Izapa Ruins & Chocolate Demonstration

Admire the lush tropical rainforest as you travel north from Puerto Chiapas into the Guatemala Highlands. Just 45 minutes later, you'll arrive at Izapa, one of the most interesting Mayan sites in the region and the setting of the first human settlers about 3,500 years ago. During your guided tour of the Section F, you'll stroll past cobbled pyramids, sculptured plazas and squares, ceremonial platforms and stone-carved monuments that date roughly from 300 B.C. to 100 B.C. Next, you'll travel to Tuxtla Chico and learn the history of the sacred cacao bean, watch a chocolate making demonstration, from plant, roasting, grinding and kneading of the cocoa beans to get to the final chocolate product, and enjoy a sample. With the awe of Mayan ruins and the taste of chocolate on your lips, you'll return to your ship.