Have you considered the Mahahual Boardwalk during your port day in Costa Maya? There are many things to do during your cruise port day to Costa Maya, Mexico. In fact, did you know that “Costa Maya” was created for the cruise industry? There should be lots of options for cruisers!
The local town or village is called Mahahual, Mexico. I first learned about Mahahual when researching the cruise port of Costa Maya and came across a book written by a couple who developed an all-inclusive resort in the area to serve cruise line passengers. Have you read, It Helps to be Crazy – The Story of Maya Chan. After reading the book, I had to check out their day resort, Maya Chan beach club. While we are big fans of Maya Chan, we want to do a little more exploring on this visit and have a more budget-friendly port day.
Related Posts: Chacchoben Ruins and 10 Things to do in Costa Maya.
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If you are looking for a budget-friendly port day option, you can check out the local town of Mahahual and the Mahahual Boardwalk. This particular option can allow you to explore local culture, sip a margarita by the beach and have a lower cost cruise port day than many other local options.
Getting to the Mahahual Boardwalk from the cruise port is easy!
After entering the port terminal head to your far left and then forward to access the taxi circle. The taxi fare for the two of us was only $4 per person! The locals depend heavily on tourism so, despite the low cost, I would recommend tipping generously if your budget allows. In this same area, golf carts were available to rent if you are interested in exploring the area on your own for around $60 – map provided. You can find more information on that here.
For convenience, we asked our taxi driver to take us to “The Krazy Lobster” which is roughly a mid-point along the pedestrian/bike-friendly boardwalk.
We decided to get a bit of exercise and walk down to the far end of the boardwalk and then back to the opposite end to check out the lighthouse and the Mahahual sign. There were also bikes available if you aren’t interested in a walk. There were many local shops along the way and I was finally able to pick up a Costa Maya beach towel (we have collected beach towels from all of our Caribbean Cruise ports and hope to use them if we ever have a pool at home – fingers crossed).
We also invest in a local magnet because it’s inexpensive and easy to pack souvenirs. One note regarding the beach towel. We have been to Costa Maya several times and I’ve always kept an eye out for a beach towel. I have only seen beach towels at one port shop and they wanted $50 for the towel. I paid $15 in Mahahual!
Do you have a standard souvenir that you collect during your travels?
Related post – Fun and easy to pack travel souvenirs.
If you are able-bodied, I highly recommend the walk. It’s a flat and easy walk and a great way to get a few steps in before enjoying that margarita. There are also great pic opportunities of the cruise ships in port from the lighthouse and who can resist the local sign? There will surely be another tourist or friendly local willing to take your picture. My pro-tip for these situations is to leave your sunglasses on for the pic! This keeps you from having to ask to re-take the picture because you or someone in your group has their eyes closed. 😉 (I may be speaking from personal experience!)
Related post – 24 fun and free pics to take while on a cruise
Now, back to that local Margarita, at the beach!
After exploring up and down the boardwalk, we settled at a nice table, beachside at the Krazy Lobster. You can request a beach lounger or sit at a table. We ordered some nachos, and a couple of drinks and did a little people-watching. This area of Mexico is not known for its pristine beaches. In fact, they have an ongoing struggle with seaweed, but it’s still a beach and we had a great day.
For my friends who love a budget day, here’s the breakdown.
- Taxi $4 per person, plus tip (same for the return)
- Beach Towel – $15
- Beautiful walk along with the boardwalk and souvenir photos – Free
- Beachside table – Free (plus bar service)
- Modelo beer – $3
- Sol beer – $2
- Takada beer – $2
- Margarita – $5 (x 2)
- Nachos with chicken – $11
So, our day in Mahahual costs around $60 plus tips and that included our souvenir beach towel purchase! If you compare this to our other experiences while visiting the Costa Maya cruise port this was a very economical way to spend the day.
Is visiting the Mahahual Boardwalk safe?
You will see a poor side to this community. As much as I love an all-inclusive beach day, seeing the “real” areas while we travel is very important to me. I want to experience the culture and these experiences always remind me to live a life full of gratitude because we have so much. While I would never walk around any unfamiliar area alone or at night, I felt perfectly safe during our time in Mahahual. There were local children out playing, tourists riding bikes and everyone was very friendly.
Would we return to Mahahual?
Yes! We would definitely choose to visit the local town of Mahahual on another visit to the port of Costa Maya. We really enjoyed the Mahahual boardwalk, the lighthouse, the tourist sign, and of course the people. Next time, we plan to try the tacos sold from a little food cart right on the boardwalk or try some of the fresh local bread that smelled so heavily during our walk! (Maybe both!)
Worrier’s Guide:
- Yes, it’s a safe option for your cruise day visit.
- I wouldn’t say the bathrooms were super clean – I always come prepared with my own tissues and antibacterial wipes, just in case.
- Easy access from the port. You can even see the cruise ships from the boardwalk.
- Lots to do – ride bikes, lounge at the beach, try local foods, and several photo-opps!
There you have it, cruise friends!
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