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Exploring the Kohunlich Ruins offers visitors a captivating glimpse into the ancient Mayan civilization’s daily lives and architectural skills. As you wander through the site, you can’t help but marvel at the advanced building techniques and attention to detail that the Mayans possessed. At the Dzibanche Ruins, visitors are greeted by well-preserved tall ruins, allowing them to step back in time and witness the grandeur of the Mayan civilization. One of the standout features of this site is the opportunity to climb to the top of temples, providing a breathtaking view of the surrounding area. If you’re a fan of minty cocktails, Mojito Bar is the place for you.
Maya Chan Beach Resort
In 2017 was opened the largest Mayan archaeological site Xcabal, located at ~1-hour bus ride from the cruise port. Until 2019, the site was open exclusively to cruise line-organized excursions. Port Costa Maya (locode MXCOM) is also the closest tourist destination to the lesser-known Mayan ruins in Mexico's Yucatan state (including Kohunlich and Chacchoben). In 2017 was discovered Ichkabal (the largest Mayan archaeological site) and since 2019 it is added to Costa Maya's Shore Excursion program for cruise companies-organized land tours. Yes, Costa Maya is generally considered safe for tourists and cruise travelers.
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Situated on the Caribbean Sea, Costa Maya is an ideal destination for cruise ships exploring the Mexican Caribbean region. The pristine beaches south of the port are natural top attractions for cruise passengers wondering what to do in Costa Maya. Cruise lines, local tour operators and online excursion services offer all types of beach break pakages and many shore excursions combos with the main highlights of Costa Maya.
Take a Taxi into Town
You can marvel at coral reefs, colorful fish, sea turtles, manatees, and dolphins here. Besides swimming with marine mammals, the attraction features shows that entertain visitors with dolphin acrobatics and aerial performances. Most visitors who interact with the dolphins say it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, never to be missed. If you decide to spend the day at Costa Maya Cruise Port, buying a port pass is a good idea.
Winter storm delays cruise ships impacting over 10000 passengers - Cruise Blog
Winter storm delays cruise ships impacting over 10000 passengers.
Posted: Mon, 18 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Since the construction of Puerto Costa Maya, Mahahual has been rapidly growing in population (around 3000) and in capacity to receive over 15,000 tourists in a day. Shuttle bus service and taxis go to the Mahahual boardwalk, with fares (cruise port to Mahahual Town) at ~USD 5 per person. Swim with dolphins at Dolphin Discovery, located minutes away from the cruise ship with the Costa Maya cruise port. As you enter the Costa Maya cruise terminal, you’ll see a large resort style pool with a swim-up bar. Kids and adults are free to use the saltwater swimming pool and complimentary lounge chairs.
Rockin' Ruins
For those who want to challenge their driving skills, you will also get the chance to drive along rocky forest paths. You’ll find tangy ceviche on most menus, as well as juicy seafood skewers. If you’re grazing local food stalls, look out for empanadas, filled with meat, cheese or vegetables, and decadently sweet churros. Mexico has a rich and diverse cuisine that extends way beyond nachos, tacos, salsa, and guacamole, although all of these are available at Costa Maya and are perfectly tasty. You may find the restaurants within the port cater to more international tastes, with local establishments along the coast packing more of a spicy punch. Take a dip in the sparkling blue waters of Cenote Azul, an open freshwater cenote known for prime snorkeling and swimming.
How to explore Costa Maya on a cruise
We have the option at Chacchoben to hire a guided tour or wander around ourselves. However, sometimes it is difficult to understand quite what is going on because of limited signs and information. The port known also as Puerto Costa Maya was born out of the idea of establishing this port for tourism and that is exactly where the name came from. It is a wonderful site to see the extent of the architectural capabilities of Mayans if visiting the northern portion of the Yucatan. Here is a guide of what all you can do while enjoying your relaxing vacation in paradise. A 50-minute drive from Costa Maya are some of Mexico’s most stunning archaeological sites—the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins.
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Like all destinations, visitors should take the usual precautions to protect themselves from petty theft. In addition, Costa Maya is known for it’s beach and water activities, Mayan ruins, the small village of Mahahual, cultural performances, eco-tourism and shopping and crafts. At the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins, you’ll learn about ancient Mayan history and architecture, while exploring the Mayan temples. On site, along with a tourist shop, there’s a small taco and burrito stand that sold some inexpensive and delicious Mexican food. Taxis, shuttles and golf carts are available to take you to areas outside of the cruise terminal, including the Mahahual Village.
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Just head to the pole (you can see it from around the port) and check when the next show will be. Specifically, the area near the lighthouse in Mahahual features some free beach access. You can also visit those restaurants, get a bite to eat or something to drink, and take advantage of the beach — usually with loungers and umbrellas. That will cost a little more, but it gives you a day at the beach for the cost of a meal.
You cannot miss the spectacular cruise terminal building with its stunning Mayan replica door at the pier’s end. Inside the terminal, you’ll find ATMs, information kiosks, a shuttle bus to Mahahual, golf carts, and taxis. There is also the Tour Dispatch area and opportunities to book last-minute shore excursions. Are you looking for the top shore excursions and activities when your cruise ship berths in Costa Maya? My guide has top recommendations and tips to help you maximize your time in port. Whether you want to relax on the beach, explore ancient ruins, or shop for souvenirs, this article has you covered.
Sailing on a catamaran is one of the most popular activities when spending a day in Costa Maya. Many day excursions include food, drink, and a choice of snacks or food. The Caribbean waters off Mahahual are among the best in the Mexican Caribbean for snorkeling and scuba diving. Banco Chinchorro is a UNESCO site and the largest coral atoll in Mexico, consisting of three islands.
That means you can enjoy many of the ship’s amenities like the pool deck without struggling to find a seat or bumping elbows with tons of people. Just know that the crowds will start to filter back onboard starting in the early afternoon, but in the meantime you should have a much quieter ship. While the vast majority of passengers will go ashore during the day in Costa Maya, if you stay aboard you’ll deal with much smaller crowds. Toward the back of the port is an enclosure with small wading pool for pink flamingos.
Cruise passengers wishing to discover famous Mayan Ruins like Chacchoben should look into booking shore excursions, be it with your cruise ship or with local tour operators. For those who want to enjoy an all-inclusive beach, it is advisable to book a day pass. The Costa Maya cruise port is one of the most frequented in the Western Caribbean, with over 500 cruise ships docking in a season. Plenty of tour operators offer shore excursions to these archaeological wonders. The Lost Mayan Kingdom Water Park is one of the top shore excursions within walking distance of the Costa Maya Cruise Port. This thrilling water park is ideal for spending a cruise day with kids.
The best way to visit the Bacalar Lagoon is to book a shore excursion beforehand. The stunning inland freshwater lagoon is famous for its crystal-clear waters, which showcase seven shades of blue. You can go swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, or paddleboarding, which provides one of the most peaceful and tranquil ways to immerse yourself in the lagoon’s beauty. The Caribbean coast of Mexico is renowned for its exceptional diving and snorkeling opportunities, largely due to the stunning beauty of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. This reef is the second-largest barrier reef system in the world and a haven for a diverse array of marine life. Snorkeling adventures along this barrier reef allow you to get up close with a wide variety of tropical marine life, such as snappers, jacks, angelfish, and queen triggerfish.
Here’s how to do exactly that, save a bundle of cash and have one of the best port days ever. Situated along the turquoise-colored Caribbean Sea, Puerto Costa Maya (Costa Maya cruise port) and its nearby towns rest between the sea and the deep jungle. In this article, I’ll explain how to spend a really great day in Costa Maya without buying an expensive shore excursion. However, as in any major tourist cruise port, English is widely spoken. Once inside the terminal, shops are the first thing you will come across. On your right, the typical duty-free shops you would expect in any Caribbean cruise port, such as the ubiquitous Diamonds International and its sister Tanzanite International.
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