toured the ruins with David over a year ago and have not once stopped talking about the amazing experience we had. David's knowledge of the ruins as well as the culture and flora and fauna of the region is unparalleled. The small group experience allowed all of us to ask questions and receive answers without fear of getting lost in the babble.

Indeed, there were other guests to the site, from other cruise tours, who started hanging around our small group. With a guide like David you never felt lost in the herd. With a guide like David, you were glad you were "lost" in the jungle, entranced by the remains of a fascinating ancient culture.

We enjoyed our trip so much that we are seriously considering taking another tour with Native Choice on our next Western Caribbean holiday. It speaks volumes that our decision to rebook with Native Choice has less to do with where they take us than it has to do with how they treat their patrons and what we will discover once we get there.

Steven McKosky
Dallas, Texas
Chacchoben Ruins
Miracle

Very impressive site

Ivan,

I just wanted to tell you how much my family and I enjoyed your tour of the Chacchoben ruins on Tuesday 12/13. Before our trip, I had read lots of great reviews of the tour on the internet, and you & David lived up to all of them and then some! Seeing the ruins was a very impressive site. But that’s not what made the tour so great; it was your ability to tell personal stories about the Mayan history as well as YOUR personal history with the site. As I’ve told others, I felt like even if I had been able to stay on the tour for two full weeks I still wouldn’t even have begun to scratch the surface of the amount of wonderful and amazing stories you could tell thru your experiences. Keep up the good work and I wish you both the best!

Sincerely,
Steven McKosky
Dallas, Texas

Mary, Dave and David
USA
Chacchoben Ruins
Explorer of the Seas

Wonderful tour of the ruins

Dear Ivan:

We want to again extend our thanks for the wonderful tour of the ruins you really know your stuff. There is nothing like standing right on the grounds of something so historical and ancient.

My son is doing his school report on the Mayan Ruins and what he learned from you is incomparable to the impersonal, and cold hard data facts, he learned from his books.
Thank you again!!

..Mary, Dave and David...

Jonathon and Jeani Englan
Ntlakyapamuk People Canada
Chacchoben Ruins
Ziuderdam

Wonderful personal service

Dear David and Ivan,

My husband and I wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed your tour, and the wonderful personal service you gave us before we even met you.

David, as our tour director (Ivan had laryngitis), did an absolutely fantastic job. From the time of the greeting, where he showed us where we could wait on the beach with a cold beer, all the way to dropping us right next to where we got back on our boat, we didn't have a moments worry... just a good time.

His explanations of the Mayan culture, his family stories, and the way he took time with each of us made this tour the best one we had on our vacation. The time we spent with the Mayan family was a great learning experience. I particularly wanted to thank David for setting up time for us to speak with and be blessed by Don Goyito.

I would encourage anyone reading this to look no further for a tour guide in Costa Maya. The Native Choice is the perfect tour excursion. Small groups, great people, and great prices.

David and Ivan... You're the best!