Costa Maya Recommendations

[goofymama]

For all who have been to Costa Maya on the recent cruises, please share your thoughts, recommendations, etc...

Thanks!

 

[RonnieJo66]

Recommendations:

Stay on-board!!

Sorry, we didn't like it at all. IMHO, I would stay onboard and take advantage of most people being off the ship. The only thing I found to be nice at all...was the pool/bar area right in the middle of the shopping square.

We booked a snorkeling tour...paid for it and took a taxi to where we were to meet. When we got there, they told us the boat was full and we'd have to wait for the next trip. They did refund our $, but still...cab fare and our time was wasted. (keep in mind you may not donate blood for 1 year after going to Costa Maya)

Hope you have a better time than we did...pixie dust and good vibes to you

 

[sirena]

(keep in mind you may not donate blood for 1 year after going to Costa Maya)

Are you serious? What do you mean?

 

[DenverVal]

Costa Maya is on the CDC's list of high-risk locations for malaria and such. I got the same answer after I went on a rafting excursion outside of Acapulco. They asked if I had gone outside the city limits; when I said yes, they said I was deferred for one year because some illnesses incubate for up to that long. So even though I didn't get bitten by anything the entire trip, I won't be able to donate blood until next fall. Apparently mosquitos are only found outside the city limits

 

[ICEMANPAD]

I agree with the poster above--stay on board the ship or visit the shopping area right off the pier. I did not like Costa Maya at all. We booked a trip to Tequila Beach. After receiving our wrist bands in the shopping area, we were told to wait in an extremely crowded area and basically find our own bus to Tequila Beach. The bus ended up dropping everyone off in another shopping area and we had to walk to the beach area. The beach area was a joke--very dirty. Free drinks were supposed to be part of the package. However, the drinks all came w/ live bees in them!! Some of the people in our group had a good time, but most could not wait to get back to the Magic!!

 

[musicgirl]

You might want to do a search on Costa Maya, because I think there have been some posts with positive comments. Some people have said that this is their favorite port.

We are going in 6-2006. I have heard great reports about Maj. beach on this board and on other boards as well. Sorry I always abbreviate it so I don't remember the full name, something like Majuahal.

Here's what I have picked up:
Do not wait in the shuttle lines, go past this and get a taxi. It is $5 roundtrip per person.

It is only 2 miles down the road.

There are nice bathrooms, wave runner rentals, snorkel tours available.

Here are some great pictures.

http://costamayacruiseexcursions.com/SiteMap.htm

If you scroll down to where it says operator of the month/x stream cave tubing on the left hand side, go to the right of that and you will see some great pictures of the beach.

 

[NCRedding]

We went to Costa Maya on a diverted hurricane cruise last year. we did the Mayan ruins tour thru DCL and really enjoyed it. Our guide was excellent and talked about Mayan culture, and Mexican history on the bus ride over which took about 1 hour. You do see some poverty-stricken areas. The ruins are very good. We had a little bit of time after the ruins tour to shop at the center, and use the restroom. Back on the bus for the ride back to port--they had beer and some soft drink for the ride back. There was plenty of time to shop at the port area. I know on cruisecritic that some people recommend taking a taxi to Majhual, the beach area near the port.

 

[ESN]

We did C.M on 12/3 trip- we all loved it - I posted info on my trip report (Dec 3 trip report) - if you want more details.

 

[dvccruiser]

We where on the dec 3 cruise as well. We like cm only because of the myan ruins we did the cho ruins its only 4 hrs not 6 like the other tour our tour guide was great and we really like the ruins its a must see in my book. As for the store unless you get a shopping book from melaine on the magic for the free stuff theres nothing worth seeing. Its small and can be done in under in a short time. Have a great time.

 

[bhawks9]

We did the Jeep Safari in Costa Maya and it was great. They take you to the shops "in-town" for a bathroom break (which is 5 minutes in to the excursion) but then you go out along a highway to the jungle. You go through the jungle on some bumpy trails to a secluded beach area and eat and relax. The food was good and the drinks were all nonalcoholic, but the water and beach are great. Well worth the trip. We were suppose to do the jeep trip in cozumel, but wilma changed that. Be sure if you go to take the jeep not the dune buggy trip. Again, this was a great excursion. Plenty of time to shop after, even thought the trip itself is 4 hours +.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I wish that when I went there would have been more reviews of Costa Maya. Disney recently started to go there when we went and there was nothing. Like RonnieJo I would have suggested to stay on the ship because I did not like our time there (there wasn't many excursions to choose from). The jeep excursion sounds like a lot of fun.

 

[heart]

We had a WONDERFUL excursion to the Mayan Ruins. I am at work and cannot look up the exact company right now but would highly recommend this private excursion.

We traveled by taxi to the ruins (arranged by the company). We were then led around the ruins by a guide. The guide made the trip. It made such a difference! I don't think I could have appreciated the ruins a quarter as much without the information provided. My children also learned a lot. Before we went I had read some posts suggesting not to take younger children--my five year old had no problems. My 11 year old did a report in school on the Mayans after we returned (that was his work for missing 3 days of school) and got an "A." The 14 year-olds had a less bored expression than they do most of the time .

If you're interested in pursuing this, PM me and I'll check on the exact company.

 

[sirena]

We had a WONDERFUL excursion to the Mayan Ruins. I am at work and cannot look up the exact company right now but would highly recommend this private excursion.

We traveled by taxi to the ruins (arranged by the company). We were then led around the ruins by a guide. The guide made the trip. It made such a difference! I don't think I could have appreciated the ruins a quarter as much without the information provided. If you're interested in pursuing this, PM me and I'll check on the exact company.

I would love to know more, I heard that it is a 2hr drive each way. I have a 4 year old and 1 yr old, you think it would be OK to take young ones. Is there a lot of hiking? Can I take a stroller?

 

[BearFan]

We were also there on Dec 3 and absolutely loved CM. I can see it being what Cozumel must've been like 15 years ago or more. We stayed in the shopping area near the ship but felt welcomed and secure there. We actually had someone in one of the jewelry stores tell us that they were so grateful to the ships because without them, they'd have no job. They drove all the way from Cancun to go to work there. I would have like to seen more stores in that area but it really had all the basic types of things. The swimming pools were a very nice touch and we loved the mainstage area with the folkloric dancers. It was a small bit of culture. Vendors were friendly but a few got a bit more insistant as the day slipped away and the cruise ship passengers went back to the ships. I'm sure they saw their last chance at recenue slipping away. They were really willing to negotiate. We looked at a pair of $450 USD cowboy boots for my husband. We decided not to get them but by the time we left, the price would've been $300 USD and free leather wallet thrown in for me, too! If you shop there, make sure you barter on the prices. My "final price" on a 1/2 carat tanzanite, jade and diamond ring was $345 USD even with Melanie's referral card at 1 pm but with the manager's help at 4 pm it magically went down to $265. And yes, I did get the ring!

We we didn't know what to expect, but were thrilled with CM. What a pleasant change from Nassau (no, I won't bring up old wounds!)

Lisa

 

[Wavegirl]

Have a look at Costa Maya Cruise Excursions the snorkeling and Resort getaway is a great option, snorkeling was excellent

 

[NCRedding]

sirena: I would not recommend the ruins for a 4 and 1 year old. There is alot of walking, and to truly see the ruins, alot of uphill, and downhill walking. Also, my DD was quite active as a little one, and I would hate to have had to keep her from the edges of the ruins. We did the bus tour, which took over an hour to get there. I am not sure of the age limitations, but I would say the youngest child on our tour was about 8.

 

[CPM]

I haven't read many reviews of CM on this board but have read many positive reviews on Cruise Critic.
I think if you book a tour or go snorkeling away from the port, this is the way to go.

Many countries are on the CDC's list of not giving blood for a year. We visited Honduras and Belize this summer & they were both on that list.

We have this tour booked for January. I'm looking forward to it.

http://www.chacchobenruins.com/