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Mahahual (also spelled Majahual) is a city on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, a short distance northeast of Belize.

[edit] Understand

Mahahual used to be a quiet and friendly small town off the beaten track. However a large cruise ship docking jetty dubbed "Puerto Costa Maya" has been constructred just up the beach. Every day a couple of cruise ships dock and the occupants are disgorged onto the town to drink, shop, swim and ride jetskis and quad bikes. However the further south away from the cruise ship dock you go the quieter the town becomes, and so it's still possible to have a quiet time of it, especially at some of the hotels south of town.

Hurricane Dean (August 2007) landed just North of Mahahual and heavily damaged the cruise ship dock, destroying also much of the small village. Most residents have rebuilt and cruise ships have returned to using Puerto Costa Maya on 31 October 2008.

As of February 2009 many nice hotels are up and running with a seaside Malecon runs from the Main Road to the Southern End of Mahahual Pueblo. The Malecon is a pedestrian walkway which has the beach to the east and businesses to the west. Many nice restaurants and shops line the Malecon. An ATM is located in one of the buildings along the Malecon, but is often out of order, best to bring sufficient cash from Chetumal or Cancun.

[edit] Get in

Organized tours are also available from a variety of companies, including Tours Aldebaran [1].

You will not necessarily be over run with the tourists from the cruise ships, when they leave you have this sleepy town to yourself. Things switch quickly from bustle to mellow.

Staying just a few km outside of town will keep you from the majority of the cruise traffic.

[edit] Get around

Your best bet is to rent a car. Most travelers land in Cancun. Get a car they are get ready for the drive down. It will take over four hours but do not confuse this area with Cancun. Four hours gets you to an entirely different world.

[edit][add listing] See

[edit] Mayan ruins

There are several sites of Classical Period Mayan ruins close enough for a day-visit. Note that Mexican law requires a fee of about US$5 for the use of video cameras at these sites.

• Chacchoben - Dates to the 3rd-8th centuries. The tallest pyramid rises above the trees and for those physically and psychologically equipped to climb it, offers a view of the countryside. Several smaller ruins at the site may have been the houses of nobles. For a guided tour to Chacchoben you can contact The Native Choice [2]the only tour operator from Chacchoben offering tours to this and all the ruin sites in Costa Maya.

• Kohunlich - A ceremonial center and the capital of a powerful dynasty. The Temple of Masks features five stucco masks with the features of the Sun God, along the its stairs. It also contains the ruins of residences and a ceremonial ball field.

• Dzibanché - A (formerly) important city, featuring stone plazas bordered by temple pyramids, including the Temple of the Owl and the Temple of the Cormorants.

[edit][add listing] Do

If you are interested in conservation, ask for directions to GVI (Global Vision International) who are now located 35 km North of the town in Uvero.. This is the base for marine conservation work carried out by a young and enthusiastic group of full-time staff with the help of 16 volunteer divers, in liaison with Mexican partner organisations. Staff and volunteers are from around the world; they will be happy to tell you about the project and how you can become a volunteer yourself. Food and living conditions are basic but the experience is unbeatable.

The barrier reef, which is part of the Meso American Reef, just off shore offers opportunities for snorkeling or scuba diving, and keeps the waters of the Caribbean safe for kayaking. This reef is the 2nd longest barrier reef in the world being just over 900 km long, starting at puerto Morelos in Mexico, stretching down past to Belize to terminate at Honduras. A few of the dive operators are Dreamtime Diving [3] who also provide accommodation, Bucanero Diving, and Maya Blue Diving [4].

[edit] Sailing

55 foot Catamaran, Crystal Blue Persuasion, takes interested travelers out for sailing and snorkeling trips. You can't miss this ship, it's docked outside of Tequila Beach halfway between the lighthouse and the town. For more information, visit the website Sail Mahahual [5]

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Casa del Mar Serves excellent shrimp tacos.
• EL GRITO, INSIDE MATAN KA´AN HOTEL. REAL MEXICAN FOOD  edit

Loco Ricky's for Pizza, Hamburgers and the best Onion rings. Tapas Bar, Capitan Mono, El Delfin are a few of the bars/Restaurants on the Malecon. Just south of the town you have Maya Luna and Travel In'.

• Travel Inn, 6km south of Mahahual on the beach road. Fantastic and varied international food from a Dutch couple who transplanted to Mahahual some years ago.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

• EL GRITO, DOWNTOWN (IN FRONT OF FUTBALL FIELD). 7:00AM-10:00PM. EXCELLENT MEXICAN FOOD MODERATE.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Almaplena Beach Resort [6]
• Cabanas del Tio Phil Carretera Antigua a Xcalak
• Dreamtime Diving [7]
• Hotel Maya Luna [8]
• Hotel in Mahahual [9]
• Margarita del Sol Oceanfront Suites [10]
• Maya Palms Resort & Dive Center [11]
• Mayan Beach Garden Bed and Breakfast, KM 21.5 N Camino Costera Rio Indio-Uvero (Drive north on the Tampalam road - this is the first paved road you can drive north on from the Cafetal to Mahaual highway - then turn right at km 22.5 then right on the beach road 3 km), (info@mayanbeachgarden.com), [12]. checkin: 3:00 PM; checkout: 11:00 PM. See Mayan Beach Garden website for rates.  edit

• Casa del Cielo de las Estrellas (vacation rental house), km 8.5 Coastal Road Mahahual-Xcalak (follow beachroad south of Mahahual for 8.5 km (5 miles)), (flodur54@hotmail.com), [13]. checkin: 3:00 pm; checkout: 11:00 am. see Casa del Cielo de las Estrellas website for rates.  edit

• Travel Inn, 6km south of Mahahual on the beach road. Quiet and isolated on the beach road 6km south of town if you want to get away from the noise of Mahahual. 2 screened cabanas with separate bathroom, and the most delicious restaurant 200MXN.  edit
• MaYa Blue Diving & Watersports, KM 7 Beach Rd South (7kms south of the light house), ☎ 011-52-1-983-7210, [14]. MaYa Blue Diving are the exclusive watersports providers for Margarita del Sol Resort. We offer Individual Pkg Prices and Group Pkgs. USA 011-52-983-123-7210 Mex 983-123-7210 cel see description.  edit