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Getting to Xcalak and Sandwood Villas   *** see photo tour of Xcalak

From the U.S., fly into Cancun, pick up a rental car and head south down Highway 307. Or, fly into Cozumel for a short stay, take the ferry over to Playa Del Carmen and rent a car there. We find we tend to get better rates car rental rates if we use the internet.

We make a car reservation prior to coming down over the internet. We have found that Yahoo travel offers the best prices on rental cars and YES we do take the Mexican insurance. I do not rely on credit card insurance in Mexico.  

While you've probably heard it before, be reminded that this drive is best done in daylight, many people ride bikes and walk on the highways at night making it a very dangerous drive.  

If coming from Cancun or Cozumel, the drive through Quintana Roo is very interesting. The road goes right by the entrance to the Mayan ruins in Tulum and from there, through a rain forest around the international biosphere reserve of Sian Ka'an. You will see kids that appear to have walked out of the jungle standing along side the road with baby monkeys or parrots for sale. It is not unusual to observe exotic birds and other fauna at any point in the drive. During one trip we traveled through clouds of butterflies for about 15 miles ...so thick that truckers were pulling off the road to clean their radiators.  

You will see lots of Mayan mounds and even an occasional small Mayan temple from the road. You will also probably encounter federal military checkpoints where soldiers are checking for narcotics trafficking. While they may want to search the car or luggage, there's no need to be alarmed. As long as you aren't carrying any contraband, you'll pass right through.

 We recommend that no matter how much gas you have, you should top off your tank in the town of Felipe Carrillo Puerto. 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.) 

There is a great little taco stand in Felipe Carrillo Puerto. across the street from the gas station with pork tortas sandwiches and chicken tamales which are excellent. You can also pick up groceries, drinking water and some fresh fruit in Felipe Carrillo Puerto.

During the drive, keep a lookout for "Topes" road signs that indicate an approaching speed bump. It is no coincidence that there is usually an auto repair shop next to the bumps. There will also be small children and women nearby selling food to motorist.

For most of the drive, you are on decent paved roads. The main north and south road along Quintana Roo coast is Highway 307. You will pick it up in either Cancun or Playa. Stay on that until you're just south of the town of Limones. A short distance after you pass through Limones, take a left off of Highway 307 at the (overhead) sign to Majahual.

After approximately 50 kilometers, take a right on the new road (Blacktop) to Xcalak. (Note that from kilometer post 41 to 49, the road gets a little rough so you might want to reduce your speed slightly.) It will be impossible to miss the turn.  Most likely, there will be a military checkpoint at the intersection.  

From the turnoff, the new road is 60 kilometers long. After 60 kilometers, you will come to a "T" intersection where you take a left and soon you will leave the paved road. It is a short distance to town. 

On a recent drive, it took us almost exactly 2-hours to drive from the gas station in Felipe Carrillo Puerto to the town of Xcalak driving at a speed of just over 100 kilometers per hour. The drive included a stop at the checkpoint of five to ten minutes.

Once in town, the road curves to the left around the local baseball field. Take the 2nd left (you will see a concrete manhole cover in the middle of the intersection) and continue down this road till it ends at a concrete covered park continue on until you come to the pier.

You will pass a pier on the right and then a lighthouse and small Navy garrison on the left.

Shortly after that, follow the curve in the road to the left and then the right and over the steep (drive slowly) bridge out of town and this road is full of pot holes take it slow.  The last time we took this trip in early April 2001 it took us 23 minutes to from the bridge to Sandwood. 

Follow this road about 8 km north of town and you will find Sandwood Villas. 

Some information checkpoints: The soldiers are usually very courteous and will probably ask to make a very quick search of your car. Simply get out of the car, let them have a look and you'll be on your way in a minute or two, don't offer to pull items out of your car, let the soldiers look at what they want and please don't get mad or feel intimidated just let them do their job and smile and you'll be on your way in a minute.

Road update 1/16/06

New speed bumps at Playa Del Carmen and  Puerto Morales on Highway 307, Police are using radar on 307 so drive accordingly.
New speed bumps at Mahahual to Xcalak crossroads.

Have a great trip

Your oceanfront villa is waiting for you.

last modified: January 22, 2006