Costa Maya, Mexico: A Travel Guide

Also known as Bacalar Lagoon or "The Lake Of Seven Colors," here is a freshwater lagoon that is great for snorkeling, swimming, and other water activities! With the white sandy bottom that gives the effects of the different hues of blue, this lagoon is truly a fantastic place to visit.

Booked excursions here cover transportation, food, and drinks. It's a quiet, secluded location named for the multiple shades of blue in this beautiful body of water. Kayak tours will take you from the cruise port to the lagoon.

If you decide to leave the terminal, you can jump on a shuttle bus and head to the nearby town of Mahahual. This is the closest beach area. While you'll get some great food and drinks in the terminal, you will find the most authentic food in this small fishing village. You'll also find shops, artisan storefronts, water sports shops, and even a bookstore!

The Mahahual beach is open to the public and is lovely, although more crowded than those owned by beach clubs. The beach's northern end is deeper, so it's more crowded. Because more tourists head there, that area of town is nicer. The beach's southern end is shallower and not as nice, but it's also not as crowded. Do your best to head for the middle!

Located in the south of Quintana Roo state, Chacchoben Ruins are the most popular ancient ruins in the Costa Maya region.

Also known as the Land of the Red Corn, this 3.000-year-old site was once an important pilgrimage place for the ancient Mayans. If you are a history buff, you would appreciate the rich history of this site and admire the big ceremonial temple named Gran Basamento.

Particularly if you have children, you need to stop at Maya, a waterpark themed around the Mayan ruins around the area. This waterpark checks all the boxes - twisty water slides, zip lines, swimming pools, tubing rivers, and eateries. Book tickets before you go. Not only does it reach capacity quickly during the peak tourist season, but it's also sometimes closed for weeks at a time.

These two ruins are two archeological zones within the same area. Don't miss the opportunity to visit the ruins of these two Mayan civilizations lost in the jungle close to the Belize border.

When booked as an excursion, you will see two ruins together, and it is typically a long journey that can take up to 8 hours. Excursions typically include food and beverage.

You'll walk along a lovely pedestrian corridor by heading out of the gated parking lot of the cruise terminal. It once was flanked by bustling buildings for tourists to explore, but hurricanes have ravaged the area. However, the Mayan Museum is still standing and operational, although the outside looks a little rough. It's a free museum with many interesting exhibits and provides a historical context for any ruins exploration you may take on later.

The cruise terminal is the first place you'll go upon docking, which is full of amenities and entertainment. Some cruise ship passengers will enjoy their entire port stop at this terminal! It's a destination in itself! The tour dispatch area is located here, and if you didn't get a shore excursion booked before docking, there's also a late-minute tour desk so you can see what's available.

There are many shops inside the cruise terminal, with craft markets on one side and duty-free shops on the left. Many stores also sell Mexican wares, such as tequila and boots. Some say that the best deal on cigars and tequila, for both quality and price, is found in Costa Maya!

When it comes to entertainment at the terminal, an aquatic show called Dolphin Discovery tops the list. You can also sign up to swim with the dolphins! There's also a large saltwater swimming pool with pool bars around the edges.

You should also check out the Aviarius - a trail consisting of hanging bridges and exotic birds - and the flying gymnastics show called Papantla's.

Then go to the Kakaw Chocolate Factory or the La Consentida Tequila Museum before rounding off the day at the Mayan Wellness Retreat, where you can experience an hour-long spa treatment using pre-Hispanic techniques. Afterward, stop at any of the many restaurants serving authentic Mexican cuisine.