Skip to content
Voykit
Set your trip — dates, party, bagsPlanner

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · Mexico

Mahahual

Go for 2 nights if you dive or want a quiet beach; skip if you only have a Cancún week — it is 4+ h each way by road.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
MXN
Best months
Nov–Apr (dry, cooler)
avoid Sep–Oct (rain and storm season), and cruise-ship days if you want quiet
Airports
CUN · CTM
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
  • Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
  • Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
  • Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.

Mahahual is a small beach village on the Costa Maya, about 4 hours south of Cancún by road and close to the Belize border. A cruise pier sits at the north end, so the town splits in two: busy when ships are in, quiet when they leave, and quieter still along the coastal road south of the village. Come for the reef, the malecon and slow days, not for sightseeing.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Mahahual, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Sit-down mealBeach restaurant meal (fish tacos, ceviche)M$150–300 (≈ US$9–17)
  • BeerBeer: beach bar / shopM$50–90 (≈ US$3–5) / M$25–40 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi in the villageM$50–100 (≈ US$3–6)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekM$250–500 (≈ US$14–30)
  • Budget bedHostel or camping bed, a night, per personMX$350 (≈ US$19)
  • Mid-range bedBeach hotel double room, a night, per roomMX$1,800 (≈ US$100)
  • High-end bedBeach hotel double room, a night, per roomMX$4,000 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget MX$700 (≈ US$40) · Mid MX$1,400 (≈ US$80) · High MX$2,800 (≈ US$160)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Mesoamerican Barrier Reef snorkelling and divingMalecon beachfront walkCruise port at Costa MayaQuiet beach hotels south of town
Airports
CUN Cancún International (About 4–5 h by road; rent a car or book a transfer) · CTM Chetumal International (About 2–2.5 h by road; ADO bus to Mahahual runs about twice a day)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Mahahual: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

28°C

20°C

6 rd

Feb

29°C

20°C

5 rd

Mar

31°C

22°C

4 rd

Apr

32°C

23°C

4 rd

May

33°C

24°C

7 rd

Jun

32°C

25°C

12 rd

Jul

32°C

24°C

12 rd

Aug

32°C

24°C

12 rd

Sep

32°C

24°C

15 rd

Oct

31°C

23°C

14 rd

Nov

30°C

22°C

9 rd

Dec

29°C

21°C

7 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Rent a car if you plan to move between the village and the beach hotels south of town; taxis cover short hops in the village. The malecon is walkable end to end. ADO buses connect Chetumal and Bacalar about twice a day.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Bacalar lagoon

overnight

Door to door: About 2–2.5 h

Car or ADO bus toward Chetumal, then local transport

Better as a night or two on the way to or from Chetumal.

Chetumal

go

Door to door: About 2–2.5 h

ADO bus, about twice a day

Gateway to Belize water taxis and the southern highway.

Chacchoben ruins

go

Door to door: About 1.5 h each way

Car or organised tour, about 80 km inland

Classic-period pyramids; go early before the heat and tour buses.

Xcalak

overnight

Door to door: About 1.5–2 h

Car south along the coastal road

Remote fishing and diving village; rough road, few services.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Mahahual Pueblo (malecon)

Walk to beach, restaurants and dive shops; noisiest on cruise days.

North end near the cruise pier

Closest to the port and water park; busiest and priciest when ships dock.

Coastal road south (km 4–15)

Beachfront eco-hotels and rentals, solar power, few services; you need a car or taxi.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
M$600–1,000 (≈ US$35–55) excl. bed
Mid
M$1,000–2,000 (≈ US$55–110) excl. bed
High
M$2,000 (≈ US$110)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Beach hotel double room1 × 2 nights × MX$1,800MX$3,600
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × MX$1,400MX$5,600
Snorkel trip from the malecon2 × MX$700MX$1,400
Two-tank reef dive2 × MX$1,800MX$3,600
eSIM, about a week of data2 × MX$300MX$600
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeMX$1,480
Trip total≈ MX$4,070 per person per day, bed includedMX$16,280≈ US$900

2026 estimate in pesos; transport to Mahahual excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4)
Beach restaurant meal (fish tacos, ceviche)M$150–300 (≈ US$9–17)
Beer: beach bar / shopM$50–90 (≈ US$3–5) / M$25–40 (≈ US$2–3)
Snorkel or dive tripM$700–1,800 (≈ US$40–100)
Taxi in the villageM$50–100 (≈ US$3–6)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekM$250–500 (≈ US$14–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Mahahual is a small, low-crime beach town; the real risks are cash (ATMs fail), storm season in Sep–Oct, and sun and sea without shade or a guide.
  • Cruise-ship days flood the malecon and beaches with day visitors; check the port schedule before you book a beach day.
  • Many ATMs run out of cash or fail; bring pesos and treat cards as a backup.
  • South-of-town hotels run on solar and stored water; expect basic power and no air conditioning in some places.
  • September and October bring heavy rain and storm risk.
  • The sea is calm behind the reef, but currents and boat traffic exist near the port; snorkel with a guide or from a marked beach.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Tourist assistance (Ángeles Verdes)
078

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

MahahualMahahual

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Tourist assistance078

Embassy

No embassy in Mahahual; the US, UK and Canada have embassies in Mexico City and consulates in Cancún and Playa del Carmen (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • ADO Chetumal airport → Mahahual: about M$255 (≈ US$14), about 2–2.5 h
  • ADO Chetumal bus station → Mahahual: about M$150 (≈ US$9)
  • Taxi Chetumal airport → bus station: short hop, ask the price first

Say or show

  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-to KWES-ta)
  • La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (la KWEN-ta por fa-VOR)
  • ¿Aceptan tarjeta? — Do you take cards? (ak-SEP-tan tar-HE-ta)
  • ¿Dónde hay un cajero? — Where is the ATM? (DON-de ay un ka-HE-ro)
  • ¿Hay crucero hoy? — Is there a cruise ship today? (ay kroo-SE-ro oy)
  • Quiero hacer esnórquel — I want to snorkel (KYE-ro a-SER es-NOR-kel)

Cash is king: carry pesos, as village ATMs often fail or run dry.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mahahual. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr (dry, cooler) · avoid Sep–Oct (rain and storm season), and cruise-ship days if you want quiet · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Mexico

Sources