Costa Maya

Costa Maya is a small tourist region in the municipality of Othón P. Blanco in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, on the Caribbean coast where the Yucatan Peninsula meets the sea. The port works mainly as a port of call, though some longer cruises do begin or end here.

The area was largely undeveloped until the construction of a large pier to accommodate cruise ships, and it has grown quickly ever since. The port opened in 2001 and continues to expand, with a layout that keeps most of what guests need within walking distance, including a shopping mall, a central plaza and saltwater pools. The pier itself runs long, so the free trolley between the ship and the village is worth taking on a hot day.

A short shuttle ride away sits Mahahual, once a small fishing village and now a fast-growing tourist centre in its own right. It offers soft sand beaches, grass-thatched palapas and a coral reef just offshore called Banco Chinchorro, which draws snorkelers and divers looking to spend a few hours in the water.

What sets Costa Maya apart is its access to some of the lesser-known Mayan ruins in the Yucatan, including Chacchoben and Kohunlich. Chacchoben, whose name translates as the place of red corn, is one of the more visited ruin sites in southern Quintana Roo, with regular trips running from the port. It lacks the crowds and the level of excavation found at the better-known sites further north, which is exactly what draws many visitors to it instead.

The region sits within dense tropical forest, and the climate stays warm year-round. Shopping leans toward local crafts, silver, leather goods and souvenirs, while dining ranges from casual beach spots to more upscale options, with local specialties like slow-roasted pork and fresh seafood sitting comfortably alongside international fare. On The Cruise Globe you can see exactly where your ship sat in the port and the routes its tenders took ashore.