Mayan Culture and Chocolate

Learning
February 13, 2019
Good learning experience about chocolate and Mayan ruins.
Reviewer: Mary Chung
5 Stars
Chocolate tour was great, but left 1/2 hr late
October 29, 2018
The visit to the chocolatier was fabulous. Such a lovely personal touch and inside view of traditional chocolate production from beginning to end with yummy tortilla breakfast provided fresh off the open fire. Was disappointed with our 1/2 hour late departure. Turns out the tour guide spent that time selling the last remaining seats to people walking off the ship. This is not acceptable
Reviewer: Margaret Eggertson
4 Stars
Something unique!
May 29, 2018
We were on a small group tour with 10 people. Counting the driver and guide made 12. They showed up in a VERY tight 12 passenger van. This made it very difficult for the customers (all senior citizens) to crawl into the middle and back rows. Once in van all was ok. Chocolate tour was great because we met the elderly woman who won the world's best chocolate award from like 10 years ago (Mexico flew her to Italy to compete and she won!). Great story. We were fed and given bottled water and coffee there while we watched and participated in her chocolate making process. Next was a Mayan ruins stop. Our guide got us a close parking spot and moved us through the complex of ruins at a steady pace with very informative narration. The time spent at both locations seemed just right. There was enough time for some shopping at both locations. Got back to the ship 2 hours before it was time to sail. I highly recommend this tour even with the tight conditions in the travel van.
Reviewer: John
5 Stars
Mayan Culture and Chocolate
March 10, 2018
This was a wonderful surprise and a true local experience. We went to Josephine's house, had a marvelous breakfast under her amazing bougainvillea and then she roasted and ground cocoa beans letting us help.
Reviewer: Mary L. Gorman
5 Stars
Chocolate
February 05, 2018
What a delightful excursion for a small group. Our guide and hostess let us participate in roasting and grinding the cocoa nuts. The breakfast was unique and delightful and the hot chocolate was superb.
Reviewer: Nancy
5 Stars
Mayan Culture and Chocolate
November 07, 2017
Wow!!! Being invited into her home, sitting down being served a traditional Mexican lunch along with hot chocolate (on an extremely hot day) was fantastic. Then we were invited into making 100% chocolate from scratch - picking cacao pod, splitting it open, roasting it over an open fire, the husking it, and finally pressing them into a chocolate powder. The powder was then pressed into round cakes. We all had the chance to do each of the steps involved in the process. The hot chocolate was the best we ever drank. Hopefully this tradition of chocolate making will not be lost. The Mayan ruins were interesting and the talk given by our guide was very informative. Our tour guide and driver were excellent.
Reviewer: Heather and Robert McCleary
5 Stars
Worth the money
April 22, 2017
The visit to Josephina's time "chocolate factory" was a highlight of my Panama Canal cruise. Got to taste the pulp of the cocoa fruit, roast some of the cocoa beans on the fire griddle in her small courtyard and grind the roasted beans with her metate. She had us taste each step of the process. We even were served a breakfast tamal with mole sauce and REAL hot chocolate. The Mayan ruin is much older than those in the Yucatan and eastern Guatemala, so it was small and primitive (need to be prepared for that). The guide was great, too. Very interesting narrative on the drive to and from the ship.
Reviewer: Sue Ellen Gary
5 Stars
Mayan Chocolate
January 10, 2017
The tour was very good. Enjoyed going into the home and watching the chocolate being prepared. The breakfast was also very good.
Reviewer: Cathy Weber
5 Stars
mayan
December 21, 2016
Great tour and great guide
Reviewer: Charles miller
5 Stars