Things to Do in Costa Maya & Mahahual (Cruise Port Guide + Travel Tips)

Costa Maya is one of the most popular cruise stops on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, yet many visitors aren’t sure what’s worth their time once they step off the ship. Technically, Costa Maya refers to the cruise port area and the surrounding region, while Mahahual is the nearby laid-back beach town just a short taxi ride away.

Mahahual is famous for its clear water, beach clubs, snorkeling options, and easy-going vibe. In this guide you’ll find exactly what to do on a cruise day, whether you want a relaxed beach experience, active water activities, cultural excursions, or insider travel tips for staying longer in Mahahual.

If you’re on a cruise stop, start with the quick answer plans below. If you’re staying overnight, scroll to the travel tips and where to stay.

The Yucatan Peninsula has always been one of my favorite places to visit in Mexico. The lovely beach village of Mahahual in Costa Maya is among the best places to see in the Yucantan Peninsula. Don't hesitate to add this place to your itinerary!

More than anything I loved the super laid-back vibe at this fishing village that transformed into a popular tourist destination in Yucatan.

I have driven my rental car across Yucatan Peninsula many times! Must see places are: Rio Lagartos, Valladolid, Merida, Bacalar, etc. But Mahahual stole my heart. On first visit I stayed just 3 days, but it was enough to completely fall in love with this place.

Costa Maya in One Day (Cruise Stop Guide)

If Costa Maya is a cruise stop on your itinerary, you usually only have a few hours on land. That makes planning simple: either stay close to the port, take a quick taxi to Mahahual for the beach, or choose one bigger experience like snorkeling or Mayan ruins. Below are my best-ready-made options, based on a typical 4–6 hour stop.

Quick answer: what to do in Costa Maya

Best easy plan (4–5 hours): Mahahual beach & malecón

This is the easiest and most popular plan. Take a taxi to Mahahual, walk the beachfront malecón, then settle into a beach club for food, drinks, and a shaded lounger. Keep an eye on the time and head back early to avoid any stress getting back to the ship.

Best snorkel plan (4–6 hours): local reef from Mahahual

If you want to get in the water, book a short snorkeling trip from Mahahual to the nearby reef. It’s a good half-day activity and easy to combine with lunch at a beach club afterward.

Important: Banco Chinchorro is a separate offshore atoll and is typically a full-day trip with a longer boat ride. If your cruise stop is short, stick to local Mahahual snorkeling instead.

Best culture plan (5–7 hours): Chacchoben ruins

Chacchoben is the most popular ruins excursion from Costa Maya and the best pick if you want something beyond the beach. If your schedule is tight, a cruise-organized tour can be the least stressful option because it’s built around ship times.

Taxi pricing & return strategy (important)

Taxis at Costa Maya are easy to find, but pricing can vary depending on how many ships are in port. Agree on the total price before you get in and clarify whether it’s one-way or round-trip.

• Confirm the price for the entire ride (and whether it includes the return trip).
• Decide your return time before you leave the port, especially on busy cruise days.
• Aim to be back at the port 60–90 minutes before the all-aboard time. 

Table of Contents

Costa Maya - Mahahual

The Costa Maya is a region of about 100 kilometers (60 miles) on the southeast coast of the Yucatan peninsula. It was fairly undeveloped until the Costa Maya cruise port was built in the fishing village of Mahahual.

Costa Maya is the name all the cruise ships give this as their destination but in fact your are arriving to Mahahual.

Where is the Costa Maya cruise port

Costa Maya is a popular cruise port in the Quintana Roo state on the Yucatan Peninsula. It is about 2 hours north of Chetumal, the state capital and 5 hours south from Cancun.

The Costa Maya cruise terminal is located less than 2 miles outside the sleepy fishing village of Mahahual. Within minutes you can reach Mahahual, or even on foot, just walk South along the beach, grab a taxi or rent a bike.

Mahahual village

There are two sides to Mahahual. There is a residential and very much NOT interesting village around the Costa Maya cruise port terminal and there is the charming and super lovely beach village just 2 miles away. Make sure you go straight to the beachside of Mahahual, the beach town I totally fell in love with.

Mahahual on a cruise day is complete the opposite than Mahahual on a non-cruise day.

Check here my YouTube video of Mahahual on a cruise day and then the opposite: Mahahual on non cruise day.

Is Costa Maya safe for tourists?

Yes without a doubt! There are only about 1,000 people living in Costa Maya/Mahahual and almost all of them are living from the tourism industry and the Costa Maya cruise port. This is such a sleepy town, that crime is non-existing. You can roam the streets without any problem, the only people that may be bothering you are the ones that want to sell you something but a friendly 'no, gracias' is enough to keep them away.

Best time to travel to Costa Maya

The least chance of rain and the modest temperatures are between December and April. These months are the best time to visit Costa Maya Mahahual. The summer months can get pretty hot and local Costa Maya tourism is booming as well. Mexicans have found this lovely beach town and tourists from nearby Belize also travel to Mahahual for their holidays.

When traveling to Mahahual Costa Maya bring a sweater for chill evenings. As Mahahual is right on the ocean at nights it gets significantly cooler because of the sea breeze.

Best Things to Do in Costa Maya (and Mahahual)

Things to do at the Costa Maya cruise port

Explore the Costa Maya cruise port

This relatively new cruise terminal is designed in such a way that it can easily handle 3 big cruise ships at the same time. When 3 cruise ships dock at the Costa Maya cruise terminal it tends to get busy. But there is a shopping mall, 3 salt-water swimming pools, multiple restaurants and bars like Señor Frogs, Carlos & Charlies and more.

But why would you are willing to hang out in the cruise terminal only? Go out and explore!

Mahahual is just 10 minutes away and this authentic fishing village has MUCH more soul.

Visit Water Park Lost Mayan Kingdom

From the rooftop of El Tarro I saw a huge Maya temple in the distance I thought but it was the Maya Water Park right next to the Costa Maya cruise port. Visiting this water park is one of the best things to do in Costa Maya with kids. There are loads of exciting water slides, zip lines and more exciting activities.

The Costa Maya Water Park the Lost Mayan Kingdom is also the number one thing to do in Costa Maya for cruise passengers.

Mahahual beach & village experiences

Explore Mahahual

Take a taxi for just 100 Pesos ($5) and get off in town. Mahahual beach town is actually two streets that go parallel on the beach. It is full of local places, souvenir shops, restaurants and hotels and guesthouses. The beach is just a few meters away from the main street. This sleeping village doesn't have a long list of things to do, but with such crystal clear water you don't need much.

Hit the Mahahual beach clubs

The Mahahual beach clubs have either a minimum spend or an open bar. Most of the beach clubs require a minimum spend of around 250 Pesos ($12). There are also beach clubs with an open bar for $25 per person. These are the best Mahahual Beach Clubs: Yaya Beach, Blue Kay, Pitaya, Ibiza.

Swing in a sea hammock

There are several sea hammock scattered along the beach and most of them belong to beach clubs. On cruise days you will need to buy drinks to get a spot in one of the sea hammocks, but on non-cruise days you can bring your cans from the supermarket. A pint Corona in the supermarket cost 15 Pesos ($0.80). No need to tell you that swinging in a sea hammocks was among my favorite thing to do in Costa Maya.

Watch sunrise at the lighthouse

May you be in town very early then watching sunrise at the lighthouse is the perfect way to start your day. The sun rises directly behind the lighthouse at the start of the Mahahual boulevard. There might be a handful other people around but most probably you will have the place all for yourself.

For me a morning run on the boulevard after sunrise was one of the best things to do in Costa Maya Mahahual.

Stroll along the Mahahual boulevard

This is the best place to get a feel with this lovely beach town. The boulevard starts at the lighthouse and follows the beach south. The boulevard continues for about 5 miles and is a great walk or perfect for a morning run. Along the boulevard is where you will find all the Mahahual beach clubs, restaurants, bars, supermarkets and endless souvenir shops.

Mayan ruins near Costa Maya

Chacchoben ruins

The most popular and most stunning Costa Maya ruin is Chacchoben. These ruins are only 45 miles outside of the Costa Maya cruise terminal and very easy to get to. There is only one road heading out of the Costa Maya port. Renting a car at Costa Maya is cheap and can be found for less than $20 USD a day. Rental cars make a great day trip to explore the Costa Maya. You can also join a group tour for around $40 USD, mind you that the entrance fee for the Chacchoben Ruins is only 100 Pesos ($5 USD). Unfortunately you are not allowed to climb the Chacchoben ruins.

Kohunlich ruins

The Kohunlich ruins are more than 100 miles out of the Costa Maya cruise port and best to be visited when renting a car. It is a spectacular archaeological Maya site and the biggest Costa Maya ruins. It is one of the greater things to do in the Costa Maya but doesn't get busy because it is off the beaten path. You can climb 27 steps up to the top of one of the temples for great views over the jungle. You will most probably also see monkeys here. Visiting Kohunlich ruins is best to be combined with a day trip to Dzibanche and the Kinichna ruins and Bacalar

Dzibanche and Kinichna ruins

Just a little further than the Kohunlich Maya site you will find the Dzibanche and the Kinichna ruins. These ruins are on the same archaeological site and a a unique place to visit in the Costa Maya. It is pretty hard to get to and the road is not in a great condition, therefore the Dzibanche and the Kinichna ruins are may be best done on a Costa Maya excursion. Most ruins are well preserved and pretty tall

Water activities in Costa Maya & Mahahual

Snorkel Banco Chinchorro

One of the best things about Mahahual is that the second biggest reef in the world is just around the corner.

Right in front of the town, less than half a mile from the beach you will find a great reef for snorkeling: Mesoamerican Barrier Reef system.

But the real deal is the famous Banco Chinchorro, part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. That stretches all the way to Belize and Honduras. In 2008 I dove in the nearby Deep Blue Hole in Belize, one of the best scuba dive destinations in the world.

There are people selling local snorkel tours 2-3 hours for 500 Pesos ($25 USD) in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. If you want to book a snorkel tour to Banco Chinchorro, which is about about 30 miles off shore expect to pay much more and tours will take around 4-6 hours.

They always say they guarantee you will see turtles. But keep in mind it is marine life is wildlife.

Scuba diving in Costa Maya

There are many dive centers around Mahahual town, most of them are a little further south on the boulevard. I saw at least about 5-6 dive centers. I would have loved to go scuba diving as I heard amazing stories about it. Unfortunately do I suffer eardrum problems ever since I did my divemaster training in Koh Tao, Thailand. Here is a map with all the amazing dive sites around Banco Chinchorro Reef.

Watersports in Mahahual

It is not hard to find all different kind of water sports while strolling along the boulevard. There are signs everywhere and you are able to book it on the spot very easily. You can also bargain for a better price, so no need to book watersports in advance.

Day trips from Costa Maya

Visit Bacalar

When going on a road trip in Costa Maya then don't miss Bacalar. It is one of the best places to visit in Costa Maya and a popular spot for backpacking in Yucatan Peninsula. Bacalar is located on an utterly stunning lake, often also called the lake with 7 shades of blue. Take a boat trip to Pirates Channel and chill out in the shallow crystal clear waters.

Relaxation experiences

Massage on the beach

Most of the Mahahual beach clubs have massage therapists and special massage cabanas with massage tables. Massages are much cheaper than on board the cruise ship trust me. You can already find a 30 minute back massage for around $20 USD. Negotiate!

Mahahual Travel Tips (for Overnight & Independent Travelers)

The tips below are most useful if you’re staying overnight in Mahahual or traveling independently. Cruise visitors may only need some of these.

Practical essentials in Mahahual

Mobile signal & internet in Mahahual

In case you have an AT&T or Movistar Mexico SIM card expect sketchy signal. Telcel has the strongest network coverage in Mahahual.

In my guide on how to buy a tourist sim card in Mexico in 2026 I came to the conclusion that the AT&T and Movistar network is very weak in Mexico.

If you are on a cruise and stopping in several places in Mexico I advice you to get an eSIM. Pick one from my list of the best eSIMs for Mexico in 2026.

ATMs in Mahahual

All around Mahahual there are ATM's and they accept most international credit and debit cards. There are also several currency exchange offices.

In pretty much all bars and cafes you can pay by international credit card. Some places do not accept Amex.

Where to eat & drink in Mahahual

El Primo local restaurant

By far my favorite Mahahual restaurant was El Primo. It is nothing fancy, but totally local. Meals here cost between $2 and $5. The Fajitas here were among the best I had in two months traveling in Yucatan they were 80 Pesos ($4). When you are traveling to Costa Maya Mahahual on a budget this is one of the best Mahahual travel tips.

Nohoch Kay for seafood

When you are craving seafood then walk a little further on the Bacalar boulevard than the standard tourist until you find Nohoch Kay. They serve delicious seafood dishes for affordable prices.

Tukano for cocktails

Unfortunately not on the beach, but this is where you will meet locals/expats later in the evening. It is in a quiet place on the main road across from 40 Cañones Hotel. They have daily happy hour 2 for 1 cocktails from 7-9pm.

El Tarro rooftop bar

Rooftop bar El Tarro is on the 4th floor of the Matan Ka'an Hotel. It offers great ocean views and is a great place for a sundowner.

Eat ice cream at La Dolce Vita

Find this place next to Yaya Beach club. I think it was a smart move to open an ice cream shop here, but after all they serve really good ice cream. I kept going again, again and again!

Shopping & local services in Mahahual

Boutique shop Galeria La Lola

One for the ladies as boutique shop Galeria La Lola is a great place to get some stylish beach wear.

Lawami lavanderia

If you are traveling to Costa Maya Mahahual and staying a little longer let me give you my laundry advice. Bring your laundry to Lawami and pay around 40 Pesos ($2 USD) per KG with a minimum of 4 KG.

If you drop it in the morning you can pick it up in the evening. Perfect service for those visiting Costa Maya for a couple days.

Bike rental in Mahahual

There are many places to rent a bike and driving up and down the boulevard is heavenly especially in evenings when it is a little cooler. Just grab a 160 Pesos ($8 USD) a day bike and drive all the way till the end. Beaches are deserted at night, bring some beers from the supermarket and you gonna have a great time watching shooting stars.

Getting to Mahahual

How to get to Costa Maya Mahahual

There are no airports in Costa Maya and the closest airport is Chetumal, about 1.5 hours away. Taxi's from Chetumal to Costa Maya are expensive and it is best to take a bus from Chetumal.

Car rental

For me it was fairly easy to get to Costa Maya Mahahual as I had my own car. My Yucatan road trip took over 2 weeks and renting a car was only like $20 per day including full coverage. So if that is an option go for it. Check my Yucatan itinerary for more inspiration.

Busses to Costa Maya Mahahual

The Mahahual bus station is right across El Primo in the main street. When you arrive by bus o Costa Maya Mahahual you can easily walk to your Mahahual hotel. Everything is within walking distance.

From Chetumal to Mahahual there are two busses a day, one from the airport and one from the city center. Don't ask me why but the bus from Chetumal Airport is double as expensive, so you might just wanna hop on 30 Pesos taxi to go the main bus terminal in Chetumal from the airport.

From Cancun there is one bus a day that leaves at 16.45, the same bus stops at Playa del Carmen and there the bus leaves at 17.55 and arriving in Mahahual at 10:00pm. The bus from Playa del Carmen to Mahahual costs 250 Pesos ($13), from Cancun to Mahahual you pay 290 Pesos ($15).

ADO busses are tourists busses with a high comfortable level, it the best bus company to travel around Yucatan Peninsula for sure. If you are coming from Bacalar or Tulum you can also make your way to Limones. That is where the Chacchoben Ruins are. From there you will find local busses to Mahahual every hour until 7:00pm for just 50 Pesos ($2.5).

Getting away from Mahahual

There are local busses to Limones every hour for just $2, but there are also direct tourist class busses to the following Yucatan tourist destinations:

• Belize City: 375 Pesos ($19), daily at 12:50pm.
• Chetumal: 120 Pesos ($6), Mon - Fri at 2.30pm.
• Bacalar: 90 Pesos ($4.5), Mon - Fri at 2.30pm.
• Playa del Carmen: 400 Pesos ($20), daily 10.30am
• Cancun: 410 Pesos ($20.5), daily 10.30am

Where to stay in Costa Maya Mahahual

Unless you are visiting Costa Maya on a cruise ship looking for the right Mahahual hotels can be challenging. Simply because there is not that much choice! But if you have a chance you should stay a couple days. Mahahual is a small town and although there are more and more hotels built the choice is rather limited at the moment.

Please do NOT book a place to stay in the residential area close to the Costa Maya cruise port. The only interesting place there is Pizza Papi and La Tartaleta, a bakery with ok coffee. But if you are really deperate this is your best option:

• Hotel Lavi: 8.8 review score - $60 USD

The pool is rather small but at least there is one. Rooms are spacious and clean. This Mahahual hotel is great value, but it is in the city and NOT on the beach! This does not have my preference!

When looking for Mahahual hotels book something near the beach. There are not that many choices for budget travelers and Mahahual hostels are camp sites.

I stayed in a pretty cool place with indoor glamping tents. Although I had a private room with AC for myself for $30, the tents looked pretty appealing. They don't have AC, but trust me at night you don't need AC as it is pretty chilly.

The place is called Mahamaca and has an 8.1 review score out of 40 reviews and they have good WiFi, check their rates in the link. There are no Mahahual hostels, so basically your best option is Mahamaca if you are a budget traveler.

• 40 Cañones: 8.6 review score - $130

One of the more well known and upscale Mahahual hotels. This luxury boutique hotel has some rooms with ocean views and hammocks on the balconies. It has a delicious on site restaurant. It is right on the beach and if you are looking for a little more luxury on a great location then this is surely to your likings.

• Matan Ka'an Hotel: 8.4 review score - $90

Walking into this Mahahual hotel made me feel a bit like Santorini style, or at least Mediterranean. They have a big refreshing pool and a rooftop jacuzzi. Matan Ka'an is also were you will find the El Tarro rooftop bar.

• Eco Cabanas Bluekay: 7.7 review score - $40

Another option for the budget traveler looking for a Mahahual hotel is this one! These Eco huts are just a couple steps from the beach directly on the boulevard and look great. Perfect location, however 't choose to stay here as people complain about the WiFi not working in their rooms.

• Almaplena Beach Resort: 9.0 review score - $100

Right on the beach, but far from the main town. This Mahahual hotel is great for a beach vacation and snorkeling is just right in front of the hotel, no tour needed. There is nothing around the hotel apart from serenity. Great for people going on a relaxing holiday or weekend break in Costa Maya Mahahual. To get to town you could rent a bike or a hop on a 15 minute taxi ride.

In total I traveled around Yucatan more than 6 months and saw pretty much all the best places to visit in Yucatan in Yucatan. Check here all my Mexico travel blogs with great travel tips for the Valladolid cenotes, Merida Mexico, Rio Lagartos, Isla Holbox, Isla Mujeres but also blogs about Coba vs. Tulum ruins, Selvatica Extreme Canopy adventure and many more!

I hope all the above things to do in Costa Maya and Mahahual tips were helpful for planning you trip. It was more than a pleasure put this travel blog online as when I was writing I was reliving the great moments on my Costa Maya Mahahual trip again.

Mahahual reminded me a little of my amazing time traveling to Isla Holbox. The islandlife feeling, the laid-back vibe and the don't worry be happy mentality! On top of these beach destinations I can also recommend you to travel to Valladolid or Merida Mexico. Want more info about day trips from Playa del Carmen or Cancun then read about my Tulum and Coba tour, Selvatica Canopy adventure or my Rio Secreto review.

Would you like to help me in return by sharing the link of this article somewhere on the internet? Every pin on Pinterest, share on Facebook or Reddit or tweet on X would help me enormously. Thank you very much in advance, it is really appreciated.

Enjoy your trip to Costa Maya!

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