Costa Maya, Mexico is included in the Caribbean Cruise Destinations series since it is one of the stops on some Western Caribbean Cruise itineraries. Costa Maya is a small tourist region in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, located between Cancun and Belize. The area is generally undeveloped but has been growing quickly and rapidly after construction of a large pier to accommodate cruise ships.
Costa Maya was once a trading post for the Mayan Empire. It is located in the Mexican Caribbean and is best known for its jungles, beaches, lagoons and Mayan ruins.
Costa Maya is located on the Caribbean Sea approximately 100 miles south of Playa del Carmen and quite close to the border of Belize. It was built out of the jungle specifically to cater to the cruise passengers. It was designed to be self-sufficient and even the water is drinkable.
NOTE: Hurricane Dean did major damage to Costa Maya in August of 2007 and massive re-building has been going on since then. On October 31, 2008, Holland America's Westerdam will be the first to re-start the new post hurricane arrivals.
Costa Maya has not been as popular as Cozumel due to its isolation, but that is fast changing. It still has some very interesting shore excursions. Carnival Cruise Lines has around 17 possible shore excursions listed, less than a lot of other destinations. Most of these are water related due to the location of Costa Maya.
This lens is one of a series that the author is providing on over twenty cruise destinations in the Caribbean. Each lens will include general information on the destination, suggested shore excursions, and video and photographic illustrations where appropriate.
More Information On The Port At Costa Maya, Mexico
Costa Maya Dock As Seen From A Cruise Ship
On the Puerto Costa Maya website, the following description aptly pictures what one can expect at this port. Check out also the links on this site for a listing of numerous cruise excursions available.
"Costa Maya, the Western Caribbean's first port designed exclusively for the cruise ship industry, is strategically located just hours from Cancun on Mexico's southern Yucatan Peninsula. Resembling an ancient Mayan city, Costa Maya is able to accommodate three ships at once and entertain visitors to a destination that showcases the ancient and colonial heritage of the Mexican Caribbean with all of today's conveniences. Set against the deep turquoise sea, Costa Maya is comprised of three grand pavilions, artisan and luxury shopping areas, a beach club, saltwater pools, fine restaurants and bars, and all the resources necessary to explore the surrounding jungle and coral reefs."
"It is the region's most complete and diverse port of call providing cultural, natural and archeological excursions. Costa Maya is one of only six ports in the Western Caribbean to receive over one million passengers per year.
Some Representative Shore Excursions for Costa Maya, Mexico
Remember that you can always see the rest on your NEXT cruise to Costa Maya. I am listing a few of the shore excursions listed by Carnival cruise lines below. The full list of thirty-nine plus excursions can be found HERE.
If you go to the Carnival Cruise Lines site above, you will be able to click on links for each excursion which will give detailed descriptions of each excursion.
The photos with the excursions below are from Carnival's site and are specific to their excursions. Other cruise lines may have different excursions.
Follow the links on the linked excursions to see the original pictures and a more detailed description of the excursion.
- Jungle Beach Break 5 Hours Enjoy a tropical beach break at Uvero Beach, one of Costa Maya's newest and most popular beaches. Ticket price includes entrance to the beach, open bar, use of hammocks, non-motorized water sports (based on availability) and round trip transportation. Fresh water showers, rest rooms and changing rooms are available.
- Highlights - Costa Maya Town & Beach Break Combo 4 Hours Climb aboard an open-air passenger truck and take an adventure through time amid the beautiful and exotic terrain of Costa Maya.
- Catamaran Sail & Snorkel 2.5 Hours Feel the wind at your back as you sail the crystal clear waters off Costa Maya's coastline en route to your snorkeling adventure.
Chacchoben Mayan Ruins 4 Hours Explore the virtually un-excavated Chacchoben Mayan Ruins situated in a secluded jungle setting near the border of Belize. - Two Tank Certified Scuba Dive w/ Equipment 4 Hours Discover Mahahual, one of the newest and hottest dive spots in the Caribbean!
- Airboat Adventure & Belize City Tour 2.5 Hours This combination tour provides the thrill of a high-speed airboat ride with a historical overview of the Central American jewel of Belize City.
Barrier Reef Snorkel at Turneffe with Beach Break 3.5 Hours Cut right through the turquoise blue waters of Belize aboard a 65-foot high-speed custom-built catamaran en route to your snorkeling excursion.
Canoeing, Wine Tasting & City Tour 3.5 Hours This combination excursion takes you from the natural environment of the mangroves to the historical landmarks of the city.
Brief Overview Of Costa Maya
The Port of Costa Maya is quickly becoming a center of attention on the Western Caribbean Cruise Routes. The city of Costa Maya is set up to resemble a Mayan city and provides a showcase for the ancient and colonial heritage of the area.
Costa Maya is a small tourist region in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, located between Cancún and Belize. The area is generally undeveloped but has been growing quickly and rapidly after construction of a large pier to accommodate cruise ships. The Costa Maya includes two small villages -- Majahual and Xcalak.
Category: Image - :Costa maya beach.jpg|thumb|right|The beach at Costa Maya, looking toward the cruise ship pier.
Category: Image - :Costa maya from cruise ship.jpg|thumb|right|The resort of Costa Maya viewed from a cruiseship docked at the pier.
While Xcalak is approximately 60km south of the Costa Maya cruise port, the fishing village of Mahahual is only about 3 km (2 miles) away. Cruise ships can easily be seen from the village. Mahahual has soft sand beaches, grass thatched palapas, and a coral reef a short distance off-shore, as well as several bars, restaurants, and shops. A resort development called New Mahahual is being created directly inland from the port. When ships are in port, the village is busy with cruise passengers.
Costa Maya's port has a new and modern tourist shopping mall. The center has a central plaza with saltwater pools and "swim-up" style bars. There are several jewellery stores and many small shops selling ubiquitous souvenir items. It is generally open only to cruise ship passengers.
Costa Maya is the closest port of access to many of the lesser known Mayan ruins in the Yucatan including Chacchoben and Kohunlich. These sites are substantially less excavated than the better known pyramids near Cancún.
Costa Maya was on the malaria watch list in which visitors were deferred from donating blood for up to a year. This was until the CDC dropped all cruise ship ports in Mexico off the malaria watch list.The Blood Center
The port sustained heavy damage due to Hurricane Dean in August 2007. This included the dock designed for cruise ships. Holland America's Westerdam was the first cruise ship to return to the port since Hurricane Dean on October 31, 2008[http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=57989308.blog].
Check Out These Items Related To Costa Maya
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Dancers Performing In Costume In Costa Maya
Dancers Performing in Costume, Costa Maya, Mexico Photographic Poster Print by Bill Bachmann, 40x30
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Other Caribbean Cruise Destinations Featured Lenses
Don't forget to check out the other Caribbean Cruise Destination lenses I have prepared for you. Those listed below are just a few of the destinations now available. You can see the full list at This Link
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Caribbean Cruise Destinations: Belize
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Belize, the former British Honduras, is the only country in Central America where the official language is English. The Mayan civilization flourished in this area until about 1200 AD and there are still many archeological sites that reflect their a...
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Caribbean Cruise Destinations: Dominica
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Dominica has been described as the "Hidden Caribbean Jewel". It is the greenest and most mountainous of the islands in the Eastern Caribbean. In 2006, it was home to some of the filming of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" numbers 2 and 3. It's Morne Tr...
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Caribbean Cruise Destinations: Saint Lucia
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The entrance to the cruise ship docks in St. Lucia is one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean. To the left of the cruise ship as it enters the harbor, you see a jetty of land with the airport runway literally ending at a precipice adjoining the s...
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Caribbean Cruise Destinations: Jamaica
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Jamaica is one of the largest Caribbean Islands, lying South of Cuba and Southwest of Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic). It was inhabited by the Arawak Indians at the time of Columbus' first visit. by Columbus. The Spanish controlled the isla...
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Caribbean Cruise Destinations: Cozumel, Mexico
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Cozumel, Mexico is included in the Caribbean Cruise Destinations series because it is one of the main stops on most Western Caribbean Cruise itineraries. And of the stops in Mexico, Cozumel is the most frequented. It is an island just off the coast...
Photos Of Costa Maya And Nearby Areas
Other Internet Information On Costa Maya, Mexico
- Costa Maya on Travel Channel
- Article: …populated nor is it as touristed as Cancun, but it does contain small hotels, the Costa Maya cruise ship port and the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve. ... Url : http://search.travelchannel.com/travel/Costa%20Maya Cache (Ranked #19)
- BusinessCasualBlog.com: Cruise Day 3 - Costa Maya. A blossoming ...
- Dec 31, 2008 ... I was bored the other day. It was cruise day 2. Day 2 was an "at sea" day. Not a piece of land or burrow in site. Url : http://www.businesscasualblog.com/2008/12/cruise-day-3---costa-maya-a-burgeoning-mayan-riviera.html Cache (Ranked #25)
- Top Stories & Trends - Costa Maya Celebrates Return of Cruise ...
- Puerto Costa Maya, the destination cruise port near Cancun, reopened for the first time since it closed in 2007 due to damage from Hurricane Dean. ... Url : http://www.travelpulse.com/Resources/Editorial.aspx?n=47814 Cache (Ranked #27)
- Costa Maya Excursions, shore activities in Costa Maya, tours and ...
- Costa Maya Shore Excursions for Cruise Ship passengers. Tours to all the Mayan ruins near Costa Maya, tours to Mayan villages and water activities. Url : http://www.thenativechoice.com/ Cache (Ranked #7)
- Mr. Costa Maya - Everything Costa Maya “Blog” » Port of Costa Maya
- As I am sure you know, and if not your cruise ship will inform you when you call port in Costa Maya (Mahahual). Costa Maya was destroyed by Hurricane Dean. ... Url : http://blog.mrcostamaya.com/archives/tag/port-of-costa-maya Cache (Ranked #26)
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