cruisegirl
Contributor
I thought I would post some info. on this port as I haven't really seen any good threads with info. for those who might want to know......
While Costa Maya/Mahahual is an upcoming port, it has some decent following. It has primarily started getting some attention and receiving visitors due in part to the cruise ships in the last couple of years. This came about prior to Hurricanes that hit Cozumel but also was being frequented prior to that. This was a substitute port for Cozumel when ships couldn't get there as the Pier was destroyed.
Costa Maya/Mahahual is part fishing village, cruise port and offers diving and many other excursions for cruise ship passengers. They offer shopping and some local hotels as well as there was some wonderful beaches....
How do I know this and why am I posting? Because I went there last year on a cruise that was part of a group of Scuba divers on the Carnival Valor. And I fell in love with this port. To me, it was a wonderful, up/coming port that had people there that just warmed your heart. They embraced/welcomed you to the their little island, their little paradise as they called it. They didn't sell you to death, it's not over commercialized like Cancun or Cozumel. I just felt very "at home" there..... As divers, I thought some of this community might be interested as to how this town/village is doing. Needless to say,
not well.... They were almost completely destroyed... See photos below.
Shops/businesses were wiped out, homes destroyed, the cruise ship pier is about 80% gone. Which I might add, brings their primary income in. Us, the cruisers. They most likely won't be welcoming cruise ship visitors until late summer to fall 2008.
They had only 3 dive shops that I'm aware of. There was Dreamtime Diving, Blue Ocean Safari and Maya Palms diving. I know Blue Ocean Safari was wiped out. The building was destroyed. Some equipment evacuated but much of it lost. I was told Dreamtime and Maya Palms are wiped out too but haven't yet confirmed it.
I would like to encourage everyone to keep this town in your prayers. They certainly need them. I am planning to donate to relief efforts as I love this little port and would like to see it thriving again. Here are some photos from the village. And if anyone wants to know what it's like to go through a Hurricane, check out this blog. Pretty amazing..... www.portillas.com
View of port/cruise ship dock before
same views after
pier before
pier after
lighthouse before
lighthouse after
Costa Maya beach before
Costa Maya beach after
beach
While Costa Maya/Mahahual is an upcoming port, it has some decent following. It has primarily started getting some attention and receiving visitors due in part to the cruise ships in the last couple of years. This came about prior to Hurricanes that hit Cozumel but also was being frequented prior to that. This was a substitute port for Cozumel when ships couldn't get there as the Pier was destroyed.
Costa Maya/Mahahual is part fishing village, cruise port and offers diving and many other excursions for cruise ship passengers. They offer shopping and some local hotels as well as there was some wonderful beaches....
How do I know this and why am I posting? Because I went there last year on a cruise that was part of a group of Scuba divers on the Carnival Valor. And I fell in love with this port. To me, it was a wonderful, up/coming port that had people there that just warmed your heart. They embraced/welcomed you to the their little island, their little paradise as they called it. They didn't sell you to death, it's not over commercialized like Cancun or Cozumel. I just felt very "at home" there..... As divers, I thought some of this community might be interested as to how this town/village is doing. Needless to say,
not well.... They were almost completely destroyed... See photos below.
Shops/businesses were wiped out, homes destroyed, the cruise ship pier is about 80% gone. Which I might add, brings their primary income in. Us, the cruisers. They most likely won't be welcoming cruise ship visitors until late summer to fall 2008.
They had only 3 dive shops that I'm aware of. There was Dreamtime Diving, Blue Ocean Safari and Maya Palms diving. I know Blue Ocean Safari was wiped out. The building was destroyed. Some equipment evacuated but much of it lost. I was told Dreamtime and Maya Palms are wiped out too but haven't yet confirmed it.
I would like to encourage everyone to keep this town in your prayers. They certainly need them. I am planning to donate to relief efforts as I love this little port and would like to see it thriving again. Here are some photos from the village. And if anyone wants to know what it's like to go through a Hurricane, check out this blog. Pretty amazing..... www.portillas.com
View of port/cruise ship dock before
same views after
pier before
pier after
lighthouse before
lighthouse after
Costa Maya beach before
Costa Maya beach after
beach
