Costa Maya cruise port: the port village, Mahahual and what to do

The Costa Maya cruise port

Costa Maya is a cruise port, not a town. Puerto Costa Maya was built for cruise ships on the southern Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo, and the nearest town is Mahahual, a former fishing village about 2 miles up the coast. Everything you need for a short day is inside the port gates; everything else means a taxi, a shuttle or an excursion.

Port

Puerto Costa Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico. One long pier with four berths; two were extended for Oasis-class ships.

Getting off the ship

The pier is long. A free trolley runs between the ships and the port village.

Nearest town

Mahahual, about 2 miles away: a 5- to 10-minute taxi ride or about a 45-minute walk.

Currency

Mexican peso. U.S. dollars are widely accepted, and the port ATMs give dollars.

Owner

Royal Caribbean Group, which bought the port and land around Mahahual for US$292 million (completed in 2025). Other lines still call.

Mexico cruise passenger fee

Charged per person: $10 since August 1, 2026, rising to $15 from July 1, 2027.

What’s in the port village

The port village is the easiest day in the western Caribbean. Celebrity’s port guide lists dozens of shops, restaurants, ATMs, restrooms and Wi-Fi, a spa and a large pool with a swim-up bar. Paid attractions inside the gates include Aviarus, an aviary with hanging bridges; Kakaw, a cocoa and chocolate tasting; and La Consentida, a tequila distillery. You can swim off the port’s own beach, but the beaches in Mahahual are better.

Things to do in Costa Maya from the cruise port

• Mahahual beach and malecónHalf dayThe town's boardwalk runs along the beach, with beach clubs, bars and craft stalls. Go early on days when several ships are in.
• Reef snorkeling2 to 3 hours, by boatThe Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is just offshore, with rays, moray eels, turtles and reef fish. Boat trips leave from Mahahual.
• Chacchoben Mayan ruinsHalf dayAbout an hour inland, in the forest. The Gran Basamento pyramid gives views over the trees, and you may see birds and spider monkeys. The best-known Costa Maya cruise excursion.
• Bacalar lagoonFull dayThe "lagoon of seven colors," with kayaking and floating, plus Fort San Felipe and its piracy museum. Further than Mahahual, so take a timed excursion.
• Port village and poolAny lengthPool, swim-up bar, spa, aviary, chocolate and tequila tastings, all a walk from the ship.

Costa Maya cruise excursions: Chacchoben, Bacalar and catamaran or snorkel trips are the core of what lines sell here. Because both inland trips involve an hour or more on the road each way, they are worth booking through your ship or a firm with a return-on-time promise. Mahahual you can do on your own.

Getting to Mahahual from the cruise port

• Taxi: taxis wait outside the port gates. The ride is 5 to 10 minutes. Agree the price before you get in, and say where on the beach you want to be dropped.
• Shuttle: a shuttle bus runs to Mahahual for a small fee.
• Golf carts, bikes and cars: rentals are available outside the port, and a golf cart suits the short run up the coast road.
• Walking: possible, at about 45 minutes, but hot in the middle of the day.

Pesos or dollars? Dollars are accepted almost everywhere near the port, but you may get change in pesos, and both currencies use the “$” sign, so check which one a price is in. Celebrity suggests tipping guides and taxi drivers in pesos.

Who owns Costa Maya, and what about Perfect Day Mexico?

Royal Caribbean Group completed its purchase of Puerto Costa Maya and 34 nearby properties in Mahahual in 2025, for US$292 million, to build Perfect Day Mexico, a private resort with a water park that it planned to open in 2027. In May 2026, Mexico’s environmental authorities said the project would not be approved. Royal Caribbean said it was “disappointed” and would talk to local stakeholders again. For now, Costa Maya runs as a normal cruise port that other lines still use, and nothing is open beyond the existing port village.

Calls can be cancelled at short notice. In January 2026, Grandeur of the Seas skipped Costa Maya because of pier damage and spent the day at sea instead.

Is Costa Maya safe for cruise passengers?

The U.S. State Department rates Mexico as a whole at Level 2, “exercise increased caution” (advisory dated May 2026), and sets its specific advice state by state. In practice, cruise visitors here stay in the port village, Mahahual’s beachfront or on organized tours. Use the taxis at the port gates, keep valuables on the ship and leave a margin before all-aboard if you go inland.

Which cruises go to Costa Maya

Costa Maya is a western Caribbean port, usually paired with Cozumel and Roatán on the same week. Royal Caribbean calls with its biggest ships, including Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas. MSC includes it on MSC World America’s western Caribbean trips, and Carnival adds it to some 4- to 7-night sailings from New Orleans. For the full picture, see our Mexico cruise guide and the Caribbean cruise guide.

Costa Maya cruise port FAQ

Can you walk to Mahahual from the Costa Maya cruise port?

Yes, but it is about a 45-minute walk in the heat. Most people take a taxi (5 to 10 minutes) or the shuttle bus.

Is there a pool at the Costa Maya cruise port?

Yes. The port village has a large pool with a swim-up bar, a short trolley ride from the ship.

What are the best things to do in Costa Maya on a cruise?

A beach day in Mahahual with a snorkel trip to the reef, or the Chacchoben Mayan ruins about an hour inland. If you’d rather not leave the port, the pool, shops, aviary and tastings fill a few hours.

Where can I find the Costa Maya cruise port schedule?

Your line’s app lists your arrival and all-aboard times. The port’s own website was not loading when we checked in October 2026; port databases such as CruiseMapper list the ships due each day.

Do I need a passport for a cruise to Costa Maya?

On a closed-loop cruise that starts and ends at the same U.S. port, U.S. citizens can usually sail with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. Mexico is a foreign country, though, and you would need a passport to fly home if you had to leave the ship there. Bring one if you can.