SHORE EXCURSIONS

You’ll journey to the ancient place of Mayan pilgrimage known today as Chacchoben, also known as "The Place of Red Corn". At the pier, you’ll be greeted by a bilingual guide who will direct you to an air-conditioned bus. Onboard the bus your guide will brief you on the interesting history and unique attributes of this sacred Mayan site. Upon arrival at Chacchoben you’ll be surrounded by jungle. Your guide will escort you through the ruins, giving you a complete explanation of the sacred temples and other structures seen there. See original red paint on the stucco walls of one of the pyramids and the temple where a mural was found showing the astronomical positions of the planet Venus. You’ll have time to climb the Gran Basamento taking you above tree level. Here archaeologists found ceremonial offerings dating to around 1000 B.C. Your guide will also explain about the wildlife and medicinal plants that are used by the modern-day descendants of the ancient Mayan people. During the tour, you will reach a structure known as the Gran Basamento, which is not a pyramid, but an elevated platform.

Spend hours relaxing however you please at the Beach Escape Beach Club in nearby Mahahual. After a brief orientation to help you maximize the experience, you will be free to enjoy the club’s amenities, which are considerable and all offered for your enjoyment. You might stretch out on a lounge chair and bask in the sun, take a refreshing swim in the sea and gather around the thatched-roof poolside bar, which will be open for unlimited drinks the entire time. One end of the Beach Escape is typically busier and more party-oriented, while the other end by the pier is quieter, allowing you to easily find an ideal spot to make the most of your free time. If you wish to explore offshore, kayaks are available. The beach club is located right on the boardwalk at Fisherman’s Village, a great place for people-watching and dining on your own as there are plenty of restaurants.

Experience Mayan history and a jungle retreat with an open bar & buffet lunch. Your tour begins when your bilingual guide meets you at the end of the pier and escorts you to your air-conditioned transfer vehicle waiting on site. Listen to your guide and learn about the interesting local area and culture from onboard commentary as you pass through the fishing village. Continue this tour inland to visit “The Place of the Red Corn”, Chacchoben, learn about the fascinating Mayan culture during the journey from our knowledgeable guides. Enjoy a guided tour of this unique archaeological site set in beautiful surroundings still partially covered by the rain forest. Climb to the top of the “Gran Basamento” taking you above the tree line and visit two sacred temples. Before leaving, you will have the opportunity to buy souvenirs from shops on site. Your journey continues to a buffet lunch waiting for you at Mahikal Beach. Take a swim at sea and enjoy all complimentary drinks including your favorite cocktails. Feeling fully relaxed, well-fed and in good spirits, your transfer awaits to return you to the ship. During the tour, you will reach a structure known as the Gran Basamento, which is not a pyramid, but an elevated platform. To access additional ruins located on the second level, it is necessary to climb approximately 40 steps. This ascent will give you a broader view and allow you to see other pyramids (ruins) that are not visible from the lower level.

Experience the Mayan Reality on a cultural adventure that will both educate and delight you. Many visitors think of the Mayans as an ancient civilization that disappeared long ago, but the fact is that while many other indigenous groups have vanished or been absorbed into the general population, the Mayan culture, customs, language and beliefs remain strong on the Yucatan Peninsula, even today. On this tour you’ll witness the reality that faces these remarkable people as their ancient culture collides with and blends into the modern world. Begin your adventure in a small, contemporary Mayan community built up around the remains of an ancient Mayan settlement and visit one of the fascinating ruins located right in the middle of town.

Follow your guide into an authentic Mayan house where you’ll learn about the local food and the ancient medicines. You’ll hear about the sacred Mayan tree and its role in the cosmos as well as legends, lore and prophesies written in the Mayan calendar. If you’ve visited any Mayan ruin or are remotely interested in the first people that populated the Americas, then you’ll be surprised, fascinated and left with a new-found respect for this long-lived culture and the legacy they leave here in Costa Maya.

On the way back to the pier, you will stop at a Tequila Hacienda, where you will learn about the process of tequila making and have the opportunity to participate in a tequila tasting experience before returning to the ship’s pier.

Do you want to learn to make authentic Mexican salsas and guacamole? Learn how to Salsa dance? Relax on a beautiful beach and drink margaritas? Then this is the tour for you! Travel to a beachfront restaurant with beautiful views of the Caribbean and participate in some of Mexico’s most beloved traditions. Your guide will take you through the steps of making authentic Mexican salsas and guacamole during a hands-on cooking class. Slice and dice your fresh ingredients then taste your creations with tortilla chips.

You’ll be given the recipes to take home with you. Quench your thirst with complimentary margaritas, Mexican beer, or flavored waters. Afterwards, your guide will show you how to step, sway, and get into the groove of Latin America’s most famous dance - the Salsa! Follow step-by step instructions and you’ll soon be ready for the dance floor. After your dance class, you’ll have free time to relax in the sun, swim in the sea and enjoy the beach facilities. You will be transported to the ship once the tour ends.

At the ruins, your guide takes you through this breathtaking site named after the majestic cahoon palm tree that grows fronds up to 40 feet tall. Kohunlich Ruins include a sunken palace, acropolis, ball court, courtyards and the main attraction - the masks. Climb the pyramid-like temple for a view of the unique 10-foot high sculpted masks of the sun god 'Kinich Ahau.' Built before 500 A.D., these marvelous masks still retain some of their original colored stucco.

Ease down a gently flowing river that empties into a glass-smooth lagoon, a wonderfully scenic setting that will leave you immensely relaxed. The spring-fed Bacalar Lagoon is always crystal-clear and its hues are ever-changing, the reason the pristine waterway is nicknamed the Lagoon of Seven Colors. You will glide down the river in an inflatable tube, as an assistance boat gently pulls the group through the pristine waters of the lagoon, ride that will take you past one spectacular natural sight after another, including mangrove forests full of wildlife. Besides the outstanding scenery and abundant water birds, you will see sheet-like rocks called stromatolites. Some of the world's first forms of life were found in ancient stromatolites and these unusual rocks continue to grow today. Although the river current is light, it will be just enough to carry you downstream leave your tube, let your body float in the river for some minutes, you can swim or just let you go and enjoy the experience, after the lazy river-like floating portion, get back to your tube to enjoy another fun-filled boat pull across the lagoon as you reach the shore. After a while, lunch will be served along the shore, a most satisfying end to a day of adventure.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel and sunscreen.
• Water shoes are recommended

A must for nature lovers, this adventure presents the natural wonders within the Bacalar Lagoon; spectacularly picturesque and full of wildlife. Your exploration will begin aboard a four-person raft that the guide will navigate through the freshwater Bacalar Lagoon. Protected on all sides by thick mangrove forest, the waters of the pristine lagoon are typically as smooth as glass and every imaginable shade of blue and green. The ever-changing hues are so captivating that the waterway is known as the Lagoon of Seven Colors. The setting is also extraordinarily serene, as no motorized boats are permitted on the lagoon. As you glide along, you can expect to see all sorts of wildlife, especially water birds. In time, you will stop for lunch and enjoy free time to wander about on your own. The water doesn't just look inviting, it is wonderfully refreshing and ideal for swimming. Lunch includes a delicious Mexican lunch: one panucho, one salbute, and one empanada per guest. One glass of sparkling wine during the ride.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise around the glass-smooth Bacalar Lagoon in a four-person raft.
• Take in the gorgeous scenery, as the guide points out the flora and fauna.
• Stop for lunch and a refreshing swim during free time.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Spoil yourself with this Mayan holistic experience, releasing energies and opening up for a spiritual cleanse. Your host will meet you at the end of the pier and walk you through the port to start your relaxing day. Different timings will be provided. Our Xaman will lead you through the process in a unique ceremony with 6 steps:

Feel released and purified with the copal cleansing, an ancient technique the Xaman use to practice to ask for permission to the Mayan Gods to start the ceremony. Feel completely relaxed and purified with the second element, water, and enjoy while the therapist massages your shoulders, up to your neck and head. Feel the aromatic scents, the warm water and heal with this ancient therapy. The third step will take you into the center of the earth; The Temazcal will turn you into a better version of yourself, followed by a clay ritual, then the coconut bath where you can enjoy the beautiful view of the Caribbean Sea while you pamper yourself. The last step will become your favorite, a mystical hammock massage that can only be experienced in Costa Maya.

Experience, explore and learn about the Mayan civilization in style and in a small group on this exclusive tour to the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins. Departing from the dock, you will meet your certified guide and driver and board your 10 passenger mini-van. Once at the archeological site your tour guide will take you on a two hour tour exploring the secrets of the ancient Mayan civilization, explaining the historical significance of the important monuments including the Gran Basamento. Enjoy the sights, take pictures or take a little time out to enjoy nature. Beer, soft drinks and water are provided to and from Chacchoben Mayan Ruins. At the end of your adventure, you’ll be taken back to the pier. During the tour, you will reach a structure known as the Gran Basamento, which is not a pyramid, but an elevated platform. To access additional ruins located on the second level, it is necessary to climb approximately 40 steps. This ascent will give you a broader view and allow you to see other pyramids (ruins) that are not visible from the lower level.

Indulge in an expedition deep into the jungle. Enjoy its natural beauty and the ancient mysticism that lies within one of our single driver all-terrain vehicles. Your experienced guide will give you safety instructions and a driving course to fully enjoy the expedition. Enjoy this ride through off-road paths surrounded by tropical vegetation. Once done you’ll be transferred to a Beach Club for a beach break. This includes an open national bar and beach chairs. Guest’s restaurant purchases are additional.

Drive a Jeep Renegade through Costa Maya’s roads to discover the perfect combination of lush jungle, turquoise blue sea, isolated terrain and white sand beaches where you’ll enjoy a Mexican lunch. Hop into your Jeep (4 per car) and caravan through the quiet fishing village of Mahahual to see to see for yourself the striking natural beauty and character of the area! Hold on to your hats as you head along the coast on a bumpy off-road adventure. You will encounter endless stretches of beach spotted with small fishing villages and view a side of the Caribbean that most visitors never get to see. After an hour drive down the coastline you’ll arrive at Explora Beach. The white powder sand and the isolated atmosphere make it a perfect spot to relax and forget the world you’ve left behind. Enjoy a Mexican lunch prepared especially for you then swim in the clear blue water, stroll down the shore Drive back through the exotic terrain until you reach the pier. Tour includes bottled water, soda and lunch on the beach. All Jeeps are automatic. There will be 4 guests per Jeep. Please note that certain medical / age restrictions apply on this tour.