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Yucatán, Mexico
Photo: Pavel Kirillov, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
El Cuyo is a small coastal town on the Gulf of Mexico in northern Yucatán. Often described as a fishing village, the town derives most of its income from tourism. It is a barrier island with the Lagoon Ria Lagartos on the inland side of the island. The town is a popular destination for kitesurfing, fishing, birdwatching and other aquatic activities and natural explorations.
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Town Plaza
Quiet park with paved walkways, concrete benches, and food vendors (especially in the evenings).
El Cuyo Lighthouse
The view from the top of the lighthouse affords sweeping vistas of the ocean, the jungles, and the town itself. The lighthouse is generally closed and locked up tighter than the proverbial drum, but if you stop at the nearby Capitaneria office, you can ask to go up and they will generally lend you the key.
Small beachfront kitesurfing school with attentive, knowledgeable, patient instructors.
Kitesurfing rentals and lessons starting at M$1000 per hour. Offers a 6-day kite camp. Also offers sunrise paddleboard tours, yoga on the beach, and tours to nearby sites such as Las Coloradas or flamingo watching trips to Ria Lagartos.
Learn the sport of kitsurfing and wingfoiling with bilingual English-Spanish instructors who are passionate about what they do. Equipment rentals available.
Basic 3-day kiteboarding class as well as private instruction catered to the student. Also provides tour services, kayak rentals.
Nature tours through the Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve as well as cultural sites like the Mayan Mud Baths. Boats are available for half-day and full-day fishing excursions.
Nature tours to the flamingo nesting areas, seashell island, Mayan Mud baths and more. Knowledgeable guide provides deep insight into the culture and natural environment. Daily fishing charters available.
Nature tours in the Laguna Lagartos and fishing trips in the lagoon or the Gulf of Mexico.
Sea kayaks for the Gulf side of town, sit-on kayaks for the Lagoon side. They also rent paddleboards and beach umbrellas.
Nature preserve with coastal wetlands and mangrove swamps. Kayak trips into the swamps including sunrise and sunset trips. Offers a Jeep tour through the jungle for those less inclined toward physical activity as well as a 5-hour birdwatching expedition. Hiking trails are also available. The swamps are home to flamingoes and pelicans as well as more than 200 other species of bird. As you paddle through the swamps, you will likely see crocodiles floating just below the surface and monkeys swinging from the trees. If you are really lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of a jaguar or one of the smaller feline predators who inhabit the jungle.
Holistic wellness center offering relaxation and rejuvenation services with massages on the beach.
Massages, bioenergetics and yoga.
Casual open-air restaurant specializing in seafood and Yucatecan regional food. The house specialty is anything with mojo de ajo. Fresh ceviche is a winner too.
Authentic Italian-style pizzas in a small, cozy pizzeria owned by an Italian guy. Good variety of pizzas including a vegetarian option. Extra toppings cost M$50.
Friendly casual seafood restaurant. Ceviche or anything shrimp or octopus is recommended. Generous portions for the price.
Yucatecan restaurant with super chill laid-back vibe. Grab a table on the open patio or under the trees in the garden where you can kick off your shoes and dig your toes into the sand. The specialties are mostly seafood, but they serve classic sopa de Lima, cochinita pibil and other Yucatecan specialties. Big cocktails.
Casual hamburger joint with a nautical theme and some unusual toppings, like squid, lobster or octopus. .
Healthy choice breakfasts with plenty of vegan choices. The Buddhist Bowl is a generous, tasty start to the day. Coconut milk smoothies with coconut milk fresh out of the coconut. Good coffee drinks as well.
Casual seafood restaurant with zesty shrimp tacos and cold beer.
Chill place with salsa music and a nice mix of Cuban and Mexican food (including some vegetarian options). Great cocktails including tasty mojitos made with Havana Club rum.
Fresh seafood and fresh produce is the focus of this Yucatecan regional restaurant. The grilled octopus is a winner. Mowgli is the most expensive restaurant in town, but also the best if you crave innovative, flavorful dishes prepared by a Michelin-star chef..
Upscale restaurant with nouveau Mexican cuisine focusing on Yucatecan flavors and fresh ingredients, including lobster, octopus and snapper. Offers a gourmet 9-course dinner that is a bargain at M$1000 (about US$50). Reservations are a must.
Upscale restaurant with a contemporary dining room serving nouveau Mexican cuisine with an emphasis on grilled meats and seafood. Creative cocktails including several artesanal mezcals.
Wine bar with gourmet finger foods and light entrees. Part of a regional chain with locations in Playa del Carmen and Cancun.
Coffee shop serving espresso and flavored hot and cold coffee drinks as well as breakfast and lunch. Best shot of Java in town.
Large cocktails with light food (the Cubana sandwich is recommended, as are the passion fruit margaritas).
Small 12-room hotel with some rooms offering views of jungle or of beach. Breakfast available. Beach chairs and bicycles available for guest use. 50 meter walk to beach.
Rustic jungle beach hotel with cabins with thatched roofs, but fortunately modern conveniences like flush toilets and electricity.
Upscale boutique hotel with well-manicured grounds, and clean, well maintained, spacious rooms. On-site restaurant serves a full breakfast each morning. Outdoor deck with ocean views.
Jungle beach house with separate cabanas. Cabanas are well furnished with comfortable beds, fridge, fan, and hammocks. Friendly hosts.
Casual, pet friendly hotel with spacious, clean, well-maintained rooms that have air conditioning and fully equipped kitchens.
Modern luxury boutique hotel with an adults-only policy. Comfortable, spacious rooms. Outdoor swimming pool with cocktail bar. On-site restaurant serves international and regional Mexican cuisine.
Small modern hotel with apartment suites that include kitchen, living room, and balcony with ocean and jungle views. Rooms are well equipped with satellite TV, WiFi and kitchen utensils if you want to prepare meals in your unit. On-site swimming pool available. One and a half block walk to beach.
Upscale boutique hotel with modern amenities, spotlessly clean rooms and friendly service. Rooms include air conditioning, WiFi and cable TV. On-site swimming pool with lounge chairs and an area with a firepit for nighttime activities. On-site restaurant serves modern regional Yucatecan cuisine with an emphasis on fresh seafood.
American owned hotel catering to kiteboarders. Modern, clean, spacious rooms with air conditioning, close to the beach. Kiteboarding shop on premises. Friendly house dog.
Relaxing beach house with laid-back vibe. Rooms are decorated in bright colors and have air conditioning, WiFi and double beds. Outdoor garden has hammocks available under the shade of towering palms. 2 minute walk to beach.
Rustic cabins about 50 meters from the beach. Platform beds, fans, WiFi available (hit or miss).
Upscale boutique hotel with large suites, with balconies, good quality toiletries, air conditioning, and WiFi. On-site swimming pool with outdoor bar and plentiful deck chairs. Has a kite school on premises.
Friendly, very well maintained camping area that provides tents and hammocks. Clean showers with hot water. Rents bicycles, paddleboards and kayaks.
By bus
From Merida, take a Mayab or Noreste bus to Tizimin. From Cancun, take either a Mayab or Noreste bus to Colonia Yucatan.
It's a small town so walking is best, or ride a bike. Several places around town rent bikes, including some of the hostals and guest houses, or try Casita Verde on Av. Veraniega or Bike Center on Calle 21.
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