We usually travel the West coast of Mexico and if you go to my website you can read my reports and blogs.
This year we thought we might leave earlier and go to Yucatan. So I have have some questions for you travelers to that area.
1. Palmul looks nice, do I need reservations, will they honor them to stay for a few weeks in late December?
2. If we decide to fly home for the holidays is there a safe place to park the motorhome for a week or so in that area?
3. Any other recommended campgrounds heading south to Chetumal, we have solar panels and enjoy dry camping.
4. What foods do I need to get out of my refrigerator before entering Campeche beside pork, chicken and eggs?
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West Coast question
We may head over to Huatulco on our way back. A year ago the nice campground next to the golf course was closed do to construction. Has it reopened, are there any alternatives if it has not?
John
My Stories
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We spent the winter in Paamul last year, and I believe all the full service spots were full. There always seemed to be a few transitory spots in play, and people coming and going.
I don't have experience with their reservation policy.
We enjoyed a couple of nights in Chetumal in February, lots of room.
I surprised that I never got any comments about where to park an RV if we fly out of Cancun or any other comments on Palmul.
I'm sure lots of you go there and may have some comments on whether I need to make a reservation and whether they will honor reservations.
I'm always happy to give advise on all the places in Mexico that we have travelled.
Sorry keelhauler1. Have only flew into Cancun. A few years ago we were staying a at Dive Resort and there was a couple who had driven down in their MH. They made arrangements with one of the resort employees to store and watch their MH while they flew to Cuba. But we were 4 hours South of Cancun. Sorry could not help more but I am sure if you just go down, you will find a solution.
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
Two years ago we flew from Cancun to Detroit and back. Left RV set up on site in Paamul. No issues. As I'm sure you've discovered, if there's anything predictable about Mexico, it is that nothing is predictable. Best bet is to get there and then figure out your options. What was good one year may not work out next year.
If you search this forum for Paamul, you'll read lots of comments. We spent two winters there. Lots of great beaches, snorkeling, crab races etc but not much Mexico. The area around Playa del Carmen is more American than a lot of the USA. Still a great spot to spend the winter.
I've been trying to answer you but couldn't seem to post yesterday.
If you PM Harvestmoon, she lives at Paamul and can tell you more about reservations and availability. I live down the road aways but our RV is parked on private land across from our condo. We've got George's Tioga there now but in general they don't rent to RVs and have no hookups. I have heard that caravans have been turned away with reservations from Paamul but if you are one or two rigs then I think you wouldn't have a problem. I've never stayed there so I can't help you more.
As for a safe place to leave your RV, I think that I would check with the RV park in Cancun about storage. They are out by Puerto Juarez, near the Isla Mujeres ferry terminal, they are in the Church's book. We stayed there once many years ago to be close to the airport and it was fine. If you stored it there you would be a cab ride from the airport which would be convenient. In addition, there are several guarded parking lots across from the ferry terminals along there. We've parked our jeep at them when going to Isla and they appear to be secure. I saw a class c in one of them.
There are still RV spots for smaller RVs at X2 along the Maya Riviera between Paamul and Akumal, they fill up fast in the winter though. Directions are in the Church book, go in a tow car first.
It is possible that you can still boondock at the Colectivo de Pescadores in Tulum, I haven't asked lately but when I did ask last fall they said it was still allowed. To get there, take the Boca Paila road towards the beach from the first intersection as you approach the town of Tulum (past the ruins). When the road seems to veer to the right (police kiosk at this corner), turn left back towards the ruins along the beach. Several kilometers later on the right you will see a sign for the Colectivo and for the restaurant Don Cafeto. Go in there, it is a dirt road, sometimes in better shape than in others but it is not long. You will be parked a little off the beach in hard packed sand. It is an incredibly beautiful beach, with views of the Tulum ruins and a few cabanas rented by the restaurant. There's a place to dump, probably water but I'm not sure and it will be pretty salty. Water trucks will come in there and you can catch a colectivo to the town of Tulum for supplies.
It's out of the way, but a trip to the coast at Mahahual or to Xcalak would be nice, they are beautiful caribbean beach towns and it is possible to boondock along the water. The turn off to the coast for them is south of Felipe Carrillo Puerto and Limones on 307. I think Xcalak is nicer because it doesn't have the cruise ships coming in as Mahahual does, but it is farther. We've just parked on the dirt road in front of the water, no problem.
Here we are parked in Xcalak.
There are also places to park around Laguna Bacalar, also I think there is still a primitive RV park there. The lake is quite beautiful.
The RV park in Calderitas near Chetumal is one of the nicest I've been in here in Mexico. It's a gorgeous location, you are not lock step with your neighbor and there are local seafood restaurants within walking distance and wifi on site.
That's all the info I can think of right now. Hope it helps.
Isn't it gorgeous? I love Xcalak and there are some really nice people living there. It's too isolated for me to live but I do love visiting and the diving is excellent.
John, I missed your other question about what foods they take. I always assume they will take beef too but I haven't ever tried it. What we do is stop at the Palenque turnoff at the Pemex there, buy some ice, put all the meat and eggs in a cooler, set the cooler in the cab with a half dozen cokes on top. So far, it's worked for us. About half the time, there is either no one at the check point or they just wave us through. The other times, they come in and look in the refrigerator. That's it. It's the border between Tabasco and Campeche, I've never been checked for anything between the other states. Along there, you enter Chiapas for a few miles and then go back into Tabasco before the Campeche border. The Palenque turnoff is in Chiapas and about a half hour or so from the check point - or hour? can't remember and don't have my log book here but it's not too far. Depending on how hot it is we've also just thrown all the frozen meat in the laundry basket in the shower. I eat it, I don't sell it, I don't feed it to pigs and chickens and in fact, I usually don't even stop in the state of Campeche. Just saying, in case someone feels like attacking me for my CostCo pork chops.
Jonna,
After seeing your photo of Xcalak, you really have us excited to go there and boondock.
Looks like Xcalak avoided most of the Hurricane that hit Majahual last year.
I have a kayak and I'm a certified diver so it looks like I will have plenty to keep me busy.
I hope I won't get stuck in the soft sand like I did when we were at Marauta on the West coast on our last trip.
Hopefully the water man comes by at least once a week with 5 gal jugs of Aqua Purificada.
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