Puerto Costa Maya Travel Guide

Puerto Costa Maya is the country's newest port, and the first on Mexico's Caribbean Coast to have been built exclusively for cruise ships. Situated on the Yucatan Peninsula near the fishing village of Majahual, it is the fastest growing cruise port in the Caribbean.

The destination consists of three grand pavilions in the ancient Mayan style, which together are a commercial, cultural and entertainment hub offering dining, shopping and recreational facilities. Visitors will also find a swimming pool and swim-up bar, local performances in the amphitheatre, and art and craft galleries showcasing the region's local artists and their art. In short, it has been custom-made to provide all the things cruise passengers could want on holiday and the carefully designed infrastructure is tailored particularly to holidaymakers.

Passengers alighting from tourist ships are carried by shuttle to the Mayan-inspired port complex, which boasts 70,000 square feet (6,503sq m) of shops and a bazaar. On offer are a wide variety of typical Mexican souvenirs, especially local crafts, as well as designer perfumes, leather goods and jewellery.

Beyond the pavilions, Costa Maya provides access to undeveloped areas of coastline, colourful reefs and shipwrecks for diving and snorkelling, and some ancient Mayan sites to explore. Puerto Costa Maya tour operators offer dune buggy tours, access to Mayan sites such as Kohunlich and Dzibanche, and kayak adventures. Free shuttles transport passengers regularly between the pier complex and their ships.