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Costa Maya is the cruise name for the coast around Mahahual, a small fishing village turned beach town near the southern end of Mexico's Quintana Roo state, close to the Belize border. More about Costa Maya →
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Thousands of people in port, guests plus crew. Crowd level compared with a typical Costa Maya day.
The crowd calendar shows every ship and how busy the port is, hour by hour, plus the quietest and busiest days for the next 90 days.
Ships dock at Puerto Costa Maya, a purpose-built cruise pier and gated port village about 3 km north of Mahahual's Malecon. The long pier runs out to a T-head with berths for up to four ships, and tendering is used only if every berth is taken.
From the T-head to the shore-side terminal complex is about 400 m (around 5 minutes on foot), the outer berths are farther, and a free trolley runs along the pier. All passengers pass through the complex, with its shops, pools and tour dispatch, then exit to the taxi and shuttle area.
Mahahual is a 5–10 minute taxi ride away.
3 km · ~8 min by car
Most independent passengers take a shared taxi or the open-air port shuttle from the transport area outside the terminal to Mahahual's Malecon, a short drive along Avenida Paseo del Puerto. Taxis wait along the Malecon for the return trip.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
There is no rideshare service. Taxis, the port shuttle, golf carts and tour vans all leave from the transport area just outside the terminal complex, and cash in small USD bills or pesos is expected. On multi-ship days the pier trolley, taxi lines and port entrance get congested, so guides advise being back at the port 60–90 minutes before all-aboard, and earlier after long excursions.
1 terminal
A purpose-built cruise pier with a T-head that can berth up to four ships, leading to a gated, shore-side port village with shops, restaurants, pools, tour dispatch and the taxi and shuttle area. All cruise lines use it, and berth assignments vary by sailing. It has been owned and operated by Royal Caribbean Group since July 2025.
US dollars are widely accepted, but change is often given in pesos, and prices marked with '$' may be pesos. Check which currency a bill is in. Many small vendors and taxis take cash only.
Beachfront promenade a 5–10 minute taxi ride from the port, lined with seafood restaurants, taco spots and beach clubs where loungers are often free with food or drink orders.
Restaurants and bars inside the gated port complex, including a swim-up pool bar, within walking distance of the ship but pricier than Mahahual.
Costa Maya is the cruise name for the coast around Mahahual, a small fishing village turned beach town near the southern end of Mexico's Quintana Roo state, close to the Belize border. The cruise port opened in 2001 and was rebuilt after Hurricane Dean destroyed it in 2007.
Mahahual has a car-free beachfront Malecon lined with beach clubs, seafood restaurants and dive shops, with calm water protected by the Mesoamerican Reef just offshore. Inland are jungle-covered Maya sites such as Chacchoben, Kohunlich and Dzibanche, and the freshwater Bacalar Lagoon, known as the Lagoon of Seven Colors.
It is Mexico's second-busiest cruise port after Cozumel, with about 2.4 million cruise passengers in 2025, and a regular Western Caribbean call.
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Mahahual's car-free beachfront promenade has beach clubs, seafood restaurants, dive shops and calm, reef-protected water for swimming and snorkeling. It is a 5–10 minute taxi ride from the pier and works on any length of call.
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The closest major Maya site to the port, with temples and a large ceremonial platform (Gran Basamento) rising from the jungle about an hour's drive inland. A guided visit takes about 4–5 hours door to door, so it fits most calls.
Bacalar Lagoon, known as the Lagoon of Seven Colors, is a long freshwater lagoon with vivid blue water, lakeside clubs and the Spanish colonial Fort of San Felipe. At about 75–80 minutes' drive each way, it only suits long port calls.
Inside the gate, the port complex has a large saltwater pool with a swim-up bar, shops, restaurants, the Aviarius bird walk and Danza de los Voladores performances. It is an easy option for a short call or for families.
