Costa Maya was the final port of call for the ship. And, I’m pretty sure that Costa Maya was also the favorite port of everyone in our family. It had such a rich culture, beautiful beaches, a fun shopping experience, and a wonderful tour guide! We couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the trip!
Our ship, the Carnival Dream, at sunrise in Costa Maya
We were in port by 7 AM (which was only 6 AM in Mexico) so we got to see the sun rise
The water was a bit rough though
The cruise port
Bug by the fountain
Beautiful morning!
We found a huge lookout tower and decided to climb it to get a good look at the surrounding city
It was a tall staircase!
My three little goofballs!
Feeding a baby tiger--he was there as part of a fundraising effort to raise money for a wildlife preserve/rescue
Isn't he precious?
Mexican flag waiving in the breeze
Once we were done exploring the port, we got on the tour bus for a tour of the city and an afternoon at the beach. Here is one of the several roadside restaurants we found.
Some little cottages
We stopped off at a small fishing village for exploring and shopping
Some of the handpainted items inside the main shopping area
One of the local restaurants
A building being constructed....we decided not to get too close. 😉
Some brightly colored blankets
After some shopping, the kids decided to hit the first of two beaches we visited
She's always happiest at the beach
Jedi and Monkey
The water calmed down a bit after the morning waves
Daddy with his baby girl
The kids were having so much fun!
After a bit of time on the beach, we boarded the tour bus to head to a private resort for some snacks and more beach time. Here, the water was a bit rougher, but the kids had fun chasing the waves
Digging a giant hole
The waves were getting pretty high
Bug decided to go pick up some shells....
...then quickly changed her mind
She did find a coconut she was pretty proud of
Afterwards, we headed back to the port
The kids loved this guy
Together, they decided to stage this. Everyone around us was cracking up laughing
Bug wanted a doll from every port--from bottom to top it is the doll from Belize, Cozumel, Honduras, and Costa Maya...and then a very happy Bug.
Barefoot in Suburbia 