What a wonderful day to be at the beach! What about visitingXcacel- Xcacelito?
Close to the small town of Chemuyil, this beach is well known among locals, far away from the crowds and closer to the way mother nature intended beaches to be. Sand, sun and coconut trees welcome you to one of the most secluded beaches in the Mayan Riviera.
Immerse yourself in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, sunbath in the soft white sand and enjoy the sound of the waves and the breeze swaying the coconut trees.
Xcacel-Xcacelito is a nature reserve, it is protected by the federal government since it is one of the most important turtle nesting sites in Mexico and a vast area of mangroves. This reserve is about 362 hectares of pristine jungle, and one of the few beaches without major constructions.
If you go to Xcacel-Xcacelito, it is important to take your own drink and food, as well as chairs, umbrella, icebox or whatever you need. The place is quite basic and it only has a few toilets and showers available, there is no shops nearby so this is a trip you have to plan ahead of time.
Getting to Xcacel can be a little be tricky, it is not signaled on the road. It is located between Pueblo Chemuyil and Xel-Ha. There is a small sign but it is about 3 square feet, so keep your eyes open for a dirt road going to the beach.
There is plenty of things to do: from sunbathing to snorkeling in the nearby reef. Go for a short walk in the jungle and find a cenote with pristine waters or just enjoy the view and nature and relax. We are sure it is going to become one of your favorite places!!
It is important to get there early, since the closing time is enforced by 4:00 p.m. to make sure the turtles feel safe to make their nests on the beach. There is a voluntary donation of 10-20 pesos per person, this money is used to keep the place running.
What are you waiting for? Go ahead and have fun at Xcacel-Xcacelito.
-By Bea Lozano
Akumal really is a great place to enjoy the beach on any day. I guess the only negative thing is that on Sunday it’s the place to be and can get a little crowded. You can find all the locals enjoying their surrounds as much as any tourist. The whole family comes down to the beach, with coolers full of drinks and lunch for everyone.
Trendy, yet still somewhat unknown, vibrant and “happening,” but still quiet and relaxing, modern and elegant, yet still natural; these are some of the words that could be used to describe the community known as Coco Beach in Playa del Carmen.
For the past while, Bea and I have given a fair bit of attention to Little Italy and the stretch of 
Coco Beach deserves some attention from anyone who loves Playa because it’s new and seems to be the most promising up-and-coming community; I’m guessing within five years or so the community will be lively like Little Italy, not to mention famous!
The community is very new, and mostly residential. There are a few restaurants, bars and pizza shops showing up as well. As Fifth Avenue continues to grow, Coco Beach is becoming the next hotspot in the downtown area. Two new hotels along the previously undeveloped area just north of Coco Beach have made its location very central in town.
Most importantly, it’s simply a nice place to walk around in or ride a bike through; personally, I like riding my bike to the community, and then getting off to just enjoy a walk; sometimes I head down to the beach, but other times it’s just a pleasant way to “pass through.”