| A Casual Paradise for Couples All You Need Is Your Sonrisa ! Caribbean Costa Maya, Xcalak, Mexico |
| I'm nervous about renting a car & driving in Mexico, is it safe? If you are driving in Tijuana or Mexico City, you should be nervous! But the main roads and highways in the Yucatan Peninsula are very well constructed to modern standards, normally carry light traffic, and the other drivers are generally courteous. Keep an eye out for slow moving vehicles and/or bicycles sharing the road, but basically it's no different than driving in the States. It's a good idea to plan your arrival before dark - NOT due to banditos, just for ease of driving on unfamiliar roads - after all you are coming here to relax! And what a great way to explore "off the beaten path" areas away from the Americanized tourist zones and experience some authentic Mexican & Mayan culture. |
| Back to Playa Sonrisa |
| Maps & Links |
| Where in the World are you? Playa Sonrisa is 230 miles south of Cancun - but a world apart! We are about 7 kilometers (4.2 miles) north of the tiny fishing village called Xcalak (Ish-kah-lac) which is located on the peninsula that separates the Caribbean Sea from the Bay of Chetumal. Xcalak is about 8 km north of the channel separating Mexico from the island of Ambergris Caye, Belize. |
| How do we get there? The best (most economical) access is to fly in to Cancun. From there you can rent a car and travel the modern highways & new roads to Playa Sonrisa in a little under 5 hours. Depending on how late your flight arrives it might be wise to plan an overnight in Playa del Carmen or Tulum to avoid driving at night. Commercial air service is also available to Chetumal (2.5 hr drive) via Aviacsa Airline thru Mexico City, or private planes can fly directly to the Xcalak airstrip (1500 mtr packed gravel surface, but no fuel or services). See the Map link below to orient yourself with the are, and detailed driving dirctions. |
| Driving Directions: As you exit the Cancun airport turn south on the modern divided Highway 307 towards Tulum. This is the busy tourist corridor so you'll notice a decrease in traffic, and pace of life, after passing Tulum. Continue on Hwy 307 through "butterfly alley" towards Chetumal, the State Capital of Quintana Roo. You won't go all the way to Chetumal unless you miss the next turn. *And you might miss the turn because most road signs were blown over in Hurricane Dean, so the turns are currently NOT well marked. 100 km (62 miles) south of Tulum is Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Located at the PEMEX gas station in the center of town is an HSBC Bank with the last chance for an ATM machine, so consider topping off your gas tank as well as your wallet. Continue south on 307 about another hour, then 3 km past the village of Limones is a well marked* left turn (east) to Mahahual & Xcalak . You may encounter a military checkpoint at this junction - don't be alarmed, unless you are a gun smuggling guerilla, in which case please email us immediately to cancel your reservation. Just tell them you are going to Xcalak for "vacaciones". They may ask you to step out of the car for a "revision" (inspection) and may wish to open the trunk or a suitcase, but most tourists just get waived through. Continue east 55 km (34 miles) on the new Mahahual road. NOTE: the new road widening project is now completed from Limones all the way to Mahahual - and nice! Three kilometers before you reach the coast is a right turn to Xcalak - the ONLY turn onto a paved road that you encounter. (Sometimes the military checkpoint is at this intersection, sometimes at the next one, sometimes not any at all). There is now a PEMEX in Mahahual (which sometimes runs out of gas) but still no bank or ATM. Follow the paved "jungle road" south another 55 km (34 miles) to the tee in the road, turn left and proceed two kilometers into Xcalak. As you enter the village go north (left) when the road tee's at the soccer field & continue to the waterfront. Continue meandering north thru town, past the lighthouse and over the bridge to the sandy "old beach road". (The bridge is 1 block away from the waterfront, jog left at the Capitania del Puerto office to avoid the dead end at Marina Mike's). Continue 7 kilometers north of the bridge to Playa Sonrisa - our little slice of Secluded Tropical Paradise. And YES - it is worth the trip! Playa Sonrisa - Not Easy To Get To... But Harder To Leave! |
| Tour the Costa Maya |
| Playa Sonrisa |
| "Smile Beach" |
| Is Playa Sonrisa as remote as it sounds? Yes - and that's the allure of it. If the hustle & bustle of high rise hotel-condo mega resorts with discos & tee shirt shops & para-gliders & persistent timeshare vendors & franchise restaurants & crowds of tourists are your thing - we suggest a vacation in Cancun. But if that sounds too much like the everyday Rat Race that you need a break from, the peaceful tranquility & solitude at Playa Sonrisa is just what the Dr. ordered. |
