Costa Maya, Mexico

Ancient Maya Cities

In these lands once stood the largest cities of an ancient Maya civilization. The surviving ruins of structures from that period confirm that these cities were large and had major religious centers and extensive residential areas for the ruling classes. Near Costa Maya there are three fascinating archaeological sites from that era-Cohunlich, Tzibanche, and Kinichna. The best-known building in Cohunlich is the Temple of Masks, one of the main archaeological attractions in the entire state of Quintana Roo, decorated with eight reliefs-one of the brightest examples of Maya art. Cohunlich is also a wonderful natural park. Tzibanche is famous for its impressive Temple of the Cormorants and the Temple of the Captives. In Kinichna there is one of the oldest Acropolises in the world.

Mahaul Fishing Village

In just five minutes, you can get from the port to the fishing village of Mahaual - a charming tourist town with plenty of beach clubs. The beaches here are very clean, and the coastal waters are protected by a reef, making them calm and quite shallow, which makes them absolutely safe for swimming even for small children. This is an ideal place for a family holiday. Along the entire stretch of the beach, there are bars, small restaurants, and souvenir shops. You can rent jet skis and kayaks. From here, you can set off for Banco Chinchorro - the country’s largest coral atoll. In the atoll’s inner lagoon, mangrove trees grow, forming a unique ecosystem where colorful fish live, along with turtles, dolphins, and even sharks.

Beaches

About a 20-minute drive from the port is located Almaplena Eco Beach Resort. The coastline here is especially clean, with almost no seaweed-often a pollutant of the local waters-and practically no sand contamination at Almaplena. Cruise ship passengers can purchase an "all-inclusive" day-pass here for the whole day. For active recreation, the best option is Jungle Beach Club on Uvero Beach. The same beach is typically where those travelers relax who booked a "day at the beach" while onboard. Equipment for water sports is available here, along with various options for active pastimes. For children, the beaches of the fishing village of Mahahual are ideal-where the water is very shallow and calm, and special entertainment for kids is offered along the shore.

Ancient Maya city of Chacchoben

Chacchoben is a Maya civilization city in the very “most touristy” state of Mexico, Quintana Roo. In the Yucatec language, the word Chacchoben means “place of red corn.” Lost in the jungles, this city remained unknown for a long time, and only in 1972 did scientists begin working here. According to specialists, the city of Chacchoben was founded more than two thousand years ago, but most of the structures that are open to tourists-over the past ten years-were built about 1300 years ago. The archaeological complex of Chacchoben consists of several dozen buildings and pyramids; on some of them, traces of paint, frescoes, and numerous hieroglyphs of the Maya Indians have even been preserved. Chacchoben is one of the most popular Maya archaeological sites in the state of Quintana Roo.

For a more detailed list of excursions and their prices, you can check after booking the cruise in your “Client Personal Account.”