Kids 7, 4 and 1 - what to do in Costa Maya?

[bellezza28]

Hi,

 

We will be in Costa Maya next week. Would like to find a kid friendly beach not too far away from the port to spend a couple of hours. I would prefer walking distance, but if not possible, then a short taxi ride will do. DH is looking to do some snorkelling but usually when there is snorkeling, there is no beach....

 

Can someone recommend a nice quiet beach close to the port?

 

Thanks!

[crewsweeper]

Well, there's Chac Chi, the "Hole in The Fence" beach just north of the port area. You can see it from the ship. There's a thread here with some info and pictures. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=291724&page=47

But I believe you have to contact them in advance so someone will be there expecting you, and you do have to go outside the port area to get to the "Hole". http://www.chacchi.com/

 

Be aware that it can be a long walk down the pier to the port area itself, so with young children try to take the little shuttle.

 

The port area has a pool and may have a small beach area now. They have been building "resorts" between the port and the village of Mahahual (old Mahahual as opposed to the renaming of Las Casitias, Nuevo Mahahual) with its malecon. So maybe a recent crusier can opine on them. Snorkeling in the port area isn't that good, if any good. And down along the malecon there is sea grass. But the beach is one continual beach and you can pick your spot. There's a bus from the port area, or you can walk outside the port area and catch a taxi down by the Tequila Museum. A bit of a hike for little ones.

 

Check out one of the snorkeling excursions, like the power snorkel, they generally head north a ways to a really isolated quiet beach where there is little or no sea grass. Shore snorkeling there doesn't compare with the reefs in Belize or Roatan, but it's okay. Beach is very spartan.

 

People will recommend Maya Chan, but again you'll have to reserva a spot in advance, may be a bit late to do, and then walk out of the port area into Nuevo Mahahhual to catch their shuttle. Nice beach, nice folks running the place, but lots of sea grass and not very good snorkeling. But since it's an AI and limited in number of cruisers on any day, it should be a quieter beach.

 

Hope you enjoy your cruise.:)