Costa Maya
Costa Maya is a cruise pier on Mexico's Caribbean coast, beside the fishing village of Mahahual. Ships dock here for a day stop, and a section of reef lies offshore.
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Costa Maya is the cruise pier on the Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo, in southeastern Mexico on the Yucatán Peninsula. Ships dock at the terminal, and the fishing village of Mahahual is the nearest town. Expect a simple village, not a resort strip. The coast here is less developed than Cancún or Playa del Carmen, and part of the Mesoamerican Reef lies offshore, which draws snorkelers and divers.
Inland, the Maya ruins at Chacchoben are a common add-on to a coast day. Most trips here center on the water: snorkeling and diving on the reef, and beach time on a quiet shoreline. Hurricane season runs June through November, so December through April is the usual window for calmer weather. A single day suits a cruise stop. Two or three nights give time for the reef, the ruins and a slower pace.
Costa Maya in five
- Carry pesos for taxis and beach stallsBeach stalls and village taxis often take cash only. Keep small notes in your pocket so you can pay without asking for change.
- Set up an eSIM before you landInstall an eSIM before you leave home so data works from the pier, before you go ashore for maps and messages.Phones and eSIM
- Check the all-aboard time on your ticketShips sail on a fixed schedule, and late passengers can miss the sailing. Note the all-aboard time on your ticket before you go ashore.
- Carry your passport ashorePort officials may check ID when you leave the pier or return to the ship. Carry your passport or the ID your cruise line asks for.
- Price the taxi ride before you get inVillage taxis often have no meter. Agree the fare in pesos before you get in.
Things to do in Costa Maya
See all attractions in Costa Maya
Need to know
- Currency
- Mexican peso (MXN)
- Entry
- Depends on your passport; ask your cruise line which papers to carry Read more
- Emergency
- 911 police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Common at restaurants and tours; check whether the bill includes a service charge
- Time
- UTC-5, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Dry seasonJanuaryRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry season
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Dry, calmFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, calm
- MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Dry, warmingMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warming
- AprilClear8 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Hot, drierAprilClear
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, drier
- MayRain15 rainy daysHigh32°Low26°Hot, rains startMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, rains start
- JuneRain23 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Rainy seasonJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 307 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- JulyRain20 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Hot, humidJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 134 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- AugustRain22 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Hurricane riskAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 184 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hurricane risk
- SeptemberRain24 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Hurricane peakSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 220 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hurricane peak
- OctoberRain22 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Storm riskOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 235 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Storm risk
- NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Storms endingNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 161 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Storms ending
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Dry seasonDecemberRain
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry season
Average daily high and low in Mahahual, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Costa Maya
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
26
- Feels like
- 31°
- Humidity
- 82%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 98%
Costa Maya
06:24 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today30°23°98%Monday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Tue29°24°90%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Wed30°25°86%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Thu30°23°65%Thursday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 65%.
- Fri30°25°73%Friday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Sat29°24°67%Saturday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 67%.
- Sun27°24°79%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 27°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 79%.
Updated 05:35 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 18.81 MXN
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Bacalarabout 2 hours by roadA turquoise lagoon for swimming and a short walk along the shore.
- Chetumalabout 2 hours by roadThe state capital, with museums and a waterfront for an errand stop.
- Xcalakabout 1 to 2 hours by carA small fishing village at the southern end of the coast road, for a quiet beach day.
Before you go to Costa Maya
Rules for Costa Maya, checked
- Declare cash above the legal limit on the customs form. Check the current amount with Mexican customs (SAT) before you travel.Source
- Mexican law protects reef coral and marine life. Leave coral and marine life where you find them.
- Drink bottled or filtered water in the village and on day trips. Skip ice and raw salads when you are unsure of the source.
- Entry rules depend on your passport. Check with your cruise line before you sail.Source
Plan around Costa Maya
Entry rules, transport and money for a Mexico trip
Read the guideGetting around MexicoBuses, taxis and car hire between Chetumal and the coast
Read the guideMoney and costsPesos, cards and cash habits for a port visit
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa, the tourist permit and cruise papers
Read the guideWhere to stayVillage and beach options compared before you book
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData on arrival for maps and messages
Read the guideCosta Maya FAQ
Is Costa Maya a town or a cruise port?
Costa Maya is the cruise pier, built beside the fishing village of Mahahual on the Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo. Most people arrive by ship, and the village is a short taxi ride away.
Do I need to book tours in advance?
Booking ahead through your cruise line or a reputable operator is the safer choice for trips such as Bacalar on a short port day. Seats may run out on busy ship days.
How do you get from Chetumal to Mahahual?
Buses and taxis run on the coast road from Chetumal, about two hours by road. Check bus times at the Chetumal bus terminal before you travel, since schedules change.
When is the best time to visit Mahahual?
December to April has dry, calm weather. Hurricane season runs June to November, with the highest risk from August to October, and storms can change or cancel ship calls.
Is it safe to drink the tap water?
Drink bottled or filtered water. Skip ice and raw salads, especially on day trips away from the pier.
Are US dollars accepted in Mahahual?
Some vendors quote prices in US dollars, but pesos are the local currency. Ask which currency a price is in before you pay.