Xcacel, México

The few who know of Xcacel enjoy the remote shores of this beautiful sandy beach by day. By night, it serves a different, and far more important purpose,

Xcacel Beach, Riviera Maya, Mexico

as the first line of defense in the war to save the giant sea turtle. Before humans discovered the Yucatan, these remarkable gentle creatures had made their way to these shores to lay their eggs and give life to future generations. Today, however, they face extinction.

By day, the beach is open to the public. It is a quiet, undiscovered gem, the perfect place for those seeking solitude, who want to spend a few hours away from the crowded northern beaches of Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The snorkeling here is also excellent. Xcacel is located 46 km (30 miles) south of Playa del Carmen, past the hotel Bahia Principe. There is a sign on Carretera Federal 307 (Federal Highway 307) marking its entrance, a long dirt road that leads to the beach. If you take the bus, the drivers will likely know where to stop. The entry road can, itself, be an adventure to pass during the rainy seasons of summer and late winter. Large pools of water and muddy holes can overtake the road. The challenge of reaching the site, however, is worth the extra effort to get here.

Hidden behind the trees away from the beach is another surprise, a large cenote.

Xcacel beach from the bushes

You can find it by going to the point where the main road into the area interesects with the beach and the large hut volunteers and scientists use to sleep during the day after the long nights preserving sea turtle eggs. Facing the beach, take the dirt path to your right and follow it into the woods about a half a kilometer (roughly a ¼ of a mile). Follow the sign pointing right and you're there. The cenote's water is fresh, with lots of small tropical fish livng there. You can swim or snorkel, but always watch your step because the surrounding stones are quite slippery.

By night, Xcacel is a place where biologists, paid workers, and volunteers come from April to early October to help preserve the sea turtles' eggs from predators and humans. The female turtles arrive by cover of darkness, pulling themselves up the beach until they find the most suitable spot to deposit their precious cargo. Once they identify the location, they use their rear fins to dig a hole about 2/3rds of a meter (2 feet) deep. The whole process is exhausting for the animal, and by the time they begin laying their eggs, the females are quite exhausted. It is during this time, when the turtles are their most sedate, that members of the sea turtle protection program move in to collect the eggs while the mother lays them. They are counted and placed into bags. When the femaile turtle is done, she covers the hole and returns to the sea, oblivious to the fact that her cargo will be moved to a protected area on the beach. The whole process takes from 30 to 60 minutes. Sixty days later, the baby turtles will hatch, the workers will collect them and deposit them into the sea when it is safe.

During the egg laying season, from April to October, Xcacel is open from 9 AM to 6 PM. The rest of the year, it is open from 6 AM to 9 PM. Access is free. Sea turtles are attracted to darkness, so there is no development in the area by design. You will not find any restaurants close by, so bring your own food and beverages. Camping and bonfires are not allowed. Dogs and sunbathing lotions are also prohibited. Please also take any garbage with you when you leave. This is a special place, so please treat it with care.