PHOTO: Puerto Costa Maya offers a modern purpose-built facility as well as entrée into the Mayan world. (File photo courtesy of Puerto Costa Maya.)
Puerto Costa Maya, a cruise port a few hours south of Cancun on the Caribbean coastline, is a gateway to old Mexico and Mayan culture amid very modern surroundings. The area has the highest concentration of Mayan archeological sites and the largest existing Mayan population in Mexico, according the port's website.
Built in 2001 specifically to attract cruise ships, Costa Maya offers the conveniences often sought by today's cruiser - two saltwater pools, restaurants, bars and shops.
Costa Maya's 70,000-square-foot shopping center and bazaar offers crafts made by local artisans, including silver, leather and pottery, as well as stores selling liquor, fragrances, T-shirts and other souvenirs. There also are familiar retailers such as Diamonds International. The facility also has a drug store, bathrooms and a first-aid station.
The dock, capable of handling today's largest cruise ships, lets passengers walk off the ship to the facility instead of tendering; the distance can be considered long for those with difficulty walking, especially in the heat. Click here for more information.
Here are our five favorite things to do while docked at Puerto Costa Maya.
Get beachy.
While the main cruise facility has pools with swim-up bars, passengers can choose to head for Uvero Beach, located about 45 minutes from the pier. The 1,300-foot white sand beach has a huge palapa with two bars and bathrooms. Many cruise lines offer day packages that include open bar and regular shuttles to and from the port. There are a few shops and booths for hair-braiding, temporary tattoos and open-air massages, and there's decent snorkeling right off the beach.
Carnival Cruise Lines' excursion includes up to three hours at the beach, open bar, use of hammocks and kayaks (based on availability), and round-trip transportation. The Palapa restaurant serves food at a la carte prices. Cost is $39.99 per adult. Norwegian Cruise Line offers a similar excursion priced from $49 for adults and Royal Caribbean International's is $46.
Scuba and snorkel.
Just off shore is the second-largest coral reef system in the world, the Meso-American reef, a world-class dive site. The waters average 100 feet of visibility, and is home to more than 60 types of coral and more than 500 species of fish. Excursions are available through tour operator DreamTime Dive, a PADI-accredited facility in the small town of Mahahual, about 10 minutes from the cruise port. You can get there for a few dollars by taxi.
Royal Caribbean offers a two-tank, four-hour dive with equipment for $126 per adult. Carnival charges $135.99 for a 3.5-hour "Discover Scuba" excursion.
Carnival also offers a highly rated "Catamaran Sail & Snorkel" outing priced at $59.99 that includes a catamaran ride to a coral reef, about 45 minutes of snorkeling time and drinks on the return to Costa Maya.
Just veg, maybe party.
Some cruisers undoubtedly want to sun, sip and shop. In that case, there's no reason to go far. Señor Frog's Restaurant and Bar is located just outside the main gate of the cruise port. It has a fun, lively ambience, though some think the food prices are high.
The Mexican eatery in the cruise facility serves fresh fish tacos and lobster burritos. The main pool in the complex has fountains and a swim-up bar, while the other one is surrounded by palm trees, hammocks and loungers. There is no real beach or access to the sea.
Explore Mayan ruins and culture.
PHOTO: The pyramid at Chacchoben. (File photo courtesy of Puerto Costa Maya)
A number of tours visit the Mayan ruins in the region, including those at Chacchoben, Kohunlick and Dzibanche. Norwegian's four-hour shore excursion to Chacchoben, priced at $79, included a guided tour through the ruins and pyramids situated on 10 acres near the Belize border.
Royal Caribbean offers a 6½-tour to the Kohunlich ruins, which are located in a jungle but feature wide lawns, ball courts and temples. The cost is $89 and includes beverages and a snack.
An interesting excursion gives cruise passengers a taste of the modern Mayan culture by visiting a family farm for a tour and a traditional handmade meal. Royal Caribbean's "The Mayans Through the Ages" four-hour tour is priced at $96.
Even a visit to the nearby town of Mahahual is interesting. The small fishing village, which has a boardwalk, a lighthouse, a few hotels and restaurants, retains the sleepy feel of Old Mexico. Taxis available just outside the Costa Maya complex will charge about $5 for the five-minute drive to Mahahual, but, as always, negotiate the fare before getting in.
Actively explore.
Of course, cruise lines offer active ways to explore the Costa Maya area. Royal Caribbean's three-hour "Bike & Clear Kayak Adventure," priced from $59, includes a bike ride to Mahahual and a local beach where they can board clear-bottom, two-person kayaks. Bottled water will be handed out.
Disney Cruise Line offers a 3½- to four-hour "Mini Jeep Adventure" priced at $109. After a bus ride to Uvero Beach, guests can drive along the coastal trails for approximately 75 minutes. Then there's about an hour at the beach club.
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