Day excursion to a PRIVATE LUXURY BEACH CLUB with transportation.

Hayhu Beach Club gives you something Costa Maya’s cruise port often lacks: quiet space that feels personal. Your group of up to six gets private transportation, a private deck, food and drink credit, towels, and water-sports equipment without joining a large excursion crowd. I especially like the attentive service and the excellent lunch menu, with lobster, short ribs, burgers, ceviche, and grilled steak.

I also like that the $699 price is for the whole group, not each person. Fill all six spots and the value improves sharply. The catch is the timing: a 25 to 30 minute ride each way leaves less than four hours at the club, and sargassum can affect the beach and swimming, especially in warmer months.

Key points to know before booking

• Private group of up to six: You share the taxi and reserved deck only with your own party, though other groups use the beach club.
• $300 food and drink credit included: It covers the extensive menu, but you pay any amount above the credit.
• About 25 to 30 minutes from the port: Allow roughly 20 minutes to walk through the port area to the taxi meeting point.
• Strong service reputation: Gabriel, Ruth, Diego, Francisco, Freddy, Carlos, Alfredo, and Joshua are among the staff members praised for friendly, timely help.
• Beach conditions vary: Sargassum, rough water, trash, and a narrow beach have affected some visits.
• Good for a relaxed family day: Kayaks, snorkeling, volleyball, soccer, lounge chairs, hammocks, food, and drinks give you choices without a rigid schedule.

Leaving Costa Maya port for Mahahual

The excursion begins at Costa Maya’s cruise port, but your private ride does not meet you at the ship. You need to walk toward the port exit and taxi area, following the red-line directions sent after booking. The walk can take about 20 minutes, and this is the most important logistical point to understand before you buy.

Hayhu arranges a designated taxi rather than sending you into the general taxi line. The pickup contact is expected to be Gabriel or Ruth from Taxi Tour Costa Maya, although other drivers, including Diego, have handled transfers. You should receive pictures, a map, and more information by email or messaging, but reconfirm your pickup time and email address after booking.

That extra communication matters. One party missed the excursion because they could not locate the meeting point quickly and worried about returning to the ship. The operator’s instructions are detailed, but you still need to read them before arrival and allow time to get off the ship, walk through the port, and find the driver.

The listed start time is 8:00 a.m., based on Mahahual local time. Cruise schedules vary, so you should confirm the desired pickup time rather than assume the standard start will match your ship’s arrival. The excursion is designed for cruise passengers, and several people have returned to the port with time to shop, but a private tour is not the same as a ship-sponsored excursion with ship protection. If your port call is short, check the timing carefully.

The 25-minute ride to Hayhu Beach Club

Once you meet the driver, the trip to Hayhu Beach Club takes about 25 to 30 minutes. The ride takes you away from the cruise terminal and toward the Mahahual area, which is part of the appeal. You are leaving the port’s shops, crowds, and organized excursion zone for a quieter beach setting.

The drive has received mixed impressions. Some drivers have been praised for arriving early, driving safely, and sharing stories about the area. One person described Gabriel as a fast driver, while another noted that the vehicle’s speedometer was showing kilometers per hour. That detail helps explain why the ride can feel quick, but if you are sensitive to speed, tell the driver plainly.

Hayhu is not a quick walk from the ship, and the club is not a polished resort inside the port complex. You are paying for privacy, service, and a quieter setting, not for the shortest possible transfer. The ride is a worthwhile trade for many groups, but it reduces your actual beach time.

Your private deck and beach club setup

At the club, your group receives a reserved private deck or cabana area. Depending on the space assigned, you may have loungers, chairs, a table, swings, a hammock, a couch, and a private bathroom or shower. A short walk connects the upper deck areas to the beach.

This setup is the heart of the experience. You can settle in with a book, order a drink, watch the water, or move down to the sand when you feel like it. You do not have to fight for a lounger or keep track of a large tour group. Staff members such as Francisco, Freddy, Carlos, and Matteo have been singled out for attentive service, while managers including Joshua and Julian are known for checking in and helping with the day’s timing.

Private does not mean you have the entire property to yourself. Other families and small groups may use nearby decks or beach areas. Still, the arrangement feels far more contained than a public beach club or cruise-port beach break.

The club works well for mixed-age groups. Children can use the water equipment or play nearby, while older relatives can remain in the shade or enjoy lunch. It is also a good fit for couples and friends who want a slow day rather than a packed activity schedule.

Food and drink credit: where the value lives

The package includes up to $300 in credit toward food and drinks. This is not an unlimited buffet or an open bar. It works more like a dining allowance, and you pay the difference if your group orders beyond the credit.

The menu is much more ambitious than the usual beach-club fare. Starters include guacamole with totopos, shrimp or lobster stuffed avocado, seafood or vegetarian ceviche, and grilled marrow with toast and Mexican tortillas. Main dishes include filet mignon, a 500-gram short rib with roasted potatoes and grilled onion, picaña for sharing, grilled lobster with garlic and white wine, and four grilled burger choices.

The burgers include standard meat, gourmet meat, red tuna, and portobello versions. Grilled pineapple with cinnamon and lemon offers a simple dessert option. Food quality is one of the strongest reasons to choose this excursion, and the credit can stretch well for six people if you order sensibly. One full group reported spending only a few dollars beyond the allowance, while another found the food and drinks plentiful for six.

For the best value, treat the $300 as a shared budget rather than ordering six separate full meals without checking prices. A large shared platter, drinks, and a few starters may make more sense than several premium entrees. Lobster, picaña, and short ribs will use the credit faster than burgers and ceviche.

Alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks are included within the allowance. Tequila options have earned particular praise. Massages cost extra, as do kiteboarding lessons, and tips are not included.

Kayaks, snorkeling, and time in the water

The package includes snorkeling equipment and kayaks, so you do not need to rent basic gear elsewhere. You can also use the club’s other activity options, including paddleboarding, volleyball, and soccer.

Water conditions are the deciding factor. On calm days, you can snorkel, kayak, and swim, then return to your deck for lunch. On rough days, snorkeling may not be worthwhile, and the club’s peaceful seating and food become the main attraction.

The number of kayaks may be limited. One visit found only two available, so you may need to take turns if several groups want to paddle. The inclusion of equipment is still useful, but do not build your entire day around having unlimited access.

The beach itself has drawn both strong praise and fair criticism. Some days bring soft sand, clear water, and a well-kept private stretch that feels wonderfully quiet. Other visits have found the beach narrow, rough, or affected by debris and seaweed.

Sargassum and beach conditions

Sargassum is the biggest variable here. It is seasonal seaweed that can pile along the shore, smell unpleasant, and make swimming less appealing. Several visits in May, June, July, and September encountered heavy seaweed, while other visits found it manageable or absent.

The club works to maintain its own beach area, but it cannot control the wider coastline or ocean conditions. Some people still enjoyed the deck, food, service, and view when swimming was limited. Others felt the beach was too small or dirty to justify the cost.

If swimming is your main goal, ask about current conditions before arrival and consider visiting from late November through April, when the operator says the beach is normally clearer and the water calmer. Even then, weather and sea conditions can change.

Bring insect repellent if you are sensitive to bugs. One family found it useful during a seaweed-heavy visit, though the need may have been linked to the conditions that day.

How long you really have at the club

The advertised duration is about 4 hours and 30 minutes. With a 25 to 30 minute drive in each direction, you should expect roughly 3.5 hours at the beach club, depending on how quickly you leave the port and how promptly the return taxi arrives.

That is enough time for lunch, a swim, a kayak outing, and a relaxed hour on the deck. It is not a full resort day. If your ship arrives late, you may feel pressed, especially if you also want to shop at the port afterward.

The return ride is arranged privately, and the manager checks when you want to leave. Several parties returned on time and had room to shop before reboarding. Still, keep your ship’s all-aboard time in mind, and tell the club early if you need to leave. Do not wait until the final few minutes.

Weather is another timing factor. The experience requires good weather. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. Once you attend, conditions such as wind, rough surf, or seaweed may limit activities without canceling the whole excursion.

Is $699 a good price for six people?

The $699 group price looks high at first, but the math changes when six people share it. That is about $116.50 per person before considering the included $300 food and drink credit, private transportation, reserved deck, towels, kayaks, and snorkeling equipment.

Subtracting the credit leaves an effective package cost of $399, though that is not a literal discount or cash refund. If your group uses the full allowance, the food, transport, and private space make the price reasonable for a high-comfort port day.

For two people, the calculation is less attractive. You are paying the same group rate, so the cost becomes $349.50 per person before counting the credit. A couple may still prefer it for privacy and service, but the strongest value comes with four to six people.

You should also budget for tips and any massage or kiteboarding lesson. The menu credit covers food and beverages only up to $300. Premium orders can push you over that amount.

Who should book this Costa Maya beach day?

I would choose Hayhu if you want a quiet base, good food, and reliable personal service more than a long list of organized activities. Families, couples, and friend groups can all use the space differently, and the private setup makes it easy to relax without matching another group’s schedule.

It is especially suited to a group of four to six. That is when the fixed price makes the most sense, and the dining credit gives you room to order generously.

I would think twice if you need a flawless white-sand beach, a large swimming area, unlimited kayaks, or a guaranteed snorkeling session. The beach can be affected by sargassum, trash, rough surf, or limited shoreline. You also need to be comfortable walking through the port to the pickup point and riding 25 to 30 minutes each way.

The property is not recommended if stairs are difficult for you. Ask about your reserved area before arrival if you need to avoid stairs or require a particular setup. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate.

Booking, cancellation, and final practical advice

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations and changes inside 24 hours are not refunded or accepted, except when poor weather causes the operator to cancel.

After booking, send a message confirming your pickup time and email address. Save the map and pickup photos, keep your phone available, and look for the designated driver near the port exit rather than joining the regular taxi queue.

My final advice is simple: book early if you want this private setup, since it is often reserved well ahead of the cruise date. Then confirm the beach conditions close to arrival and make sure your ship’s schedule leaves enough room for the transfer.

Should you book Hayhu Beach Club?

Book it if you are sharing the $699 cost with a full group and want peace, attentive service, and a serious lunch instead of another crowded port stop. The private deck, generous food credit, and helpful taxi coordination give the day real value.

Skip it if your main dream is an expansive, perfectly clean swimming beach or if your port call leaves little time for a 30-minute transfer each way. Hayhu is best viewed as a private outdoor dining and relaxation day with beach access, not a guaranteed watersports adventure.

FAQ

How much does the Hayhu Beach Club excursion cost?

The price is $699 per group for up to six people. The package includes up to $300 in food and drink credit, private transportation, towels, kayaks, and snorkeling equipment.

How long does the experience last?

The excursion lasts about 4 hours and 30 minutes. The drive from Costa Maya port to the beach club takes about 25 to 30 minutes each way, so your time at the club is shorter than the total tour duration.

Where do I meet the private taxi?

You walk toward the exit of the Costa Maya port and the taxi area, following the map and red-line directions provided after booking. A designated driver, expected to be Gabriel or Ruth from Taxi Tour Costa Maya, waits near the exit.

Is food and drink included?

Yes. Food and beverages are covered through a credit of up to $300 for the group. You must pay the difference if your orders exceed that amount. Tips are not included.

Are kayaks and snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. The package includes use of kayaks and snorkeling equipment, along with towels. Other activities listed at the club include paddleboarding, volleyball, and soccer.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.