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Xcalak, Quintana Roo, Mexico is a wonderfully
remote area that is gaining popularity with Scuba Divers,
Snorkelers, Fly Fishermen, Birders and other
adventurers of the Mexican Caribbean. Xcalak is 60 kilometers
south of Majahual, the site of the new Cruise Ship Port on the
Costa Maya. Xcalak is located on the southern most tip of Quintana
Roo not far from the Belize Border. The trip from Cancun Airport
to Xcalak is approximately a 4½ hour drive.
XTC
Dive Center offers trips to Banco Chinchorro via their high
speed boat, the Tzimin-Ha (sea horse in Maya). Banco Chinchorro
is a pristine dive area approximately 20 miles offshore and northeast
of Xcalak. Banco Chinchorro is a 30 mile long and 15 mile wide
atoll. There are many reefs inside the main reef, and an unknown
number of shipwrecks. This beautiful reef with four small, uninhabited
islands peeking above the azure waters is bordered by breath taking
walls and sloping reefs all around. There are shipwrecks in waters
as shallow as ten feet, with old cannons scattered across the
bottom. Banco Chinchorro is home to abundant marine life, with
hundreds of species of fish, coral, and other sea life seldom
seen elsewhere. XTC Dive Center offers the only boat to Banco
Chinchorro from Xcalak. They also offer a complete dive facility
for your diving adventures. Nitrox is served here.
Kayak Rentals by Max
at XTC Dive Center
Click here to see Kayak Rentals by
Max
Local
diving is so fantastic that even if a trip to Banco Chinchorro
is not possible due to weather, finances, or not enough divers
for the Banco Chinchorro experience you will have a unique experience
comparable to no other on the Mexican Caribbean Coast. The local
dive sites abound, starting from the North going South:
Hob Na, Santa Julia, Poza Rica, Blanquizar, Ciudad Undida, Siete
Cocos, Doña Nica, Los
Cañones, Quebrado, G Spot, La
Poza, La Pozeta, Blanquizarea, Portilla, Coral Garden, La
Chimenea, Scott's Playground and loads more that are secret finds
of the local operators.
Local
dive operators are XTC Dive Center,
Costa de Cocos, and Casa
Carolina. Dive
instruction is available at these dive operations.
All the area resorts
can arrange local diving and or Banco Chinchorro diving.
Snorkeling
is most appealing directly in front of all resorts. Resort
Properties
Note:
Some
of the resorts are offering email service and or internet service.
Please see individual resorts for details.
Fly
fishing rates are available at XTC Dive
Center, Costa de Cocos, Casa
Carolina and Hotel Tierra Maya.
All other resorts such as Sandwood
Villas can
arrange fly fishing. Trolling or bottom fishing are also available.
You
will find nice accommodations as you head
out of town to the north, Costa de
Cocos, Hotel Tierra Maya, The
Reef House, Casa Carolina,
Kimmel's Kabana, Playa
Sonrisa, Sin Duda, Nuestro
Tesoro, Sandwood Villas,
Coral Garden Inn, and Casa del Sol
located in the suburbs of Xcalak Pueblo.
Xcalak
Pueblo offers several restaurants in town. Margaritas
Veggie Stand offers breakfast and lunch. Silvia's
Restaurante serves lunch and dinner, they also hosts the Xcalak
Kid's Library . Please bring a couple of Kid's books in Spanish
and or supplies of all natures. The kids here are very interested
in learning. Conchitas - Leaky Palapa Restaurant (Under New Management)in town also offer a few day of service. Xcalak
Caribe Restaurant and Beach Bar offers lunch and dinner as
well as Bar service.
Xcalak
Pueblo, now
let's talk about groceries. There are several small Tiendas (stores)
in Xcalak but they do not carry much of a selection. There is
however a Grocery Truck
that comes by on Tuesday and Friday, there are others that pass
by but are not on a regular schedule. They have a good selection
of items. Ask about these trucks at your resort. It is suggested
that you purchase a supply of groceries prior to arriving in Xcalak
if you plan to cook for yourself.
Xcalak offers
a number of small resorts with nearly all the amenities you could
desire with the exception of wild nightlife. If you want wild
nightlife this is not the place. There are only a few cantinas
in the area. The number of Restaurants is limited but very good.
Hotel Tierra Maya, Playa
Sonrisa and Sandwood Villas
offer
meals
by reservation for your dining pleasure. Costa
de Cocos offer walk in service for all meals. Several of the
resorts offer breakfast. There are resorts with kitchens in the
rooms, others do not have kitchens. Air conditioning is a premium
but there are two resorts that offer limited air conditioning
, Hotel Tierra Maya
at a surcharge and Playa Sonrisa. These resorts run on wind, solar and generator
power. Please no curling irons or hairdryers here. There are also
Las
Conchitas - the Leaky Palapa Restaurant and Bar (Under New Management) , Silvias Restaurante, Xcalak
Caribe, and Margarita's Veggie Stand in Xcalak Pueblo.
Most
resorts offer sea kayaks for your paddling pleasure. The beaches
are different than the rest of the coast in that the water is
quite shallow at the water's edge. Costa de Cocos, Hotel Tierra
Maya, Casa Carolina, (The Reef House has use of Casa Carolina's
dock) and Playa Sonrisa offer a dock to take you to deeper water
for swimming and boating. Some of the resorts have made a channel
to facilitate your swimming from shore, this includes, Sandwood
Villas,
Dolphinn's Escape, and Kimmel's Kabana with
very nice swimming areas .
Click
above image ^ ^
There
are many Mayan ruins in the southern
part of Quintana Roo. Some of these are Kohunlich, Tzibanche,
Xpujil, Rio Bec, Becán, Chiccana, El Ramonai, Oxpemul,
Maruchín, Chacchoben and Calakmul to name a few. There
are others that you pass on your way from Cancun to Xcalak.
Xcaret (Polé), Xelha, Tulum, Muyil (Chunyaxché),
Tixmul, and Los Limones if you should find time on the way.
There is actually a Mayan ruins at Xcalak.
Fort
San Felipe is a great place to visit on Laguna Bacalar. Cenote
Azul is also a good stopping off point on the way to visit the
Capital of Quintana Roo, Chetumal. I do have a contact for overnight
stays on Laguna Bacalar, please ask me.
So
come to Xcalak to "Find the Magic", "Encuentra
lo mágico", "Tin kax ta ma'lo ba" that we
have to offer.
We hope
this site has content that is valuable to everyone traveling to
Xcalak, Quintana Roo, Mexico on the Costa Maya.
Go
to the Xcalak Lodging page
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