Mahahual, Costa Maya, Mexico
Mahahual, Costa Maya, Mexico

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Costa Maya, Mexico

A popular destination on many ships sailing from Galveston.

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The Port of Costa Maya is located about 350 miles south of Cancun, not far from Mexico’s border with Belize.  The port town of Mahahual was once a sleepy fishing village but has become a busy tourist center.  The cruise dock was recently purchased by Royal Caribbean and will become part of their Perfect Day Mexico in Fall 2027.  It’s unclear if other cruise lines will continue to dock here.  The area offers pristine beaches, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, Mayan Ruins, and the Bacalar Lagoon and Cenotes.

Mayan Ruins on a Royal Caribbean Cruise

Exploring Mayan Ruins on a Royal Caribbean Cruise shore excursion.

Visit Chacchoben Mayan Ruins

Chacchoben is Maya for “the place of red corn”.  Located about a 50 minute drive from the Port of Costa Maya, the site is thought to have been settled in 200 BC and the structures date to 700 AD.  Visitors can walk a path that includes three pyramids and many other smaller structures.

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Lake Bacalar and adjoining cenote

Lake Bacalar and adjoining cenote.

Dive into Lake Bacalar

Lake Bacalar, also knows as “Seven Colors Lagoon”, is a long, narrow freshwater lake fed by underground rivers that are revealed in the cenotes nearby.  Shore excursions vary – some offering boat rides, lunch and stops at other destinations.  The drive from Costa Maya is about 1.5 hours, so be prepared for a long day.

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Stone Masks at the Temple of the Masks in Kohunlich Mexico

Stone Masks at the Temple of the Masks in Kohunlich, Mexico.

See the Temple of the Masks at the Kohunlich Mayan Ruins

The Kohunlich archelogical site encompasses over twenty acres spread out over relatively flat terrain, with over two hundred mounds. Walk through the ancient Mayan ceremonial center where a temple is dedicated to the Sun God.  The large Sun God masks are a main attraction. The site dates from the Late Pre-Classic (300 BCE-250 CE) through its peak in the Late Classic (600-900 CE), and was abandoned around 1100 CE.  At its peak, Kohunlich served as a residential and ceremonial center.

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Palm Trees on Beach

Costa Maya Beach

Find a Secluded Beach

The pic says it all.  Watch out for falling coconuts!

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