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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. There is another gas station in Mahahual, but sometimes they are out of gas.

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.  It will be impossible to miss the turn.  Most likely, there will be a military checkpoint at the intersection.