Beach Finds Xpu-Ha Mexico

Xpu-Ha Beach is a local beach and resort area 21 miles south of Playa Del Carmen Mexico. The area is remote away from the City noise and busy tourists spots as well close to Ancient Mayan coastal City of Tulum. Cenote Manati, one of the largest natural water cenotes is located at the north end of the Bay making the sleepy coastal town a favorite of serious divers. 

Beaches in the Mexican Rivera allow for foot traffic, so getting out of the resort to walk down the beach will fill an afternoon with local wonders, different shopping areas and access to more activities. You can rent jets skis, water sporting equipment, take a sunset sailboat ride or go parasailing. Divers can expect to get a discount on diving excursions booked through local dive shops on

the beach rather than book through the resort. Local merchants set up shopping areas and stroll up and down the beach offering hats, cigars and souvenirs to tourists lounging  at each resort. These merchants work on a system of negotiation with no set prices. Ask several vendors their price before buying an item. Having both local currency and US currency helps. 

Xpu-Ha is somewhat undeveloped, so an afternoon walk for me turned into a geological adventure. I stumbled upon a beach of fossilized coral. The Yucatan Peninsula, the exposed portion of the larger Yucatan Platforms is mostly limestone and believed to have been formed 65 million years ago when an asteroid hit somewhere in the Caribbean basement. The shock-waves of this impact are believed to have created the famous 'Ring of Cenotes'.

Recently archaeologists connected two of the largest cave systems on the Peninsula, the Sac Actun and Dos Ojos networks. In these caves, they discovered Mayan relics, an elaborate shrine to the God of War and Commerce and the remains of a giant sloths. In the treasure trove of artifacts, divers found ceramics, human remains, wall hangings and animal remains enabling archaeologists to date pieces of the cave all the way back to the Pliestocene epoch (2.6 million to 11,700 years ago) 

Fossilized coral is easy to find in patches on remote, untouched parts of the beach. There are so many types of coral frozen in time in the rocks, blue coral, brain coral and pillar coral. Fan coral and brain coral are scattered all over the beach. Some of these specimens are not dead, they can be thrown back in to reattach to the reef. Most Countries have rules about taking rocks, shells and coral from beaches. Most tourist take home a small amount of shells and coral from Mexico with no issue. Check with customs in the arriving Country to be sure they allow these items back in to the Country. You may need to claim them on the customs form. 

If you can't take a favorite beach find home, be sure to get a picture of the item. These photos can be made into home decor or end up in a scrap book later keeping the memory of finding the treasure without the hassle of taking it home. Beaches Playa Del Carmen south have lots of little shells to find, so take a couple of zip lock backs for transport. Also, rinse anything you take home with you thoroughly and be sure there are no live creatures living in the shells you find. 

Look for My reviews of Tulum and Playa Del Carmen All Inclusive Resorts posting soon! 

Happy Treasure Hunting, Beach Bums!