Costa Maya questions

[ute_fan]

My son and his wife are going to be in Costa Maya in October on their honeymoon cruise. They have their excursions planned in Cozumel and Roatan, but are trying to decide whether they want to do a ruins tour in Belize or Costa Maya.

 

I have two questions:

 

First -- For those of you who have done ruins tours in both places, which one would you recommend most highly?

 

Second -- if they want to spend one day just exploring, are they better off doing that in Costa Maya than in Belize? What's the safety like in Costa Maya these days.

 

I apologize if these have been asked before, but the search feature seems to have vanished.

[thescot123]

My son and his wife are going to be in Costa Maya in October on their honeymoon cruise. They have their excursions planned in Cozumel and Roatan, but are trying to decide whether they want to do a ruins tour in Belize or Costa Maya.

 

I have two questions:

 

First -- For those of you who have done ruins tours in both places, which one would you recommend most highly?

 

Second -- if they want to spend one day just exploring, are they better off doing that in Costa Maya than in Belize? What's the safety like in Costa Maya these days.

 

I apologize if these have been asked before, but the search feature seems to have vanished.

 

When in Oct will you be there? I will be in Costa May from the NCL Spirit in Oct 23rd. Have been there three times before and found it to be very safe. It is away from the violence that it affecting Mexico.

 

Have never been to the ruins so can't comment. Costa Maya consists of a cruise port that has a lot of shops. This is a tourist trap, it is better to go out of the port gates and take a $3 taxi to the town called Mahahual. Have walked to this small town, took about 30 minutes in the hot sun. It is much better to take these fixed priced taxis as they are cheap. In Oct, I plan on going to a place called Tropicante. You can reserve a free chair on the beach. He offers snorkel trips for $20.

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g499450-d1421462-Reviews-Tropicante_Ameri_Mex_Grill-Mahahual_Costa_Maya_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

 

Below are some pictures.

 

Cruise port

 

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/thescot1234/IMG_0854-1.jpg

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http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/thescot1234/IMG_0887-1.jpg

 

Going to Mahahual

 

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/thescot1234/IMG_0913.jpg

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http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/thescot1234/IMG_1950.jpg

 

Enjoy

[LaurieCM]

We did the ruins at Altun ha- a long but fascinating tour. There seems to be a lot of violence reported in Belize, so there I would stay on a tour, not go off by myself or in a small unescorted group. At Costa Maya we always go to Maya Chan- a good time at an all-included day resort. I hate places where vendors roam the beach and pester you- that doesn't happen at Maya Chan. When we were at Roatan, part of the day was spent at the Mayan Princess, a very nice resort hotel, but the second you went onto the beach the vendors were at you and did not go away. One guy just stood at the foot of my chaise and stared at me (not THAT pretty of a picture!!). I'm sure they will have a fabulous time no matter what they choose.;)

[trvlmd123]

I have been to both Costa Maya and Belize. Not much there for exploring around at either port. Better to do an excursion. Did Chacchoben ruins in Costa Maya with David and Ivan in 2006. They are awsome--best excursion I've ever been on and I've been on a lot. Both are local and very knowledgable about the area and culture (thenativechoice.com), group was small. Did cave tubing in Belize--way too crowded to be fun--private and cruise lines were both on the same river.

[GamblingMommy]

I really liked the beach at Costa Maya. Yes, vendors do approach you as you enter the beach area and some while you are sitting. However, this slows down considerably by lunch time. Just go with a smile and a firm no and all is fine. There were plenty of options for chairs and no need to reserve any. Just buy a beer or something from wherever you sit and they'll be happy. I would recommend an excursion in Belize.

[MartinsCruise]

When we were in Belize we took a ship's excursion to Shark Ray Alley and loved it. A boat picked us up from the ship which was tendered and took us out to the reef. Once there we jumped in with sting rays and nurse sharks. Sounds scary but it was wonderful and very memorable. After we were done snorkeling the boat took us to San Pedro for lunch and time to explore the town. We never even went to the mainland. One of our favorite excursions!

[Pollyo]

I just got back from sailing on the Carnival Dream and we went to Belize, Costa Maya, Cozumel, and Roatan. We did Jungle beach in Costa Maya with the ship's excursion. BUGS< BUGS and more bugs on the beach. It was like mosquitoes but different. Everyone was getting bites and we bought bug spray for 18.00 for a small bottle. It was a 20 minute motor coach bus ride. The road we were on had much of nothing to see but lots of green bushes.

 

Jungle beach was not much to rave about. It was a beach but not the carribean water that you see at other places. I would not go back. I wish I stayed in port and stayed at the pool at the Hard Rock Cafe for free.

[Krazy Kat]

Pollyo - do you know the name of the beach you were at?

[sharkey001]

Hey there, any other excursions that you did at the other ports that you would recommend? I'm going on the Dream in 12 days (and counting!) to the western caribbean also. Any tips or do's and dont's about the ship? Thanks!!

 

Sherry

 

I just got back from sailing on the Carnival Dream and we went to Belize, Costa Maya, Cozumel, and Roatan. We did Jungle beach in Costa Maya with the ship's excursion. BUGS< BUGS and more bugs on the beach. It was like mosquitoes but different. Everyone was getting bites and we bought bug spray for 18.00 for a small bottle. It was a 20 minute motor coach bus ride. The road we were on had much of nothing to see but lots of green bushes.

 

Jungle beach was not much to rave about. It was a beach but not the carribean water that you see at other places. I would not go back. I wish I stayed in port and stayed at the pool at the Hard Rock Cafe for free.

[jamon]

Just came back from our cruise on the Carnival Dream, and we went to Tropicante, in Costa Maya. What a great time we had. We talked to the owner Steve, who is very friendly and his beach area is kept very clean. Drinks are cheap...6 beers for $10.00 and 3.00 margarirtas (?). Nice group of waiters, including Juan, who is our favorite. No hesitation recommending this place, right on the beach in town. You got to go.....

[tandemcruzr]

Just came back from our cruise on the Carnival Dream, and we went to Tropicante, in Costa Maya. What a great time we had. We talked to the owner Steve, who is very friendly and his beach area is kept very clean. Drinks are cheap...6 beers for $10.00 and 3.00 margarirtas (?). Nice group of waiters, including Juan, who is our favorite. No hesitation recommending this place, right on the beach in town. You got to go.....

 

Haven't been to Tropicante, but our day in Costa Maya is to spend the day in the village of Majuhual where Tropicante is located. $3 pp taxi/bus going and $2 pp taxi back.

 

A very relaxing beach day away from the port. Yes, there are vendors but all we had to do was say no. Food and drinks are good and much cheaper than at the port. And drinks are much, much cheaper than on the ship. :D

[In Toronto]

Just came back from our cruise on the Carnival Dream, and we went to Tropicante, in Costa Maya. What a great time we had. We talked to the owner Steve, who is very friendly and his beach area is kept very clean. Drinks are cheap...6 beers for $10.00 and 3.00 margarirtas (?). Nice group of waiters, including Juan, who is our favorite. No hesitation recommending this place, right on the beach in town. You got to go.....

 

Read you review (as well as others). Sounds great. Do you still have the email address?

[jamon]

Email for Tropicante is : steveuhl@sandalsandskis.com give them a try, they are super....

[In Toronto]

Thanks so much. :) Will email them for our cruise in January.

 

Ellen