We’ve been in dire need of a getaway from our hectic lives in Playa del Carmen. Yes, hectic happens even in paradise! So, we recently took off for a quick trip to the coastal town of Mahahual. Mahahual is about 3 1/2 hours driving time south of Playa del Carmen on the Costa Maya (Mayan Coast).
It was just another sleepy Mexican fishing village until someone had the bright idea to make it a cruise ship destination. The cruise business was going along just fine until Mahahual got slammed by Hurricane Dean just about a year ago. Slowly but surely, Mahahualians rebuilt their homes, businesses and lives.
We hadn’t had the pleasure of visiting Mahahual before the hurricane, so we had nothing to compare it to. The mangroves were in bad shape and the foliage was not particularly lush, but we found a town firmly back on its feet. In fact, from what we can tell, Mahahual is better than ever.
We stayed at Balamku, a tranquil and secluded eco-resort on the beach.
We dined on fresh seafood right on the beach.
We strolled along the brand new malecon (boardwalk).
Young palm trees have been planted along the malecon.
We admired the pretty colors.
We ate awesome sopes and panuchos on the cheap.
We hopped in a kayak to snorkel the extensive and pristine reef just offshore from our hotel.
And then sadly, our quick getaway came to an all too quick end. We headed back to Playa del Carmen with fond memories and a resolve to return to Mahahual for some serious R&R.
If you are interested in visiting Mahahual, you’ll want to read the detailed trip report I wrote up on our forum.
Thanks for taking the time to share your trip with us! Sounds like a fantastic trip and so great to see that the town is bouncing back quite well a year later. When Joana comes to visit next year, I know that Mahahual is a place we’ll visit.