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Experience the best of Costa Maya

Costa Maya is the southern Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatán, a quiet shoreline of white beaches and mangroves beside the reef, with Maya ruins inland.

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Costa Maya is the name given to the southern stretch of Quintana Roo's Caribbean coast, south of the Riviera Maya and close to the border with Belize. Its shore is a quiet strip of white sand, palms and mangrove, backed by low forest, and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef runs just offshore. Mahahual, a small seaside village with a long boardwalk, is the main settlement and has a dock for cruise ships. Xcalak, a fishing village at the southern tip, sits beside a protected reef park.

Banco Chinchorro, a ring-shaped coral atoll farther offshore, is the largest in Mexico and a biosphere reserve, with wrecks and many fish. Chacchoben, a Maya site in the forest inland, has restored temples. Bacalar Lagoon, its shallow water shading from pale turquoise to deep blue, lies on the road north of Chetumal, the state capital on the border.

Seafood is the heart of local cooking, with grilled fish, lobster and ceviche served at beachside palapas, while Yucatecan dishes such as cochinita pibil, pork cooked in achiote, and panuchos, filled fried tortillas, appear inland. Xtabentún, an anise and honey liqueur, is the local drink. The dry season, from November to April, is the sunniest.

  • Free cancellation on 94% of experiences
  • 4.7 across the top 24

Top experiences in Costa Maya

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Day trips from Costa Maya

73

Landmarks and attractions in Costa Maya

8

Guided tours in Costa Maya

48

Food and drink experiences in Costa Maya

35

Outdoor and adventure activities in Costa Maya

44

Nature and wildlife tours in Costa Maya

5

Shore excursions from Costa Maya

19

Signature experiences in Costa Maya

Go beyond Costa Maya

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    Mayan Ruins of Coba (Zona Arqueológica de Cobá)

    10–12 hr4.613k reviewsfrom $10
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