he Norwegian Bliss ship arrives at the port of Acapulco, Mexico, in 2024. Some 6.5 million cruise passengers visited Mexico during the first half of 2026, File Photo by David Guzman/EPA
July 31 (UPI) — Some 6.5 million cruise passengers visited Mexico during the first half of 2026, a 17.1% increase from the same period a year earlier, government figures show.
Pacific destinations, in general, showed increases in visits, while the Mexican Caribbean maintained its position as the country’s main hub for maritime tourism, the Tourism Secretariat said.
Between January and June, 1,839 cruise ships called at Mexican ports, a 12.2% increase compared with the first half of 2025, according to the Secretariat of the Navy.
The Pacific Coast recorded the strongest growth. Puerto Chiapas, in the southern state of Chiapas, led during the first half by nearly doubling its number of passengers compared with the previous year.
According to the Mexican government, the port is the main maritime gateway to southern Mexico and the Soconusco region, where excursions depart for coffee plantations, the Izapa archaeological site and the mangroves along the Chiapas coast.
Mazatlán, one of the Mexican Pacific’s main cruise ports, also stood out, recording an increase of more than 60% in passenger traffic. The destination is known for connecting routes along the so-called Pacific nautical ladder and for its beaches, oceanfront promenade and historic downtown.
Cabo San Lucas, situated at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, also reported passenger growth of more than 60%. The port is one of the main stops on Mexican Pacific cruise itineraries and is known for natural attractions, such as El Arco, and for marine wildlife watching excursions, according to tour operator Civitatis.
Tourism Secretary Josefina Rodríguez Zamora said the results reflect the confidence that the world’s leading cruise lines have in Mexico and highlighted that each cruise ship creates economic opportunities for communities that depend on tourism activity at the country’s ports.
Although the Pacific was the fastest-growing region, the Mexican Caribbean continued to account for most of the activity.
The ports of Cozumel and Mahahual, in the state of Quintana Roo, jointly welcomed more than 4.2 million cruise passengers between January and July, equivalent to nearly 64% of the national total, according to data from the Quintana Roo Comprehensive Port Administration, or Apiqroo, published by Reportur.
Cozumel, considered Mexico’s leading cruise port, received 795 cruise ship calls through July 19, an 8% increase from the same period in 2025. Mahahual, meanwhile, saw more than 1.29 million passengers during the first half of the year, consolidating its position as the state’s second-largest cruise destination.
Apiqroo Director Vagner Elbiorn Vega attributed part of the growth to a season with favorable weather conditions, allowing cruise ships to maintain their itineraries without the storm-related diversions required last year, Reportur reported.
If the trend continues, Apiqroo expects Cozumel to end 2026 with about 1,377 cruise ship calls, which would make it one of the port’s busiest years on record.