A recent port in Quintana Roo
Costa Maya is a recently developed municipality. After Cozumel, it has the second largest Mexican cruise port. Now is one of the most visited in the whole Caribbean.
This destination is 120 miles south of Cozumel and 90 miles north of Belize City. Often itineraries call these ports all together.
Costa Maya offers great adventures. The nearby village of Mahahual is a small gem. It keeps its old characteristics, preserving its Mexican fisherman village style. Some Maya ruins sites are reachable for more historical and cultural tours. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef runs along the coast. Scuba and snorkeling excursions go there for day trips.
What to see & what to do
Costa Maya is the ideal place for alternative tourism and to venture into Mayan culture. Several historical sites are available from the cruise port. Generally they are not too close: 1 to 2 hours drive. If you instead want just some relaxation, quite and wonderful beaches are very close to the port.
Beaches
Mahahual Beach
5 min car from the cruise port. Mahahual beach is the perfect spot for beach lovers. With a quick lift you will get to a fisherman village where you can still breath the Mexican traditions. In addition, the seafront has local shops, small bars and restaurants. Laying in front of this marvelous sea ordering some food and relax is one of our top picks in Costa Maya.
Park & Landmarks
Bacalar Lagoon
1 hour car from the cruise port. Bacalar Lake is a huge lake also known as "The Lake of the Seven Colors". In fact it's amazing to see colors going from light azure to light blue and falling into a deep blue. Boat tours are the usual way to visit the area. Most of the times lake excursions include visits to Bacalar town and Fort San Felipe.
Fort of San Felipe Bacalar
1 hour car from the cruise port. Fort San Felipe it's located in Bacalar. It was built in 1733 to protect the town from the frequent attacks by pirates and colonialists. It turned into a museum in 1983. From here you can admire the 7 Colors Lagoon. Excursions here usually include boat tours through the lake and visit of either Town and Fort.
Family
Mahahual Beach
5 min car from the cruise port. Mahahual beach is the perfect spot for beach lovers. With a quick lift you will get to a fisherman village where you can still breath the Mexican traditions. In addition, the seafront has local shops, small bars and restaurants. Laying in front of this marvelous sea ordering some food and relax is one of our top picks in Costa Maya.
History & Culture
Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
1 hour car from the cruise port. Chacchoben is one of the most popular mayan ruin site in Quintana Roo state. It is a relatively recent discover. In fact it was sighted in 1972 during an helicopter flight by doctor Peter Harrison, an American archeologist. The Mayans established here around 200 BC and they built the structures around 700 AC. The ruins are being visited by tourists only from 2002. Guests can enjoy a circular track that is going around 3 pyramids and some more walls.
Dzibanche Maya Ruins
2 hours car from the cruise port. Dzibanche is another large and important archeological site in Quintana Roo. Discovered in 1927, the restoration was completed only in the '90. It was found out that the area was historically more important than initially assessed. Noble tombs and luxurious decor bring to the assumption that a prestigious elite was living in Dzibanche. Three very important structures are established here: the Temple of the Owl, the Temple of the Captives and the Temple of the Lintels.
Fort of San Felipe Bacalar
1 hour car from the cruise port. Fort San Felipe it's located in Bacalar. It was built in 1733 to protect the town from the frequent attacks by pirates and colonialists. It turned into a museum in 1983. From here you can admire the 7 Colors Lagoon. Excursions here usually include boat tours through the lake and visit of either Town and Fort.
Kohunlich archeological site
2 hours car from the cruise port. Kohunlich is another archeological site built by Mayan which is reachable from Costa Maya. It was been populated already from 200 BC. The rainforest is surrounding the entire site, that's why many structures are still covered by vegetation. The ancient city was well organized, with small squares, citadels, gardens and water collecting tanks. The temple of the mask is the most interesting and famous of the whole site. Its large staircase is surrounded by 8 big masks made of plaster. This site is usually visited in conjunction with the close Dzibanche Maya ruins.
Walking
Mahahual Dowtown
5 min by car from the cruise port. Mahahual is a lovely fishing village full of restaurants and bars located at the boardwalk. From here you can access the beach, just consuming a meal or drink. The beach is amazing and if you wanna hang out for a walk, looking for small shops and lay down on the seaside, Mahahual is a great option for it.
Shopping
Shops at the cruise terminal
The port resembles a local modern Mexican Village. It doesn't look really authentic, because it's recently constructed. But it's great in offering lots of services right in front of the ships, like several restaurants and bars. Small shops sell local artisan products together with a Chocolate museum and tequila tasting. Can't miss to try them.
Best cruise deals: (Cruises are still suspended till 2021)
Royal Caribbean
Departing from New York, Miami, Tampa, Port Canaveral, San Juan.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Departing from: Miami, Tampa, Port Canaveral, New Orleans, Santiago (Sant'Antonio, Chile)
Carnival Cruise Line
Departing from: Miami, Galveston, Mobile, Port Canaveral, New Orleans, Tampa.
Celebrity Cruises
Departing from: Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Miami.
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