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One good thing about the Costa Maya cruise port’s waters is that the areas near the port are easily accessible on foot. If you’re adventurous, take a 30-minute walk along the Malecón to Majahual village. Book an excursion to the Seven Colors Lagoon, commonly known as Bacalar Lagoon.
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Tourist info and language
The area also has colorful lagoons and diverse flora and fauna, making you feel like you’re in a tropical Mexican paradise. Obviously, all cruise lines offer many and diverse shore excursions in Costa Maya. Celebrity Cruises offers as many 48 shore excursions and Royal Caribbean has 43 cruise excursions. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has available 26 shore excursions. Oceania Cruises organizes 19 shore excursions, Holland America offers 19 cruise excursions, and Princess has 19 excursions available. We met our cruise sponsored shore excursion at the meeting spot and had a good 50 minute drive to the archeological site.
Visit Mahahual Malecon (Downtown)
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And with the taxi fare only $4 per person, it’s worth getting the taxi or shuttle bus—which also costs $4. The Costa Maya cruise port is one of the most frequented in the Western Caribbean, with over 500 cruise ships docking in a season. Also called the Lake of Seven Colors, the Bacalar Lagoon is a stunning shore excursion when visiting Costa Maya. The beautiful lagoon is located about an hour’s drive from the cruise port. It offers a serene and peaceful atmosphere, making it a great place to spend the day. The Maya Chan Beach Resort is a hidden gem 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Costa Maya.
Take in the Malecon Near the Beach
Costa Maya, Mexico is approximately 124 miles (200 km) south of Playa del Carmen and 149 miles (240 km) south of Cozumel. Keep an eye on the time to ensure you return to the cruise port well before the departure time of your cruise ship. Stay updated on any changes in the schedule to avoid any hiccups.
It’s amusing yet challenging to navigate; the journey through this maze becomes an adventure. Although finding the exit can be tricky, especially with shop owners eagerly drawing your attention to step into their stores, it’s all part of the experience. This might be my least favorite aspect of this port, but as I always say, the journey is part of the adventure—and adventure always awaits just before the exit.
Here are other excursions you can plan while spending the day in the Bacalar Lagoon area. The ruins at Chacchoben are a vast Mayan settlement dating from 200 BC. The ruins include four grand temples or pyramids, including the Temple of the Vessels and Gran Basamento. You can climb the ancient pyramids and wonder at the Mayans’ architectural skills. A 50-minute drive from Costa Maya are some of Mexico’s most stunning archaeological sites—the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins.
Mahahual
Built in the 18th century, the fortress protected the town from pirate attacks. Additionally, its position at the edge of the freshwater lake means you get spectacular views over the lagoon and surrounding forests. The lagoon is home to several cenotes—natural, water-filled sinkholes. Cenote Azul is 300 ft. (91 m) deep, giving it a deep blue color.
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. 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. Are you looking for the top shore excursions and activities when your cruise ship berths in Costa Maya?
You can do practically anything you can do in other ports, all within the relatively small area. Adam's goal is to enhance your cruising adventures with practical tips and insightful advice, making each of your journeys unforgettable. Here are some of the best things to do in and around Costa Maya during your cruise day.
In total, it can take between minutes just to get through the area when trying to exit as quickly as possible. There is also an anti-sargassum barrier to help reduce the amount of seaweed in the shallow waters beside the seashore. You can use US dollars throughout your stay in Costa Maya, even though the Mexican Peso (MXN) is the local currency. Therefore, always check if the listed prices are MXN (sometimes, MX or Mex$) or US dollars.
From the north end of the village, you can walk just over a mile from the lighthouse (Faro de Mahahual) along the beautiful beach or the Malecon (promenade). You can find various beach facilities, cafes, and beachfront bars along the walk. It’s important to note that, due to the distance and range of activities on offer, a visit to the Bacalar Lagoon means you won’t have time to explore Mahahual near the cruise port.
You’ll be greeted by tour guides offering up excursions if you haven’t booked something to do already. But what you’ll also notice is that in the port complex there is tons offered, including shopping, restaurants, swimming with dolphins, and more. That said, despite its location, it’s likely that when you visit you won’t be alone. The port of Costa Maya offers several docking spots on its pier, giving the ability for multiple ships to dock at the same time (we’ve been in port with as many as four ships in port).
