Costa Maya, kept on a card.

Where the photos are in Costa Maya

1. The Mahahual boardwalk and beach clubs

   About two miles from the pier. The water is calm, beach clubs sell day passes with chairs and umbrellas, and the boardwalk is easy to walk once you are there.

2. The Mahahual lighthouse

   A lighthouse on the waterfront in Mahahual that turns up in many visitors' pictures of the town.

3. The Chacchoben ruins

   Three excavated pyramid-temples in a jungle setting, about 50 minutes from the port each way, so plan on 3.5 to 4.5 hours in all. Spider monkeys and toucans are often spotted. The pyramids are tall, so step back and shoot upright.

4. The reef off Mahahual

   There is snorkeling on the reef near the town, so a waterproof phone case pays off here.

5. The port itself

   Pools, swim-up bars, shops and cultural shows, all a short walk from the ship. It is not the most scenic part of Costa Maya, but it is fine for a quick family picture.

How the light works

There is almost no shade between the port and Mahahual, and by the middle of the morning it can feel like 100 degrees. Take your outdoor photos early, then settle at a beach club with shade for the rest of the day. Squinting shows in pictures, so face away from the sun and let a friend take the shot.

Before you go ashore

Do not plan to walk to Mahahual. It is about two miles from the pier along an unshaded road with no continuous sidewalk. The yellow taxis at the port cost roughly $4 to $5 a person shared, or more for a private ride, and the trip takes 5 to 20 minutes. Dollars are the main currency, and change often comes back in pesos at a lower rate.

Details checked September 2026. Piers, fees and schedules change, so confirm with your ship's daily plan.

Questions people ask

Can I walk from the Costa Maya pier to Mahahual?

It is about two miles on an unshaded road with no continuous sidewalk, and it can feel like 100 degrees by the middle of the morning, so most people take one of the yellow taxis from the port.

How long is the trip to the Chacchoben ruins?

About 50 minutes each way, so plan on 3.5 to 4.5 hours in all, including your time at the site.

Is Mahahual worth the taxi ride for photos?

For most people, yes. The town has the calm water, the beach clubs and the boardwalk, while the port area is mostly pools, shops and shows. The taxi is about 5 to 20 minutes each way, so plan the ride into your time in port.