Day excursion to a PRIVATE LUXURY BEACH CLUB with transportation.

A quiet beach day can beat the cruise port. Hayhu Beach Club gives your group of up to six a private deck, attentive service, lunch and drink credit, and a peaceful break from Costa Maya’s busy cruise terminal. I especially like the private setup and the fact that your food, drinks, towels, kayaks, and snorkel gear are bundled into one price. The main caution is the beach itself, which can be affected by seasonal sargassum, rough water, litter beyond the club, and occasional storms.

The excursion costs $699 per group, or about $117 per person if six people share it. That is not cheap, but the value improves quickly with a full group, especially since up to $300 is credited toward food and drinks. You also get private transportation, a personal lounging area, and roughly four hours and 30 minutes away from the ship.

Key Things To Know Before You Go

• Private deck for up to six: Your reserved space may include loungers, chairs, a table, a hammock, and in some areas a private bathroom and shower.
• About 25 to 30 minutes from the port: The ride is not long, but leaving the cruise terminal involves a walk of about 20 minutes to the taxi pickup area.
• $300 food and drink credit: The allowance covers a wide menu, including seafood, steak, burgers, desserts, beer, cocktails, and nonalcoholic drinks.
• Water equipment is included: Towels, kayaks, and snorkeling equipment are provided, though ocean conditions can limit their use.
• Service is a major strength: Staff members such as Gabriel, Ruth, Francisco, Freddy, Carlos, Alfredo, and Joshua are frequently praised for friendly, attentive care.
• Sargassum can change the beach day: Conditions are usually better from late November through April, but seaweed and rough water remain natural, changing conditions.

Leaving Costa Maya Port Without the Usual Taxi Fuss

The day begins at Costa Maya and is listed with an 8:00 a.m. start time. Your exact pickup time should be confirmed after booking, along with your email address, since the operator sends more detailed directions and a map before arrival.

The most important practical detail is the meeting point. You do not meet your driver inside the main cruise terminal. You walk toward the port exit and taxi area, following the red route shown on the map supplied by the operator. The walk can take about 20 minutes, which matters if you are traveling with children, anyone who tires easily, or a group carrying beach gear.

At the taxi area, you are told to skip the general taxi line and look for the designated driver arranged for Hayhu Beach Club. Gabriel or Ruth from Taxi Tour Costa Maya may be waiting for you, although other drivers named in the feedback include Diego. You should have the driver’s name and meeting instructions on your phone before leaving the ship.

This arrangement has worked very well for many groups, with drivers arriving early and getting everyone to the club in about 25 to 30 minutes. Still, one family had trouble finding the meeting point and became worried about returning to the ship. My advice is simple: read every message, confirm your pickup time, and allow extra time for the walk out of the port.

The ride itself takes you away from the cruise center and into a quieter coastal setting near Mahahual. A few people found the driving fast, while another noted that the vehicle’s speedometer used kilometers per hour. Either way, tell the operator in advance if you have concerns about driving speed.

A Private Deck That Feels Separate From the Crowd

Hayhu is not an enormous resort with a long row of identical loungers. Its appeal is the sense of having your own little base for the afternoon. Depending on the area assigned to you, you might have several loungers, a dining table, chairs, swings, a hammock, and a private bathroom or shower.

The upper deck is especially appealing. It gives you a better view, more privacy, and a comfortable place to retreat when the sun gets strong. One group of four found the space roomy, while another said the deck worked well for a family with children. You can eat, read, talk, nap, or simply sit with a drink while the sea provides the background.

The word private needs a little clarification. Your deck or cabana is reserved for your group, but the entire beach club is not exclusively yours. Other groups may occupy nearby areas. Even so, the club is small enough that it generally feels far calmer than the cruise port or a large commercial beach resort.

Service is one of the strongest parts of the experience. Staff members regularly check on drinks, food, shade, and return timing without making the afternoon feel rushed. Francisco, Freddy, Ezekiel, Matteo, Carlos, Alfredo, Julian, and manager Joshua are among the names praised for taking good care of people.

That level of attention matters because you do not need to spend your beach time hunting for a server or arranging every detail yourself. You can settle in quickly, then let the staff handle the practical parts.

Swimming, Kayaking, and Snorkeling Conditions

The package includes towels, snorkeling equipment, and kayaks. That makes the water activities easy to try, since you do not need to rent equipment elsewhere or carry your own from the ship.

Kayaking is a good option for anyone who wants activity without committing to a formal excursion. Snorkeling can also be fun when the water is calm and clear. One family used the snorkel gear while another person kayaked, making the day work for both active and less active members of the group.

Ocean conditions are the unpredictable part. Some visits have brought clear water and soft sand. Other days have had rough water, heavy sargassum, or so much seaweed that swimming was not appealing. One person reported that only two kayaks were available on the day of the visit, so you should not assume that the whole group can kayak at once.

Sargassum is a seasonal issue along this coast. It can wash ashore in thick, smelly piles and may bring insects. The club works to manage it, but the condition is not fully within its control. Late November through April is generally described as the more reliable period for a clearer beach and calmer sea.

Bring a small amount of insect repellent if you are sensitive to bugs. Also keep your expectations flexible. If the ocean is rough, you can still use the deck, eat a good lunch, enjoy the view, and spend the day in the shade.

A $300 Credit With a Serious Lunch Menu

The price includes up to $300 in food and drink credit. That is a useful allowance for six people, though it is not an unlimited open bar or unlimited meal plan. If your group spends more than the credit, you pay the difference.

The menu is more ambitious than the usual beach-club fare. Starters include guacamole with totopos, seafood or vegetarian ceviche, stuffed avocado with shrimp or lobster, and grilled marrow served with toast and Mexican tortillas.

For the main course, you can choose grilled filet mignon, 500-gram Hayhu short ribs with roasted potatoes and grilled onion, picaña to share, grilled lobster with garlic and white wine, or one of four grilled burgers. Burger choices include standard meat, gourmet meat, red tuna, and Portobello.

Grilled pineapple with cinnamon and lemon provides a simple dessert. You can also order drinks from the credit, including alcoholic and nonalcoholic options. Several people particularly liked the tequila choices, margaritas, seafood, grouper, and barbecue-style platters.

The best way to use the allowance is to order for the group and share. Picaña, short ribs, lobster, or a barbecue platter can make the credit go further than ordering separate premium dishes for everyone. One family came within a few dollars of the allowance, while another group said the credit covered food and drinks for all six people.

Food quality receives unusually strong praise for a beach outing. Still, taste is personal. One person disliked the piña colada but enjoyed the margaritas. If you want a massage, kiteboarding lesson, or extra food beyond the credit, those are additional costs. Tips are also not included.

A Relaxed Afternoon Instead of a Packed Port Schedule

The listed itinerary is essentially Mahahual and Hayhu Beach Club. This is not a sightseeing tour with several stops, a historic center, or a series of planned activities. You leave the port, ride to the club, settle into your reserved space, eat, swim or paddle if conditions permit, and return to the ship.

That simplicity is the point. If you have spent your cruise moving from one scheduled activity to the next, Hayhu gives you a quiet block of time with no sales pitch and no long list of places to visit. You can be as active or lazy as you like.

The tradeoff is time. A four-hour-and-30-minute excursion includes transportation, the walk through the port, and the return trip. With a 25 to 30 minute drive in each direction, your actual time at the club may be closer to three and a half hours, depending on the pickup schedule.

For a cruise stop, that can still be enough. Several groups returned with time to shop in the port before boarding. But you should confirm the ship’s all-aboard time and give yourself a cushion. This is a private transfer, not a ship-operated excursion, so the ship will not wait if you are late.

The operator says transportation is arranged and paid for 24 hours before arrival. If your cruise schedule changes, contact the operator as soon as possible. Weather can also cancel the experience, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund.

What the Beach Is Really Like

Hayhu’s own area is generally kept clean and attractive, with soft sand, loungers, shade, and a pleasant view. The club itself receives high marks for order and upkeep.

The wider shoreline is less consistent. Some days produce a beautiful, quiet beach that feels wonderfully secluded. Other days bring seaweed, driftwood, debris, or trash beyond the club’s maintained section. One person found the beach almost unusable for swimming because of debris and sargassum, while another had clear water and no trouble getting in.

This is the most important point to understand before booking: you are paying mainly for the private lounging space, service, food, and easy transportation, not for a guaranteed perfect Caribbean beach. If your dream day requires spotless sand and calm water, conditions may disappoint you.

If you care more about privacy, good food, shade, and a peaceful place to sit, the club is a stronger choice. Even on a poor beach day, the deck and attentive staff can still make the outing worthwhile.

Who Will Get the Most From This Excursion

I would choose Hayhu for a family or group of friends that wants to share a high-priced private day. Six people make the $699 rate much easier to justify, especially if you use most of the $300 food and drink allowance.

It also suits couples who care about quiet surroundings, comfortable seating, and a quality meal more than nonstop water sports. Older family members may appreciate the cabana, shade, bathroom, and private transfer, though the operator warns that the experience is not recommended for anyone who has trouble climbing stairs.

Children can enjoy the beach, kayaking, snorkeling, and open space, but the experience is not built around organized kids’ activities. One family found that children had other children nearby to play with, while another description presented the club as especially suited to adults seeking rest.

I would not choose this for a short port call with a tight schedule unless you have carefully confirmed the timing. I would also think twice if your only reason for booking is swimming. Sargassum and rough seas can change that part of the day.

Price, Timing, and Cancellation Details

At $699 per group of up to six, the math matters. Two people pay about $350 each, four pay about $175 each, and six pay about $117 each before considering the included food, drinks, equipment, towels, and transportation.

That is a premium price for Costa Maya, but it covers more than a basic beach chair rental. For a full group that wants a private space and a generous meal allowance, I think the package can be fair value. For one or two people, a less private beach day may make better financial sense.

The experience can be canceled for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded. Poor weather may result in a new date or full refund, but communication is important, especially if you cannot leave the ship because of port conditions.

FAQ

How much does the Hayhu Beach Club excursion cost?

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

How long does the experience last?

The advertised duration is approximately four hours and 30 minutes. The drive from the port to the beach club generally takes about 25 to 30 minutes each way.

Where do I meet the transportation?

You walk toward the exit of the Costa Maya port and the taxi area. The operator sends a map and further instructions after booking, and a designated driver may be waiting outside the port premises.

Is the beach club completely private?

Your reserved deck or cabana is for your group, but other groups may use separate areas of the beach club. The club is designed to feel quiet and uncrowded rather than completely exclusive.

Are food and drinks included?

Food and beverages are included through the package credit, up to $300. If your group spends more than that amount, you pay the difference.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, kayaks, and towels are included. Rough water or sargassum may affect how enjoyable the water activities are.

What services cost extra?

Kiteboarding lessons, massages, tips, and any food or drinks beyond the $300 credit are not included.

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 within 24 hours are not refunded, except that poor weather may result in a different date or a full refund.

Should You Book Hayhu Beach Club?

I would book it if you have a group of four to six, want a quiet private base, and value attentive service and a strong lunch more than a packed activity schedule. The food, private deck, transportation, and calm setting receive the most consistent praise, and the staff works hard to make the day feel personal.

I would hesitate if you are traveling as only one or two people, have a very short port stop, or need guaranteed swimming conditions. Check the sargassum outlook, confirm the pickup instructions, and leave plenty of time for the walk out of the port.

For the right group, Hayhu is a comfortable escape from Costa Maya’s cruise-day rush. Just book it for the privacy, food, and service, then treat the beach and ocean as nature’s bonus rather than a guarantee.