The beach town of Mahahual in Mexico is often recommended as a hidden gem on the Caribbean coast by travel guides and blogs. We were intrigued by this reputation and placed Mahahual at the top of our Mexico bucket list and decided to visit this gem.
We ended up being a bit disappointed with our experience in this town. So, why wouldn’t we recommend Mahahual? What aspects did we dislike about this Mexican destination? And which alternative beach did we discover and come to adore? Keep reading to find out!
The positive sides of Mahahual
The beach village is a small coastal strip with a clear blue sea. It features a beautiful coral reef just off the coast and another stunning reef at a sailing distance. It is the ideal location for enjoying lazy beach days, as well as snorkeling and diving. Massages are available along the beach for a truly relaxing experience.
One unique activity in Mahahual is snorkeling in the tropical coral reef near the coast. No guide or boat is necessary. Particularly stunning is the protected Banco Chinchorro reef. The tours to snorkel and dive in Banco Chinchorro are highly popular, offering the opportunity to swim alongside tropical fish and sea turtles. Additionally, there are shipwrecks to explore on the seabed. Keep in mind that in addition to the price of your tour, you’ll need to pay an environmental fee to visit Banco Chinchorro. The current fee for international visitors is 750 MXN.
We enjoyed the excellent dining options in Mahahual, including trendy hotspots. Panaderia La Tarteleta offers a delightful breakfast with fresh croissants, cake, and excellent coffee at an affordable price. As a vegetarian, I am always pleased to find vegan restaurants where I can choose from the entire menu.
Located below the Bambu Hostel, Ohm Shanti is the top choice for vegan and vegetarian options in Mahahual. While we were not impressed with the quinoa bowl, the falafel with hummus was delicious. Update 2026: Unfortunately, Ohm Shanti appears to have permanently closed.
For the perfect crepes with Nutella, visit Gelateria La Dolce Vita. However, our absolute favorite restaurant in Mahahual was Nohoch Kay. It was incredibly popular, making it difficult to secure a table. The vegetarian fajitas were superb!
Mahahual boasts some of the top accommodations on the Costa Maya coast. The Eco Cabanas Bluekay, located at the Mahahual lighthouse on the northern edge of town, is a paradise. This accommodation is suitable for every travel budget.
Eco Cabanas Bluekay offers affordable dormitories, but the real treasures of this beach resort are the charming and well-situated cabanas on the beach. With its own white-sand beach, Eco Cabanas Bluekay allows you to enjoy the beautiful Mahahual coast without the crowds. Check the current prices and availability of Eco Cabanas Bluekay here.
The downsides of Mahahual
However, we do not highly recommend visiting Mahahual and suggest excluding it from your Yucatan Mexico travel itinerary. The town is primarily geared towards tourists, particularly cruise ship passengers, who make up a significant portion of the visitors.
We don’t usually mind tourist spots because they often represent the most beautiful destinations in the country. However, in Mahahual, it clearly takes the lead and dominates the positive aspects of the small town.
Prices are frequently expressed in dollars, the beach is crowded with beach tents and sunbeds, and the beach walkway is filled with souvenir stalls. Also, it’s worth noting that Mahahual has numerous ATM machines, but they only dispense American dollars instead of Mexican pesos.
All in all, the touristy Mahahual is far from an authentic Mexican experience.
Tip: in the past, the only ATM dispensing Mexican pesos was located at Costa Maya Inn, quite far from the beachfront if you don’t have a rental car. Fortunately, that’s no longer the case. There is now a BBVA ATM in Mahahual itself where you can withdraw pesos. You can also still find Santander and BBVA ATMs at Hotel Costa Maya Inn.
We often hear the advice to check the cruise ship schedule. Most visitors to Mahahual come from these ships. In the first half of 2026 alone, 320 cruise ships docked here, carrying almost 1.3 million cruise passengers. Therefore, many guides and blogs recommend visiting Mahahual on days with fewer or no cruise ships.
We have experienced that when the ships depart in the late afternoon, Mahahual becomes much quieter. However, during our visit, it even became too quiet, with many restaurants closing and limited activities. Mahahual felt like a ghost town to us after the cruise ships left.
Another downside to keep in mind nowadays is sargassum. During certain times of the year, large amounts of this seaweed can wash up along the coast of Mahahual. At the beach clubs along the main tourist strip, the beaches are generally cleaned regularly and barriers in the sea help keep some of the sargassum away. On quieter beaches outside the town center, much more sargassum may be left on the shore.
When searching for a place to stay in Mahahual, carefully consider its location. Most hotels are situated in the gray concrete area where cruise ships dock. But the best accommodations in Mahahual are located along the coastal strip, offering excellent options such as the charming and affordable Eco Cabanas Bluekay and the boutique hotel 40 Cañones. Both establishments feature private beaches, creating a less touristy atmosphere compared to the public beaches. For more hotel recommendations in Mahahual, check out our selection of the highest-rated places to stay.
The perfect bounty alternative near Mahahual
Mahahual is not the sole beach on the beautiful Costa Maya. Just south of the village lie breathtaking pristine beaches and charming beach cabins!
By chance, we reserved the ideal secluded beach cabin, without realizing that these cabins were not located on the outskirts of Mahahual but rather a considerable distance away. To our delight, it proved to be the perfect little haven we had been seeking, and we immediately became enamored with this idyllic beach destination.
#1 Cabanas Costa Maya
Our beach cabin at Cabanas Costa Maya (or in full: Cabañas Ecoturísticas Xahuayxol Costa Maya), located about a 30-minute drive from Mahahual, was a rustic accommodation.
Do not anticipate a luxurious resort. The cottages are extremely simple, lacking electricity and featuring only cold showers. The bed was somewhat small, particularly for Sebastiaan, who stands at 2 meters tall. However, this contributed to an unforgettable off-the-grid experience. Limited WiFi via Starlink is now available, but the beachfront cabins themselves still don’t have electrical outlets.
The cabana guests have exclusive access to a stunning private beach. Unlike Mahahual, there is no overcrowded beach with sunbeds. Instead, it offers endless rows of palm trees and serenity.
Guests can freely use the comfortable chairs in the shade of palm trees, as well as the kayaks and snorkeling sets. Adjacent to the coast lies a vibrant tropical coral reef teeming with rays and vibrant fish, reminiscent of Mahahual. In the evening, the staff ignites a cozy campfire following a communal dinner featuring the fresh ‘catch of the day’.
Check the current prices and availability of Cabanas Ecoturisticas Costa Maya.
#2 Almaplena Beach Resort
For a more luxurious alternative to the off-the-grid cabin experience, consider booking a stay at Almaplena Eco Beach Resort. This beach paradise is located slightly closer to Mahahual, only a 20-minute drive away, but offers the same level of seclusion and relaxation.
Almaplena is nestled between a private beach and a lush rainforest. It is a small resort with 9 suites, each with a king-size bed, balcony, and private bathroom. There is a beach club with a swimming pool, sunbeds, and palm shelters for shade. The restaurant offers Mexican and Italian cuisine, ensuring you don’t need to leave this beach paradise during your stay.
Check the current prices and availability of Almaplena Beach Resort.
#3 Ecological Hotel Maya Luna
Maya Luna beach hotel provides a tranquil atmosphere reminiscent of a desert island. It offers affordable, yet comfortable rooms. Guests can enjoy their own private beach with swaying palm trees, as well as access to sunbeds, hammocks, an on-site bar, and restaurant. Despite its secluded setting, Maya Luna also provides complimentary WiFi.
Check the current prices and availability of Maya Luna.
Save this pin for later:
