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The turtle farm on Grand Cayman has all sorts of sea turtles and provides an opportunity for kids (and adults) to learn more about sea turtles.

Small boats take vacationers and cruise travelers out to the sandbar and you can snorkel, SCUBA, feed the stingrays by hand, or just watch them in the crystal clear water. Stingray City is a sandbar where stingrays come to be fed. The flat island also has unique places to visit like Stingray City, the turtle farm, and Hell. Grand Cayman has many features that cruise travelers love - great shopping, spectacular beaches, and fun bars. Most cruise lines will have Costa Maya shore excursions similar to those of Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines.Īlthough cruise ships have to tender passengers ashore at Grand Cayman Island, it's still one of the most popular cruise ports in the Caribbean. Cruise travelers will love the numerous shops, bars, and restaurants near the pier, and it's an inexpensive taxi ride into the shopping district of the town of Mahahual. This village was purpose-built to attract cruise ships back in 2001 and significantly renovated after a hurricane in 2007. The Costa Maya village and cruise facility are in the small town of Mahahual in the southern corner of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. Those who enjoy more active fun will enjoy water sports, biking, snorkeling, and paddle boarding. The Costa Maya area also features many different types of birds, monkeys, and even jaguars in its jungle setting. Many cruise passengers specifically want to visit Chacchoben, an ancient city dating back to the 4th century A.D. These ruins are not as over-visited as others in Mexico, which makes them even more fascinating.

This region of Mexico is not as developed as other Mexican ports of call, but it does have pristine beaches and spectacular Mayan ruins hidden in the nearby jungle.

It's near the border of Mexico and Belize. If you love dolphins and want to splurge a little, plan a visit to Dolphinaris, where you can feed and/or swim with the dolphins.Ĭosta Maya is also on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, but about 100 miles further down the Peninsula from Playa del Carmen. Those who like to shop will enjoy exploring all of the shops near the cruise ship pier or they can take a cab or shuttle into the town of San Miguel near the center of the island. However, Cozumel is just a short ferry ride from Playa del Carmen, which has many excellent Mayan sites nearby like Tulum. Cozumel also offers history buffs the opportunity to explore the ancient Mayan site of San Gervasio, which is the only archaeological site on Cozumel. Unsurprisingly, many of these activities are in or on the water, with great beaches, diving, and snorkeling spots. Cozumel is only about 30 miles long and 10 miles wide​ but offers diverse activities for visitors. The island of Cozumel and Costa Maya, which is about a four-hour drive from Cancun, are located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.Ĭozumel is an island about 12 miles from Playa del Carmen near the southern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. One of the ports, Progreso, is in the Yucatan state of Mexico. Alternatively, ships usually dock near a town and/or beach, so those who like to explore on their own can go shopping or enjoy the great beaches and other sites of the Western Caribbean near their ship.Ĭruise ships have three great Western Caribbean ports of call on the eastern coast and Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The good news for cruise travelers is that their cruise ship will most likely have a shore excursion option to participate in the best local activities or see the most interesting historical sites in these ports of call. This article describes things to do and see at the best cruise ports in the Western Caribbean, which includes the islands west and south of Cuba, along with Mexico, Central America, and Colombia in South America. Since most cruises sail to either the Eastern Caribbean or the Western Caribbean, the big question soon becomes which is better, an Eastern Caribbean cruise or Western Caribbean cruise? The short answer is that you can have a great vacation at either destination, but there are differences in the ports of call. However, when these travelers start planning their cruise, it is difficult to decide which ports of call to visit in the region. A Caribbean cruise is a dream vacation for many travelers.