Costa Maya - Day 3
10am - 6pm
This was our first time in Costa Maya, what a hidden treasure!
We didn’t explore the port area extensively but had a beach club reservation that we wanted to give our honest review on (spoiler alert: it was great!)
Day 3: Costa Maya Cruise Stop
Getting Around
The beach club required transportation as opposed to being located in or near the port of call (cruise stop). With our beach club reservation, a round-trip taxi ride was included.
Our driver was waiting for us with a sign right outside of the port area and it was about 30 min each way to our destination.
Pro-tip: Ask your beach club host for detailed instructions or a map to get to any waiting area for the taxi pick-up and drop-off.
Jayla says: "The driving can be a little…rough. We were going 120km/h (about 75 mph) in a cramped car down a long paved but, otherwise overgrown, road. Admittedly, I was anxious at times, buckle up!"
Hayhu Beach Club
Website: hayhubeach.com Info: Google Maps
This isn’t a full hotel resort, this is more of a lounge club to relax at the beach. Limited to just 30 guests total at any given time, Hayhu is the perfect place to visit in Costa Maya.
Tucked away, it takes about 30 minutes to get there from the port. Since there’s no hotel room to go back to, all of the amenities you could want/need are in your reserved area.
With our reservation, there were lounge chairs, a dining table, a “living room” area, raised wooden floor, shade from the sun and a swing–all outdoors! Some sections include a private bathroom (ours did not).
The public bathroom was nothing to write home about; it was fairly clean and functioning–what more could you ask for on a private beach?
Hayhu Beach Club Experience Video
Food and Drinks
Included in the reservation was a food and beverage credit (this varies depending on how many people are in your party).
If you go over the credit, no worries! You can settle the difference before departing. Noteworthy callouts are the fresh pineapple juice, Michelada and guacamole & chips.
Words don’t do it justice, but the pineapple juice was like a fine nectar–the essence of pineapple.
You can tell the guac and chips were freshly made as well given the natural avocado taste and thin, crispy texture of the chips.
Artur says: "I still can’t get over how good the fresh pineapple juice was! The flavor was so much different than the pineapple juice I’ve been having. It was very gentle and sweet with no acidic or sour taste and felt like nectar. Highly recommend it if you ever visit Hayhu!"
Service
Not to be outdone, the service was phenomenal! We were extremely well-cared for and tended to; there wasn’t a request denied.
The style and vibe were a perfect blend of nature, modernity and comfort. It was the perfect place to mark the first stop of the itinerary.
Cozumel - Day 4
7am - 4pm
Since we’ve been to Cozumel several times, separately and together, we stayed on the ship this time around.
During this stop, we spent a few hours at the spa–checking out the Thermal Suite and getting a massage.
However, we wanted to talk about what we’ve done in the past at this port and what we plan to do if we ever stop here again on a cruise.
Day 4: Cozumel Cruise Stop
The last time we were in Cozumel together was during a port stop on a Princess cruise in February 2020.
We walked through the port and spent much of our time exploring the shops and restaurants just a mile from where the ship was docked.
There are plenty of excursions here like visiting the Mayan Ruins or checking out water and nature-focused activities. What’s also great is that there’s access to the mainland via a ferry…which opens up even more options.
Next time we’re at this port, we’ll take a ferry to Playa del Carmen, just 40 minutes across the water.
As avid travelers, we realize we’d prefer to relax at a resort’s beach by purchasing a day-pass.
There are plenty of hotels to choose from by either searching on your own or asking your cruise staff if it’s included in any adventure packages.
Have you been to Cozumel? What’s your favorite thing to do here? Let us know in the comment section below <3
