Tropicante in Costa Maya

[Cruisin Castaway]

I have seen some posts regarding some going to the beach at the Tropicante restaurant in Costa Maya. Anyone with experience going there with thoughts on if it is easy to find/safety of area/overall experience?

 

[biggdawg67]

my wife and i were there last year on a cruise and loved it, easy to get to via taxi from port you can get a taxi just out side the port area (shuttle they will wait untill it filled)or go farther out to the hard rock for an indepenent bit of a walk tho. when you get off the shuttle it does look a little rough and the locals will bug you to go to their beach but just tell them no thanks and that you are looking for tropicante' most will point you in the general direction. but once there we felt safe and all was good. steve the owner is an american and takes good care of his guests. no fee for lounge chairs he just asks that you buy some food or beer. (the food is really good) very inexpencive as well you will also have locals asking you to buy things while on the beach as well still not like nassua tho.also has $25.00 massages on the beach----over all we loved there and will go back next time we are in costa maya

 

[kristinfly2]

Thank you for posting your review! We are thinking of going there on our 11/3 cruise. Is it worth it to go for a few hours? We have a really short port time. Was it good for kids? We are taking the 4 youngest, 3 to 11.

 

[luvavacation]

I was there this summer with my 16 year old DD, and felt perfectly safe!

We did walk out of the port area to the Hard Rock to catch a taxi (saved $1 per person, if I recall correctly). You can also catch a taxi right by the port area. If you email Steve at the Tropicante (Google for his website, email link on it), he will give you all the info you need on getting to Tropicante from port.

DD and I actually like the walk to the Hard Rock. We did feel safe, and though the area does look run down by American standards, it is just very ocean worn. You walk under a long arbor filled with beautiful flowers on all sides, and we even met a Gecko that was just hanging out on a piece of wood! Since we have no fear of lizards, we got right up and admired him, taking lots of pictures, since we don't see Geckos on our walk around town at home!

There is also a store just before you get to the Hard Rock, on the other side of the street. On the way back, we stopped here for souvenirs. The prices were better than in the port area, and there were many unique, Made in Mexico items.

When the taxi drops you in Mahahual, you will walk between buildings (the main road is behind the buildings on the beach, no cars on the beach road). We made a left, and saw the sign for Tropicante right away. The taxi driver was very nice, and escorted us to the entrance. I don't know if they all do this, but I was attempting to speak in Spanish, so maybe he just liked my attempt and felt "fatherly" towards two females traveling alone? Don't know, but he was very nice.

I do not worry at all in Mahahual, beyond my normal awareness of surrounding wherever I travel. I feel more at ease there than in the Bahamas, or even in Cancun.

And we only stayed about 3.5 hours. Fantasy is hardly in port for any length of time, but DD and found 3.5 hours to be plenty for soaking sun, playing in water, eating and drinking time. Oh, and they do serve 16 year olds alcohol. I am from Europe, and am fine with DD trying a drink with me, so I don't mind, but others might feel offended, so just know that if you have at teen, they may be offered something. In Mexico, this is just how it is. We shared one strawberry Daiquiri, it was tasty, and the nachos were fantastic!

If I ever end up in Costa Maya again, we will definitely head for Tropicante. Really a nice, real Mexico experience!

 

[mcroadman]

Is there snorkeling off their beach?
Mary r

 

[Cruisin Castaway]

Thanks everyone for your feedback! I think we are going to give Tropicante a try. It sounds like a nice way to spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach with some good food in Costa Maya.

 

[Candy Apple]

Is there a smoke free area?

 

[TXDCLfan]

Thanks everyone for your feedback! I think we are going to give Tropicante a try. It sounds like a nice way to spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach with some good food in Costa Maya.

The soft beef tacos are to die for along with the charo beans

 

[dsnygirl2006]

I was there this summer with my 16 year old DD, and felt perfectly safe!

We did walk out of the port area to the Hard Rock to catch a taxi (saved $1 per person, if I recall correctly). You can also catch a taxi right by the port area. If you email Steve at the Tropicante (Google for his website, email link on it), he will give you all the info you need on getting to Tropicante from port.

DD and I actually like the walk to the Hard Rock. We did feel safe, and though the area does look run down by American standards, it is just very ocean worn. You walk under a long arbor filled with beautiful flowers on all sides, and we even met a Gecko that was just hanging out on a piece of wood! Since we have no fear of lizards, we got right up and admired him, taking lots of pictures, since we don't see Geckos on our walk around town at home!

There is also a store just before you get to the Hard Rock, on the other side of the street. On the way back, we stopped here for souvenirs. The prices were better than in the port area, and there were many unique, Made in Mexico items.

When the taxi drops you in Mahahual, you will walk between buildings (the main road is behind the buildings on the beach, no cars on the beach road). We made a left, and saw the sign for Tropicante right away. The taxi driver was very nice, and escorted us to the entrance. I don't know if they all do this, but I was attempting to speak in Spanish, so maybe he just liked my attempt and felt "fatherly" towards two females traveling alone? Don't know, but he was very nice.

I do not worry at all in Mahahual, beyond my normal awareness of surrounding wherever I travel. I feel more at ease there than in the Bahamas, or even in Cancun.

And we only stayed about 3.5 hours. Fantasy is hardly in port for any length of time, but DD and found 3.5 hours to be plenty for soaking sun, playing in water, eating and drinking time. Oh, and they do serve 16 year olds alcohol. I am from Europe, and am fine with DD trying a drink with me, so I don't mind, but others might feel offended, so just know that if you have at teen, they may be offered something. In Mexico, this is just how it is. We shared one strawberry Daiquiri, it was tasty, and the nachos were fantastic!

If I ever end up in Costa Maya again, we will definitely head for Tropicante. Really a nice, real Mexico experience!

Hi
We have made reservations here for our upcoming cruise, I have a question on walking to the hard rock to catch a cab, how far of a walk is it and was it hard to find? Can you walk inside hard rock to buy t shirts and stuff? Thanks for the review I am very excited about visiting Tropicante!!!!

 

[TXDCLfan]

Hi
We have made reservations here for our upcoming cruise, I have a question on walking to the hard rock to catch a cab, how far of a walk is it and was it hard to find? Can you walk inside hard rock to buy t shirts and stuff? Thanks for the review I am very excited about visiting Tropicante!!!!

The Hard Rock is a stones throw from the cruise terminal but you can catch a cab at the terminal for $3pp as opposed to $2pp by the HR.

 

[JanDave]

Twelve of us have booked Tropicante on the November 24, 2012 Magic!

Great feedback on the DIS and other sites.

Steve at Tropicante is very helpful in getting us there, information, etc.

Looking forward to Costa Maya!

Jan

 

[Debagu]

We have booked the Tropicante as well for our upcoming cruise on 10/27.

As the pp stated, Steve was very helpful and gave us all the
information we will need when we arrive.

We are so excited and looking forward to our visit to Costa Maya
and the Tropicante

 

[TXDCLfan]

We have booked the Tropicante as well for our upcoming cruise on 10/27.

As the pp stated, Steve was very helpful and gave us all the
information we will need when we arrive.

We are so excited and looking forward to our visit to Costa Maya
and the Tropicante

We have been to Costa Maya many times and just hung out at the port until this last cruise 4 weeks ago and discovered the Tropicante we will now be heading there on any western cruise that stops in Costa Maya.

 

[tinkerone]

do you have to make a reservation for this? i didn't get off the boat in costa maya but if this is something worth doing i may next time.

 

[EDelashmit]

We have booked the Tropicante as well for our upcoming cruise on 10/27.

As the pp stated, Steve was very helpful and gave us all the
information we will need when we arrive.

We are so excited and looking forward to our visit to Costa Maya
and the Tropicante

We have been discussing this, we may see you there!!!

 

[TXDCLfan]

do you have to make a reservation for this? i didn't get off the boat in costa maya but if this is something worth doing i may next time.

If you want to be assured of having a beach lounger and umbrella

 

[Cruisin Castaway]

The soft beef tacos are to die for along with the charo beans

Sounds delicious!

 

[collectoraholic]

I think we'll be doing this on our cruise in November. Thanks for the tip!

 

[EDelashmit]

I'm really thinking about going here. Is it ok for small children? Mine are 6 and 3.

TIA

 

[boogabuzz]

I'm really thinking about going here. Is it ok for small children? Mine are 6 and 3.

TIA

I would love the answer to this as well. Is Tropicante basically just a restaurant on the beach? What kind of activities for a 4 year old? Sounds nice!