Costa Maya

Costa Maya sounds exotic but it is actually a sort of a bubble wrapped sanitized taste of Mexico for the tourists. It all feels new and prepackaged, although some of that can't be helped as the village was destroyed by Category 5 Hurricane Dean in 2007, and has been completely rebuilt.



The area is nearly entirely supported by the cruise ships that have made it a port of call, and the travelers they bring.

It's an obvious tourist trap but who is going to complain? My Owner? What is she going to say?

"Help, I'm trapped at a beach with Mexican food and a swim-up bar!"

Oh you poor thing.

An unusual feature of the shoreline in this area is the lack of a sandy smooth beach most Americans are familiar with. Instead the "beach" consists of a very uneven, sharp, rocky surface.

After carefully working her way over the treacherous surface was MO rewarded with soft sand once she reached the water? Nope. While Mr. Snarky snapped this photo she was desperately trying to avoid slicing a large gash in her foot.


Mr. MO, not all that interested in water related activities, staked out a spot at the cantina called Bandito's. He wasn't complaining.

In any of these establishments in Mexico that cater to tourists such as restaurants and bars at the larger ruins like Tulum, or Chichen Itza as well as those at the end of piers where the cruise ships dock it is safe to eat whatever you want and drink the water (and ice). It is all going to be purified since these economies are tourist dependant. You may want to ask if you still aren't sure.

While MO rested in a beach chair, listening to a French family nearby yell their baby's name 5,000 times...

"Allison! Allison! Cuckoo, Allison!"

(while they tried to get her to look at the camera), her daughter and future-son-in-law were touring a bit and climbing the lighthouse.

One nice bonus to lounging on the beach not too far from port is that the dolphin tank which hosts the dolphin encounter is in the center of this beach and so you can watch the trainers work with them right from your beach chair.

The Mayan ruins, Chacchoben are nearby and would have made a nice day trip but MO and the Mother-of-the-groom had already made plans to visit some others later in the trip. The diving and snorkeling in this area is also supposed to be very good. But from what I heard when they all returned to the cabin, there's a lot to be said for spending an entire day just relaxing and acting silly.

MO and her family had a great day together here and while upon first glance it looked as if it might be disappointing it was actually a lot of fun.  A lot of family bonding can take place while people are wearing giant sombreros.

"No, seriously Mom, you look ridiculous."

The population of this area triples in one hour when the ships arrive.

     MO and Mr. MO walking the long pier back to the ship.

As the ship set sail, the sun set over the Yucatan.