Cruise Port Costa Maya

Our Day in Costa Maya | Mahahual, Mexico – A Cruise Port Overview

As our cruise ship pulled into Puerto Costa Maya, the view from the pool deck was spectacular—a vast green canopy of 30-foot tropical trees stretching endlessly inland. Located on the Yucatán Peninsula, Costa Maya is a popular Caribbean cruise port about four hours south of Cancún and just north of Belize.

The port itself is relatively new, having opened in 2001 through a public-private partnership with the Mexican government. By 2006, it had quickly become one of the busiest cruise ports in Mexico, welcoming over 600 cruise ships per year.

For cruisers, Costa Maya is a gateway to Mahahual, a laid-back beach town just a short shuttle ride away. Whether you’re looking for shore excursions, relaxation on the beach, or a chance to explore Mayan ruins, this port has something for every kind of traveller.

In August 2007, Hurricane Dean, a powerful Category 5 storm, made landfall and devastated the Costa Maya cruise port and the small nearby village of Mahahual. Fortunately, the Mexican government had recently approved a master plan for infrastructure improvements, which helped accelerate the area’s recovery and transformation into a popular destination for cruise passengers.

Within just two years of Hurricane Dean’s destruction, Puerto Costa Maya and Mahahual were completely rebuilt. A new cement pier was constructed alongside the Malecon—a scenic, two-mile-long oceanfront pedestrian promenade equipped with underground utilities, storm drainage, and modern lighting.

A state-of-the-art sewage treatment facility was also installed as part of the infrastructure overhaul. Following inspections by the cruise industry, the revitalised Costa Maya cruise port welcomed its first ships back in 2009.

Today, the port features a cement dock that accommodates up to three cruise ships at once. When we arrived, Celebrity and Crystal Cruises were already in port. The walk from the ship to the port area takes about 10 minutes, but a shuttle service is available for guests who prefer not to walk.

At the end of the Costa Maya cruise docks, visitors enter a vibrant and well-maintained shopping and entertainment complex designed specifically for cruise passengers. The area features several dozen modern shops, a multi-pool water park, seven restaurants, and five bars, offering plenty to see and do before even leaving the port area.

Shops are clean, air-conditioned, and attractively presented. You’ll find everything from T-shirts and local ceramics to leather goods, jewellery, tequila, and spirits—making it a convenient spot for browsing or picking up souvenirs without venturing far from the ship.

In addition to shopping and dining, the Costa Maya port complex offers live entertainment tailored to cruise visitors. Local performers—often residents of nearby Mahahual—dress in traditional Mayan attire and are available for photos throughout the day, offering a glimpse into the region’s ancient heritage.

One of the most eye-catching performances is the Danza de los Voladores (Dance of the Flyers), where costumed performers climb a tall pole, then descend headfirst while spinning gracefully on ropes. It’s a mesmerising, traditional ritual rooted in Mesoamerican culture and adds an authentic, cultural touch to the port experience.

From Port to Paradise: Exploring Mahahual from Costa Maya

The layout of the Costa Maya port complex is intentionally winding, guiding passengers past a long row of shops and stalls. Vendors stand outside, calling out in good humour with lines like “Almost free today, Mister!” and “Good prices today!” It’s all part of the cruise port experience, and though commercial, it’s friendly and low-pressure.

Shuttle to Mahahual Village

Just beyond the shopping area, you’ll find a fleet of open-air shuttles waiting to take cruise passengers the short 2-mile ride into the beach village of Mahahual. The shuttle costs $4 per person and carries 24 passengers at a time.

Once there, you’ll find a beautiful beachfront lined with loungers under palm trees, with a mix of traditional palapas and shade sails for cover. This area is designed for cruise visitors but has retained a relaxed, local feel.

• Some beach resorts charge $10 per lounge chair for the day.

• Others offer free chairs as long as you’re ordering food or drinks.

• Wi-Fi is free along most of the Malecon.

• Drinks are affordable—beers average $3, and cocktails are around $6.

• One of my favourite meals? Three grilled sea bass tacos with peppers, slaw, and white rice for just $7.

Nearly all vendors accept US dollars and pesos, and many accept credit cards.

Massages by the Sea

The other side of the Malecon (oceanfront promenade) is lined with small hotels, restaurants, and vacation rentals, giving the village an appealing local charm. Vendors along the walkway are ever-present but polite and non-aggressive.

One of the best discoveries? Dozens of open-air massage tables, each staffed by white-uniformed masseuses, offering beachfront massages under the breeze. We walked about 20 minutes to the far end of Mahahual and were offered a 30-minute massage for just $10.

For comparison, massages in other parts of Mexico can run $30–$50 an hour, making this a fantastic bargain for cruisers or budget-conscious travellers.

Mahahual, Quintana Roo, Mexico beach

Beach Massage, Fish Tacos, and Snorkelling in Mahahual

We each enjoyed a marvellous open-air massage on the beach, shaded by palm trees and cooled by the sea breeze. My massage therapist worked independently, and after I paid her $20 for 30 minutes, she asked, “My tip?”—something I found a bit surprising, as she was not part of a spa or staff team. While I don’t typically tip independent owners, I gave her an extra $3 and thanked her for the experience.

During my wife’s massage, I made use of the free Wi-Fi, catching up on messages and enjoying the peaceful setting. All in all, it felt like a fair trade—a great massage and a quiet half hour on the beach.

Lunch on the Beachfront

As we walked back along the Malecon, we found a beach resort offering free loungers with the purchase of food or drinks. We connected to the complimentary Wi-Fi, ordered a cold beer, a Piña Colada, and a plate of grilled fish tacos.

We relaxed in the shade of the palm trees, loungers positioned right at the water’s edge, with a view of tropical fish swimming in the clear, shallow water. I slipped on my goggles and waded out along the white sandy bottom, swimming in the warm, crystal-clear Caribbean sea out to the reef about 100 yards offshore.

Floating above the reef, I spent nearly an hour watching colourful fish drift below me, moving with the current. It was a perfect balance of tranquillity, natural beauty, and affordable indulgence—exactly what we love about slow travel in cruise ports like Mahahual.

Expats Live Here

A Taste of Tequila and an Unexpected Canadian Connection

As we walked back toward the shuttle drop-off in Mahahual, we were drawn in by a friendly voice offering free samples of local tequila and rum. The man behind the tasting table turned out to be a fellow Canadian—an expat originally from Richmond, just outside Vancouver.

He had been living off and on in Mexico for over 15 years, with twelve of those years spent in Todos Santos, a small artsy town on the Pacific Coast of the Baja Peninsula, just north of Cabo San Lucas. We knew it well—we’d visited many times over the years.

But things changed.

He told us he left Baja three years ago, tired of the growing cartel violence that began sweeping through the region around 2015. During a five-month stretch in 2017, when we ourselves were staying in San José del Cabo, over 500 murders were reported in the region, highlighting a sharp decline in safety, even in once-tranquil tourist towns.

A New Start in Costa Maya

After briefly returning to Canada, he realised he had become too acclimatised to warm weather and couldn’t handle the cold. So he bought an old truck and a fifth-wheel camper, and spent nine months slowly travelling south. Eventually, he arrived in Costa Maya—and he never left.

He’s been living here for two years now, running a liquor sampling and sales stand for tourists. “I haven’t heard of a single murder here,” he said with a smile, “and that’s why I stay.”

Returning to the Port

When we reached the shuttle drop-off point, we noticed that return shuttles do not take passengers back to the port. Instead, a line of licensed taxis waits just outside the Malecon. The cost is $4 USD per person for the short ride back to the Costa Maya cruise terminal.

Tip: Be sure to bring small bills—taxis accept USD and pesos, but change can be limited.