There is a lot to see and do inside the Costa Maya Cruise port. They have shopping, bars, restaurants, pools, an aviary, dolphin encounters, a flow rider, and shows.

I’m going to use this map as a reference. We’re going to start down in the lower left section of the map down by the pier.

Right when you come off of the pier there’s an area for pre-booked tours. This is going to be for excursions booked through the cruise line. For outside tours you have to walk all the way through the port and exit to get to their meeting point. On the left is an area where you can book a last minute tour. This would not be through the cruise line.

This is the cruise line pre-booked tour area.

They have a swing bar.

Live entertainment

And these Mayans you can take pictures with…for a fee. I asked if they were doing a show. They told me yes but wouldn’t give me a time. 

All of that and we haven’t entered the port yet.

This is your typical duty free shop.

They do have a couple of spots for liquor tasting.

I am a fan of these bottles.

Outside of the duty free shop you have a ton of stores.

If you want to walk up those steps, there’s a good photo op.

And a view. This would actually be a good spot to watch the flyers show. Their pole is right there.

The buildings all have Mayan symbols up top.

Here is our map again. This time we’re actually in the location where I took the map picture so the “you are here” is accurate this time only.

We are right by the pole where you can watch the Papantla Flyers. I didn’t see a schedule but I saw them four times during my time in the port. I think they go every hour.

We have now reached the main pool area.

There is a swim up bar.

You can order food from the restaurant here.

On the other side of the pool is the Aviary. For full coverage of the Aviary please visit Costa Maya: Avarius

            

One thing you get with the Aviary is great views of the port area that I will be using. Here we have the main pool. There’s a swim up bar and restaurant on the left and a two story restaurant on the right.

This is the view from the second floor of the two story restaurant.

This is the main beach chair area next to the pool.

The mojito bar is right next to the the beach chair area.

 

This is a look at the main pool from the back side. With the restaurants on either side.

Behind the main pool is the dolphin encounter area.

The cost is $120 for an “encounter” or $140 for a swim.

Here dolphins are pushing people on boards.

This is the equipment and shower area for the dolphin encounter.

Next to the dolphin encounter area is a smaller pool and swim up bar.

You just have to order food/drinks to use the loungers by that pool.

Behind that pool area is a bar, showers, lockers, and massage areas.

On the other side of the dolphin encounter is the El Faro bar and grill.

I am going to back up to in front of the Aviary by the flamingos. If you are trying to leave the port to meet an outside excursion or to catch a taxi, you can save some time and walking by cutting through this Gelato place and taking a right.

Back the map. We have now covered the entire lower section. Now we’re going to work our way to the hidden gem. The area in the upper left.

On the way over you’ll run into a couple of bars and quick serve food locations.

This is the pool area in the upper left corner of the map. This is at a peak time and it’s not very crowded.

This area also has a smaller swim up bar.

It has loungers. There’s a lot of availability now even in the afternoon with five ships in port.

It has a small bar and grill.

There’s another Mojito bar on this side.

And there’s a flow rider over here.

From this area there is also an exit to the taxi area. Up ahead on the right would be where you would’ve come out had you taken my shortcut through the gelato place.

I’m going to walk back the gelato way since we skipped it on our way here. There are more stores, food places, and bars along the way.

That concludes my tour of the Costa Maya Cruise port. I feel like there is a lot to do here without leaving the port.