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. 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.

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, 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.

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.

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.

Cruising and snorkeling in the Caribbean, what better way to enjoy your day in Costa Maya? Your bilingual guide will meet you at the pier and accompany you to the catamaran waiting at Fisherman’s Pier. Along the way, your guide will brief you on the safety procedures and you’ll be snorkeling under the watchful eye of a PADI certified rescue diver guide. You’ll wear a proper life vest for your safety. Once you have received the instructions, you’ll have easy access to the water and ready to discover Costa Maya’s underwater world. Jacks, snappers, colorful angel fish or queen triggerfish abound. After your snorkel, relax as your catamaran cruises back to the pier. Tour includes all necessary equipment.

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.

Experience a fantastic adventure created for those that love the outdoors. This excursion offers a bike ride through the jungle, a dip into a natural swimming pool, the chance to try standup paddle boarding and beach time with lunch. You’ll depart from the pier aboard the Jaguar truck a custom-designed vehicle outfitted with all the equipment needed to make your experience an amazing one.

Enjoy a 15 minute scenic drive to your first stop where you’ll mount a bicycle and ride through the jungle. Arrive at the natural swimming pool and cool off in the water. Hop on the Jaguar truck and travel to your next destination a beautiful white sand beach where your guides will set up a camp for you. Here you can try standup paddle boarding, enjoy a boogie board ride, take a swim or just relax on the beach. A lunch will be offered at the beach before heading back to your ship after a fun-filled day of adventure.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a leisurely day in the low-key village of Mahahual with plenty of time to relax on its magnificent golden beach. Once a fishing village known mostly to locals, Mahahual has grown to become a much more popular seaside destination, yet it hasn’t lost its casual appeal. As you will discover, the soaring white lighthouse is wonderfully photogenic, especially with the large colorful letters spelling “MAHAHUAL” as a backdrop. You will also stop at Tequila Hacienda for a tasting of Mexico’s national drink. As the bartender will explain, tequila can only be made from Blue Weber agave, a succulent plant with sharp blue-green leaves. You might sample a white tequila, an amber añejo tequila and a caramel-flavored reposado aged in oak barrels. Free time at the beach follows, during which you can do most anything you please. The water is typically calm and crystal-clear, which makes a refreshing swim even more inviting.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore the village of Mahahual, which is known for its casual ambiance.
• Snap photos at the lighthouse and enjoy a tasting of several characteristic tequilas.
• Spend time relaxing at the golden beach that rims Mahahual.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Explore Mayan ruins that are little-known because of their remote jungle location and spend free time relaxing at a lagoon with striking aqua-blue water. Although it will take nearly two hours to reach the Ichkabal archaeological site, it will be well worth the time. Only open since 2024, the ancient Maya city is larger than the more renowned and more visited Chichén Itzá. It also allows the rare opportunity to climb its Great Pyramid, whose summit offers spectacular views for those who climb its 140 steps. Built between 350 B.C. and 50 B.C., the monumental structures – which include an Acropolis with administrative buildings – suggest that Ichkabal was a major political and ceremonial center. You will also visit nearby Bacalar, a freshwater lagoon that dense mangroves shelter. The color of the water is usually a startling blue, but it changes with the angle and intensity of the sunlight. Feel free to swim in its glass-smooth waters.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit Ichkabal, a great and remote Mayan city that just recently opened to the public.
• Be awed by its monumental buildings, which were constructed as early as 350 B.C.
• Climb to the top of the Great Pyramid for the ultimate view of Ichkabal and beyond.
• Spend free time relaxing at Bacalar, a stunningly blue lagoon fed by underwater cenotes.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

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 one glass of sparkling wine during the ride and one water bottle or soft drink with flavored water and Mexican antojitos.

Lunch includes one glass of sparkling wine during the ride and one water bottle or soft drink with a baguette, potato salad and seasonal fruit.

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.