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Cruisers Info
| Cruise ship passengers have a couple options when they port at Costa Maya and both are very friendly, fun and safe. Guests can remain in the port facility, a first class and state of the industry stadium/mall like structure, with pretty much all one might need to have a very nice "Mexico Experience". Or they can venture into the downtown beach front tourist area that is a 4-5 minute taxi ride and a couple US dollars each way. The downtown Malecon beach is the primary cruise ship tourist area outside the port. It is a new pedestrian only ocean-front walk with shops, restaurants and bars that serve right on the beach. The beach is one of the best, always calm from protection provided by a shallow reef just off shore and cleaned daily by the local merchants. Bring your snorkeling equipment because this reef has some pretty good "urban snorkeling". Tours and excursions can also be booked "walk up" on most days and, like most everything else in town, is a bit less expensive than what is found in the port. Many of the local vendors outside the port have very nice web sites and can be booked before arrival with confidence. Shuttles/taxi vans are available from inside the port to transport visitors easily and quickly into the downtown area. It takes just 4-5 minutes and the cost is $3 US per person. Guests at the Tropicante are recomended to instead, leave the port area, and walk the 100 yards or so to the smaller taxi stand next to the Hard Rock Cafe. These taxis charge $2 US per person and will drop you at specific points that allow you to avoid agressive vendors or restauarant and bar empoyees that prey on the shuttle drop spots. |
| Frequently Asked Questions Q: How long does it take to get into the downtown beach area from the port? A: Four to five minute cab drive. Q: What is the Malecon? A: The Malecon is the ocean front pedestrian walk along the downtown ocean front. It is just over a mile long, with shops, restaurants and bars on the west side and the beautiful downtown beach on the other. Q: Can we walk from the pier into downtown? A: The walk from the pier to the downtown is about 45 minutes. About two-thirds of the walk is through a residential area that is away from the beach and the breeze. It can be very hot and uneventful. It is however a safe walk and those who want the exercise, should not be afraid to walk to the downtown. Q: Does the Malecon attach to the port facility? A: No, you cannot walk out of the port and directly on to the Malecon. The only entry into the port is an immigration point, so all must pass through this location. There is private property between this location and the water front, so no Malecon can be accessed from there. At this time, the Malecon stops about a mile from the port. Q: Is Mahahual a safe town? A: Mahahual is a very safe and small town. Everyone knows everyone and all very much value the feeling that goes with knowing our streets are safe for us, as well as the tourists we rely on for our livelihood. Q: Why all the military presence in the area if the town is so safe? A: The military in Mexico is more of a federal type police force, responsible for law enforcement in specific federal areas, like the beach areas and immigration points. Q: Can we drink the water and is the ice purified? A: Almost all tourist quality places always use purified water and ice. Purified ice always comes in specific shapes, usually round or square. Ice frozen from the regular water system, if you find it, is usually block ice, and would be large jagged pieces with no uniform shape. Most places freeze their own water for buckets of beer but that is about it. Just stay in the tourist quality places and don't drink from the bucket! |