Always wanted to go see turtles. Only 6 miles away ( 7-8 minute drive?) from the Tulum beach, Xcacel is where Sea turtles go and lay eggs. Sea turtles love X’cacel beach because there’s lots of supple deep sand ( walking on the sand reminded me of walking on the deep snow), a minimal outer reef and virtually no one around. X’cacel in years past had been the site of a turtle protection program, one of the first in the area, but the property was bought by a hotel chain and now sits in legal limbo, caught between the environmentalists and the developers.
But it seems like the beach is still protected and guarded by official guardians on sight and many rules for the turtles. Turtles lay eggs from April to October and the peak time is July and August, which is the hottest time of the year. We didn’t see the turtles this time (and I believe we need to be there during the night time) but we have enjoyed the beautiful beach and a Cenote tucked in middle of lush palms.
Promising with Gael to go back to see Turtles laying eggs in the new year, we headed to the cenote. Cenote is a sinkhole with exposed rocky edges containing groundwater. The fresh water. It is typically found in the Yucatán Peninsula and some nearby Caribbean islands. And boy, they are beautiful. Cenote comes in all different sizes, surroundings and the depths and some of cenotes require professional diving skills to see deep underwater creatures.
Xcacel beach has a small semi fresh water cenote tucked right in the middle of palm and mangrove bushes and we took a refreshing dip in it!
On a way to cenote. What you see is Mangrove.
Casarosas walking the way to the Cenote!
Getting recharged.
