What To Do In Costa Maya

Costa Maya is one of the Western Caribbean's hottest ports of call. Cruisers love the seaside town of Mahahual, the area's beautiful beaches and its exciting adventure tours. Nearby Mayan ruins are also a popular choice for a shore excursion.

The beautiful region of Costa Maya is located about a four-hour drive south of Cancun, Mexico. Protected by the second largest coral reef in the world, the area is home to lovely beaches and spectacular Mayan ruins. A large, privately owned cruise ship terminal opened here in 2001 and rapidly became one of the most active cruise ports in the Western Caribbean.

On August 21, 2007, powerful Hurricane Dean struck a Category 5 blow that completely destroyed the port, pier, and the nearby town of Mahahual. Frequent cruisers were devastated by the news of Costa Maya’s destruction. The port had long been a favorite with cruise passengers, partially due to the variety of tours and the appeal of Mahahual’s laid-back beach town vibe. Many wondered whether the port – and the little town – would ever return to prominence.

It took a little over a year for Costa Maya to rebuild and become the bustling port that it is today. The new longer pier, capable of docking even the largest cruise vessels, now can accommodate more ships than it did before Hurricane Dean struck. In fact, the industry's largest ships - the Norwegian Epic and Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas - now call at this port.

Costa Maya is perfect for today’s economic times, as passengers can have fun ashore without ever leaving the port’s terminal area. There’s loads of duty-free shopping, a large pool with swim-up bars, restaurants, and even folkloric dance performances. The terminal area provides a clean, secure, and totally free day of entertainment for cruise passengers who don’t want to venture far from their ship.

The Costa Maya area is one that’s well worth exploring, however. For those looking for a laid-back beach day, the little town of Mahahual beckons. It costs just a few dollars per person to get to town via a readily available bus/cab ticket combination. Just purchase your tickets at the port terminal exit and you and your fellow cruise passengers are quickly on your way. Golf carts are also available for rental.

Mahahual has been spruced up since Hurricane Dean’s devastation, but it still retains the charm frequent cruisers have come to love. Stroll along the new oceanfront Malecon, relax under a palapa at one of the beach clubs, or dine at one of the area’s many restaurants. With its cute Pez Quadro swing bar, restaurant, and prime beachfront location, La Posada De Los 40 Cañones (www.40canones.com) is an attractive place to spend the day. Shady palapas, beach chairs, drinks, and lunch are all available here. Mahahual’s seaside massages are very popular with cruise passengers, both for the relaxing experience and the price.

For those who prefer sun and beach fun, popular tours include the Jungle Beach Break and a Dune Buggy Safari & Beach excursion. The Jungle Beach Break takes cruisers to lovely Uvero Beach, where they can relax on the white sands, get drinks from the open bar, and enjoy a game of volleyball. Jet-ski rentals and a Mexican buffet-style lunch are also available. On the ATV tour, guests ride caravan style along dirt roads on their way to the beach where they can relax and enjoy a swim and a snack.

One of the area’s newest tours is the BioMaya Bacalar zip-line over the breathtakingly beautiful Laguna Bacalar, the second largest freshwater lake in Mexico. BioMaya Bacalar’s platforms are built on iron towers ranging up to 110 feet in height. This zip-line tour is currently the only one in the world that allows tandem side-by-side gliding and the longest zipline is over 2,600 feet in length. This tour can be booked through the Internet if it’s not available through your cruise line.

Costa Maya is one of the most enchanting ports in the Western Caribbean, so make sure it’s included on your next cruise itinerary. For more information, visit www.costamaya-mexico.com.