Getting to Xcalak

Most people will fly to Cancun and rent a car. Whether Xcalak is your only destination, or one stop on a more extended trip throughout the Yucatan, if you’re driving you’ll come on Highway 307. If you're driving south stop in Felipe Carrillo Puerto and fill your gas tank. If you're coming north, get gas in Chetumal. Just south of the town of Limónes, take the road toward the sea and Majahual. If any of the guidebooks you have read even mention getting to Xcalak, they probably talk about the 32 mile unpaved road of sand, dirt, limestone, and conch shells from Majahual to Xcalak. That information is no longer accurate. A new paved road opened in 1998. You take the cut-off just before Majahual. The new road saves more than an hour in travel time, and much wear and tear on your car. (Even rental cars can get flat tires!) Whereas in the past you drove south from Majahual into Xcalak, you now approach Xcalak from the south, and actually drive through the village of Xcalak.

The paved road ends just before you get to town. Turn left at the end of the paved road and follow the road in to and through town. As long as you're either heading toward the sea or the sea is on your right, you really can't get lost, although if it's your first trip here it might feel like you are. Turn left at the white building that is the port Captain's office (Capitania de Puerto). There's a telephone pole with several small signs on it; maybe someday we'll get around to putting our sign on it. (If you miss that turn you'll only drive for about ten seconds before that road ends, so you won't have wasted much time before you turn around.) The short piece of road after the left turn, before the road curves right, is the only time the sea will be behind you. REEF HOUSE and Casa Carolina is conveniently located approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the bridge at the north end of town.

If you would like more information about driving to Xcalak from other parts of the Yucatan, please feel free to ask us.

It is possible to get a taxi from Cancun to Xcalak, but the process is complicated. Getting a taxi back to Cancun from Xcalak is not something you should count on. If you have a lot of leisure time, you can also get to Xcalak by bus.

Driving distances: Cancun is approximately 170 miles north of Limónes. Majahual is about 30 miles from Limónes, and Xcalak is 30 miles from Majahual. To see the driving route to Xcalak in greater detail, please click on the map above