Best Costa Maya shore excursions
The top-rated independent excursion in Costa Maya is "Chacchoben Mayan Ruins from Costa Maya" (4.5★ from 628 reviews, from $56). The biggest saving against the ship is ruins / history: $77 per person less than NCL. Prices and ratings checked November 2026.
Ranked from real traveller ratings: each tour's star rating weighted by how many reviews it has, so a 4.9 with 3,000 reviews beats a 5.0 with 25. Only tours we matched to a tour type in Costa Maya are included.
Top-rated independent excursions
| # | Tour | From | Rating | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chacchoben Mayan Ruins from Costa MayaRuins / history | $56 | 4.5★628 reviews | 3/5 |
| 2 | Mahahual: Reef Lagoon Snorkel Tour to Spot Sea TurtlesSnorkel tour | $32 | 4.5★66 reviews | 5/5 |
| 3 | From Costa Maya: Chacchoben Mayan City & Bacalar Lagoon TourCity / island tour | $139 | 4.5★34 reviews | 5/5 |
| 4 | Bacalar: Kan Kin Zipline TourZipline | $63 | 4.9★22 reviews | 5/5 |
Best value against the ship
| Tour type | Line | Ship | Independent | Saving for 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruins / history | NCL | $153 | $76 | $307 |
| Ruins / history | Carnival | $115 | $76 | $156 |
Without a tour: near the pier
- Mahahual beach and malecon: ~5 min walk (25 m).
The cruise port is a purpose-built complex with Mahahual village a short taxi ride north. Most independent tours pick up just outside the port gate.
Questions
What is the best excursion in Costa Maya?
On ratings, "Chacchoben Mayan Ruins from Costa Maya" leads with 4.5 stars from 628 reviews. On value, ruins / history saves the most against the ship ($77 per person).
What is the cheapest well-rated excursion in Costa Maya?
"Mahahual: Reef Lagoon Snorkel Tour to Spot Sea Turtles" from $32 per person (4.5★, 66 reviews).
What can you do in Costa Maya without booking an excursion?
Within about 20 minutes of the pier: Mahahual beach and malecon (~5 min walk).
All Costa Maya prices and pier guide · Carnival in Costa Maya · NCL in Costa Maya