Palm trees and clear water at Costa Maya

Costa Maya shore excursions

A purpose-built cruise pier beside the small beach village of Mahahual, with Maya ruins at Chacchoben and the Bacalar lagoon a bus ride inland.

Photo: Rikin Katyal / Unsplash

Typical call

8:00 am→4:30 pm

Docking to all aboard · about 8 h 30 min ashore

Getting ashore

Walk off at the pier

Walkable to town

Money

Mexican peso

US dollars widely accepted

Time zone

UTC-5 all year

Keep your watch on ship's time

Tours that fit your day in Costa Maya

Enter the times from your cruise line's itinerary. We add time to walk off the ship, the drive to each tour's start point and back, and your safety margin.

Ship docks8:00 amAll aboard4:30 pm

Safety margin before all aboard

Ship in portGetting ashore (20 min)Safety margin (1 h)All aboard 4:30 pm

8 h 30 min in port93 fit with time to spare4 cutting it close3 too long

Fits your day
Authentic Beachfront Mexican Cooking Class Cafe Jaguar Costa Maya
2 h 5.0 (146)Free cancellation
Back by 10:50 am · 4 h 40 min sparefrom $79
Fits your day
Chacchoben Mayan Ruins with Local Experience Costa Maya Excursion
4 h 4.9 (243)Free cancellation
Back by 12:50 pm · 2 h 40 min sparefrom $80
Fits your day
Discovery Scuba Dive.
3 h 5.0 (107)Free cancellation
Back by 11:50 am · 3 h 40 min sparefrom $100
Fits your day
2 Tank Dive (for certified divers)
4 h 4.9 (135)Free cancellation
Back by 12:50 pm · 2 h 40 min sparefrom $95
Fits your day
Snorkel Tour on the Costa Maya with experienced Guid
2 h 4.9 (176)Free cancellation
Back by 10:50 am · 4 h 40 min sparefrom $36
Fits your day
Bacalar – 7 Colors Lagoon Excursión Costa Maya
5 h 30 min 4.8 (503)Free cancellation
Back by 2:20 pm · 1 h 10 min sparefrom $135
Fits your day
Mahahual and Costa Maya Birdwatching
5 h 5.0 (83)Free cancellation
Back by 1:50 pm · 1 h 40 min sparefrom $144
Fits your day
Costa Maya: private Chacchoben & Bacalar sailing or Los Rápidos
5 h 30 min 4.9 (117)Free cancellation
Back by 2:20 pm · 1 h 10 min sparefrom $175
Fits your day
Costa Maya Shore Excursion Chacchoben Day Trip
3 h 30 min 4.8 (1,218)Free cancellation
Back by 12:20 pm · 3 h 10 min sparefrom $64
Fits your day
Experience Guided Snorkeling in Costa Maya
1 h 30 min 4.9 (88)Free cancellation
Back by 10:20 am · 5 h 10 min sparefrom $30
Fits your day
PADI Discover Scuba Diving
3 h 45 min 4.9 (111)Free cancellation
Back by 12:35 pm · 2 h 55 min sparefrom $100
Fits your day
Chacchoben Mayan Ruins and Mayan Experience from Costa Maya
5 h 30 min 4.9 (109)Free cancellation
Back by 2:20 pm · 1 h 10 min sparefrom $107

Return times are estimates from the tour length, travel from the pier and time to get ashore. Always check your ship's all-aboard time.

Port guide

Costa Maya cruise port guide

Costa Maya is a single large pier on the southern Quintana Roo coast, about 3 km north of the fishing village of Mahahual. Ships tie up at a long pier and passengers walk, or ride a free trolley, into a walled shopping complex with free saltwater pools, bars and a tour desk. Most people then pick one of three days. The easy one is the Mahahual malecon, a short taxi or shuttle ride (about US$5 per person each way) to a strip of beach bars and clubs on the bay. The second is a half-day to the Chacchoben ruins, roughly an hour inland, usually sold with a beach stop. The third is a long day to Bacalar lagoon or to the remote sites of Kohunlich and Dzibanche, which take about two hours each way and leave little slack before all-aboard. Sargassum can cover the town beaches in warm months, and road blockades near the port stopped passengers and buses in February and June 2026. Royal Caribbean bought the port in 2024 and planned a private resort here, but Mexico's environment ministry rejected the project in May 2026. Ships continue to call as scheduled.

On your own

Things to do in Costa Maya

Taxi times are from Puerta Costa Maya unless noted. Hover a place to find it on the map; open Details for costs, tips and your time budget.

Numbers match the list; colours show the type of place. Anchor = where ships dock.

Puerta Costa Maya port complex and pools
Attraction At the port 1-2 hours
A Maya-themed shopping and leisure area with free pools, swim-up bar, hammocks, restaurants and a small beach right at the gangway, useful if you want a low-effort day.
Fits your day
Mahahual village and malecon
Town 5–10 min from the pier 3-5 hours
A fishing village with a waterfront strip of beach bars, restaurants, shops and sun loungers on a sheltered bay. It is the easiest independent option.
Fits your day
The Krazy Lobster beach bar
Food & drink 10–15 min from the pier 2-4 hours
A long-running beachfront seafood bar on Huachinango street, popular with cruise passengers; loungers, kayaks and paddleboards are available.
Fits your day
Reef-lagoon snorkeling off Mahahual
Snorkel & dive 5–10 min from the pier 1.5 hours plus transfers
Short boat trips anchor at buoys in the shallow lagoon between the reef crest and the beach, with sea grass, sand and scattered coral heads. Banco Chinchorro, a large offshore atoll, is a much longer trip.
Fits your day
Chacchoben Maya ruins
Ruins & history 50–65 min from the pier 4-6.5 hours total including transfers
The most practical Maya site from this port: restored pyramids with traces of red paint on a shaded loop path through jungle, with a stela at the base of the largest pyramid. Tours are commonly paired with a beach club.
Fits your day
Bacalar lagoon (Lake of Seven Colours)
Nature 75–100 min from the pier 6-8 hours
A 60 km long, up to 2 km wide freshwater lagoon with very clear water over a white limestone bottom, plus the 1729 San Felipe fortress in Bacalar town.
Won't make all aboard
Kohunlich Maya ruins
Ruins & history 120–150 min from the pier Full day, about 7 hours
A jungle site with a large rainwater reservoir and the Temple of the Masks, where five of eight stucco masks survive.
Won't make all aboard
Dzibanche
Ruins & history 120–150 min from the pier Full day, usually paired with Kohunlich
A large Early Classic site; the Temple of the Owl holds a royal tomb dated to around 400 AD. Quieter than Chacchoben.
Won't make all aboard
Xcalak village
Nature 60–90 min from the pier Most of the day
A small fishing and diving village at the southern end of the Costa Maya near the Mesoamerican reef and Banco Chinchorro.

On your own or a cruise-line tour?

Mahahual's beach strip is easy alone: it is 3 km away, taxis run about US$5 per person each way and everything is on one road. Chacchoben and Bacalar are possible with a reputable private operator, but there is no public transport that fits a port day and a protest blockade of the port access road can strand a bus. On 12 February 2026 residents closed pier access for almost four hours, and on 1 June 2026 a transport company blockade led to the cancellation of all excursions for two Royal Caribbean ships. A ship-sold tour is worth it for Chacchoben, Bacalar, Kohunlich and Dzibanche because the cruise line is responsible for getting its own tours back to the ship, which an independent operator is not obliged to match; check the operator's return guarantee.

How people miss the ship here

Road blockades near the port have happened (February and June 2026); with a ship-sold excursion the cruise line manages the consequences, with an independent tour you do.
Kohunlich and Dzibanche are two or more hours each way; a 2024 tour returned about 15:30, which leaves little margin for an early departure.
Ship time may differ from local time by one hour in winter; confirm which clock all-aboard uses.
The walk from the end of the pier to the exits can take at least 15 minutes, and taxi queues grow when several ships are in port.
Strong winds have prevented docking on some days, which can change arrival time.

Logistics

Where ships dock and getting around

Puerta Costa Maya (Costa Maya cruise pier)

Ships dock here 5-10 min to town Walkable to town

Long pier into a Maya-themed shopping complex with three free saltwater pools (one with swim-up bar), restaurants, bars, shops, a small rocky beach with hammocks, free Wi-Fi, and a kiosk that books taxis, golf carts and tours. A free trolley runs between the ship and the terminal. There are two exits to the road where taxis, shuttles and tour desks wait. Four berths; if more than four ships are scheduled the extra ones anchor and tender.

Getting to town: Taxi or shuttle (about US$5 per person each way). Walking is 3-4 km and about 30-45 minutes along a hot road, so most people ride.

Usually used by: October 2026 schedule lists Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises and Celebrity Cruises; Carnival also sells shore excursions here. Calls from Galveston, Tampa and Port Canaveral are common.

Taxi (port to Mahahual and beach clubs)

Taxis wait outside both port exits and in the village. Expect about US$5 per person each way for the 10–15 minute ride to Mahahual; confirm the price before you get in.

Port to Mahahual malecon (per person, one way) · 2026	$5
Port to Mahahual by cab, older quote	$8

Shuttle

Shuttle vans run from the port to Mahahual. Prices quoted are US$3 to US$5 per person each way.

Port to Mahahual (per person, one way) · 2025

$3-5

Walking

Mahahual is 3-4 km from the terminal; expect 30-45 minutes on an exposed road. The walk inside the port from ship to exit also takes at least 15 minutes.

Golf cart hire and tour desk

The kiosk outside the terminal books golf carts by the hour and last-minute tours. No current rates found.

Ship excursion or pre-booked private tour

Needed for Chacchoben, Bacalar, Kohunlich and Dzibanche; there is no public transport that fits a port day. Buses depart from the terminal area, and independent operators meet you at the port gates.

Carnival Chacchoben ruins and beach break, 6.5 hours, adult · 2026	$149.99
Kohunlich ruins by Royal Caribbean, about 7 hours, with lunch · 2024	$101.99

Climate

Costa Maya weather by month

The Atlantic hurricane season runs 1 June to 30 November, peaking August to October. Hurricane Dean made landfall at Mahahual as a Category 5 in 2007 and wrecked the pier. Ships skip or reroute when a storm threatens, and sargassum affects Mahahual's beaches in many months. Figures are for Chetumal, about 100 km inland, so the coast can differ slightly.

Before you go

Practical information

Currency: Mexican peso (MXN); US dollars are widely accepted.
US dollars: Yes in the port complex and at Mahahual beach clubs and taxis, often with prices posted in US$. Change may come back in pesos, and some shops add about 5% to card payments. Carry small US bills plus a few pesos.
Language: Spanish; English is widely spoken by port staff and beach club workers.
Time zone: UTC-5 all year (Quintana Roo has had no daylight saving since 2015)
Ship time: Quintana Roo does not change its clocks. Ships sailing from US Gulf ports often keep US Central time, which equals Costa Maya time while US daylight saving applies (spring to early November) but is one hour behind it in winter. Ask guest services which clock the 'all aboard' time uses and set your watch to ship time.
Safety: The US State Department advises increased caution in Quintana Roo because of crime, mainly citing Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Mahahual is a small tourist town; the main practical risks are taxi overcharging and occasional road blockades.

Questions

Costa Maya cruise port FAQ

How far is the Costa Maya cruise port from Mahahual?

About 3 km. Taxis and shuttles take roughly 5-10 minutes and cost about US$5 per person each way. Walking takes 30-45 minutes along a hot road. The pier itself is long, so allow at least 15 minutes to reach the exits.

How much is a taxi from Costa Maya port to Mahahual?

Recent reports put taxis at about US$5 per person each way, with an older guide quoting a US$8 cab fare. Agree the price first, and be firm about your destination: a July 2026 report describes a driver charging US$150 to divert passengers.

How far are the Chacchoben ruins from Costa Maya?

About 70 km by road, roughly 50–65 minutes each way. The site is open 9:00–15:00 with last entry at 14:30, so choose a tour that leaves early and returns at least an hour before all aboard.

Can I visit Bacalar lagoon on a Costa Maya cruise day?

Yes, but it is a long day: about 91 km and roughly 75-100 minutes each way. Private tours of six hours exist. Only book one that guarantees your return to the ship, and avoid it on short port days.

Is Costa Maya safe for cruise passengers?

The port and Mahahual are small tourist areas and most visits are uneventful. The US State Department rates Quintana Roo Level 2, 'exercise increased caution'. The most common problems are taxi overcharging and road blockades, which disrupted calls in February and June 2026.

Can I get off the ship at Costa Maya without an excursion?

Yes. The port complex has free pools, shops and bars, and Mahahual is a short taxi ride away. No tender is needed under normal conditions, because ships dock at the pier; extra ships beyond four anchor and tender.

Are there two cruise piers at Costa Maya?

No second cruise pier was found. The port is a single pier with four berths at the Mahahual end of the Costa Maya, and names like Puerto Costa Maya, Mahahual port and Costa Maya refer to the same facility.

What is happening with Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day Mexico?

Royal Caribbean bought the Costa Maya port and about 90 hectares in 2024 to build a private resort. Mexico's environment ministry rejected it on 19 May 2026, and relocation talks followed. Costa Maya was still receiving ships as scheduled in June 2026.

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Costa Maya cruise port guide

Costa Maya shore excursions

Tours that fit your day in Costa Maya

Costa Maya cruise port guide

Things to do in Costa Maya

Puerta Costa Maya port complex and pools

Mahahual village and malecon

The Krazy Lobster beach bar

Reef-lagoon snorkeling off Mahahual

Chacchoben Maya ruins

Bacalar lagoon (Lake of Seven Colours)

Kohunlich Maya ruins

Dzibanche