MayaSites Travel Services - What Our Clients Say About Us

"I wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed our tour of the Mayan sites. It was everything I wanted the children to experience. Our driver Ariel and guide Ricardo were great. We really enjoyed Merida and our favorite sites were Uxmal and Ek-Balam. We got a lot out of it and would highly recommend to anyone. We will be planning another trip! Thank you for your help."
-- Lisa R. (United States) Private family tour Dec. 2009

"Thank you very much. My husband and I had a great time this weekend. Juan and Ariel were both excellent, and we learned very much from them about the Mayan sites and Mexican culture. Thank you for helping us book the weekend - everything was fabulous and smooth. Sincerely,"
-- Priscilla C. (United States) Private tour Dec. 2009

“I wanted to extend a sincere thanks from Hannah and me on a most excellent Maya Land adventure! Maybe it was the howler monkey's primal wake-up on the first morning at the Chan Kah or the countless other highlights that followed as our tour unfolded. As I had shared with you, this was Hannah's and my first trip so we really appreciated your helpful advice prior to the trip and the accommodations/activities you arranged for us over the ensuing days. Alphonso was everything and more than what I expected. His good nature, humor, and willingness to entertain ANY question helped make this trip extra special. I especially want to pass on a very good word for our driver Manuel for his friendliness, helpfulness, and superb driving on all legs of our journey. Please relay this to him. I would heartily recommend this tour, and would appreciate you letting me know of future tours. I want to go back!
-- Glenn and Hannah L. (United States) Dec. 2009 Archaeology and Archaeo-astronomy tour in Palenque

“My husband and I really enjoyed our MayaSites trip to Palenque and other ruins in December. Alfonso did a great job of guiding us, plus our driver was very good at his job too. I also wanted to let you know that I have posted photos from our trip on Picasa. Feel free to take a look. Here's the link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/RichSheri
Thanks for all your help in setting up the trip.”
-- Sheri & Richard L. (United States) Dec. 2009 Archaeology and Archaeo-astronomy tour in Palenque

"The trip was fabulous. Thank you so very much for the excellent service you provide. I am sure I can persuade others to come on some of your trips in the future.”
-- Lauren W. (United States) Dec. 2009 Archaeology and Archaeo-Astronomy tour in Palenque

"Just a note to tell you how much we enjoyed our trip. I cannot say enough about our guide, Roberto. He was very knowledgeable, brought his own magazines and books with pictures and additional information. Thank you for a pleasant trip."
-- Joanne P. (United States) Private tour April 2009

"Just wanted you to know what a great job was done by Edwin and Martin. They took very good care of us and were very patient. Edwin's knowledge of birds was really helpful to our son. Akumal was just the right size for the grandchildren. You were right....felt very safe and relaxed. Thank you for your help in planning this vacation."
-- Judy C. (United States) Private tour/family vacation package March 2009

"Just a quick email to let you know we got back home safely, and had a great time. Both guides were very instructive, and Christopher in particular was extremely knowledgeable. Thanks again for your help. Kind regards,"
-- Andrew M. (United States) Private tour March 2009

"We had a great time on our Mayan adventure! Thanks for all your efforts to be sure that our trip went smoothly including the jaunt to Mexico City which was not under your direction -- the info you gave us on the taxis and the hotel suggestion were invaluable. Thanks so much!" "I wanted to let you know as well that I had a WONDERFUL time, and that you have a real prize with your partners in Guatemala. Keep them happy, because the certainly kept us happy! :) Thanks again for a great trip!!!!"
-- Lucretia, David & Julianna R. (United States) Private tour Feb. 2009

“I enjoyed the trip to Palenque/San Cristobal de las Casas immensely, and would like to thank you for organizing it, and sharing the wonders with the wider world. I was especially impressed by the quality of your guides. Best Regards,”
-- Linda L. (United States) Feb. 20009 Festivals of the Highland Maya tour

“We have just returned and wanted to let you know that we had a wonderful trip. The first part, our sightseeing of Polanque and the other Mayan ruins was wonderful, as our guide was knowledgealbe and very interesting. The trips to the small villages to see the festivals was memorable. The second guide was also great. We will highly recommend your services to our friends. The second part of our trip was terrific: The two hotels, The Eldorado and the Omni were a great combination. All in all, we want to thank you for your recommendations, the guides, the places, the two hotels near Cancun were the best."
-- Ellen and Jack V. (United States) Feb.. 2009 Festivals of the Highland Maya tour

”Subject: FABULOUS TOUR, FOLKS! We just wanted to add our accolades to the list of happy campers -- our week with Chris Powell and Eliazar in the Mayan Highlands Tour was absolutely wonderful. Chris certainly is a "rock star" in the archeolgy world, and on his way to "zenith" status, when his dissertation becomes part of the canon. We are so grateful we got a chance to scramble up and down pyramids with him, (slowly, as we are both viejos) and to see the genius of the Maya through his original and elegant vision of Sacred Geometry of the Mayans, and its correlation with astronomical events and "heirophanies". Wowser! We feel we have seen Palenque, Bonampak and Yaxchilan and understood their creators as few people will ever be able to do. I can't wait to read Christopher's dissertation. He is a rare teacher - and we are privileged to have shared his knowledge, and benefitted from his years of work and observations in the field. Eliazar and Chris also made all the day to day logistics seem easy and effortless, and we felt very well cared for. We enjoyed very much taking an extra day to see the waterfalls and gorgeous rivers of Misol Ha, Agua Clara and Agua Azul with Eliazar, who is a lot of fun, and so patient with my beginner's Spanish - he is a fine teacher as well. Thank you all for creating this memorable and enlightening experience for us. We are recommending your tours to all our teacher pals and indeed, to everyone we know. Felicidades, a todos. Cheers”
-- Madeline P. and Monroe P. (United States) Jan. 2009 private tour of Palenque area

"I wanted to express my thanks for your help in putting together our trip for Anita, Diane, Gary and myself. I wanted to express appreciation for our various guides and drivers. While their expertise varied, I found them all informative and helpful. I, in particular, should like to highlight two: Julio and Gilberto. I so appreciate Julio's candor, pace, and knowledge. He was so very quick to point out sights including plants, birds, and animals. His ability to spot even the most remote and hidden creature still fascinates me. He was so very careful to point out the best paths and steps to take, avoiding slippery spots. He really took care of us, keeping a pace that we all could manage. His driver, Gilberto, who also served as our guide on the last day worked so well and in tandem with Julio. Gilberto's congeniality is to be commended. Thanks."
-- Dr. Carl B.( United States) July 2008 14 night private tour of Palenque area, Tikal area, Guatemala Highlands, Belize ruins & Copan

"Mark and I wanted to thank you for putting together a wonderful trip. Both the guides were outstanding and we loved the variety in the itinerary. I think having the two guides really made for an interesting trip since they emphasized different aspects of Chiapas. The three of us all had fun, found it adventurous, and learned a lot. That combination is the perfect trip for us. Thanks again for putting it all together for us.
-- Barbara G. (United States) July 2008 Palenque & San Cristobal de las Casas

"The tour was beyond wonderful. Chris, Lilia and Raymundo were absolutely fabulous. Every detail was taken care of and they are all beautiful people to know. I have never taken a tour before, but this won't be the last !!!
-- Rachel W. (United States) March 2008 "Spring Equinox" tour

"Just a note to tell you how much my wife and I enjoyed the tour. Chris and Lilia were excellent as co-leaders of our trip and Ramundo was a safe driver who never got excited. His van made the long journeys easy on our bodies - very comfortable. Also, it was delightful when he would join us for dinner. The restaurants and hotels were very good and accommodated our every need. The selected itinerary was outstanding, just what I wanted. A great tour!!
- Ron and Pat Y. (United States) March 2008 "Spring Equinox" tour

"Thanks so much for helping to put together our trip to Mexico and Guatemala. We just got back and remember the trip with real fondness. Alfonso Morales was a wonderful guide -- it was a privilege to be able to walk around Palenque with one of the people responsible for doing archaeology there. We could tell also from talking with him that he's a real go-to guy in the area, someone who understands how things work locally, and can get things done in a pinch. So in all ways he's a real asset, and not least because he was able to get Aeromexico to send my lost suitcase to me before we left Palenque! Julio Tot and our driver Moisés Calderón in Guatemala were also exceptionally good guides and very friendly. I should add that were really happy with the Maya Cañada restaurant in Palenque, it's got some of the best corn tortillas I've ever had. The Maya Tulipanes hotel there was really nice as well. The Camino Real in Tikal was also a great choice. It's a beautiful location, and the food (a series of buffets) was always very good and reasonably priced. We had a wonderful time, and believe that this was the best way to see these out-of-the-way sites in Mexico and Guatemala. We'd be very happy to use your services again, depending on our interests and plans. I also very much hope that the guides and drivers enjoyed our company as well. We know it's a job for them, but there is a difference between pleasant and unpleasant guests. Happy to provide further feedback if you need it. Thanks again.
- Douglass S. (United States) March 2008 Private tour in Palenque and Tikal areas

“We're back from warm, wonderful Mexico. Had a great time! The couple you paired us with in Palenque was a good match. We got along well and had a fun time together. Chris Powell, our archeologist guide, was SUPER......so knowledgeable and informative, besides being very personable.

Chris at the Olmec Sculpture Park.... 2/08

We were thrilled to see the Palenque site and hearing Chris talk about it brought the place alive. We're really glad that recommended doing the ruins BEFORE going to Merida... Our legs ached from climbing up and down the steps. The stop in Campeche City en route to Merida was delightful. What a colorful place. (Our drivers throughout were excellent.) Relaxing in Merida for 4 days was just what we needed. The Case del Balam is still as pleasant as I remembered it from many years ago. Thanks for suggesting that we spend Sunday in Merida for the wonderful day-long fiesta. We saw the Merida Folklorico dance troupe in front of the Municipal Palace -- a fabulous free show. By chance we were able to get two tickets to hear Tres Caballeros at the Opera House with Chamin Correa performing with his group. He was absolutely incredible.....so charming, delightful to listen to (even tho' I didn't understand much of what he said). He drew the audience in and they sang with him. It was a magical night that we'll never forget. John and I were pleased with all the arrangements you made for us. Best regards,”
-- Janet and John K. (United States) Private tour/vacation package Feb. 2008

“Thanks for the guide. Thanks for the ride. The trip was great! Please pass on my huge thanks to Alfonso. He kept us laughing all the time. The quality of the tour was a big welcome surprise. We went to 3 other sites (Coba, Tulum, Chichen Itza) the following week and were extremely well prepared after experiencing your tour. Again, please pass on my thanks to Alfonso. It was pure pleasure.”
-- Marlene Dickson (Toronto, Canada) January 2008 Palenque area private tour

“I'd be sorely remiss if I did not write to thank you for arranging what turned out to be a perfect trip. Everything went smoothly, and Barbara and I enjoyed it more than we dared hope. As the following testimonial states (Please feel free to post it on your website.), Raymundo Osorio and Ricardo Vazquez were an extraordinary team, whose expertise, efficiency, and delightful good humor made our three-day tour of the Yucatan an unforgettable experience. Ricardo's deep personal interest in, and extensive knowledge of all aspects of Mayan culture -- combined with Raymundo's excellent driving and outstanding grasp of the practical details of touring the region--afforded us a richly informative and thoroughly enjoyable trip. We will be singing MayaSites and their praises to all our friends and acquaintances!”
-- Michelle K. and Barbara P. (United States) Private tour in the Yucatan Dec. 2007

"We must thank you for the excellent tour that you have put together for us. Raymondo, Ricardo the drivers were very professional, always looking to make the trip as easy as possible and were very thoughtful for our needs and security. On top of this they were pleasant and fun people to chat with exchanging different views and knowledge from our diverse countries. Class five of five. Lilian an absolute pearl, very knowledgeable of the Yucatan mayas and ready to help us in any way. Chris a charming person with a desire to share his knowledge with passion and very considerate for others. Class five of five. Hotels well chosen, comfortable, clean...excellent!"
-- Aurel and Diane S. (Canada) March 2007 "Spring Equinox" tour

"I just want to tell you that it was a terrific tour; it goes without saying that the sites themselves were incredible. Chris and Lillia were wonderful guides and were extremely knowledgeable as well as patient with all of us “students”. It was very interesting to hear them discussing the various interpretations so we could see them teaching each other as well as us. We also want you to know that our driver Roberto and co-ordinator Raymundo were also very helpful and made the trip more enjoyable. You really have good people associated with your group. With appreciation.
- Jim D. (United States) March 2007 "Spring Equinox" tour

"Just a short note to thank you and to let you know I had a wonderful time. Christopher Powell is not only a wonderful person but an excellent mentor. I could not have had a fuller experience at these historical sites without his talks and his observations. Everything was very well arranged and I wish I had more time."
-- Azeem A. (United States) March 2007 Palenque area private tour

"I would first like to thank you for arranging a very well planned tour. Everything went off without a hitch. The accomodations, transportation, tours, guides and driver were all past my expectations. Thank you for providing the tour with limited participants, some agencies may have cancelled. David, my tour companion was easy to get along with. Just the ease of traveling in fewer numbers was appreciated. The guides were so kind, knowledgeable and considerate, as well as the driver of the transportation. Please feel free to forward this to anyone who might appreciate it."
-- Gordy S. (United States) Feb. 2007 "Festivals" tour

"Your company was wonderful in helping us to plan our 3 day tour in the Yucatan. We knew from the moment we met Luis in our hotel lobby that we were in good hands and felt at ease. He is very knowledgeable about his country and speaks the English language very well. He went above and beyond what we expected from him. Our first day we rented bikes to ride through the jungle to visit Coba and soon found ourselves climbing the pyramid in our bare feet encouraged by Luis to experience the culture whole heartily. Wow what a great, great experience! We can't wait to do it again. After our fun filled days of activities we were always ready for a good Mexican meal. Luis turned us on to local and authentic dishes that were truly a delight and always perfect for the time and place. Thanks again for recommending we take a night away from our all-exclusive hotel to stay at the hacienda in Chitzen Itza. We had a wonderful dinner of ethnic food with Luis and Juanito and spent several hours speaking and learning about the Mayan culture. This made us curious and anxious thinking about the adventure that was awaiting us the next day. Our day at Chitzen Itza was unforgettable with Juanito and his unbelievable knowledge of the Mayans. He was actually reading hieroglyphs to us! He was very thorough and other tour groups were stopping to listen to his explanations. It was the most unique experience we have had among all of our travels. Our 3rd and last day of this wonderful tour Luis picked us up promptly and we proceeded to something off the beaten path-to snorkel in a cinote. This is an experience we will remember and treasure for a lifetime. This was a highlight of our trip. Luis made sure we were there at the perfect time to experience the morning sun at prime time for picture perfect memories. We then proceeded to our boat ride where we were able to experience floating down the canal. Wow we can't say enough! After another outstanding day of fun in the sun we enjoyed another authentic Mexican meal and then headed to Tulum. It was here that we got our beach perfect picture. We can't thank Luis Alfonso enough for his input, knowledge, and extra efforts. Words can not explain what a fantastic tour guide he truly is! Once again thank you Jonnie for all your help in setting this tour up. We are working on a visit for next year and will definitely be in touch. We will also be sure to pass the information on to our friends."
-- Cindy and Patrick S. (United States) Jan. 2007 Yucatan

"The Maya tour was really wonderful and valuable. We are fully satisfied. Guide Ricardo and Driver Raymond, who was formerly professor, are very nice peoples. Ricardo is enthusiastic for consideration and explanation. Here we are appreciating you for your faithful responding to our request with a photo of us.. With Our warmest regards to you. Thousand of thanks to your kindness!!"
-- Tsutomu and Kiyoko T. (Japan) Oct. 2006 private tour in the Yucatan

"The service you gave us was very personal and much appreciated. Not only did you work out a programme that met all our requirements, but our email enquiries were answered almost immediately and when you offered a 24 hour phone helpline, you really meant it! We were extremely impressed and would recommend Mayasites to anyone who wanted to do a similar tour. Alfonso and Christopher on the Festivals part of our trip were brilliant. As archeologists they could have talked down so us but they didn't, and their insights and theories were fascinating. Javier, the driver, was also a great help to us particularly in getting us through the procedures on entering Mexico from Guatemala. Ricardo and Raymondo in the Yukatan were friendly and helpful. Our visit to Uxmal was the first with them and Ricardo realised we wanted to spend more time at each site and slowed down to our pace, allowing us to explore more thoroughly. Once again, thank you for a memorable trip."
-- Teresa & John T. (United Kingdom) Feb. 2006 Tikal, "Festivals tour", Yucatan
Read their Travel Blog on AOL (follow the link to "Maya 2006")

"We had a private tour booked through your company for Chichen Itza. The whole day, from pick-up in the morning to drop-off in the evening, surpassed all of our expectations. Ricardo and Ramundo were on time for the pick-up at the hotel. In fact they were early. The were gracious, professional and courteous in every respect. We left the hotel and there stood our transportation, and clean new Mercedes Sprinter van. Our safety and security had been a concern in advance of the trip, and the vehicle and its condition put our minds at ease. Ramundo is a superb driver for a tour such as ours, with our comfort and safety looked after in all respects. Our tour of Chichen Itza was relaxed and thorough. Ricardo explained a great many things to us and answered all of our questions without hesitation. His depth of information is really marvelous! I had visited this site several years ago, with a much larger group, and I learned a great deal more from Ricardo. The tour was everything we wanted and everything you said it would be. Again, thanks to Mayasites for being patient with us while we were booking this trip. You did a first rate job, and I would recommend your service to anyone. Much appreciated."
-- David & Marilyn G. (British Columbia) Feb. 2006 private day tour

"I had a fabulous journey with Alphonso and Chris. You didn't tell us that we were going to be escorted by Rock Stars from the Archaeological Realm!!!!! Evertyhing was scheduled precisely. Your experience in doing these tours was greatly appreciated by all. Realizing my lifelong desire to see Palenque and Bonampak was stellar. Thank you so much for making my experience one I shall treasure for the rest of my life."
-- Melanie C. (United States) Feb. 2006 "Festivals" tour

"We have arrived home, safe and sound, and I want to commend you for a very efficient, very smooth trip. One of the best parts of the trip was the guides: in particular, Manuel Espinosa and Raymundo Osorio. These two not only were informative, they provided for our every possible need. Whenever we visited a ruin site, they had a cooler full of fresh, cold water for us. One early morning, Manuel brought us coffee. We enjoyed their company and feel they are tremendous assets to your operation. We greatly enjoyed the trip and thank you, once again, for planning a wonderful time for us".
--- Carlina F. (United States and Italy) Nov. 2005 Palenque and Yucatan private tour

"We had a fabulous time, better than anything we could have hoped for. The guides and driver were awesome. Chiapas is awesome, the ruins, the Usumacinta, the waterfalls, the warm people, the town ... all wonderful. Lynn and I enjoyed ourselves beyond any expectations and the guides and driver ... and the locals ... we bonded with everyone. And always I want to express more appreciation for your help and tips."
-- Colleen C. (United States) Nov. 2003 Palenque area private tour

"It was a fantastic trip, and exceeded my expectations on many occasions. Everything went phenomenally smoothly on this trip, and I can only assume it was due to your good planning and the quality of the people you hire. Chris, Alphonso and Manuel were professional, knowledgeable, and equally important - pleasant company. Once again I want to thank you for all your suggestions and planning. You directed us to places we would not have known about, and they were all very special. We all agreed that the Mayan canals at Si'an Kan was one of the highlights of the trip. We also appreciate that you were able to keep this trip at a price we could afford. I would certainly be glad to give any kind of reference in the future if you have clients that request one."
-- Dan S. and Family (United States) Feb. 2005 Palenque and Yucatan private tour

"We totally enjoyed our trip and wanted you to know that Mayasites really came through for us. Javier, we liked him so much! He is not only an excellent driver, but a very nice human being. Christopher called us in our room the evening before the Yaxchilan trip and asked us to meet him out at the pool to get acquainted which we did. What a thrill it was to be guided by someone of his intelligence and experience! Our heads were bulging with information. We learned much and enjoyed each site thoroughly. On Saturday Christopher invited us out by the pool for his laptop presentation of his PhD. subject presentation on the cosmology/geometry/astronomy of the Mayan architecture and we were mightily impressed with this and felt privileged to have him share it with us. So the walk through the site at Palenque and the museum were made even more meaningful to us. Thanks, Jonnie, for all of your help and arrangements. We were most pleased with all of the schedule and your wonderful attention to detail. Please do use us as references for your other clients." (Palenque area tour April 2003)

"Reporting in to tell you that we had a marvelous trip - we loved Ben Cruz - he was all you had promised and he and Cork hit it off famously. Pook's Hill was very luscious and green and the owners and staff very friendly - wished we had more time there. We loved Christopher, of course, and thoroughly enjoyed our time with him. All in all, it was a wonderful trip, thanks to Mayasites - thanks, thanks!!!!" (Belize and Tikal private tour Jan. 2005)
-- Betty and Cork D. (United States)

"We (all of us) wanted to thank you for the trip. It was an amazing experience for all of us. Everything was wonderfully arranged. The accomodations were perfect. However, best of all, were Alfonso and Chris. They made us feel really comfortable. We learned a ton from them not only about the sites but also about the Maya people. This was a life changing trip for my husband in particular because of his scholarly interests. I am highly recommending your group to all my friends. You can expect us to be back in touch with you again as we plan our next trip down to the area."
-- Geeta and Jeff D. (United States) Jan. 2006 Tikal & Copan

"I just wanted to drop you a line and say how much we enjoyed the vacation. You really give your clients a very special and personalized treatment. I have given your name to a few people since returning - after they heard about our vacation! Perhaps we'll make another journey with you - there are certainly enough sites to discover. Best wishes."
-- Nancy H. & the rest of the crew (United States & Eurp[e) Aug. 2003 Palenque and Yucatan

"We had a wonderful time with Juan and Raymundo on our tour. They took wonderful care of us and Juan was incredibly knowlegdable. Everything went really well and we were so pleased that we picked MayaSites to take us to Chichen Itza, Ek Balam and our other stops. All of your recommendations were excellent, we learned so much and we were treated wonderfully. Thanks again for all of your help and prompt email responses and wonderful tour guide! We'll be recommending you to others."
-- Susan E. (United States) Aug. 2003 Yucatan

"The trip was near perfect. Christopher and Alfonso are the best. The driver was great. The Tulipanes and the Cencali were just fine for us. The Jaguar Dance was very special. Thanks for putting together a great itinerary."
--John & Carol L. (United States) Dec. 2004 Palenque

"Just a short note to tell you John and I had a wonderful trip. Chris Powell is super as are Alphonso and Ed!! But, Chris is a great guide and Javier was a great driver. We also found John and Carol to be good people to know. We learned alot and enjoyed every minute. Finally, thank you for arranging our visits to Tonina and Comacalco, they were great additions."
-- Christine B. (United States) Dec. 2004 Palenque

For more information about MayaSites Travel Services phone our U.S. office at 877-620-8715 (outside of the U.S. 505-255-2279) or e-mail us at mayasites@yahoo.com. See you soon!