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Authentic Mayan Cuisine Cultural Tour
3.3
3 Ratings
San Ignacio
Immerse yourself in the ancient Maya culture and the thriving Mennonite community on a cultural tour of Maya Village and Mennonites of Barton Creek. Explore stunning scenery and indulge in a delicious homemade lunch.
Duration:
6 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- San Antonio - San Antonio Village, locally known as “Osh Multun Kakab,” is home to 3,500 residents, most of whom have Mayan heritage. The village engages in subsistence farming, with local farmers cultivating crops like peanuts, corn, squash, and beans, similar to their ancestors. These products are sold at the San Ignacio market or to local restaurants. A group of nine Mayan women formed the San Antonio Women’s Co-op to support and empower the women and youth of San Antonio by preserving cultural traditions and arts. The cooperative was established to provide income opportunities, teach new skills, and share traditional knowledge with both the younger generation and visitors interested in Mayan culture. This tour offers an authentic cultural experience, featuring women in traditional, colorful attire and demonstrations of ancient Mayan corn-grinding techniques.
- AJAW Chocolate LTD. - Situated in San Ignacio Town, Ajaw Chocolate transports visitors to the era of the ancient Maya, when chocolate was a luxury reserved for the elite. Today, we think of chocolate in the form of bars or shaped pieces, but its origins lie in the seeds of the cacao fruit, which comes in various colors and shapes. These seeds were fermented, ground, and made into a paste for tea. Visitors can witness the traditional Mayan method of making chocolate using a stone grinder, see the seeds being transformed into a paste, and taste a rich chocolate drink spiced just as the ancient Maya elite enjoyed.
What's Included
- Rum punch included
- Local guide expertise
- Transportation via private vehicle
- Lunch with a drink provided
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Experience authentic Mayan cuisine while also learning customary pottery-making techniques. A full-day trip from San Ignacio to a Maya village of San Antonio takes you to the San Antonio Women’s Cooperative where you can uncover the surprisingly flavorful diet of the Maya and the techniques used to create their main dishes. Visitors have the opportunity to learn more about Mayan pottery and then enjoy a mouthwatering traditional local lunch. After lunch, we head back to San Ignacio to visit Ajaw Chocolate where we learn about the discovery of the world’s favorite comfort food, Chocolate. Discover how the ancient Maya became pioneers in the chocolate industry today.
- Vegetarian meal option available upon request
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- Due to the nature of this tour and the safety of all guests, the tour operator reserves the right to refuse service to passengers who are intoxicated or show signs of intoxication. If, as a result, your tour is canceled, you will not be entitled to a refund
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Location
19 Burns Avenue
Burns Avenue
Departure Point for most tours:
Address: MayaWalk Tours Main Office
19 Burns Avenue
San Ignacio Town
Cayo District
Belize, Central America
Directions: MayaWalk Tours Main Office located between Tandoor Restaurant and Belize Bank
Return point: Returns to original departure point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
3.3
(3 Ratings)
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1 star
Ann_b
Aug 13, 2023
Fantastic - We had a fantastic excursion learning about the Mayan culture today. Such wonderful people and delicious food. We will do this tour again for sure.
Review provided by Viator
833krisc
Feb 9, 2024
Interactive Tour - Jasmine was an excellent guide. The Mayan women’s cooperative was interesting and engaging. We ground corn for tortillas and enjoyed an excellent lunch. They were accommodating for a vegetarian meal. Since it was Sunday there was not much to see of the Mennonites, but Jasmine was very knowledgeable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Grabador
Feb 8, 2024
Don't Trust the Company - I went on two tours with Maya Walk. This negative review is based on my experience with the company - despite anything positive, I would not do business with them again. They did not deliver the tour that they advertised on their website, and when I shared my experience with them (via email), they did not respond. I hope this review helps others understand that MayaWalk will take your money, but will not care about the services/tours they deliver.
They were accommodating in the planning aspects: I wanted to go on a tour that didn't have anyone else on it, so they offered to take a note that I would be willing to pay for a second spot in order to go on the tour.
A day before the tour, while I was in their office, since no one else had signed up, they discussed the options (pay for the extra spot, or go on any of the other tours that were running). I opted to pay for an extra spot to meet the minimum number of passengers.
The tour was the Maya and Mennonite Cultural Village Tour. The tour did not match the description from the MayaWalk website. Specifically:
1. Regarding the Mayan portion of the tour, the website says "...Tour this lovely village and get a firsthand look at living Mayan culture..." We went to the women's co-op and saw how they manually mill corn as well as learned about pottery. This was interesting, but is a misrepresentation of "tour this lovely village." Additionally, the description suggests one could wander around to see the various activities, yet only 2 were available.
2. The website talks at length about the Barton Creek Mennonites and how they are "much like the Amish" and eschew technology. Instead of interacting with the Barton Creek Mennonites, I received a _driving tour_ of the Spanish Lookout Mennonite community, which embraces technology in their multifaceted businesses. This is quite a divergence from the website explanation: "Come explore this fascinating and reserved culture ... how things were before cell phones, cars, iPads, and even before electricity."
Had I been accurately informed about this tour, I would not have purchased my ticket for it, let alone paid for a second (vacant) spot to meet the minimum number of people.
I shared my experience with MayaWalk via email using the description above, and asked for a partial refund. I never heard back from them. For this reason, I will never do business with them again. Additionally, I hope this review helps others understand that MayaWalk will take your money, but will not care about the services/tours they deliver.
I mentioned I went on two tours with MayaWalk. The first tour (ATM Cave) went as planned; I have no complaints about it or the tour guides. My issue is with how the company addresses problems.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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