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Mahahual
Things to Do in Mahahual
Playa Mahahual
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Playa Mahahual

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Playa Mahahual
4.5
Top ways to experience Playa Mahahual
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The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
82 within 3 miles
Jaime's at the blue reef
622
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Mexican • Caribbean • Latin
La Chilangaloense Beach Club
412
120 ft$ • Mexican • Bar
Tropicante Ameri-Mex Grill
761
285 ft$ • Mexican • American • Caribbean
MALECóN21
338
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Mexican • Caribbean • Latin
Maramao
325
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Mexican • Caribbean
Nohoch Kay Beach Club
1,377
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Mexican • Caribbean • Latin
Ibiza Sunset
1,159
280 ft$$ - $$$ • Mexican • Caribbean • Latin
The Krazy Lobster
1,145
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Mexican • Caribbean • Latin
Yaya Beach Bar and Restaurant
441
444 ft$$ - $$$ • Mexican • Caribbean • Latin
Nacional Beach Club and Bungalows Restaurant
152
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Mexican • American • Caribbean
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Attractions
11 within 6 miles
Yaya Beach
371
385 ftBeach & Pool Clubs
Malecon
154
205 ftPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Pez Quadro Beach Club
450
0.2 miBeaches
Zona de Snorkel Mahahual
3
0.3 miReefs • Aquariums
Tequila Beach Club
40
0.4 miBeaches
Temazcal De Tradicion
0.5 miCivic Centres • Religious Sites
Maya Chan Beach
1,861
Beaches • Beach & Pool Clubs
Dolphin Discovery Costa Maya
550
1.4 miAquariums
Costa Maya Port
1,863
1.5 miMarinas
Costa maya ruins
1.3 miAncient Ruins
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,612 reviews
Excellent
937
Very good
396
Average
150
Poor
65
Terrible
64
Suzy W
181 contributions
EXTREME DISAPPOINTMENT
Jun 2021 • Couples
The water is turquoise and the sand is white, but what a dump! They’re so many better beaches to visit in Mexico. The entire “must visit” area in Mahahual is narrowed down to the lighthouse and the strip where the beach is located. In yesteryears, it was a bustling energetic beach filled with tourists arriving on cruise ships, with those gone, it feels depression/sorry and has more of a vibe of shanty town past it’s prime than beautiful desolate beach. As we walked along the beachfront, I could only feel sorry for the locals as their livelihoods depend on tourism from cruise ships. The beauty of the beach is dampened by the many restaurants and beach clubs claiming all parts of the sand. There was virtually no free area to stand or sit, unless you’re ready to pay for a beach chair. The restaurant we had planned on visiting, unfortunately was closed as there were not many people and it had rained heavily earlier in the day. We ate at another restaurant that was semi crowded and the food was highly disappointing. Fried fish was too dry, the fish cooked the local way with seasoning, we were charged an extra 100 pesos for the preparation. All in all the meal cost too much. Tip was added to our bill, although the service was not great. It was barely passable. We had been recommended to eat at Krazy Lobster, but being they were closed we ate at El Faro. Of all the meals we’ve had in our travels, this is by far 1 of the priciest and most disappointing. Glad we visited, but we will not EVER come back to Mahahual. Also be ready to safeguard your olfactory sense from the “outhouse” smell of the tons and tons of seaweed washing up on short. There’s seaweed and then there’s Mahahual seaweed. Yuck!
Written June 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LindasDoral
Dania Beach, FL354 contributions
Planned to explore the town, (which was the beach!)
Jan 2020
WE took a $4p/p taxi to "town". We were dropped off at a light house and told that town was to our right. It actually was a wideb roadwalk that was along the beach (which is free). On the left was the beach, on the right were the local vendors. On the next street to the right was the actual town. We walked far down to the beach a little beyond the Krazy Lobster. So glad we did! There were people all along the beach offering massages, but the ones by Krazy Lobster were the cheapest...$20 for an hour massage. It was so good (especially since I wasn't wearing a bathing suit but she was able to do a great massage anyway). I gave her a $5 tip as I was very pleased. I am looking forward to going back and taking advantage of the beach (and another massage)
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
smiley43
Winnipeg/Canada33 contributions
A piece of paridise
Feb 2020 • Couples
Loved this little beach town restaurants on the water and cold buckets of inexpensive beer. An awesome massage on the beach can be purchased for $20 an hour.
Vendors will approach but are not aggressive and respect no gracias. This is a $8 cab ride from where the cruise ship docks
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BigH Z
Delray Beach, FL153 contributions
Beautiful walk along the beach and great massage
Feb 2020
for $4 per person go outside gate( the other end of entrance from cruise ship) they will take you to beach. Short drive.
Once you are there, get a $10 massage for 1/2 hour. It was great. They will see you.
Ladies be prepared your blouse will be taken off and your bra unbuckled. But who cares what is done on the beach stays on the beach. What a massage.
Then you can stroll along beach - great temperature. Restaurants and shops along the way. After you are done you will need to take a cab back for $3.00 This is a set charge. then when you return back there is more shopping and restaurants. There is a maypole show which the locals spin around. You would need to ask what time is show which is free but they would like a tip. Usually your cruise doesnt say longer than 5 or 6 hours. If they do look into the mayan ruins. Enjoy the day.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Britta S
Zurich, Switzerland238 contributions
Disappointment
Jan 2020 • Couples
Nope nope nope. We took a cab from the cruise post and yes, it‘s cheap to go and beach club access is 15 USD, but the „beach“ is packed with loungers all the way to the water. Music is blaring and people pass you by trying to sell you stuff. It wasn‘t relaxing and we left after only three hours. Go to another beach if you can.
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GTAggie93
Weatherford, TX84 contributions
Beautiful water
Feb 2020 • Friends
Amazing water... great color. There was some seaweed further out. There was also a fence around swimming area! We were able to get a 30 Minute massage for $10 ( ran out of time for hour massage).

Lots of vendors selling items... loved the options with some great deals!
Written February 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DeeDee B
Nashville, TN15 contributions
Yet another nice day at the beach - Playa Mahahual
Mar 2022
Playa Mahahual is a beach with probably fifty different side-by-side bars/restaurants/beach/massage destinations. Each one has its own deal to offer. The reef is a few hundred yards off the beach and acts as a breakwater. (snorkeling there is supposed to be good and you can get a boat there for $30 for an hour or so) There is also a netted 'fence' that blocks some of the seaweed from coming ashore. There are openings in the fence where you are able to walk thru to get to deeper water.

Four of us from a cruise ship took a taxi ($4 each one way) to Playa Mahahual. Went to the far end near 40 Cannons and then walked back toward the ship several vendors. The deal we chose was for $10 each, we received a beach chair and a canned beer or soft drink, use of their bathrooms, shower, and wi-fi. We chose a place in the shade. We ordered ceviche and it was a huge portion and was really really good. I wish I could remember the name of the place. I remember that their brick and mortar part was white and about three steps up off the road. On the way to the restrooms, they have a pit with trees and turtles.

There are definitely vendors that come thru offering their wares but they were not obnoxious like you find in Jamaica.

One of our friends got a massage there (many many massage tables in Playa Mahahual) for $30 for an hour.

I got a massage from Mariusci Velo several vendors 'back toward the middle", just past YaYa. It was excellent and $20 for an hour!! Ask for HER specifically because others at the same location were terrible.

Mind you, this beach is NOT fancy or pretentious in any way. Nice beach with lots of tourists like us.
Written March 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marian R
Cypress, TX157 contributions
Huge disappointment!
Jul 2023 • Family
This is not a beach, this is an insult to the notion of hospitality, service or tourism in general. The Mahahual Beach is a disaster. The whole village is nothing but a huge garbage dumpster.Although the sand and sitting areas are pretty much acceptable ....the beach and especially the water and the swimming areas are absolutely terrible.All members of our family got injured, cut or scratched in their rocky- full-of-corrals swimming spot.
The food is mediocre at best and the drinks are simply disgusting, blunt , watered down. Avoid this beach with no remorse.
you would be better off if you plan to stay in the port area by the pool than this disastrous beach.
Under no circumstance DO NOT PAY for "Beach Escape" excursions from the vendors in the port area. You'll pay big money for a bus transportation from the port to this horrible beach where only those watered down drinks mentioned above are included.
I have been traveling the World and I had heard some bad rumors about it but I thought if Royal Caribbean chose Costa Maya as destination it must be good. Well, those rumors were true.This is a disaster. This is by far the worst beach I have ever been in my 52 years of life. Avoid at all cost !!!!!!!! You'll be better staying on the ship than spending money for this beach "escape". I heard better things about Baccalar ....but that is a bit further away and it comes at a much higher cost for the transportation ( I have been quoted $55 / person for a cab ride round trip).
Written July 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hannah D
Sudbury, Canada40 contributions
Beach Day
Mar 2020 • Couples
Great strip of shopping, massages & beach. The beach area is taken over by beach clubs so you basically have no other option but to get a beach club package. Not sure how it works everywhere but we stayed at Yaya Beach Club and had a minimum spend of $25 / person (we paid in pesos and got a better deal at approximately $20 / person). The massage was great and cost us 1500 pesos for 2 people (about $35 per person) for an hour massage. The shopping was okay and I found a litre of vanilla for 200 pesos or $9.50. Make sure it says ‘coumarin free’. Great way to spend the day! Highly recommend.
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Allen B
Muskegon, MI1,146 contributions
Beautiful
Jan 2020
The water is absolutely beautiful here. The beach is great but as you go South you will need to find a restaurant to purchase something in order to lounge on their little area of the beach, or at least from what I could tell. They were very friendly businesses though. The people we talked to said that the clear bottom kayaking in this area was A+. There was very little seaweed as well and the beach was sand.
Written February 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Playa Mahahual - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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