Cool Costa Maya- Ideas and Excursions

Costa Maya is located south of the State of Quintana Roo and is the closest cruise port to the Belize border. While the cruise port itself is man-made there are many options for leaving the immediate area and exploring this wonderful area. We have been to Costa Maya twice and have both been on an excursion and enjoyed the confines of the port itself. Our third trip will be in March of 2017 and we plan to do the Chacchoben Ruins tour. The majority of the major cruise lines have an itinerary that includes Costa Maya, particularly on Western Caribbean routes. On our initial visit to Costa Maya we chose to take a city tour of the local area. We did not book this through the Norwegian cruise ship and we opted to sign up for a tour at the port. Once you get to the cruise port you will encounter a rather long pier to walk on to take you to the activities of the port. There is an open air trolley that slowly shuttles folks back and forth from one end of the pier to another. If you wish you can wait for the trolley to come to where the ships are docked and hop on it for a leisurely ride. The first area of the port has folks dressed as Mayan dancers who will pose for photos as well. Be aware that they will take the photo with your camera and you will give them a "tip" of your choice. If you want a family member or friend to run and pose with them and take your own photo it won't happen. There are many shops at the port, including a pharmacy (or pharmacia). As a certified pharmacy technician I was very curious to see what they sold and what they charged for their medications. A large variety of antibiotics were available for approximately $30.00 per course, such as a one week supply of Zithromax for $30.00. The Azithromycin (generic Zithromax) was not encased in a prepackaged box as it typically is in the United States. It is in a sealed vial but the pills are loose. Additionally, I did was not familiar with any of the drugmakers so I chose not to purchase anything. They did offer many other drugs, ranging from Cialis to Soma, and you did not need a prescription. Across from the Pharmacia there was a tour kiosk/stand with several options for off the ship tours. These ranged from a tour of the ruins to a city tour, which we did. We were able to charge the cost to our sign and sail card, as were other folks from their respective cruise lines. Our cost for a city tour was $20.00 per person for a two hour tour. We also tipped our wonderful guide, Diego and his driver $10.00. The city tour was very interesting and we got to really see how the people of Costa Maya live. They are very proud of their home and our guide Diego shared lots of information with us about their traditions and environment. We went to a shopping area which was a traditional market, visited some landmarks and went to see a large group of iguanas and fed them fresh tortillas. 

On our second visit to Costa Maya last month we decided to relax around the port area. In addition to the shops there was entertainment in the center of the port and featured dancers, as well as the traditional Mayan pole dancers. This acrobatic feat is a wonder to witness! A swim up bar and large pool is at the port, as is a small beach, although it is rocky. Many folks chose to hang out by the water and grab a tropical beverage. For anyone interested in the famous "Fish Pedicure" they do offer that at the port (we did not partake)! There are several other options for anyone wishing to explore this picturesque area, with our without a cruiseline excursion. Several of these include:

1. Grab a cab and head to the fishing port area of Mahahual, a laid-back fishing village that offers traditional open air markets and gorgeous views of the water. A cab ride to and from the fishing port is typically less than $10.00 round trip. 

2. Maya Chan Beach Resort is an option for anyone wishing to relax and enjoy an all inclusive beach experience for the day. This popular oasis gets booked up quickly so if you are planning to reserve this on your own and take a cab there you should plan to make reservations ahead of time.  http://costamayabeachresort.com/

3. Visit the Chacchoben, Dzibanche or Kinichna Mayan Ruins sites to explore the ancient marvels and Mexican history. Cruise ships offer these tours, and you can also book one when you are off the ship right at the port. Do be aware of the time frame if you chose to do a tour without the cruiseline. Some tours run more than five hours and you don't want to miss your ship leaving!

4. Anyone wanting to immerse themselves in the Mayan culture should check out The Native Choice's Mayan Experience tour. This authentic experience has been raved about by many visitors who really enjoyed learning first hand about the unique Mayan culture.This can be an especially good option for adding some educational aspects to your family vacation.
https://thenativechoice.com/tours/mayan-experience-tour 

5. Play and frolic with your kids at the Lost Mayan Kingdom Adventure Park. This newly created water park resembles the ancient Mayan ruins and offers water slides and water activities as well as ziplining. Only five minutes from the pier makes this an easy and refreshing outing for any family. You can contact them via their Facebook page to obtain their hours and exact pricing at https://www.facebook.com/MayaParkMX
The current conversion rate looks like adults cost $55.00 per person and children over age 5 are $50.00 each. Children ages five and younger are free. 

Whatever you choose to do in Costa Maya enjoy your visit! It is a beautiful place!