Off the beaten track, but noted for its excellent scuba diving and fishing, Xcalak offers an alternative to the throngs of people and high rise hotels found further north. ‘Xcalak' means ‘the twins' in Maya, referring to the 2 cuts in the reef that provide access to Chetumal Bay. Read a history of Xcalak. Though changing slowly it's mostly divers and sport fishermen who go to the trouble to get to Xcalak. Though cruise ships now visit Mahahual located just north. Xcalak is located some 250 miles south of Cancun a the southernmost tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. A palm-studded coastal region called Costa Maya. It is a place where the second largest barrier reef in the world and the breathtaking coastline edge a land of ancient forests backed brilliantly by azure waters of the Mexican Caribbean. Time seems to have forgotten this remote, somewhat primitive area. The town of Xcalak, for whatever reasons, appears to have resisted progress, as we know it in the "civilized" world. It is not far to the border of Belize and a world away from the world most of us live in. Yet it is what many dream about and hope to discover. This natural adventure land boasts a vast array of tropical plant and animal life. Lagoons along the undisturbed shoreline are home to Tarpon, Snook, Bonefish and Permit. Only a short distance from the beach, the most prolific and unspoiled reef beckons the snorkeler, diver and fisherman. Hikers will enjoy being surrounded by jungle and huge flocks of birds that migrate here. Hidden lagoons, miles and miles of perfect 'flats' with crystal clear waters, protected from the wind offer the fisherman plenty of opportunity to land Tarpon, Bonefish, and Snook. the abundance of fish makes both fly-fishing and spin fishing rewarding. The diving here is truly spectacular. Fishing: The waters around Xcalak are a haven for fishing. Open-water trolling, snapper fishing on or inside the barrier reef as well as superb flyfishing for bonefish, tarpon and permit in Chetumal Bay. Divers will find the Belize reef, the largest in the western hemisphere just half a mile from the shore and reefs, caves, canyon, walls, and incredible drop offs that plunge hundreds of feet ensure an adventure for all diving abilities. Chinchorro Banks (Banco Chinchorro): Nearby Chinchorro Banks, a massive coral atoll that stretches almost 30 miles along the Yucatan coast is considered one of the wonders of the marine world. * Coral Reef Foundation - http://www.chinchorro.net/ * Cancun South - http://www.cancunsouth.com/cit_xcalak.html * Coral Realm - http://www.coralrealm.com/diving/chinchorro.html Chinchorro Reef is a 30-mile long atoll, as wide as 9 miles at certain points, and surrounded by a barrier reef. Inside Chinchorro's barrier reef, the clear waters average about 10 to 20 feet deep, creating the perfect environment for the maze of coral heads that stretch from the north islands to the southernmost part of the reef. Outside the barrier, the reef starts as shallow as 30 feet, and continues down as a steep wall. Fresh water, as is common in remote, tropical locations, is a precious commodity and gathered mostly by rain collected on the roofs of individual buildings, channeled into underground cisterns and ultimately pumped into each room. All the Resorts provide bottled drinking water for their guests. Depending upon where you intend to stay, you may be well advised to purchase some basic provisions on your way to Xcalak, such as in Playa del Carmen or Carillo Puerto. Getting There: Car: The best way is to rent a car in Cancun and drive! Get on Highway 307 and keep driving!! Bus: Long and arduous. To get to Xcalak by bus is not exactly the easiest way since it is time consuming and can be a test of your mental fortitude and patience. At the Cancun bus station you take an ADO first class bus to Carillo Puerto. From there a regular bus headed for Limones. You must not arrive in Limones after three in the afternoon or else you will miss the connection to Xcalak, which originates in Chetumal. Another possibility is to take a first class coach directly to Chetumal, stay there for the night, and catch the 6 am bus to Xcalak. Taxi: Possible but not recommended. To hire a taxi in Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Carillo Puerto is a good idea if you bargain well with a cabdriver who happens to be interested in getting to know the southern part of Quintana Roo. You will get the best results at the Cancun Bus station, certainly not however at the Airport. Xcalak does in fact have a well-maintained 4000 ft. air strip, some two kilometers west of town, allowing just about any size private aircraft to land and take off safely. Obviously this is the most expensive, but comfortable, mode of transportation to get Xcalak. You can fly from Cancun to Chetumal, about a half-hour's drive south of Bacalar, for about $135 round-trip on AeroCaribe (run by Mexicana, 1-800-531-7921) or for a bit less on local carriers. But you need to still arrange land transportaion to Xcalak. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/Xcalak/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:51:05 EST Xcalak (pronounced ISHKALAK) is located 250 miles, 4-5 hours, south of Cancun a the southern most tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. Xcalak is a palm-studded coastal region called Costa Maya. Xcalak is far south. Make sure you have enough gas to get there and back though there is a gas station in Felipe Carrillo Puerto - about half way there. You should fill up your tank each time you pass a gas station. Off the beaten track, but noted for its excellent scuba diving and fishing, Xcalak offers an alternative to the "tourists" and high rise hotels found in Cancun and Playa. Xcalak, with a current population of around 350 people, was the largest city in Quintana Roo until it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1955. It is not far to the border of Belize by boat. Here is a good offsite map: http://www.xcalak-info.com/xcalakmap.pdf (archived here) Also: http://www.xcalak.info/visit/uk/xcalak_map-uk.shtml http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/Xcalak/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:51:05 EST The best weather of the year is late spring - which curiously enough coincides with the least number of visitors. Early summer is nice also. By late summer it gets pretty hot and humid (this is the tropics) - although quite tolerable if you stay casual next to the refreshing Caribbean Sea. "Rainy Season", a.k.a. Hurricane Season, is technically June thru November. But that doesn't mean 6 months of steady rain and/or hurricanes. Even in rainy season most days are predominately sunny with occasional showers and thunderstorms, not days on end of pouring rain unless a tropical storm or hurricane is visiting. Statistically there is only about a 5% chance of a tropical storm or hurricane disrupting your particular dates. Mexico's South-Central region has a climate will be similar to that in Central Mexico, with elevated areas being cooler and more temperate. The climate gets distinctly hotter and more humid as you travel deeper into the south / southeast and the Yucatan Peninsula. As you reach the cities located within the Yucatan, proximity to the coast determines the temperature and humidity. In summer, coastal areas stay cooler due to trade winds, while interior jungles are humid, with higher temperatures. March and April are the driest months and September is generally the wettest month. Rainfall usually comes in short, sharp bursts and cools the atmosphere a little. The hurricane season is June to October. For those visiting in summer, July is generally drier and more predictable than August. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/weather/Xcalak/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:51:05 EST Buy Mexican auto insurance! Yeah I know your credit card may cover some of this in the states but not always in Mexico. If you do get in an accident it will be worth the few extra bucks you end up paying for the insurance. Xcalak is far south. Make sure you have enough gas to get there and back though there is a gas station in Felipe Carrillo Puerto - about half way there. You should fill up your tank each time you pass a gas station. It is the last gas station before Xcalak and for some vehicles, barely less than a half a tank away. (If you find yourself running low, you can buy gas in Xcalak but it will be more expensive.) At last Mahahual has a gas station, just 60 klm. from Xcalak. Slow down as you approach the small villages, for they are invariably bracketed by speed bumps (topes). There's also plenty to see, for in the towns you will encounter people and animals engaged in a life of simplicity so far removed from our own as to resemble a parallel universe. Driving is on the right hand side of the road just like in the USA. Be aware that many roads are not in the best of conditions after you leave Cancun. Though Highway 307 has been improved greatly over the years beware to the tope! Most secondary roads will not be in good condition. Driving at night should be avoided if possible: cars without lights, drunk drivers, cows in the road, drunks in the road, no reflective lines on the highway, potholes, etc. Always be aware of livestock. Gringos call them "speed bumps", in Mexico they are called tope (TOE-pay). Tope are common even on some major roads so keep your eyes on the road as they are nearly invisible but very tall, which can rip off your muffler. There are not a lot of gas stations in the Mayan Riviera. There are gas stations at Puerto Moreles, Playa del Carmen and Tulum (also one on the island of Cozumel). To be safe, don't let your tank get down below 1/4. Credit cards are NOT accepted at PEMEX, the state run gas company. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/car_rentals/Xcalak/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:51:05 EST Restaurants and Dining: One of the best reasons to go to Mexico is to enjoy the delicious food. The mexican kitchen is famous for it's use of Chiles, totillas and corn etc. There is a great variaty of meat, vegetarian and fish dishes. Here are some highlights: Appetizers: Sopa de Tortilla Avocado And Green Chile Soup Empanadas Caldo Tlalpeño Sopa de Lentejos Ensalada de Nopalitos Main courses: Beef Fajitas Chiles Rellenos En Salsa Ranchera Cochinita Pibil Chicken Enchiladas Suizas http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/restaurants/Xcalak/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:51:05 EST