Costa Maya on a Budget: Affordable Travel Tips

Nestled by the Caribbean Sea and along Mexico’s border with Belize, Costa Maya provides a relaxing and refreshing alternative to the hustle and bustle of Cancún and the Riviera Maya to the north. It can also be a fantastic affordable alternative, as it’s much easier to find cheaper lodging, dining, and activities down here.

No matter your travel budget, you can have the time of your life in Costa Maya. Yes, really, you don’t have to sacrifice amazing experiences when you stay and play in Costa Maya. Here are some helpful tips for you to plan and enjoy a fun and affordable Costa Maya trip.

Understanding the Basics

Though Costa Maya still looks and feels more authentically Yucatán than the more built-up tourist corridors to the north, it has become much easier to reach in recent years. For one, the city of Mahahual now has the Puerto Costa Maya cruise port that major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian (or NCL) regularly stop at. The city of Chetumal also has its own airport, and the low-cost carriers VivaAerobus and Volaris regularly fly between here and Mexico City. If you don’t mind doing a layover, this is a great option for cheap flights. 

In addition, multiple U.S. and Mexican airlines service Cancún (about 215 miles north of Mahahual) and Tulum (about 135 miles north of Mahahual) airports, so you’ll have more options here if you’re looking to book your flight with points. If you don’t mind taking the bus, tourist class buses offer daily service between Cancún and Mahahual for under $25. And with the Tren Maya intercity rail line set to offer train service connecting Chetumal to Tulum and Cancún beginning in Spring 2024, it will be easier than ever to reach Costa Maya and travel all around the Yucatán Peninsula.

If you prefer having your own ride, you will find several options for car rentals in and around Cancún. Just keep in mind that the car rental desks at Cancún Airport are always the most expensive. Also, note that the ultra-cheap rates you see online don’t always include insurance and other surcharges. If you can, reserve your car rental at least one month in advance and book directly through the car rental company.

Like Cancún and the Riviera Maya, the winter season (December to March) tends to be the high season for tourism in Costa Maya. If you don’t mind some rain and extra heat, then you can score cheaper flights and accommodations during the summer season. Just keep in mind that August and September are usually peak hurricane season, so keep your plans flexible if you’re traveling here late in the summer season.

Affordable Accommodations

If you seek posh digs, you will find some high-end hotels in Costa Maya, and you might be able to score rooms at lower rates than you’d find at similar luxury hotels in Cancún and Tulum. But if you really want to save some serious coins, Costa Maya has an abundance of cheaper lodging options to keep you at peace with your wallet.

In and around Mahahual, you can even find a few hotels and inns on the beach for well under $100 per night. If you’re willing to stay a few blocks inland in town, then you will find even more affordable inns and vacation rentals worth checking into. If you don’t mind staying a little farther inland, Chetumal has plenty more cheap hotels and vacation rentals available. (Pro tip: If you’re traveling with a group, a vacation rental can provide more space for everyone at a much better price.)

For the ultimate rustic beach experience, you can book a tent at one of Mahahual’s coastal campgrounds for under $50 per night (even during high season). They typically provide the tent, full bedding (including sheets and pillows), bathrooms and shower facilities, electric outlets, lounge areas, and easy beach access. Depending on where you camp, you might even get wifi internet included in your rate! 

Eating and Drinking on a Budget

Again, what makes Costa Maya so special is its authentic, salt-of-the-earth charm. That definitely applies to the local culinary scene, which tends to emphasize local ingredients and traditions over celebrity chef brand names. You will find a few fancy-ish restaurants in Mahahual, but even these tend to be more affordable and low-key than similar establishments farther north.

But if you really want to eat like the locals in Costa Maya, it’s worth exploring the local markets and searching for interesting holes-in-the-wall. If you want to do some research in advance, search the area you’ll be staying in Google Maps and TripAdvisor and look for the best-rated restaurants, bars, and street vendors. If you decide to be more spontaneous, then always follow the locals and go to the places that are the most consistently busy. Not only will you likely find some very tasty grub, but you’ll probably also be astonished by how little it costs compared to the typical tourist traps.

If you decide to stay at a vacation rental with a kitchen during your Costa Maya trip, then you might as well take advantage of it. Not only can you save plenty of money by preparing your own meals and beverages, but you can also get more hands-on as you learn how to eat and drink like a local. Particularly in Chetumal and Mahahual, you will find local markets (or mercados) where you can load up on fresh (and usually locally sourced) produce, herbs and spices, dairy, and proteins. Chetumal also has a handful of supermarkets and big-box stores with a wider variety of merchandise, but the local mercados typically offer the best values and the freshest goods. 

Free and Low-Cost Attractions

One of the best things to do in Costa Maya happens to involve a place that’s easy to reach and can cost as little as $0 to use: the beach! In Mahahual, you will find multiple free entry points to the beach, where you can stroll and/or swim to your heart’s content. If you want more amenities, you will find several beach clubs around town, such as Yaya Beach and Ibiza, and they typically only require a minimum spend of around $12. In fact, some even offer an open bar and full club access for only $25!

In Chetumal, you will find a large selection of free and low-cost (as in, $5 or less) museums and cultural centers where you can dive into the history and tradition of this beautiful region. Some prime examples include The Museum of Mayan Culture, where you can check out scaled-down models of ancient Mayan villages, and The Fine Arts Cultural Center, where you will find galleries featuring local artists and an amphitheater that hosts regular performances. While you’re here, make sure to spend some quality time on the Malecón, or waterfront promenade, where you will discover a plethora of free public art and cool street vendors.

Since you’re heading to Costa Maya, you might as well head to some of the area’s most spectacular sites, such as the ancient Mayan ruins at Chacchoben and the sparkling turquoise waters of Bacalar Lagoon. Though these will cost a little more, we got you covered: Tourbase always offers great deals on amazing excursions to Chacchoben and Bacalar! If you’d like to spend the day touring with us, you can save even more money by doing a six-hour combo tour where we take you to Chacchoben and Bacalar.

Money-Saving Tips for Activities

In Mahahual, you will find plenty of vendors offering tours, including snorkeling, diving, and kayaking tours. If you’re wandering around the cruise port while the cruise ships are docked, expect higher prices for any tours being offered by area vendors. If you’re feeling spontaneous and have a sudden urge to do some water activities, it pays to walk away from the cruise port and go with a vendor in town who probably offers much better deals. 

When it comes to the Mayan Ruins, you might be able to wing it. But if you want to guarantee access to places like Chacchoben and lock in a good rate on a great tour, then it’s a good idea to book in advance. At Tourbase, we offer plenty of Mayan historical tours that include trips to the Chacchoben Ruins. Because we let you know upfront how much our tours cost, we make it easier for you to shop around and compare our prices to whatever else is out there. 

Even when it comes to aquatic activities in and around Mahahual, you can avoid any potential headaches that come with cruise day “dynamic pricing” by booking these excursions in advance. We also offer a great variety of beach tours, including diving and snorkeling excursions, and even an all-inclusive outing to the private beach at Xahuayxol. 

Costa Maya Offers a Wealth of Priceless Experiences. They Don’t Have to Be Pricey.

From marvelous Mayan architecture to pristine Caribbean beaches, Costa Maya has so much to offer visitors. At the same time, Costa Maya’s different approach to tourism means you can save plenty of money without skimping on amazing adventures. Especially if you don’t need name-brand hotels and restaurants to have a great time, you can experience Costa Maya like a local and save even more of your hard-earned money.

However you want to plan your Costa Maya trip, we’re always here to help. From exciting expeditions to Mayan archaeological sites to relaxing boat trips to private beaches, Tourbase has all your bases covered. Take a look at what we have to offer, and we can hook you up with phenomenal tours that let you dive deeper into all that Costa Maya has to offer.