Although the Yucatan peninsula has been immensely popular for decades, it is still possible to find some less visited places in the area, mainly in the southern part of the state of Quintana Roo. I think the rule is that the further you get from Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum the smaller and less touristy towns become. Mahahual is one of these places, a hidden gem in the south of the state.
This small fishing village is located halfway off the main Cancun – Chetumal highway. But you have to take a detour from the highway and drive for another 50 minutes through a straight, swampy road before reaching the village.
Apart from walking along the boulevard with its seafood restaurants and handicraft shops, there are many activities to enjoy in Mahahual. But there is one main reason why people from various parts of Mexico and the world come here; the town is a popular destination for lovers of marine life.
Known as the largest coral group in the northern hemisphere, Banco Chinchorro, is 35 km by boat from the coast of Mahahual. This natural area has been protected since 1996 and is home to an abundance of fish (also large as nurse sharks, spotted eagle rays, and even the occasional hammerhead shark), large coral reefs, and several shipwrecks, including two Spanish galleons. There is even a place where the shallow bottom is dotted with ancient canyons.
I have heard from many people that some tourists tend to (touch animals / throw garbage in the ocean), but thankfully we did not experience this at all on this trip. In fact, the guides actually noticed that no one entered the water with chemical sunscreen and I saw one of them even jumping into the water when someone accidentally dropped a tissue from the dock.
After snorkeling, it was a short boat ride to the island of Banco Chinchorro. Aside from a couple of lobster fishermen, the area is deserted, which means there is plenty of room for wildlife.
The natural vegetation of the Banco Chincorro Islands is mainly mangroves and the area is densely populated with iguanas and crocodiles.
This is an unprecedented prehistoric show!
Unfortunately, none of the guides had ever told us about these creatures at first and when we were looking for a bath, we were quite close to the crocodiles without even knowing it! They literally pop out of the bushes when you walk. That would have been a terrifying experience while urinating …
On the other side of the island there is a small wooden platform, from where you can closely observe the crocodiles, which is very incredible. The crocodiles seem hungry as many of them approached our deck once the guide threw a piece of wood into the water.
This is where Banco Chinchorro is located in Mexico:
