For many years, Mahahual was a tiny fishing village which attracted a small number of travellers who would drift into Mahahual and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere and untouched beauty of the beach. Now, Mahahual is becoming very well-known, in part, due to the cruise ship activity but also, because many explorers want to find a beach in Mexico that is quiet and natural and not crowded with a lot of tourists. And so, Mahahual, the sleepy little village is changing in good ways with increased tourism.

The turn offroad from 307, just south of Limones, is new and takes you directly to Mahahual in about 45 minutes. As the road turns south, into town, the surface is more like you would imagine a beach road to be: sandy with a few potholes. You will want to drive slowly however, as there are many stores, street vendors and restaurants to enjoy. The town perks up when there are cruise ships in port – more vendors and tourists crowd the street. In a similar way to Playa del Carmen’s 5th Avenue, this beach road is closed to cars and taxis during the day to allow safe sauntering

Mahahual is much more than the village. New hotels along the coast south of town provide accommodation and services for the many travelers who are choosing Mahahual as their vacation destination. And for good reasons : fewer people, a natural environment as well as the coastal reef which is fantastic for diving and snorkeling – uncrowded andvery healthy. Most divers know about Chinchorro Reef, the second largest atoll in the world, and want to experience this amazing site which is about 1 ½ hours off shore.