Costa Maya

I have recently been to Costa Maya and was pleasently surprised by the little fishing village to the left of the port. I rented a golfcart and went to one of the most beautiful places in Mexico. If you can get past the vendors which are part of the fun and you are willing to negotiate, then you found some good buys. Just sitting on the beach is great. It is such a nice location and I didn’t feel the fake feeling of the vendors. I personally came home with a couple hundred dollars of gifts for less than $80.00. Forget the trash and the vendors all trying to get your money and look at what they have there. It is a gem and I would love to stay for quite some time. If you think Nordstroms is good shopping, your standard of living is outragious. This is a place for deals if you aren’t afraid. Trust me, they will deal!!

I’m going in October.

Not terribly interested in the shopping or riding an ATV or the typical touristy attractions. I’m thinking of trying to explore Mahahual and see if there is a good local restaurant to try out.

Any suggestions as to how to go native for a day while in port and not get sucked in to the tourist trap crap?

Worst port – good excursions to ruins but the worst shopping and money-grubbing vendors, rude, tacky, terrible. Didn’t like it.

It’s a long drive from the Riviera Maya. Although half the way the roads are not great, the roads in this area have just recently been developed and are in excellent condition.

All this area is not yet fully developed, so there’s a charm to it. And you can go diving to Banco Chinchorro from here, but it’s a 2-hour boat trip.

This was the first port of call on a cruise i was on a few years ago. i say avoid the main tourist-section of this place like the plague- it’s dreadful. American and over-priced, like being to the Disney-version of what Mexico should really look like. i even saw people dressed as Mayans wandering around!!! >:/
We high-tailed it out of that area to go on a snorkeling tour which, was alright, but certainly not one of the more amazing reefs out there.
i say if your ship happens to stop here or if you’re near-by, no sense in not giving it a walk-through, but otherwise, avoid.