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Gerardlaval
Gerardlaval

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Playa Xahuayxol is a wild beach in the south of the Riviera Maya, located about an hour’s drive from Mahahual. Uncrowded, it faces a shallow grassy flat, punctuated by numerous coral patches. Snorkeling the area, you will spot a great diversity of fish, including angelfish, grunt, surgeons and damselfish.

Reef fish above Playa Xahuayxol seagrass beds
Playa Xahuayxol seagrass beds are home to dozens of shore fish species.

How to get to Playa Xahuayxol snorkeling spot?

Playa Xahuayxol is located in the south part of the Riviera Maya, about an hour’s drive south of Mahahual. Access to the beach is free.

Playa Xahuayxol snorkeling map

Water entrance for snorkeling Playa Xahuayxol

You can get into the water wherever you want from the beach, facing the reef. At low tide, entering the water can be difficult because there is not enough water on the reef to snorkel.

Playa Xahuayxol snorkeling exploration tips

The area to explore includes the seagrass and reef areas facing the beach. The reef is not regular along the coast, and is interspersed with several passes.

French angelfish at Playa Xahuayxol
Juvenile French angelfish are found close to corals, where they can hide in case of danger.

On this spot, the depth is limited (↕3-6ft/1-2m), making it very easy to spot underwater life from the surface.

The diversity of fish is great. Damselfish, French angelfish, grunt (several species) and sergeants majors gather around the coral patches, while yellowfin mojarras cross the seagrass beds from time to time.

Damselfish at Playa Xahuayxol
Damselfish are very common throughout the snorkeling area.

Restaurants and accommodation nearby

Cabañas Ecoturísticas Costa Maya, offers accommodation without any comfort just in front of the reef.

 

  • Level required Beginner
  • Maximum depth10ft/3m
  • Water entranceFrom a sandy beach
  • LifeguardNo
  • Visitor numbersLow
  • Access costsFree

MAP Spot

These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life.

This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.