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Xcalak, driving map? Relaxing or boring? - 2/20/2013 7:36:50 PM
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nevertoolate
Posts: 256
Joined: 1/29/2005
From: Utah
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Doing a first time adventure to Xcalak in March, all advice welcome!
Diving, snorkeling. But how about eats & drinks?
How primitive will the accommodations be at Costa de Cocos?
We are going, but somewhat apprehensive with it being the first time. . .
Thanks!
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RE: Xcalak, driving map? Relaxing or boring? - 2/20/2013 8:40:51 PM
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Whitney
Posts: 2891
Joined: 2/6/2005
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You are going to L O V E the Leaky Palapa for food--trust me!! Go your first night--and it wont be your last!!!
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RE: Xcalak, driving map? Relaxing or boring? - 2/21/2013 9:46:46 AM
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SThompson
Posts: 456
Joined: 7/21/2005
From: Fort Worth Texas
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I've been to xcalak three times. March is a great time to go! It a sleepy little town with not much to do but enjoy and relax. It takes about a day and a half to just decompress. After that the hammock becomes your best friend! Snorkeling is great, you can take kayaks out to the reef or in some spots you can find some coral head right off the shore. We never stayed at Costa de Cocos so not sure about there. There is turtle grass for the first 50 feet or so. Most places have a pier to get you past that. You can also hire a boat to take you out too. The guys in our group went to chinchoro (sp?) to dive. Long boat ride but great diving! We also kayaked into the lagoon saw lots of nature and birds. Also we took cheap blow up floats so we could just hang out, floating about coral heads and watched the fish.
One of my favorite things were to go out to the end of the pier at night and look at the stars and the phosphorescent plankton in the water. It was like star in the water! The sky's are amazing too.
The town itself is very depressed. Lots of past hurricane damage from storms long ago. I've heard great things about the leaky palapa but have never been there. It was closed on the days we wanted to go. It's been 5 years since we've been to Xcalak so things may have changed. Enjoy you trip and post a report!
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RE: Xcalak, driving map? Relaxing or boring? - 2/21/2013 11:38:04 AM
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tmbutler
Posts: 2053
Joined: 11/16/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: nevertoolate
Doing a first time adventure to Xcalak in March, all advice welcome!
Diving, snorkeling. But how about eats & drinks?
How primitive will the accommodations be at Costa de Cocos?
We are going, but somewhat apprehensive with it being the first time. . .
Thanks!
Well everybodies going to have their own opinion for various reasons, but Xcalak was the hardest place for us to leave. They've fixed all the potholes in the paved road from Mahahual Pemex to Xcalak. The beach road thru the pueblo and to the north is slow going, but not bad. If it rains, your car will get muddy. You don't have to worry about getting stuck. Snorkeling was very good out in front of where we stayed. Depending on where you stay, if it's not so good out front of your resort, XTC dive center can hook you up with great snorkeling, and very worthwhile. Day trip to San Pedro was $250 last year, and we split it 6 ways. Saw enough to go back this year for 3 nights.
We will return to Xcalak next year for maybe 8-9 days.
TMB
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RE: Xcalak, driving map? Relaxing or boring? - 2/24/2013 2:21:25 PM
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Buggs
Posts: 813
Joined: 7/30/2006
From: Baltimore, Maryland
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Just got back - sigh - .
We've stayed at Sin Duda Villas (six times now). Costa de Coco is a nice place, their Harpoon beer is good, and the pizza is the best in the area ..... well, it's the only pizza in the area .....but, it's not bad.
XTC Diving is very good. We've gone on a snorkeling / bird Island / manatee tour last year. The snorkeling was great, the other parts were just so-so.
The boat ride to San Pedro is still $250 - it's all about how many are going. There were four of us going down, and six coming back. San Pedro has a very Jamaican feel to it. The language is English, and they do take US dollars there. The woodcrafts are outstanding!
PM me if you need a set of written driving instruction - - the owner of Sin Duda Villas (Margo sends one to her clients, and I can send you excerpts).
If you have an IPad - you can download an app called Skyview Free. You hold it up to the sky and it gives you the name of the stars and constellations. As it's pretty dark down there, the view of the sky is wonderful!
I know that you'll have a great trip - - - -
PS: You have to eat at the Leaky Palapa especially since they moved to their new place!
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RE: Xcalak, driving map? Relaxing or boring? - 2/24/2013 2:40:28 PM
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nevertoolate
Posts: 256
Joined: 1/29/2005
From: Utah
Status: offline
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Thanks all.
We're looking forward to five nights, of course that's only four days.
Wish it weren't so far, but we will be in Akumal for a few nights first and one after,
so perhaps the drive won't be too bad!
Made an online reservation at Leaky Palapa for first night, one important detail set.
Hope to dive, snorkel, and even spin cast fish. We will see when time slows...
Thanks for the advice.
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