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| About Costa Maya |
| The Costa Maya--like its cousins Cancun, Ixtapa and Mazatlan--is the latest planned resort area to be co-developed by the Mexican Government and private developers. Unlike its cousins, where over development has brought huge problems, the Costa Maya is being developed as a low density/eco-tourism area. In August 07, Hurricane Dean devastated the area, closing the port and all but closing the town, for a year. But through hard work and an incredible effort by the citizens, government and local developers, the town is back and better than before! In 2003, the Mexican Government, in coordination with local developers, took a natural deep-water inlet on the north side of town and built a cruise ship port that in just a few seasons, was hosting about 600 ships annually. The finished project is a giant stadium/mall like complex, that houses swimming pools, shops, restaurants and even palapas with hammocks. Visitors can book fishing, diving and ruins excursions from inside the facility. The idea behind this project was to create a better environment for the Mexican government to collect taxes, something that is very difficult to do when boats disembark onto a public pier and disperse. The cruise ships began to see the value of this sort of port as well because their dock fees are proportional to the revenue captured inside the facility, an incentive most ports cannot offer. The result is that by the 2010/11 season, most believe Costa Maya will exceed 1000 ships per year and shortly thereafter, become the highest volume cruise ship port in Mexico. Located at the southern most tip of the Mexican Caribbean coast, Costa Maya borders the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve to the north, the crown jewel of Mexican ecological treasures, with Chetumal Bay and Belize to the south. The spectacular Chinchorro Reef, one of the last living great reefs left on the planet, is just 12 miles off shore and extends south, past Belize and to Honduras. A series of smaller reefs are between the Chinchorro and the mainland, providing habitat for one of the world’s great underwater environments. To the south is the Chetumal Bay area, whose flats separate Mexico from Belize and provide blue ribbon fly- fishing and world-class tropical bird watching. The Costa Maya is mainly made up of two small villages, Mahahual and Xcalak, which are nestled along this remote beach and jungle area in the southern tip of Quintana Roo. These neighboring villages complement each other with their quaint feel and friendly locals, both natives and transplants from other parts of North America and around the world. Until recently, the area was mainly a small and relatively unknown, but still, world-class diving destination. However, its tourist demographic is beginning to change. In addition to sportsman, the Cost Maya is now beginning to attract the tourist looking to escape the crowds and the “spring break” party atmosphere that has taken over the Cancun and Playa Del Carmen area. The result is an interesting and eclectic mix of local and international businesses, dive shops, casita hotels and restaurants. The town of Mahahual is the central business area of Costa Maya. The town has 2 main developed districts, the downtown ocean front and the area around the port facility referred to as the "Casitas". The downtown area is made up of the new Malecon area along the oceanfront and the two backstreets of commercial properties. This area is about 10 blocks long from north to south and is the old original fishing village area. The casitas area is a much larger area that was developed to provide a residential and commercial district to service the port facility and its workers. This area has paved streets with city services and a good mix of stores and small mom and pop restaurants. Meals provide a culinary, cultural and a conversational experience. Local chefs, along with restaurant owners from the US, Canada, Italy, France, Holland, and many others, come together to create meals that are as memorable as they are tasty. Don’t be surprised when you spend the evening chatting with an owner from Italy, a chef from Mexico City and your waiter from Canada. Shopping is plentiful in town while the ships are docked. You can expect to find all the usual Mexican blankets, rugs, pottery, jewelry and some not so usual including interesting local and Mayan art. On days when no ships are in port, the town is about three- fourths shut down and turns back into a wonderful, quiet little fishing village again. The local residents are very friendly and of because of the rise in tourism, many are beginning to speak some English. Your personal safety is really not anything you need worry about in the Costa Maya either. Other than occasional petty theft, crime, especially violent crime, is all but non-existent in southern Quintana Roo. The tourism money generated assures order and security are a national priority and you will see the presence of the Mexican Government everywhere to enforce your safety. But more importantly, the local Mexican people are just friendly, small town people. A smile and a “Buenos Dais” will always get one in return. The beaches, oh do we have beaches? The Costa Maya has about every kind of beach you can possibly want. If you want a beach in town, with music and swings dangling around the bar and a dozen restaurants within walking distance, check out downtown Mahahual. This is really one of the nicer beaches in Mexico. A reef about 150 meters from shore and protects the downtown beach from almost any wave action, so the water is always calm and clean. The downtown businesses keep their beaches raked and there are many trash cans, so it is always very nice. Jet skis, clear kayaks, water toys, all the touristy stuff is there. Want your own beach, no problem. Go a few miles further north into Sian Kaan Nature Reserve and you’ll find miles of totally undisturbed beaches. In most areas, the reef is just yards off shore and is home to a spectacular underwater environment. Starfish, sea turtles and colorful fish of all shapes and sizes call it home. Help yourself to the fish and lobster but if you can’t catch one, there is a co-op in town where fresh lobster and fish are plentiful and cheap. The Costa Maya has much to offer you, from fine dining, to beach front bars, to the best snorkeling and diving or just a quiet hammock under a palm tree. Want to own a piece of this paradise for yourself, just send us an email! |
