Costa Maya Dec 2008, Sail and Snorkel, Malecon, Chac-Chi: Page1 Page2 Page3 Page4 Page5 Page6
Note: These pictures are pre-Hurricane Dean for more recent see the above links
Costa Maya Dec 26, 2005
001: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
On my recent Grand Princess voyage, Costa Maya was the first stop. We weren't the first ship there, but did have a prime parking space.
002: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
There were a couple of other ships there - Carnival Liberty
003: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
and Rhapsody of the Seas
004: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
I had not made plans ahead, so headed ashore to see what I could see...
005: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
ok..
006: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
The salt water pool was nice..
007: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
008: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Could see the ships
009: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
010: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
From higher ground
011: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Directly behind the "village", there isn't much...
012: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
013: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
014: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
There are the obligatory arts and crap stores..
015: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
I walked around for a while and then signed up for a $15 snorkel trip at this booth.
016: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
There are at least two companies doing similar tours.
017: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
There is a call center/internet biz at the village
018: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
They wanted $6/hr for Internet access as I recall.
Some posted taxi rates:
019: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Another view from the pool
020: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Aha, I see the phone/Internet place charged $1.50/minute to US
021: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
I didn't see the cigars stored in humidors...
022: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
023: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
More ships
024: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
It was $5pp rt into "town" $3 for the bus there and $2 for the taxi back.
025: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Tequila Beach Club...
026: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
027: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
There is some turtle grass there, but why do you think it is called turtle grass?
029: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
It isn't that far from the ships
030: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
The $15 snorkel boat...
031: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
032: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Looking back at Tequila Beach Club
033: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Equipment they supply if you need
034: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Zoomed in on the ship from the pier...
035: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
That has got to be uncomfortable
036: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
The snorkel trip didn't leave for another hour or so, so had some time to kill..
The town itself doesn't seem to be that much...
037: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
038: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
039: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
The beach part of Mahahual "proper" seemed much more crowded to me..
040: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
041: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
But also was where the action was...
Buck a beer!!!
042: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Massages seemed to be a common theme...
043: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
044: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
045: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
046: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
047: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
A luxury hotel...
048: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
There were assorted payphones, but I doubt any were bargains...
049: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
The beach area in town seemed narrow and crowded to me
050: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Onto the snorkel adventure - it was perhaps a 10 minute cruise from Tequila Beach to the snorkel reef. We spent an hour - perhaps a little more - snorkeling. Not the best nor the worst I have ever done. And for $15 what could I expect ?? But there was life to be seen.
051: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
And the snorkel guide fish would point out interesting stuff...
052: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
053: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
054: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
055: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
056: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
057: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
058: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
059: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
060: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
061: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
062: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
063: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
064: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
065: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Peek a boo
066: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
067: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
068: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
069: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
070: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
071: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
072: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
073: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
074: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
075: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
076: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
077: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
078: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
079: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
080: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Fast forward (very fast via 2 buck taxis - they have to make it up in volume...)
Didn't see this on my way out..
081: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Didn't see these anywhere - but knew they should be available - I guess all were gone when I got there the first time...
082: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Prices seem to be higher than I had heard - on it could just be extra special Christmas time gouging ?
083: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Might as well head back to the ship...
084: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
But pause to check out one of the artists ($20 a pop as I recall)
085: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
good show, though...
086: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
087: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
088: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
What does it turn out to be? I'll never tell...
More of the cruise port...
Hammock city.
089: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
090: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
buh bye
091: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
092: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Once back on board...
Need fooooooooooooood...
aha
093: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Buh bye (echo?) Costa Maya...
094: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
Good night !
095: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
096: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
097: Grand Princess, Costa Maya,
