Written by Jennifer Dyer @solymargoddess

Ocean Conservationist, Travel Blogger, Digital Marketing Professional specializing in Travel and Leisure Sector, PADI Mermaid Instructor @therivieramermaids, Non Profit Boutique owner @thesolymarboutique & Modeling/Creators platform founder @therivieramodels

Escape with me to this quant Caribe fisherman’s village located in the gulf of Mexico (America if you please giggle). A perfect place for a holiday in the sun when you need a recharge from life’s mundane routines, city life and responsibility. El Cuyo is a very slow pace offering a safe town with a relaxing lazy beach town atmosphere. El Cuyo is easy to get to and when you’re there it’s small enough to get around easily by walking or biking. Perfect for a solo trip to refresh, family trip with kids and elders, friends staycation or a romantic getaway with your loved one. El Cuyo has become a more popular tourist destination in the last 10 years because of its lazy beach town feels it offers, as well as accessibility. Thinking about the more popular destinations in the Riviera Maya like Tulum, Cancun, and Isla Mujeres, El Cuyo offers a more untouched, raw experience, like going back in time to what Tulum or Isla Mujeres once was 40 years ago. So relax, grab a book, your hat, favorite reef safe sun screen (I would recommend @stream2sea because it’s the only mineral sunscreen and body care line tested and proven to be coral reef safe) and get ready to book your flight because El Cuyo is the perfect holiday in the sun! 

Why El Cuyo 

Location | Transportation 

Day Trips 

Restaurants 

Why El Cuyo

El Cuyo offers a serine, untouched ambiance with miles of untouched virgin beach’s along its coastline. El Cuyo is a small authentic mexican town in the uppermost tip of the Yucatan. If you’re looking for sunshine, quiet beaches, gorgeous sea shelling, walking barefoot and some real RnR this is your destination. The pace of life in El Cuyo is slow, having a relaxed island vibe. Swinging on a hammock on the porch or sitting on your doorstep and watching the world go by are the two favorite pastimes for locals and tourists in El Cuyo. The whole town is only 3km long and 1 km wide, with most of the locals walking or biking for transportation, the only horns you’ll hear are when the tortilla or fruit sellers are offering their services on the streets! Population of El Cuyo has approximately 1,750 local inhabitants, and its streets are made of sand. 

If you are looking for a place to truly unmind, rest and enjoy the sea, El Cuyo is for you. But, if you’re looking for a hustling party scene, with clubs, bars, nightlife, international party’s, and whatnot, you may reconsider checking out Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum, Mexico. Or even taking into consideration, checking out Cabo on the Pacific side of Mexico. La paz article available now and Cabo article dropping late April 2025. 

Sunsets in El Cuyo are stunning! Because of the location of El Cuyo, geographically, both sunrises and sunsets are over the sea. Take a stroll along the main beachside, where the towns center pier is, or along kiter beach. It’s magical that almost all year round the sunrise and sunset can both be seen over the ocean in El Cuyo. A Sunrise-Sunset Lovers Paradise. 

If you’re into kite surfing this is an unforgettable experience. The wind in El Cuyo makes it optimal for surfing conditions. Normally months from November to August make the best kite surfing experience because of daily winds. There are plenty of kite surfing schools. This is a very sought after experience you won’t want to pass up, even if you’re novice, it could be fun!

Location | Transportation 

When wanting to visit El Cuyo, it is only a 2 hour and a half drive from Cancun. As mentioned before El Cuyo is a beach paradise, virtually untouched by tourism, this is because its position at the tip of the peninsula makes it difficult to simply stumble across El Cuyo, you have to go out of your way to get there.  Because of this, it has escaped the attentions of developers, tourists and International investors. Another possibility is flying into Merida, which is a 3 hour drive for reference. I would recommend Cancun international airport for your convenience. 

You have a couple options for traveling to El Cuyo! Obviously you can rent your own car, and head that way or hop in a cab or uber! But what most people do is take the ADO, collectivo or local community bus. This will takes bit longer but is a lot cheaper option than renting, or paying a taxi or Uber! This all depends on the experience you want, and if you are going for an adventure! Keep in mind the Noreste buses only run to around 6pm for reference. 

To be completely honest, I’ve been to El Cuyo a few times now, and once you’re there, everything is walkable! You simply need to arrive then groceries, beach, kite surfing shops, tourism stands, laundry, restaurants are all walking distance. A recommendation, if you’re wanting to cook for yourself the week you are there, and are taking a road trip from a main city, I would recommend bringing your favorite foods with you to prepare. Don’t get me wrong there are little markets around, but for speciality items you will not find them most likely. You will find only the basics while in El Cuyo. Also to keep in consideration, there are a few local boutiques scattered around the city of El Cuyo, but this is not a shopping destination. The most you’ll spend your money on is hotel and after dinner margaritas!

When you’re arriving and departing El Cuyo there is a cross way that stretches over the lagoon and connects El Cuyo to the Yucatan mainland. This lagoon is absolutely stunning, and even is home to flamingos!  With that being said, El Cuyo is a birdwatcher’s paradise. It’s home to numerous bird species, with flamingos being a notable highlight. You can often spot these elegant pink birds in the nearby Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, along with herons, egrets, pelicans, and many other waterfowl. A lot of fishermen hang out in the lagoon, as well as the sea to catch local fish for El Cuyos restaurants and markets. A gorgeous walk, on the lagoon is called is El Cuyo Mirador, which at duck has beautiful sunset views! 

Day Trips 

Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve | Venture out to this beautiful diverse biosphere. Río Lagartos is located at a lagoon, the Ria Lagartos, which is part of a natural reserve. This makes it an ideal place for birdwatching and alligator observing. This lagoon is part of the Petenes mangroves ecoregion, and the Ria Lagartos has been designated as an internationally recognized Important Bird Area (IBA). In 2004, UNESCO  designated this  area a bio reserve. There are many tourism boats that will take you on a safari to enjoy the day on the boat! This is definitely a must when in El Cuyo. 

 

Las Coloradas Salt Flats | The Pink salt lakes of Las Colorados are best seen in the middle of the day when the sun is at its strongest so you can capture its color and vibrancy. The drive to Las Coloradas is about an hour and a half. Google maps shows the best route (you need to drive back across the lagoon and drive as if you’re heading to Rio Lagartos). There is a coastal road but it’s a sand track in very bad condition and gets flooded at certain times of the year. What gives the pink lake its color is the shrimp bacteria in the lake. Fun fact, did you also know the reason flamingos are pink is also due to the shrimp they eat?! Also, to enter into the salt factory, it’s a payment of 350mx pesos. There is another option for 600-700 Mx pesos, this is a 90 minute safari to see flamingos and to put some salt mud on your face. Another bit I want to add is if you are a creator supposedly they don’t allow drones to be flown and don’t allow you to enter into the water. 

Mayan Ruins | If Mayan Ruins are your thing, Ek Balam is about an hour and a half away. It’s far less touristy than Chichen Itza, Tulum or Koba. This property also offers their guests access to a private compete so you can cool off after you climb the pyramid!

Restaurants 

@anahata.elcuyo | this little coffee and breakfast joint is so delicious and special. Absolutely delicious coffees, pastries, atmospheres, incredible services and their conservationist, writing their receipts on leaves instead of buying and waiting paper. Their carrot cake was out of the is world. Also a cute pet friendly location which my baby’s, Zsa Zsa and Rico loved!

@casamangle_elcuyo | another incredible spot to enjoy. Open all day, but highly recommend their lunch and dinner menu. This restaurant has delicious mexican cuisine, and their drinks are handcrafted to perfection! Also a lovely pet friendly restaurant. 

La Negrita Restaurante (I’m not sure their instagram!) | Let me tell you this hole in the wall restaurant has the best seafood in El Cuyo! Open for lunch and closes early most days so keep that in consideration

@lagunaelcuyo | fabulous breakfast and brunch, located downtown El Cuyo. Open from 7:30am- 2:30pm being the perfect morning spot to meet friends, enjoy a light meal and enjoy Lagunas beautiful atmosphere 

As always thank you for reading! If you have any specific questions feel free to write me at hola.jenniferdyer@gmail.com! Next article with be on Cano San Lucas and San Jose, be on the lookout for that!

Jennifer Dyer