ACTIVITIES:

Xcalak is not the touristy type of vacation. If you need lots of entertainment and to be constantly on the go, this may not be the spot for you.

We want you to be aware of this before you arrive.

We offer an alternative to the ordinary.

~A walk on the beach to collect ancient Mayan pottery chards or discover ancient fishing weights washed ashore.

~A snorkel among the coral maze to turn the corner and spy a sea turtle or barracuda eye to eye.

~A swim in the shallows to see a huge sting ray nestled in the sand flats.

~A stretch on the patio with a glass of wine to watch incredible sunsets and twinkling stars.

~ A paddle on the lagoon while watching for a crocodile or tropical birds.

Then, if you aren't sated by doing nothing of a demanding nature, try these:

~~~Dine Out~~~~

In Xcalak and along the coast, wonderful relaxed gourmet restaurants feature local fare with seafood specialties or the American standards. These include the Leaky Palapa, Caribe, Costa de Cocos, Mayan Grill, and Sandwood Villas (0nly 500 steps from our casa).

~~~Dive and Fish~~~

There are two dive shops in our area: Costa de Cocos and XTC Dive Center.

Fishing trips can be arranged with Captain Victor Castro who is becoming internationally famous.

~~~Tour by Land or Sea~~~

Boat tours can be chartered to Bird Island, a winter gathering ground for flocks of birds.

Day trip by boat to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Belize, to dive, snorkel or shop.

Charter a boat to Hol Chan to snorkel in a famous cut in the reef where you will be sure to see nurse sharks. This involves first going to Belize by boat and obtaining a permit to snorkel or dive in the cut.

Drive to Kohunlich (3 hours away) or to Chacchoben (2 hours away) to explore these beautiful, quiet Mayan ruins.

Bacalar Lagoon (on the way to Kohunlich or Chetumal) is the most beautiful lagoon in the world and at the southern end is Cenote Azul. Take a plunge off a two story platform into the azure blue water of the cenote and snorkel with gigantic tree roots.

As Majahual (40 miles north of us) recovers from the devastation of Hurricane Dean, more activities will resume. There were opportunities for hang gliding, jet skiing, ATV rides, and horesback riding. These will gradually develop again.