A relaxed port on Mexico's southern Caribbean coast, close to quiet Maya ruins, a brilliant blue lagoon and a sleepy beach town.
Costa Maya is a cruise port built near the small fishing village of Mahahual, on the southern Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Ships dock at the port's own pier, which has pools, shops and restaurants right at the waterfront.
This is a calmer, less crowded alternative to the bigger Mexican ports, and it is a great base for seeing Maya ruins in the jungle. It suits families and anyone who likes a mellow beach day with an easy walk along the village waterfront.
Here are my favorite ways to spend a cruise day in Costa Maya. Each one opens on Viator, where you can check the times, reviews and price before you book.
Travel inland to Chacchoben, a Mayan city hidden in the jungle, to explore its temples and pyramids with a guide and learn about the people who built them.
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Visit the stunning Bacalar lagoon, famous for its many shades of blue, to swim and relax in its fresh, clear water.
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Cook authentic Mexican dishes with a local chef at a beachfront cafe near the port, then eat what you made by the sea. A two-hour class with perfect reviews.
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Jim's Ship Pick
This is the BEST ship I’ve EVER sailed on! It rarely felt crowded, the food was incredible, the shows were absolutely phenomenal, and there’s something for everyone!
Jim Sr's Ship Pick
This ship never felt crowded - and the Pizza & Burger spot was a total win!
My favorites: climb among the temples of Chacchoben, a Maya site set in the jungle; swim in the shades of blue at Bacalar Lagoon; walk the beachfront boardwalk in the village of Mahahual; snorkel the Mesoamerican Reef just offshore; relax at the pools and beach areas inside the cruise port.
Mexican peso; US dollars are widely accepted.
Mahahual is a short taxi ride or a long walk from the pier, and the ruins and lagoon are best reached by tour.
Search sailings that stop in Costa Maya on our site, or ask me for a quote. I book it for you with no fees, and I watch for price drops after you book.
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