El Cuyo holidays

El Cuyo holidays are like visiting a private retreat – with footprint-free sandy beaches and virtually no tourists around.

Remote island atmosphere

El Cuyo is a small fishing village that sits along the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. It’s made up of a saltwater lagoon set between the two pieces of land, with a singular road connecting them. This secluded location gives the area a deserted island feel – with a slow-paced atmosphere and hardly any tourists in sight along the white sandy stretch of beach. It’s easy to explore the town itself on foot, with streets that are decorated with colourful art and murals.

Spacious empty beaches

Thanks to El Cuyo’s out-of-the-way location, you’ll feel like you’re the only person on the beach. The powdery white-sand coast stretches out for miles – probably even longer than you could walk. And because the town isn’t a tourist destination, the beaches don’t have any facilities, so remember to bring your own towel and any swimming gear you need.

Get down with nature

When you can peel yourself off the sand, there’s lots of nature spotting to do. If you head out to the main jetty on the beach, then you might be able to spot manta rays and dolphins gracefully gliding through the water. Turtles also love this place and lay their eggs on the beaches from June to August. If you’re willing to travel, just under an hour’s drive, you’ve got Rio Lagartos – a national park where over 40,000 wild flamingos nest in June and September.

The nearby pink lakes

If you’ve ever been on Instagram, then you’ve probably seen these pink lakes and wondered where they are. Well, Las Coloradas is about an hour’s drive away from El Cuyo. The bubble-gum-pink hue of the waters is created by the algae, plankton and brine shrimp that reside in the lake. Fun fact – the flamingos in this area are so pink because they eat these. You can see the bright pink lakes from the road for free or go in and pay for a tour. Just so you know, the colour of the lake is much more intense when the sun is beating high, so it’s best to arrive at midday.

Popular hotels in El Cuyo

Facts about El Cuyo

Currency
Mexican Peso
(MXN)
Language
Spanish
Time zone
GMT -6
Flight duration
From 10 hours 45 minutes to 12 hours 15 minutes from Gatwick

FAQs

Where can I find the latest travel advice?

All your questions about entry requirements, visas, passports or health information are answered on our Travel Advice page.