We were on a cruise and love chocolate so thought we would try the chocolate place. The bus ride…read moreout was good and when we arrived we first took a picture with one of the staff dressed in local costume (for purchase afterwards). We then entered an area to see how chocolate is made. Our hostess was very friendly and demonstrated how the process works. Be sure to bring small bills as tips are always appreciated. We then had time to taste and purchase chocolate and other items. They also have a bar where you can purchase drinks with chocolate in them. Nice on a hot day.

**INITIAL REVIEW**…read more Given the fact the Mayan Cacao Company (which I will shorthand to Mayan Cacao for the remainder of this review), as a locale has been designed for tourism, I will review the business on the fact most tourists' experience here will be "one and done." With that in mind, is Mayan Cacao worth it for a "one and done" locale for tourists? The answer is "YES!" Mayan Cacao is engaging enough with its tour and show that makes it interesting and memorable. And it should also be noted it is usually a stop on an excursion, ergo if people are concerned this is the only place they'll go to, take note it won't take your entire day. Though an address is provided, Mayan Cacao is located about 30 minutes southwest of San Miguel de Cozumel, the port city in which cruiseships come into the island. Mayan Cacao has thoroughly embraced not just its importance in making the unique brand of cacao that is popular around the world, but being a tourist attraction. For starters, when you enter, you can technically go straight to the store where Mayan cacao candy bars, coffee, and other cacao-based foods are sold (which I must stress is a-okay to take with you as long as they stay in their original packaging), but souvenirs of a distict artistry to Mayan culture. However, most tourists, especially those on excursions, will go through the tour. The beginning of the tour will provide you an opportunity to use the restrooms and take a picture with a female worker dressed as a traditional Mayan locale right next to the Mayan Cacao Company sign or mural. The tour consists of your tour guide giving details of Mayan culture including their numerology and calender, as well as a short movie showcasing how cacao is turned into chocolate. However, the highlight of the tour is the live demonstration of how Mayans made cacao back in their time, using the same ingredients they used then, and also demonstrating the tools they used at the time. Not only that, you get to sample the chocolate once it is done... which I have to say, DELICIOUS! The final leg of the tour brings you to a hut that sells alcoholic cocktails with cacao and the souvenir shop. Overall, the tour was about 20 to 30 minutes long. Ultimately, I am going to give Mayan Cacao a five-out-of-five star rating with this review. Just because they are five-out-of-five, does that make them perfect? No, of course not. Perfection has no rating because it goes beyond it. However, what they provide in both as a tourist stop and prominent chocolatier of Mayan cacao, it is definitely an unparalleled service and presentation that has sharpened like steel over its many years in service.

All staff members were excellent, the chocolate was delicious and the Mayan chocolate making was a…read moreunique one of a kind experience. The Melipona Bee is another one of a kind experienced. The honey tasting was also delicious and unique. Being able to compare two different kinds of honeys was awesome. I love honey and bees and there is no other experience like this one! The place was very nice and clean and the bathrooms spotless. The entire experience transports you to a different time in history, you feel completely relaxed and at peace with the place.

The Mayans used cacao as currency -- after one chocolate margarita, I'd happily do the same…read more Forget tequila -- this is the true spirit of Mexico. If tequila is Mexico's party drink, then cacao is its soul. The Maya Cacao Company in Cozumel takes you on a ride through 3,000 years of history, where chocolate wasn't just dessert -- it was currency, ritual, and even medicine. The Mayans were drinking cacao long before Europeans turned it into Hershey bars, and this place makes sure you taste that legacy in every sip. From the moment you step in, it feels like equal parts museum and tasting room. Guides walk you through the origins of cacao, from the Mayan belief that it was a gift from the gods to how beans were roasted, ground, and mixed into a bitter, frothy drink spiced with chili. You'll hear how cacao beans were once used as currency -- imagine paying your rent in hot chocolate! Then comes the tasting -- and this is where the Maya Cacao Company shines. Their drinks aren't just good; they're borderline spiritual: * Chocolate Margarita - smooth, rich, with just the right kick. A cocktail that shouldn't work, but does. * Luna Colada - think piña colada's mysterious cousin, infused with cacao for a tropical-meets-Mayan vibe. * Hot chocolate samples that feel like liquid history, spiced the way the ancients drank it. Yes, prices are a bit higher than you'd expect -- this isn't cheap grocery-store chocolate. But what you're buying is quality and heritage. The bars, powders, and drink mixes are perfect for bringing home a taste of Cozumel that isn't another fridge magnet. And making one of their cacao cocktails at home? Instant vacation flashback. The Mayans and Aztecs considered cacao sacred -- literally calling it "food of the gods." It was so important that Montezuma was said to drink dozens of cups of cacao daily for energy. Walking through this tour, you don't just hear about it -- you taste that history in every sip. The Maya Cacao Company is part history lesson, part tasting adventure, and totally worth the stop in Cozumel. It's pricier than a corner shop, but you're paying for craft, culture, and drinks so good you'll wish TSA allowed chocolate margaritas on board. Come for the history, stay for the cocktails, and leave with a suitcase that smells like cacao. Prices are higher, but so was Montezuma on cacao.

5 stars of fantastic! This excursion was over the top awesomeness! Such a wonderful time! Tiger…read moreand crew took us to two different spots for snorkeling based on our groups overall snorkeling experience and they did not disappoint. Fish, stingrays, starfish, and sea turtles! The entire crew was amazing and the photographer rocked! After snorkeling we were able to visit with Stingrays in the crystal blue waters while enjoying adult beverages, fresh fruit, sandwiches and some amazing guacamole! The guacamole was literally made while we enjoyed time in the water. I can't say enough about Tiger and the crew! Simply amazing!

Tiger, is the amazement of the Cozumel community. His guacamole at the sand bar is awesome. On my…read moretour I saw lobster, 5 turtles, and a few large stingrays. Tigers pole dances and beer selection is beyond reproach. Go get you some tiger merch. You will leave satisfied.

https://www.toursplaza.com. Click the link and you will see that they are no longer in business…read more I have used Tours Plaza multiple times over the years and always requested Gerry as my driver. Last November our stop in Cozumel was canceled due to the ship needing to avoid a storm. I contacted Tours Plaza and requested a refund as their policy stated "Full refunds will be given in the event that your cruise ship does not make port." They replied the following day, November 7, 0224 "Hola Margaret. We're sorry your cruise changed the itinerary, we'll issue the refund, you must receive it in the next 7 days. See you the next time! Kind regards". That was 5 months ago. I have never received my $233.20 refund despite repeated promises by Eduardo that the refund was being processed. On January 31, 2025 "Our clients are very important to us, I'll issue a refund right away, you should receive it in the next few days. I'll write to you in a few days in order to confirm this went through." Never happened. On 2/07/25 " Hola Margaret. The refund usually takes 7 day... We just checked the status and it's processing, you should see it at your account shortly. In any case we are monitoring the situation because our clients are very important to us! And your refund is absolutely correct. We'll write to you on Monday again, in order to check you received your refund correctly. Kind regards". Never received. He then pretty much stopped responding to my emails. I never received the refund. Today I receive an email from Tours Plaza regarding yet another reservation (upcoming) telling me that I will need to try and get my deposit back from my credit card company "Dear M, bad news, our site was been hacked and several reservations were deleted and money was stolen from us and while we investigate, and try to get back the stolen money from us, Tours Plaza is no longer online, please ask for your deposit refund at your bank or Visa Card. Best Regards Eduardo" I strongly advise against using this company. They can no longer be trusted. And that's a shame because they were my go-to tour guides for many years.

We booked a car for 3 people a month ahead of time. Eduardo was quick to confirm by email and gave…read moreexcellent instructions for our arrival. We met our driver KELLY at the assigned location and he was extremely courteous and knowledgeable. We knew ahead of time that we wanted between 3-5 hours of tour and had a couple of places in mind, the Chocolate factory & Tequila factory (both were very fun and educational), then over to the beach to just enjoy the coast. Kelly picked several stops along the way and made it real easy to just relax and have a great time. We were ready to go back to our ship after about 4 hours and had the BEST DAY POSSIBLE. Thank you Kelly for a pleasant, comfortable, and informative day. You made our visit truly memorable.

During our time in Rivera Maya, we booked an excursion with Alltournative to check out Coba ruins…read moreand the Mayan area. First, we started off in a Mayan town where we began our adventure. We did 2 ziplines, canoed, swam in the Cenote, and ate a delicious meal. Our tour guide Tonica was outstanding, explaining to us the culture of the Mayans and the history of the area. No phone are allowed during this portion, but there are lockers available to store your things. Our 2nd stop was at the Coba ruins, where we saw the Mayan temples in the town of Coba. It was a long walk to the main temple, but it was a cool experience and beautiful architecture to see. The whole trip was an all day adventure, but well worth it! Definitely recommend if your looking to learn about the culture of the area and the people who live here! :-)

This excursion was the highlight of the trip for myself and my 3 girlfriends. We were staying in…read moreCancun and it took us about an hour and half to get to Alltournative but it was so worth it! Our guide, Erik, could not have been more of a delight. He was so friendly and made the whole experience that much more incredible. His knowledge of the site and his safety tips helped us at each event. While we were there we went through several ziplines, snorkeled through ancient cenotes, rappelled, and got to eat some delicious and authentic Mexican food. I absolutely recommend this excursion for anyone looking for something exciting on their trip.

If you've never been to a cenote the what are you waiting for? Cenotes are these underground rivers…read morethat are all over Cancun. A lot of them are lit for effect and if you've been to Xel-Ha or Xplor then you know that they can be majestic and grand, but sometimes all the kids splashing around and screaming can be a bit much. That's why I like these out of the way ones that don't have as many visitors, but they are calm and quiet. All the guides I've had at these places are ecologists who are protective of the environment and are constantly hitting home about how the bats, the trees, the rivers, and the soil have a symbiotic relation with the land, so this is a good way to learn how to appreciate nature.

Basically we were stood up. We drive to the cenote and the tall guide said come back at 3 for a…read moreprivate tour; but at 3 he was in Playa del Carmen. The lady let us walk back to the cenote and look for free.

This is such a fun tour and beautiful tour of the island! We had a wonderful guide, Sergio, who…read moremade the trip more interactive! He sat and talked with the entire group and got to know us all. Amazing job!!

Our 3rd time doing the Cozumel bar hop, while on a recent cruise port stop in Cozumel. You know…read moreit's good when we keep coming back! Colleen was our amazing tour guide (again). She is just wonderful - very warm & friendly, and I love hearing her story of how she ended up in Cozumel. Our trusty driver was Lallo (sp) who navigated the roads, parking, and assisting us on and off the bus like a pro. All 4 beach bars we visited were beautiful and we had our share of delicious drinks & food. We especially love the peanut butter tequila at Rastas, which is the last stop. After the stops, the party music cranked up on the bus and we all sang along until we got safely delivered back to our cruise port of choice. We had such a fun group with us - shout out to the ladies from Alaska and their friend from Michigan. Next time you're in Cozumel, try put a tour and hopefully you'll have the wonderful Colleen as your guide.

What an amazing trip with Limbert and Luis. My wife is not…read morea confident snorkeller but with help from Luis and Limbert she went out into quite a rough sea to see the turtles and then snorkelled over some deep water in the cenote/caves. We both thoroughly enjoyed the half day trip and would recommend it to anyone. Limbert was a very knowledgeable guide and told us a lot about the history of Mexico on the drive down. Both were quite close to Playa Del Carmen/ Playacar so the longest drive was around thirty minutes. I got some great photos and at the end of the trip we were sent a Google Drive of the photos that Limbert had taken.

¡Un tour inolvidable gracias a Rod y Limbert!…read more Tuve la fortuna de vivir una experiencia única con el servicio de custom tour ofrecido por Rod, el propietario, y Limbert, nuestro guía turístico. Desde el primer momento, la atención fue impecable, personalizada y cálida. Limbert no fue solo un guía: se convirtió en un verdadero amigo que nos hizo sentir como invitados especiales en su propia casa. Su conocimiento sobre la cultura maya es impresionante, y visitar las ruinas con él fue como viajar en el tiempo --una experiencia educativa y fascinante que no habríamos tenido con nadie más. Además, nadar con las tortugas fue una experiencia fuera de este mundo. Limbert se encargó de que todo fuera seguro, organizado y, sobre todo, mágico. Nos llevó también a restaurantes maravillosos con auténtica comida mexicana, alejados de lo turístico y llenos de sabor local. Gracias a Rod y Limbert, mis vacaciones fueron mucho más que excelentes --fueron absolutamente memorables. Recomiendo este tour a cualquiera que quiera descubrir La península de Yucatán con profundidad, autenticidad y un toque personal inolvidable. An Unforgettable Tour Thanks to Rod and Limbert! I was lucky to experience a truly unique custom tour organized by Rod, the owner, and Limbert, our tour guide. From the very beginning, the service was impeccable--warm, personalized, and incredibly thoughtful. Limbert wasn't just a guide; he felt like a true friend welcoming us into his home. His knowledge of Mayan culture is outstanding, and visiting the ruins with him felt like traveling back in time--an educational and fascinating experience we wouldn't have had with anyone else. Swimming with the turtles was also absolutely out of this world. Limbert made sure everything was safe, smooth, and above all, magical. He also took us to amazing restaurants with authentic Mexican cuisine, far from the tourist traps and full of local flavor. Thanks to Rod and Limbert, my vacation was more than excellent--it was truly memorable. I recommend this tour to anyone who wants to discover the Yucatán Peninsula with depth, authenticity, and a personal touch you'll never forget.

Rio Secreto was an amazing experience!…read more I went to Cancun for a girls' trip, and honestly, I was very nervous because I didn't know what to expect. I tend to get anxious about new experiences, but I always try to push myself--knowing I'll be happy I did afterward. When you arrive, check-in takes place in a hidden, lush area with benches. A short video plays so you can get an idea of what Rio Secreto is all about. After that, you check in, sign your waivers, and meet your guide for the day. We totally lucked out--our guide, George, was incredible! The guide makes all the difference. George was full of life, personality, and knowledge. He truly immersed us in the caves and shared so much about Mayan culture. I can't say enough nice things about him! Your guide then takes you by van to the Rio Secreto caves, about a 15-minute drive on an unpaved, natural, and bumpy road. I don't get carsick, but if you're prone to it, you may want to take something beforehand. The ride itself is scenic and surrounded by lush greenery. Once you arrive, you'll find lockers, showers, bathrooms, and seating areas. Be prepared to remove all jewelry, as it's not allowed in the caves--the water must remain pure. You'll take a quick shower before putting on your wetsuit and water shoes (they provide them, or you can bring your own). You'll also wear a helmet with a light. The facility is extremely clean and well-maintained. I was genuinely impressed by how often they sanitized the equipment, floors, and bathrooms. Once you're geared up, you take about a 10-minute walk to the caves. Before entering, you'll participate in a beautiful Mayan ceremony meant to cleanse your spirit--and take a quick group photo. Important tip: You cannot bring your cell phone! Let it go and just enjoy the moment. A photographer will take pictures throughout the tour, and trust me, it's worth it. Walking and swimming through the caves while listening to George share stories about the Mayans, the legends, and the discovery of Rio Secreto was truly magical. The water is cool at first, but you get used to it quickly. Floating through the crystal-clear water surrounded by stunning cave formations took my breath away. After the tour, you're treated to a delicious meal--including handmade tortillas! An amazing day and an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend Rio Secreto!

My first time in Cancun. I heard many great things about Rio Secreto had a wonderful time …read more.. Highly recommended our guide was Ricardo he did great job explaining everything very friendly and informative. Thank you Ricardo