Costa Maya (Mahahual), Mexico
The sleepy fishing village of Mahahual is your gateway to Costa Maya. Here in the dense tropical forest and mangrove thickets of the southern Yucatan flourished the great Mayan civilization. During the Classic Period (200 – 1000 B.C.), the Maya erected elaborate stone cities of stepped pyramids, plazas, and palaces. Keen astronomers, they also developed a sophisticated mathematics, a highly accurate calendar, and a complex system of writing. Then, this fascinating culture literally disappeared as the Maya deserted their city complexes for the jungle interior. Today, visitors to Costa Maya can explore the ruins of the once great cities of Kohunlich, Dzibanché, and Chacchoben.
Points of Interest
- Kohunlich Mayan Ruins
- Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
- Dzibanche Mayan Ruins
- Mayan Cultural Experience
- Uvero Beach Club
- Snorkeling & Diving
- Outdoor Adventure
- Beaches
- Kohunlich Mayan Ruins – The Temple of the Large Masks and the Plaza of the Acropolis bring 5th-century Maya to life in this multi-level city. Surrounded by lush jungle with giant cahoon palms, timeless wonder is all around.
- Chacchoben Mayan Ruins – Mayan for the “place of red corn,” these astounding ruins south of Tulum date from the 4th century. Explore the circular paths, the three imposing pyramids, and ponder the mysterious hieroglyphics.
- Dzibanche Mayan Ruins – Explore Costa Maya’s best kept secret from the Temple of the Owls and the Temple of the Captives to the landscaped grounds ringed by jungle. Along the way, seek clues into ancient Mayan society.
- Mayan Cultural Experience – See Costa Maya through the eyes of the Maya on a cultural immersion tour. Listen to the modern Maya language, learn about time-honored traditions, join in on a home-cooked meal and meet a local family.
- Uvero Beach Club – A visit to one of Costa Maya’s most luxurious resorts lets you sunbathe on a sun lounger, relax in a hammock, take a swim in the ocean, play beach volleyball and enjoy the restaurants and bars.
- Snorkeling & Diving – The area is paradise for divers and snorkelers. Sea turtles glide through pristine waters, dolphins skim the waves, and vibrant coral and reef fishes thrive.
- Outdoor Adventure – Costa Maya offers something for everyone from an ocean of watersports, such as kayaking, to exploration of the region’s ancient Mayan culture.
- Beaches – This area of the Yucatan is known for its pristine beaches. The town of Mahahual is situated along a lovely stretch of white sand and turquoise waters.
Roatan (Mahogany Bay, Honduras)
Roatan, the largest of the Bay Islands of Honduras, is noted for its pristine coral reefs, beautiful beaches, lush tropical foliage, and friendly people. Christopher Columbus discovered the islands in 1502 while on his fourth voyage and over the years it has been controlled by both the British and Spanish, as well as pirates and traders. The first permanent population of Roatan originated from the Cayman Islands, arriving in the 1830s shortly after the end of slavery in British colonies. Today, the population is about 30,000. The main town and capital of the municipality is Coxen Hole. Roatan is a long, narrow island measuring 37 miles in length, located about 30 miles from the northern Honduran mainland. The island has a mountainous backbone that provides for some excellent hiking opportunities, panoramas and lush scenery. Surrounded by warm Caribbean waters, this hilly island (frequented by diving enthusiasts) is picturesque, unspoiled and can take claim to being one of the region’s fastest developing destinations.
Points of Interest
- Iguana Farm
- Anthony’s Key Resort
- Garifuna Culture
- Carambola Botanical Gardens
- Gumbalimba Park
- Seaside Village
- Snorkeling & Diving
- Beaches
- Iguana Farm – One of the most famous attractions in Roatan, the family owned iguana farm located near French Cay, is home to over 2,700 iguanas that roam freely about the property. Bring your camera!
- Anthony’s Key Resort – Experience the thrill of a dolphin encounter at this recreational and educational marine facility where you’ll have the unique opportunity to interact with playful dolphins in their natural habitat.
- Garifuna Culture – Descendants of the Black Carib Indians, the tribe settled in Roatan in 1797 and have maintained their lifestyle, culture and language to this day. Watch an ancestral dance performance with native costumes.
- Carambola Botanical Gardens – Roatan’s natural beauty is showcased throughout the 40-acre reserve that offers many different jungle trails and gentle pathways immersing you in the spectacular flora and fauna indigenous to the area.
- Gumbalimba Park – Located in West End, this expansive park offers the opportunity to enjoy playful monkeys, exotic birds, colorful gardens, pirate caves, and a relaxing beach…all in one day!
- Seaside Village – Small in size but big in personality, the tropical atmosphere and charming streets of Roatan’s seaside villages are alive with cafes, local vendors and colorful shops chock-full of unique gift items and souvenirs.
- Snorkeling & Diving – Explore an underwater museum of sunken treasures, shipwrecks, and Mayan artifacts, or enjoy the rare thrill of scuba diving in the open sea alongside some friendly bottlenose dolphins!
- Beaches – Paradise personified, Roatan has some excellent beach options. The aquamarine waters are wonderfully warm and teem with colorful fish. Snorkeling is accessible right from the beach in most locations.
Belize City, Belize
Located at the base of the Yucatan Peninsula, Belize offers travelers a wealth of attractions. The country’s dense rain forest is dotted with Mayan ruins. The forest is also home to a wide range of tropical wildlife, ranging from jaguars and ocelots to keel-boated macaws and howler monkeys. Offshore, the world’s second largest barrier reef offers some of the finest diving in the world. And Belize’s easygoing ways, a legacy of its past as a British colony, feels far more akin to a small Caribbean island than a Central American republic.
Note: Belize City is an anchorage port, guests transfer to shore via local tender.
Points of Interest
- Mayan Ruins
- River Cruising
- Cave Tubing
- Belize Zoo
- Bacab Eco Park
- Ziplining
- Snorkeling & Diving
- Airboat Ride
- Mayan Ruins – Belize was once home to the ancient Mayas. One of the earliest known Mayan cities dates to 2000 B.C., and at the height of the Mayan Empire, their population rose to as many as two million.
- River Cruising – Take a motorboat ride on the Old Belize River through the jungle. As you cruise the waterways teeming with crocodiles and iguana sunning on rocks, listen for the cries of howler monkeys and birds.
- Cave Tubing – Glide through the water beneath awe-inspiring stalactites and past dramatic cave formations as your trusty inner tube takes you through the sacred underworld of the ancient Mayans.
- Belize Zoo – Paths carved into 29 acres of jungle allow visitors to see more than 125 animals native to Belize, including jaguars, ocelots, peccaries, storks, howler monkeys, tapirs, crocodiles and more.
- Bacab Eco Park – This famed nature park features horseback riding and over 200 species of flora, as well as a diverse population of wildlife.
- Ziplining – Keep your eyes open wide and peer down at ancient caves as you soar across an exhilarating jungle zipline through the lush rainforest canopy of Belize.
- Snorkeling & Diving – Discover four amazing cayes (pronounced keys) which can be reached by boat from Belize City. Belize’s Barrier Reef and its three atolls all feature superb wall dives and snorkeling.
- Airboat Ride – Skim across the marshy waters of Almond Hill Lagoon, where you may be lucky enough to spot a manatee before admiring the mangroves, water lilies and crocodiles of Indian Creek.
Cozumel, Mexico
Mayan myth claims that Cozumel was home to the gods. Truly Cozumel is a place fit for the gods, with its dazzling white-sand beaches, ruined Mayan temples, exotic jungle wildlife, and crystalline waters teeming with tropical fish. Just offshore lay Palancar Reef, considered one of the most spectacular coral formations in all the Caribbean. Of course, the gods weren’t the only individuals attracted to this terrestrial paradise: during its long and colorful history, Cozumel has been home to pirates, buccaneers, and freebooters, including Sir Henry Morgan and Jean Lafitte. Today’s traveler will discover the same ravishing beauty and relaxation that entertained gods and pirates alike.
Points of Interest
- Mayan Ruins
- Beaches
- X-Caret
- Playa del Carmen
- Chankanaab National Park
- Snorkeling & Diving
- Cozumel Museum & El Cedral
- Boating Adventure
- Mayan Ruins – Extensive ruins of the ancient Mayan civilization are scattered across the region, including Coba and the renowned coastal site of Tulum on mainland Mexico.
- Beaches – Dig your toes into the white sands of Cozumel’s coast, where aquamarine waters beckon you to the breathtaking shores of Playa Mia Grand Beach Park and secluded Passion Island Beach.
- X-Caret – The ecological/archeological theme park of X-Caret is one of the most popular attractions on the Yucatan Peninsula. Among its great treasures are underground rivers, a replica of a Mayan village, and a Mexican cultural show.
- Playa del Carmen – Alabaster-white beaches, gentle surf, coral reefs and a slow lifestyle make Playa del Carmen the place for backpackers, archeological buffs and New Age sun worshippers.
- Chankanaab National Park – This park is home to a world-renowned ecosystem and natural aquarium with more than 60 species of tropical fish, crustaceans and corals and the only botanical garden on the island.
- Snorkeling & Diving – It is no secret that Cozumel excels with clear waters and spectacular reefs.
- Cozumel Museum & El Cedral – The museum houses two floors of exhibits. El Cedral is a small century-old ruin, the island’s first settlement founded by Spanish explorers in 1518.
- Boating Adventure – Refresh your spirit and enjoy sailing, fishing, and other water sports.