Playa Xcalacoco is a beautiful beach on the northern tip of Playa del Carmen. This is where many locals and tourists enjoy hanging out. The beach is far away from the hustle and bustle of the town, yet close enough to access quickly. As a retiree in Playa del Carmen, emerging in the culture and mingling with the locals is a great way to really enjoy the city. Xcalacoco beach offers that and much more.

The beach is long and beautiful, with nice warm water for swimming and snorkeling. Although some hotels are lined along this beach, there is more than enough room for those who want to pack their coolers, bring their towel and just enjoy the sun. If you’re not so keen on being out under the soon for too long, there are certain places where for a modest 50 or 100-peso fee you can rent some shade, a chair or a beach bed.

Since the beach is not completely touristy, you should definitely pack a lunch and some beverages with you for the day. There are no restaurants or stores on the beach, and the closest Oxxo or convenience store is on the highway on the entrance towards the beach. You may want to stop there before you keep driving in to get anything you may want to enjoy at the beach.

For those who love swimming and snorkeling, there is a reef just a few meters in. The crystal-clear water allows for great visibility. So, make sure to look out for the many bright and colorful fish and crabs swimming around the corals.

How to Get to Playa Xcalacoco

This beach is located between two hotels (Azul Fives and La Reve). They’re both all-inclusive boutique resorts, which means tourists from those hotels rarely leave their designated areas, leaving plenty of space for everyone else.

To reach the beach from Playa del Carmen downtown, you will need to drive north on the Highway 307. Continue driving past the entrance to Grand Coral. At the traffic light where the Coca Cola factory is, turn right on the road. There is a sign that reads Lol-Tun. This is the road where you will find the last Oxxo before getting to the beach. So, make sure to factor it in as your last stop if you want to buy anything else.

You will drive on this road for a few minutes, reaching the Azul Fives resort. Just ahead is a small entrance, which is the public access to the beach. Keep your eyes open as there is no clear sign for this path. Try to get there as early as possible. After 10am, you will see many cars lined up parked outside and you will need to park far from the entrance. The street only allows for about 20 cars to be parked. If you reach the Le Reve Hotel, you have gone too far.

However, just ahead past Le Reve, there is a place where you can park for $50 pesos. You may also rent shade, bathroom, palapas, beach beds and chairs for another modest fee. You can even rent their BBQ grill for $100 pesos if you want to have some food there.

What to Do in Xcalacoco

There really isn’t much to do except enjoy the sun, the ocean and the calmness of being on a beautiful beach away from the tourist areas. We highly recommend sticking around for the sunset. It is extremely beautiful with its pastel colors making for stunning photographs.

All we can say is that you will not regret spending the day at Xcalacoco beach. It’s a great place to escape from the vibrant city energy and relax in a tranquil setting. This is essential for your health and well-being. And if you love it so much you want to spend every day there, we recommend investing in a property in El Cielo Residencial, which gives residents direct access to this gorgeous beach.