Costa Maya Shore Excursions
Mexico · 12 independent tours
Across Mexico — laws, safety & health
National rules and risks that apply anywhere in Mexico — relayed from official sources, not our verdict. We pass on what the authority says and leave the judgement to you.
Laws that catch visitors out
- Penalties for drug offences are severe — convictions carry sentences of up to 25 years. Do not become involved with drugs of any kind.
- It is illegal to bring e-cigarettes, vaping devices or solutions into Mexico, or to buy or sell them — customs will confiscate them and you could be fined or detained.
- Some alcoholic drinks have contained methanol, causing deaths and serious illness — even small amounts can kill; buy from reputable outlets.
- Carry your passport with its entry stamp — authorities do not accept copies or photos.
- Smoking or vaping in a public place can be fined up to about 3,000 Mexican pesos (~£150).
Drones
Mexico regulates drones (RPAS) through the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) under official standard NOM-107-SCT3-2019, which requires the drone to be registered with AFAC before you fly. Registration is made through the AFAC RPAS portal and asks for official identification, so visitors should confirm what is possible with AFAC well before travelling. Keep within visual line of sight, away from airports and crowds.
via Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil (AFAC) — RPAS / Drones (NOM-107-SCT3-2019) · 25 Jun 2026
Scams to watch
Be wary of criminals posing as police trying to fine or arrest you for no reason. Take care at ATMs and exchange offices — use ATMs in daylight inside shops or malls. Unlicensed taxis have robbed and assaulted passengers — use regulated "sitio" taxis from authorised ranks or have your hotel order one. A common phone scam features a fake kidnapped relative demanding money.
Health hazards
Mosquito-borne Zika virus, chikungunya and dengue are present — use insect-bite precautions. Drink only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice; cyclospora (food/water-borne) occurs. (Altitude sickness is a risk in highland areas only — not Cozumel, which is at sea level.)
via UK FCDO travel advice — Mexico (health) · 24 Jun 2026
Relayed from UK FCDO travel advice — Mexico · checked 24 Jun 2026
Traffic drives on the right. Look left first when you cross the road.
Docking & terminals in Costa Maya
Ships dock alongside the Grand Costa Maya pier in Mahahual
- Grand Costa Maya pier
Mobility & step-free access
Getting around between the pier and town:
- Walk — The Mahahual malecón is a relaxed waterfront boardwalk with restaurants, beach clubs and small shops — the town's compact main strip on foot
Step-free options vary by pier and by the day — confirm the specifics with your operator and the ship’s guest-services desk before booking.
Your exact pier is assigned per sailing — confirm it on the ship’s daily programme or gangway signage before heading ashore.
Getting around & must-sees in Costa Maya
Getting around
Mahahual is small and walkable: the malecón (seafront boardwalk) is the main pedestrian strip, lined with restaurants, beach clubs and shops.
- Walk — The Mahahual malecón is a relaxed waterfront boardwalk with restaurants, beach clubs and small shops — the town's compact main strip on foot
Must-see sights
- Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve — Coral atoll and diving spot known for shipwrecks and marine life
- Mahahual malecon — Waterfront boardwalk with restaurants, beach clubs and small shops
- Chacchoben — Archaeological site with a 28-metre pyramid and tropical gardens
- Kohunlich — Archaeological site with anthropomorphic reliefs and corozo palms
- Ichkabal — Recently opened archaeological site with 40-metre structures
Key facts only — confirm times, fares and seasonal openings locally.
Port busyness in Costa Maya
Often very busy
Mahahual is a small coastal town whose cruise terminal regularly receives large ships carrying thousands of passengers each, with dozens of arrivals in peak months, making it a major national cruise hub relative to its size.
Peak pattern: High season (e.g. November) sees around 47 ship calls in a month per one municipal release, with large ships (2,800-3,900 passenger capacity) arriving on scheduled dates.
- small town, large-ship capacity mismatch
- dozens of ship calls in peak months
- multiple large ships named per month
- official releases suggest high cruise dependency
This shows a typical day for the time of year — actual crowds vary on your date, and it isn’t a guarantee.
What we’ve checked in Costa Maya — and when
We last checked the facts on this page on 3 Jul 2026. Live travel advisories refresh automatically from the official sources.
- Docking & getting ashore
- Verified by The Excursion Edit · 3 Jul 2026
- Getting around
- Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 3 Jul 2026
- How busy it gets
- Verified by The Excursion Edit · 3 Jul 2026
- Travel advisories
- FCDO (GOV.UK) & US State Department · refreshed automatically