AKLydia

We are a family of 4 with two teenage girls. We would like a beach with decent snorkeling. We don't care about food and other activities as much (but we don't mind the sport activities).

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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There are always snorkeling tours off the beach in Mahahual they take you to by boat that are excellent. You also have the option to go north to mayan beach garden there is good snorkeling there however the beaches are not pristine as they are not cleaned of trash. Snorkeling in town you will see fish but not in huge numbers. There are areas you can swim across the channel and the snorkeling is acceptable but nothing compared to other areas. I'm sure others know more locations.

If you ask most places will be happy to cook you whatever you like we order different varieties of seafood in white wine, garlic and butter frequently and make sure you specify not spicy tropicante definitely has some options as well

It's fine I'm describing the location as being where you walk out towards the corner where there is a gap in the reef i didn't mean that the drop off is that far out. I was trying to explain exactly where the drop off I found was I've never argued that blue bay wasn't nice ever. I'm not sure why the lengthy argument I only stated that I experienced a drop off there.

I'm pretty sure they didn't try to dive at Blue Kay because it's fairly shallow in all the areas. Same with a lot of the beach areas around the Malecon that I'm aware of. We went to Nohoch once and you could walk out forever and it was only around your ankles. :)

I'm pretty sure they did we spend 1-2 months once or twice a year in Mahahual for the last 5 years. I assure you I know the area well. There is a gap in the reef on the corner this is where they dove unless the shoreline has massively changed in the last year it's still there they had to float a buoy to rest on

I just know my brother and husband tried to freedive there before the reef and were unable to dive to the bottom. Maybe a different area as blue Kay beach is quite long. My brother actually hurt his ears it was so deep. That area definitely appears to not drop off.

Quinto sole, nacional, and 40 canones are about as close as you'll find

Blue Kay however is not no drop off unfortunately.

Best slow drop beaches are tropicante and big mamas it's like a zero entry pool.

Best slow drop beaches are tropicante and big mamas it's like a zero entry pool.

We go to nacional beach club most days. Evan will allow you to use his loungers however he has gotten too many cruisers that take his chairs and don't eat or drink so you would need to contact him ahead of time. I think they make the best drinks on the malecon no mixers! I like big mamas the beach is like tropicante basically a zero entry pool however she is always packed somehow we still are able to get beach front loungers. The bathrooms are kinda iffy but I love the shrimp soup. Honestly we have only got cheated 3x and I have a large family that have been returning for 5 years multiple times a year. 2x at crazy lobster and once at the bar next door to tropicante one farther away from the cruise port. Ibiza sunset is nice but the beach setup isn't as nice. Unfortunately nohoch Kay is just for lunch now but the beach is mostly tide pools at low tide.

The krazy lobster massively padded our check two times we will never return. 200 peso margarita and in one case they converted our bill from pesos to usd back to pesos at extremely terrible rates and then refused to return or fix the bill. We spend several months in town each year and I would not recommend them. The beach and company is much nicer at tropicante as well.

We will be in costa Maya in April and we booked deep sea fishing threw here

 

https://www.shoreexcursioneer.com/costa-maya/private-deep-sea-fishing.html

We have deep sea fished in mahahual multiple times. The area isn't really great for it usually the only thing caught is barracuda. My husband did a combo deep sea fishing trip with diving for lobster which he enjoyed more. Fishing with nick seems to be more successful even though it's fly fishing you can catch some big fish.

Are there public restrooms?

Every bar has restrooms you can use as a customer no one has restrooms if you are not a paying customer you might luck out. Have a beer or margarita and you're good!

I think every bar on the beach has restrooms but you only get to use them if you are a paying customer

I know for the most part in Costa maya you don't need to schedule this just get off the ship early and the operators of the many scuba shops will fit you in.

Blue Kay is the first beach you hit when coming from the cruise port however all the beach clubs are very close.

I haven't seen the parasailing, there are lots of jet skis banana boats etc

There are also zip lines at the new water park just outside the port some end in water. They also have a zip line rollercoaster. For a separate fee there is a center type of bungee jump in the pyramid that we enjoyed.

Nick Denbow for fly fishing and some rod and reel my son and husband have gone with him multiple times for all types of fish including tarpon. My family has gone out with beach operators a few times on a boat but inevitably all you will catch will be barracuda. Idk if he has a cruise excursion but look him up fly fishing Costa maya and write him he's super good at responding!

There is a tiny shop right past the fruit lady that sells some (across from the soccer field). There is also a shop farther along where you turn for nohoch Kay ( hit and miss as to whether it's open) These are basically little liquor stores but I've gotten some great deals on tequila previously. Hermanos Martin on your left as you exit the cruise port also has a few types of good tequila depending on how busy he's been.

Tropicante, nacional if you contact him in advance might let you relax there, blue Kay maybe they're all very close along with lots of other options.

Not much of a beach spot unless you take the taxi to town which is 5-10 minutes depending on how fast you get out of the port area. There is a large salt water pool in the port area with extremely expensive drinks you can stay at, otherwise the nearby malecon is where you go for a beach, some cheap shopping and to eat and drink there are lots of beach bars!

Probably Dr Dive they seem more organized however I did two discover dives and Dr Dive was my second of the two so we went significantly farther down. It really depends on what you're looking for in your dive.

I did it at Gypsea divers behind nohoch Kay and I did it at Doctor dive on the malecon about midway.

We'll be in CM Dec. 23 on the Carnival Dream from 12 noon-8pm. We have booked Chacchoben ruins through Native Choice leaving at 1 and returning approximately 5 pm. I'm assuming it will be getting dark at 5 and want to know if the cruise ship pier will be decked out in Christmas finery? We will have a couple of hours before the ship departs and wondered if there is shopping right at the pier?

There is shopping right at the pier, the town is approximately 5-10 minutes away and has more variety at cheaper prices definitely dicker