Xpu Ha: The Secret Beach

Xpu Ha is why you talk to locals and ask for their recommendations. We were talking to a lovely lady who recently left her teaching job to pursue a new career in tourism. We mentioned casually that we were driving to Playa del Carmen for a little look-see and maybe check out the beach scene. She said if we wanted to avoid the crowd, not too far from Playa - actually she said midway between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel - is a local hangout, pretty much under the foreign crowd radar, a beach called Xpuha - her favorite hangout.

This part of Quintana Roo is very friendly to drivers. You feel like going on a road trip in America. Our contact told us that the public access to the beach is from the highway. We sort of missed it because there's no gate or anything that would say it's the beach. There is an entrance fee, a small one and if you purchased any food or drink inside up to a certain amount they would refund the price of one ticket, isn't that a good deal.

What I saw was a slice of tropical heaven. Wide sandy white beach, shimmering turquoise waters, palm trees, and best of all it was uncrowded. Most of the people there looked like locals, a handful appear to be backpackers.

It was a hot humid typical summer day in the tropics, but the sky turned dark for a bit but no rain came.














This probably is where a backpacker can avail of accommodations?

The heat was getting to me, I needed something cold to refresh me so we headed to one of the eateries there, took a seat by the veranda and ordered a little nibble.


Huge menu, but quite disappointing since the menu seem to cater to the foreign palate, imho.


I see locals opt for the beach seating.


No elbowing others for a hammock.


Naturally I chose a totally non Mexican dish - nachos with shrimps.

Xpuha is a local hangout, no frills, nothing fancy, don't expect Cancun resort ambiance here. But if you seek idyllic setting without pretensions, this is your paradise.

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