Chemuyil has a quality almost nobody mentions: it sits exactly in the middle of everything people come to Quintana Roo to see, and far enough back that you cannot hear any of it. From Villas Ahal, most plans are less than half an hour away.
Here is what surrounds you, ordered by distance.
On foot or by bike
Free cenotes
Around the village there are several free-access cenotes you can reach walking or cycling from the hotel. No ticket office, no shop, no tour: just clear fresh water and hanging roots. Ask us which ones are accessible during your stay, since it changes with the rainy season.
If you want something more ceremonial, the area offers sound therapy with Tibetan singing bowls inside a cenote. It is one of the experiences guests most often ask to repeat.
The village of Chemuyil
Small and unpretentious. There is a cocina económica, a pizzeria and a couple of local restaurants about 2.5 km away. Eating here costs a fraction of what it does in Tulum, and is usually better.
The jungle starts at the hotel gate.Less than ten minutes by car
Xel-Há · 2.3 km
The park of coves and snorkelling, practically next door. It is large and organised, all inclusive: good for a full day if you arrive wanting activity. Get there early.
Playa Xcacel – Xcacelito · 4 km
Our favourite. It is a sea turtle sanctuary, with controlled access and a token fee, and for exactly that reason it has stayed one of the cleanest and least built up beaches on the whole coast. White sand, turquoise water, and a small cenote hidden behind the vegetation.
Between May and October it is a nesting site: you can still visit, but there are strict rules about lights and hours. They are very much worth respecting.
Playa Chemuyil · 4.9 km
Palm trees, white sand and a couple of beach bars. Less famous than its neighbours and far emptier. This is the beach for when you do not want to plan anything.
Fifteen minutes away
Akumal · 7 km
The bay where you can swim with sea turtles all year round. It is one of the few places in the world where the encounter is virtually guaranteed. Go early, hire an authorised guide and use biodegradable sunscreen — the reef will thank you.
Twenty to forty minutes
Tulum archaeological site · 20 km
The Mayan ruins on the cliff, with the Caribbean behind them. The region's obligatory postcard. It opens at 8 am and by 10 there is already a queue: the first hour is a completely different experience.
Punta Laguna · spider monkey sanctuary
A Mayan community reserve with trails, a lagoon and spider monkeys living free. Although it should be said: at Villas Ahal the spider monkeys often save themselves the journey and come to the villas instead.
Cobá
A Mayan city wrapped in jungle, far quieter than Tulum. You explore it by bicycle between the temples, which makes it one of the most pleasant archaeological sites on the peninsula to visit.
Full day trips
- Cozumel. Ferry from Playa del Carmen, 47 km away. World class diving and snorkelling on the Palancar reef.
- Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. A World Heritage Site: mangroves, Mayan canals, birdlife and dolphins.
- Chichén Itzá. Around 2.5 hours each way. Long, hot, and still worth doing once in a lifetime.
We coordinate any of these from the hotel if you let us know in advance.
Getting to Chemuyil
- Tulum International Airport: 59 km, around 45 min.
- Cancún: roughly 1 h 45 min on federal highway 307.
- Playa del Carmen: 47 km, about 35 min. ADO buses and colectivos stop at Chemuyil.
The hotel has free private parking, so renting a car is the most comfortable option if you plan to move around.
