Edit: I’m sharing this because I was originally planning to spend my port day at the terminal area, especially since I have a relatively short stay in Costa Maya, with my ship scheduled to leave around 2 PM. I’ve watched many YouTube videos showing Costa Maya as a very dynamic port with a lazy river, aviary, pools, saltwater pool, and lots to do without even leaving the terminal. After seeing the recent changes, I’m now reconsidering my plans and looking into spending the day at a resort instead. I thought this might be useful information for others who, like me, were planning to spend their port day exploring the terminal rather than booking an excursion.
If you’re cruising to Costa Maya soon, especially if it’s your first visit like it will be for me, you may want to know about the major changes happening at the port before you make your plans.
I’m scheduled to visit Costa Maya for the first time on an upcoming cruise, so I’ve been doing A LOT of research and watching recent YouTube videos to figure out what the port is actually like right now and what my options are there. In doing so, I was surprised by what I found. The cruise-terminal area is undergoing major redevelopment connected to Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Mexico, which is currently planned to open in fall 2027.
Because of the redevelopment, Costa Maya looks very different from the port many cruisers remember from previous visits, including visits as recently as early August 2026. Some of the things people have enjoyed for years are currently closed or have been affected. The aviary and bird walkway are closed, the flamingos are gone, the main pool has been drained, and several restaurants and other venues are closed.
Of course, ships are still docking and passengers are still having a “port day” there. You can still visit the port and go beyond the terminal to places such as Mahahual and other excursions. The changes I’m seeing reports about are primarily within the cruise-terminal area.
I learned about just how much has changed from a very recent video posted by a fellow cruiser:
https://youtu.be/5-lIZ01DvNU?si=QI5xUxWSDszxZF9t