There’s so much to say about this place, but we have to start with Marcia. She is the creative force that makes the place so special. Marcia is a combination tour guide, ecologist, historian, artist, chef, (and so much more) and she does it all with such heart. The place encourages a sense of community both amongst the people staying there as your neighbors and with the broader community. Yes, it’s beautiful; yes, the food is wonderful; yes, it’s warm and tropical. One of the things we loved about the place was gaining a sense of its connectedness to the world. Yes, there is plastic on the beach. And yes, we now have a greater understanding of why that it is and what we (might) be able to do to address the global problem. Marcia taught us that turtles need the sargassum that washes up on the beach to survive. We know what sea beans are. We went to Mayan Beach Garden for a vacation, but for us the experiences and growth were indescribable. In a single phrase, Mayan Beach Garden is perfection in an imperfect world.…
This is our second time at MBG and we will be back. If you like it quiet and peaceful, then this is the place for you. Breakfast is included in the room price and you get a good selection. You can also have lunch and dinner which is great. The owners and staff are all very friendly and helpful. Marcia sent us north along the coast to a small fishing village and we just had the best time enjoying the road and of course the fresh lobster at the end of the road. The rooms/bungalows are really nice, we even had a fridge. You don't need the a/c, the fan works wonders and there are so many windows in the rooms that the breeze feels really nice. Hammocks and chairs on the terrace with sea views are nice too. All in all it is a very nice place.
I had the pleasure of staying with Marcia and Kim for about 5 months. They made my stay awesome dealing with the fact that we all was still on lockdown and be far away from family or friends for that extended period My casita was specious and on the beach had miles to walk . By the way she had fur babies that I come to love 💘. Can't wait to visit again highly recommend
We enjoyed out time at MBG. The owners were helpful and courteous. The room was clean and comfortable. The food was great! The location on the beach was perfect and peaceful. Although we didnt get to stay long, we enjoyed our time and look forward to one day returning. Thank you Kim and Marcia for the hospitality.
This was our 7th stay at MBG in 10 years (missed 2020 due to COVID). We usually like to try new places for vacation, but My husband, 2 daughters, and I love it so much, we keep coming back. This is the kind of place you want to keep quiet and reserve for yourself. Marcia and Kim are wonderful hosts. Mayan Beach Gardens is a small, quiet inn on the shore of Costa Maya near Mahahual, Mexico. It is not a spot with a nightlife or parties. It is a glorious spot to enjoy the ocean and relax. It is probably not for you if your favorite vacations are those spent at a high-end, all inclusive resort. If you like a bit of adventure and being outdoors, this is a perfect find. The rooms are lovely with cool mosaics everywhere and shells faucets. The beaches in Costa Maya are not pristine. Mayan Beach Gardens cleans up the garbage that washes up on their property. The ocean brings up the garbage dumped at sea and deposits it along the coast. Without the beach cleaning equipment and manpower of Playa and Cancun, large strips of beach have a fascinating array of garbage. This should leave everyone with a determination to try and prevent dumping of waste into the ocean and to take care of our natural areas. Even the littered shores do not detract from the peaceful beauty of the coastline. It is hard not to travel here without daydreaming of owning your own plot of land on the Costa Maya. Instead, enjoy all the many perks of staying at MBG. Snorkeling is GREAT in Costa Maya. You can walk down the beach from MBG to a vast area of coral and rock formations teaming with fish. Our first snorkel experience was at MBG. We have since snorkeled in Maui, Vieques Puerto Rico, Puerto Morelos, Akumal, and Paamul, but MBG is still our favorite. You can snorkel in waters in front of their inn, walk down the beach, or drive down the beach road a tiny bit to some fabulous areas. The areas are easy to snorkel, shallow, seemingly endless, and a huge array of fish and corral. Although the water is fairly warm, a light wetsuit is awesome to keep you from burning, or even a long sleeve sport shirt is a good Idea. Sunscreen residue is harmful to coral--try Mexitan or Badger for a reef safe sunscreen. MBG rents snorkel equipment and boogie boards. Beyond swimming and snorkeling, there are a whole bunch of other activities beyond just sitting on the beach. One year we drove up to Punta Herrero in the Sian Ka'an bio reserve. We didn't do so, but you can often arrange various snorkeling or other tours in Punta Herrero. On the return trip along the beach road, we stopped and went snorkeling and went to Boogie Board Beach (rent boogie boards from MBG). In the past, we have also snorkeled at shipwreck beach. If you take a drive up the coast for the day, MBG will pack you a lunch in a cooler bag. We also took the kayaks out into the ocean and my daughter rented a paddle board. Besides taking the beach road north, other day trips could include: shopping in Mahahual, cenotes, a visit to Laguna Bacalar, the Mayan ruin of Chac-Choben (best on a non cruise ship day so ask Marcia at MBG), drive south to Chetumal, a day trip to Xcalak, a trip to some of the farther Mayan ruins. Another noteworthy aspect to staying at MBG is the laid back meals with FABULOUS food. My entire family loves the food and it is one of the highlights of our vacation. Slightly picky eaters will always find something they like. If you are a really picky eater, it may be more of a challenge on the meal plan. If not doing the meal plan, you could order off a menu. I would normally like to choose my meals, but there I am so happy just to go eat the meal of the day at lunch and dinner through the meal plan. The meals at lunch do include a choice of vegetarian or seafood or often chicken. The food is always so delicious, it is an opportunity to try new things that I otherwise may not order. I am often surprised by how much I enjoy things I would not have ordered on a menu. The piña coladas are sooooo good. Breakfast and lunch are served to smaller groups, but supper is served family style later in the evening (this didn't happen this visit because of COVID). People gather just after dark for drinks and chat. Then dinner is served at a long table seating everyone who wishes to dine family style. You get a chance to talk with travelers from around the world and pick up great tips on activities in the area or traveling in Mexico. My daughters love this time even though they are 21 and 18. We already miss the fresh fruit and handmade tortillas. Breakfast includes coffee from the Chiapas, fresh juice, fresh fruit, and a choice of entree from a menu including egg dishes, pancakes, French toast, yogurt, and a fruit/yogurt smoothie. Lunch and dinner are a set menu, but they work to accommodate different diet restrictions. They serve a wide array of regional dishes. And you do have options. Often when say fish is on the menu, you could choose a chicken or vegetarian version. With so many meat, vegetable, and fruit options, those on a low carb or gluten free diet would do well. Our daughters are 21 and 18, but we first brought them when they were 11 and 8. We don't worry for their safety while at MBG. We like having a separate sleeping space from them now. For the last few years we have rented 2 rooms. The 2 rooms above the restaurant are the Tonina and Palenque. I believe they have been converted to extended stay with kitchenettes. We stayed in the 2 upstairs rooms above the cabanas this year. Both have 2 lounge chairs and 2 hammocks on the balconies. One of the cabanas sleeps 4 if you have younger children. During High season, I think they have a minimum age for children staying at MBG. I find it fantastic that each room has a broom. We track in plenty of sand during the day and it is great to be able to sweep it out more often than when housekeeping comes. The upstairs Cabana rooms do not have AC at MBG, but since the cabanas are right on the beach with large windows, the winds cool the rooms down at night. Conservation of resources is important at MBG. It is important to be mindful of your water usage while at MBG. They have to bring all water to their inn. Despite all of this, they provide the hottest water for showers that we have had in Mexico. They have wireless internet available throughout their gardens (again better than most of our other stays in Mexico). Taking the beach road to MBG is the most scenic and really cool at night and in the day. If you are in a hurry, or afraid of driving around endless giant potholes, take the regular road. The drive from Cancun is long but easy. The pace of your day at MBG is very slow. Don't plan to many activities, unless you are spending the day away. We like to end our time in the Yucatán at MBG. We do the sightseeing other places in the Yucatán and finish our visit by mostly relaxing by the beach. Bring mosquito repellent. If you want mosquito repellent with Deet, bring it with you. Technically, most mosquito repellents from the USA are not allowed in checked luggage because the are flammable. They are allowed in carry on bags with your 3.4 ounce liquids. Buy the car insurance in Mexico. Your trip insurance doesn't sufficiently cover car insurance. I suggest doing a little research on how México hands car accidents and decide how much to buy. For us, car rental is the most expensive part of the trip. I cannot say enough to indicate just how wonderful and friendly and helpful the owners and staff at MBG really are!…
I am not sure how many times I've been to MBG. What I am sure is that Marcia and Kim always keep the rooms updated and the food is first rate. Ive consider going elsewhere but honestly where else can I walk right out to the beautiful unspoiled and empty beach? Where can I listen and watch the birds of the jungle? Where else are the owners on site and making sure my vacation is hassle free? They keep hitting home run after home run.
This is an extraordinary place in many regards. Beautiful architecture, quality building and upkeep, perfect location on the water, relaxing. Great food, alcohol. Highly attentive and professional staff. This is as good as it gets. Bravo!
It was not our first time there, and we had a great time again! Great location, pleasant and clean rooms, delicious meals and the best margaritas! Looking forward to being back there soon. Thank you Marcia, Kim and staff!
Mayan Beach Garden is the best place on the Caribbean Coast of Mexico for those who are seeking unspoiled scenery & peaceful relaxation. It is a true "paradise". The entire staff are very professional, friendly, polite & accomodating. My only complaint is minor; The bar is well stocked for those who prefer to drink their choice of alcohol "straight". But their skill at making a "proper" drink should be improved. The drinks are generous...but unskillfully prepared. I recommend bringing your own alcohol & mixers or simply stick to drinking beer. Which is what I did. Their food is AWESOME!!!! Their breakfast, lunch, dinner portions are DELICIOUS & more than generous. I recommend choosing the "All-Inclusive" option. My room was spotlessly clean & the bed was VERY comfortable. Presently, their 2 beach-front accommodations are being renovated. I saw them being beautifully updated. When completed, they will be my choice. I plan to return next year.…
We found ourselves here on our honeymoon after having to evacuate Cancun due to hurricane Delta.... and we are so happy we did! Marcia was so accommodating to our last minute reservation and her and Kim made us feel so welcome. The food was SO delicious. The pina colada’s were amazing! All of the staff were so kind. We were actually the only ones there at the time and had the whole beach to ourselves, it was so peaceful. We hope to come back in the future and spend more than a couple days!
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