Where We've stayed, Food and Water in El Placer and Quintana Roo

We have traveled to the Mahahual area now for four years. When we first came in November 2007, we had intended to stay at Mayan Beach Garden, but Hurricane Dean had struck the area dead-on in August causing severe damage to some of their buildings and they weren’t open. We stayed at Carol and Alan’s very eco-built Balamku, farther south, between Mahahual and Xcalat. We ate breakfast there and ate at Traveler’s Inn near there for dinner with our own fruit, etc. for lunch.

In 2008 we stayed at Mayan Beach Garden, newly reopened and repaired. We opted for the 3 meal a day option and thoroughly enjoyed the food, sort of a Mayan and Mexican fusion.
 Hammocks, outdoor patios...

Mayan Sopes 

In 2009 we again came by bus and stayed with our daughter Gayle and family at Kitty and Beau Speed’s “Las Brisas” home in the beach level. It worked out perfectly…a kitchen, living/dining room, two bathrooms and three bedrooms. 　

　

                                           

That year, Jim and I also stayed a week at Mayan Beach Garden, again with their meal plan.

Now in 2011, Jim and I rented the upstairs of Casa Guerin (Now Maya Cocal) for one week. We were pleased with this one bedroom, one bathroom, living/dining room and many outdoor patios. One we especially loved looking out west toward the Mangrove and dirt coastal road.

　

Then we moved for two weeks with Gayle and family again when they arrived, to Casa Maria with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, large living room, super equipped kitchen, many amenities of TV, snorkle gear, kayaks, etc. and a very special caretaker, Carlos.

Mike, Gayle, Calin and Marley on the top patio of Casa Maria during a beautiful sunset.

Soft sand  and a sunny day........

So the question may arise, where do we purchase our FOOD ?

When we first land in Cancun in the afternoon, we usually stay overnight at a nearby hotel, and in the morning “hit” Cancun’s Costco and next door Mega, a huge grocery store with items of fish, meat, fruit, bread etc. laid out for individual choice. There are also many choices of boxed and canned items and  “recados“ (premade herb/spice combinations). It’s like a Super Walmart with even better fresh items. Sam’s, Home Depot and an actual Walmart also are close by.  So what we don’t want to buy in huge quantity, etc. we buy at Mega.

Playa del Carmen also has a similar stores but no Costco.

Tulum has a San Francisco de Asis grocery store at the crossroad to Coba and a Bancomer Bank next door. But you do need to give them a paper copy, that they keep, of your passport, something about drug money laundering problem.

Always, after the first week or so, we realize what we’re running low with. This year Gaye and Mike came one week after we arrived and could restock us at Costco’s before they drove down from a list I emailed them. As Chetumal is more than two hours away, we tend to pay a bit more and shop at Mahahual. This town has three long “streets”. The Malecon along the water which is for foot traffic only. The first street away from the beach is one way going south and is called Huachinango. Near the soccer field and internet cafes is a fruteria run by a Mayan woman.

Coming out, going north on the one-way third street away from the water is “El Primo’s”. You can buy eggs, corn tortillas made on-site (I usually just order a ½ a kilo.), cold cereal (expensive), mayonnaise, cans of items, etc. Also in Mahahual is a fish co-op to buy fresh fish and lobster and a polleria where you can buy a chicken with its head and feet still on, but otherwise cleaned. They come from an area near Merida. We have yet to discover a good place to get red meat. The locals don't eat much of it.

In “New Mahahual” over by the Costa Maya Port, there are two more small grocery stores. (One is Bodegas Baroudi).

If you want really good pineapple, you need to be on the four lane Highway #307 and go a few km south of the Mahahual cut-off to Pedro Antonio de los Santos. Near all the topes are whole pineapples, cut up pieces in plastic, mango cut up, etc. Pineapples are 20-30 pesos each depending on size. We really enjoyed the slices with a slight chili and smokey seasoning.

                                            Our WATER

 

At the Dallas Airport I fill our two Nalgene bottles with water. That is enough to get us from the airport to the hotel and until the morning of the following day if need be. At Mega in Cancun we buy a couple of sealed water bottles for emergency purposes for our entire stay and keep them in the car. At all the houses we rent and also at Mayan Beach Garden we are supplied with 20 liter bottles of water inverted over an attractive holder and faucet. When we leave the houses we fill our private water bottles each time. (In our hometown of Chelan, Washington, we have many Mexicans who pick and process the fruit in the area. At Walmark there I see them wheeling their carts filled with identical large bottles of water. Our tap water in Chelan is perhaps among the best and clearest in the nation. Culture and habit seem to urge these Mexicans to continue their cultural habit of bottled water there, also.)  In the 4 trips we taken to Mexico since 2007, we haven’t gotten sick either from the water, nor the food. And we do eat at outdoor kiosks frequently.