Costa Maya, Mexico

Photos & story by: Debbie Stock

Costa Maya is a cruise port plain and simple. For cruise lines it's an easy stop between several popular port destinations in the Caribbean, saving fuel and money, while offering tourists a day to unwind around a created village.

Sand beaches with plenty of chaise lounge chairs, pools with swim-up bars, restaurant options, a full day of entertainment performances with narration, costumes and dancing, and kiosks selling a variety of items, offer a land environment for those who want to get off the ship and wander a bit.

Several tour options include seeing Mayan ruins, snorkeling in the aquamarine waters of the world's second largest reef, and a water park with 8 slides, 2 zip lines and 1 zip coaster.

The Chacchoben Mayan Ruins tour includes the Gran Basamento, Temples and Pyramids with some stair climbing involved. Costa Maya is the closest port of access to lesser-known and less excavated pyramids in the Yucatan.

Caribbean cruises are known for their R&R and Costa Maya definitely offers the opportunity to do nothing at all if you exit the ship, walk along the pier, and land on the sandy beach with plenty of chairs.

Costa Maya is located in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, the only state bounded by the Caribbean Sea to its east. There are 31 states in Mexico, plus the capitol, Mexico City. Quintana Roo may sound familiar for those who enjoy beach vacations in Cancún. My sister has gone there quite a few times to play in volleyball tournaments. She's gotten several cases of Montezuma's revenge during her visits and advises to be diligent in drinking only from trusted water sources. Illness can last several weeks and sometimes requires treatment of antibiotics. It can ruin a perfectly good volleyball game, to say the least.

Islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, and the towns of Bacalar, Playa del Carmen and Akumal, as well as the ancient Maya ruins of Chacchoben, Cobá, Kohunlich, Muyil, Tulum, Xel-Há, Xcaret and Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve are all located in Quintana Roo.

Costa Maya is not far from Chetumal (capitol of the state) on the border with Belize.