I absolutely should not be writing about the beaches in Xcalak. I should be keeping this little-known destination a secret, but I just can’t help myself. The only saving grace may be that Xcalak is definitely not for everyone, so perhaps letting the cat out of the bag won’t be the beginning of its ruination.

The only sign of life at the town's main beach were a few village kids

Xcalak (pronounced ISH kah lack), located at the very southern tip of the State of Quintana Roo on the Caribbean side of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, was for many years the capital of the State. Banks, grocery stores, gas stations, retail stores, an electric plant, ice cream factory and even a movie theater served residents who numbered in the thousands. Then disaster struck in the mid 50’s when a hurricane leveled the community. Rather than rebuild, the government moved the capital further north to Chetumal, and many of the traumatized residents left the area as well.

Today Xcalak, a sleepy settlement of about 300 people, is so far off-the-beaten-track that few tourists make the five-hour drive from Cancun. Those who do are usually divers bound for Banco Chinchorro or fly fishermen who arrive to test their skills on the sand flats. Beachgoers have not yet discovered the area’s charms, perhaps because the beaches here do not offer wide swaths of pure white white sand and crystalline turquoise water like those found to the north in Tulum. Quite the opposite is true: Xcalak’s beaches are narrow and covered with dried seaweed, and extensive beds of seagrass cover the ocean bottom just offshore in most places. But Xcalak offers things not often found in other beach locations.

Path through sea grass leads to exquisite snorkeling along an offshore reef

An offshore reef is easily reached from shore and offers amazing snorkeling. The reef is substantial enough that if forms a breakwater, keeping in-shore waters as calm as a lagoon, and it is possible to walk out for half a mile before the water reached chest high. The beach is virtually deserted; it is not uncommon to walk for miles without seeing another soul. And shell collectors will be in their glory, since thousands of giant conch shells litter the shoreline. Perhaps most astounding, several minor Mayan ruins have been discovered in the area, including one oceanfront site where pottery shards by the thousands are free for the picking. Whether you are a stressed out corporate type needing a place to unplug and unwind, a couple in search of a romantic vacation spot, or a beachophile looking to discover the next great destination, Xcalak is a perfect getaway in a forgotten corner of the world.

Photo Credit: Barbara Weibel
Article by Barbara Weibel of Cultural Travel with Hole In The Donut