Costa maya with young kids

[mollyrn9]

Hi!
We're going on the Nov.3rd Magic cruise from Galveston and need ideas for Costa Maya port excursion. Our two little girls are 2 & 3 so we've been limited as to what we can book. We have beach days planned for the other 2 excursions and are wanting to change it up a bit if we can.
Any ideas are greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[wendyoconnor]

Costa Maya has a really nice pool in the port that's just steps from the ship.

 

[lmb80129]

We were in Costa Maya last week and have decided that next time we will just stay on the ship. I'd also suggest the pool area or staying on the ship for a family with young kids.

 

[Belle4]

We were in Costa Maya last week and have decided that next time we will just stay on the ship. I'd also suggest the pool area or staying on the ship for a family with young kids.

What did you and your family do while in Costa Maya? Why did you not like about the port?

 

[mollyrn9]

My husband booked the Mayan ruins tour yesterday for us while we are in Costa Maya and we were both wondering if this is a good idea with our little girls (3 1/2 & 2 yrs)? We do not want to spend money on tours that are really better suited for older kids even though the ruins sounds kind of neat.

Also, I see some suggestions about a pool just a few steps from the ship - is that the Jungle Beach excursion? What exactly is that pool area?

Thanks for the help!

Molly

 

[sheesh2933]

Costa Maya is really small and rual, there is not much to do. We just hung out at the salt water pool in the middle of the shopping and really enjoyed it. My daughter is 5 and loved it, she is a really good swimmer though.

 

[lmb80129]

What did you and your family do while in Costa Maya? Why did you not like about the port?

We booked the all inclusive resort called Nohoch Kay. It just wasn't that great. Lots of sea grass in the ocean and not a lot to see in the water. The service and food weren't very good. Our reservation warned us about taxis taking us to the wrong place and I worried the entire taxi ride where we would end up. The area right by the pier with the pool looked ok but basically just shopping with a pool and bars. Having done that port once, we won't bother again.

 

[asemaria]

My husband booked the Mayan ruins tour yesterday for us while we are in Costa Maya and we were both wondering if this is a good idea with our little girls (3 1/2 & 2 yrs)? We do not want to spend money on tours that are really better suited for older kids even though the ruins sounds kind of neat.

Also, I see some suggestions about a pool just a few steps from the ship - is that the Jungle Beach excursion? What exactly is that pool area?

Thanks for the help!

Molly

We did the Mayan ruins and we liked it, but my DSs were 10 and 7. They liked it, but not very much. If they were younger, I would stay on the ship. The tour was much more for adaults.
The pool in the port among the shops looked ok, but the overall feeling made us decide to stay on the boat next time. The atmosphere and surroundings on the ship can't be beat.

 

[asemaria]

Oh, I forgot to mention: the bus took about an hour each way and there were nothing to look at on the way, just abandoned buildings and houses that looked like sheds. DSs were bored within 10 min, so if you go remember to bring some colouring books or similiar.

 

[wendyoconnor]

Also, I see some suggestions about a pool just a few steps from the ship - is that the Jungle Beach excursion? What exactly is that pool area?

Thanks for the help!

Molly

At the port is a large open air mall/shopping area and the pool is in the middle of it, it's not part of the Jungle Beach excursion.

 

[Belle4]

At the port is a large open air mall/shopping area and the pool is in the middle of it, it's not part of the Jungle Beach excursion.

Anyone have any pictures of this pool area? Maybe we will just hang out onboard.

 

[zstyles]

We just did a beach day, we went to Tropacanti, which is about a 5 minute taxi ride from the port in a small town, some other couples went to the beach also...I heard some others talking about the "ruins" and said that it was interesting but nothing to write home about...so I would guess kids wouldn't like it much unless they were just into that stuff...go for the beach is my tip! PS" Your on the boat enough..get off! Go check out the local town at least do a walking tour..there are things to see just takes some planning to see them!

We EXITED the port as soon as we could, we also did NOT take a taxi INSIDE the port, they are 1.00 more per person, walk about 50 yards into the "abandoned" old hard rock cafe area and there is a taxi stand, 2.00 per person and they are friendly and fast!

 

[MandyGirl]

Hi!
We're going on the Nov.3rd Magic cruise from Galveston and need ideas for Costa Maya port excursion. Our two little girls are 2 & 3 so we've been limited as to what we can book. We have beach days planned for the other 2 excursions and are wanting to change it up a bit if we can.
Any ideas are greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

Molly - I am on the same cruise with my 2 year old. (Have you found our rollcall?) We are going to Tropicante for some beach time.

 

[TXDCLfan]

Molly - I am on the same cruise with my 2 year old. (Have you found our rollcall?) We are going to Tropicante for some beach time.

FYI ......the Tropicante is a great place to just go and hang out at a nice beach,free lounge chairs, great food at a reasonable $$ and check out the massage one hour for $25 ( it was awesome) Have to mention the owner Steve is a great host

 

[MandyGirl]

FYI ......the Tropicante is a great place to just go and hang out at a nice beach,free lounge chairs, great food at a reasonable $$ and check out the massage one hour for $25 ( it was awesome) Have to mention the owner Steve is a great host

Looking forward to it! He was very prompt in returning my email a while back.

 

[Zeppelin]

Oh, I forgot to mention: the bus took about an hour each way and there were nothing to look at on the way, just abandoned buildings and houses that looked like sheds. DSs were bored within 10 min, so if you go remember to bring some colouring books or similiar.

We booked the all inclusive resort called Nohoch Kay. It just wasn't that great. Lots of sea grass in the ocean and not a lot to see in the water. The service and food weren't very good. Our reservation warned us about taxis taking us to the wrong place and I worried the entire taxi ride where we would end up. The area right by the pier with the pool looked ok but basically just shopping with a pool and bars. Having done that port once, we won't bother again.

i would agree with both the above posts...we did the dune buggy & beach excursion through DCL on our 8/18 Fantasy cruise...it was fun yet nothing spectacular...the beach is full of seaweed and while the dune buggy's were fun you are in the middle of nowhere....

Costa Maya is not well developed and it got slaughtered by hurricane Earnest...i am surprised Disney docks there...

 

[zstyles]

Just to reiterate, I have heard nothing good from the excursions, but we enjoyed our "beach day" very much and it was one of the ONLY things we did off the ship we actually enjoyed while in any ports...we didn't do a Disney beach day, we just did our beach day...

 

[BealsRwe]

About 6 years ago, DD was 19 months old, we were in Costa maya. We went to the Chacchoben Ruins. It was a great excursion! We took DD Graco stroller, and when she fell asleep, DH and I carried the stroller up one of the smaller ruins. Most of the excursion was stroller friendly. We have incredible pictures and memories of this excursion. By far one of my favorites! I just pulled out our photo book from this cruise and looked through it. Such fun pictures of my little girl with such incredible backdrops!

 

[CanuckTraveller]

I'll echo the comments about Tropicante, we had a lovely, inexpensive trip there in January when our youngest had just turned 4 yrs. FYI, most taxis don't have seatbelts, so if you like to use car seats it can be a challenge. We managed to find suitable taxis but it did take a few minutes. The staff at Tropicante helped us find taxis with working seatbelts very quickly to return to port.
I wouldn't use the pool in port. We saw the same people sitting in the pool at the bar when we arrived, as well as when we left...yuck!

 

[wickedpixie13]

I'll echo the comments about Tropicante, we had a lovely, inexpensive trip there in January when our youngest had just turned 4 yrs. FYI, most taxis don't have seatbelts, so if you like to use car seats it can be a challenge. We managed to find suitable taxis but it did take a few minutes. The staff at Tropicante helped us find taxis with working seatbelts very quickly to return to port.
I wouldn't use the pool in port. We saw the same people sitting in the pool at the bar when we arrived, as well as when we left...yuck!

Did you just bring along your carseat for the cab ride and keep it with you at Tropicante then? We're considering doing this, but we have a 1 yr old as well.