From Cancun airport,
take a right on Highway 307 going south towards Tulum. The drive from the Airport will be approximately 90 minutes. It is a good highway all the way. Well marked. It is under construction and becoming a split highway most of the way to Tulum.

The First town you will come to is Puerto Morelos. Watch for speed bumps (topos) and slow down. You will find the speed bumps all the way down to Nah Alux so be mindful and pay attention!  The road will divide into a frontage road and the main highway. It is a bit different then the U.S. way of division. If you get off on the frontage road don t worry, it will reconnect. There is a PEMEX Gas Station on the right just beyond the stoplight. This is a good place to fill up when returning the rental car to the airport. A left turn at the light, from the center lane will take you into the small fishing village of Puerto Morelos. If you go into the little town be sure to have a meal at Hola Asia Restaurant, it is absolutely marvelous food.

A WORD OF CAUTION:  You will also notice the speed limit marked quite often along the highway and sometimes it will change radically in a small area 110 to 70 kph, and in the center main highway through Playa del Carmen it will be 60 (40 on the frontage street) Realize that you are in a marked car and the police want to make money. It will cost you approximately $500.00 pesos for not wearing a seat belt and around $900.00 pesos for speeding will be a deal. If you don t pay the bribe they will take your license and you will be spending a day in Cancun. More than likely you will pay more than $900.00 pesos if you choose a ticket.

Twenty five minutes further down 307 is the city of Playa del Carmen, which is a Jumping off point for ferries to Cozumel. As you pass through Playa del Carmen you will encounter several principle intersections marked with traffic signals. If you would like to enter Playa del Carmen, take a left turn (from the center lane) at the light close to the Chedraui. This will put you on the principal Avenue Juarez into Playa del Carmen, which is a very busy street. Drive like the locals and you'll be fine. Continue down the main Avenue and you will find the pier where the ferries depart for Cozumel several times a day. However, you can't get closer than a couple of blocks from the pier. Turn left when the street turns into a pedestrian traffic only. There are a couple of public parking lots on the right. There is lots of shopping along the beach walk, called 5th Avenue.

Back up on the main 307 Hwy. There is a Chedraui Grocery store and Market on the left side of 307 heading south. To get to it you may have to go south past it a couple of miles and take the retorno heading back to town. A Sam’s store is built right behind the Chedraui. However, on the south side (right side heading down to Nah Alux) there is a new Mall with a large grocery store, which is very convenient for not making all those left turns.  I believe the name is Sorianna and it is a quick right (from the frontage road only) you will see Sam’s Club on the left just before the right turn.  If you miss it, then you will again, do the next retorno and come back around.

Continuing south for another 15 minutes, Puerto Aventuras will appear on your left. This is a large public resort centered around a Marina. They have Dolphins, a Manatee, nice restaurants and great gift shops with reasonable prices. They also have golf courses and it is a great place to rent a fishing boat.

Another 15 minutes south of Puerto Aventuras is Akumal Playa. This is a wonderful small beach town. Go past the entrance and take the “Retorno” to go back.  

CAUTION: Left turns are tricky in Mexico. It is always best where streets are not marked for a left turn lane to pull off to the right with your emergency flashers on until traffic clears, then make your left turn.

The Akumal Pueblo on the right is a great place for warm tortillas and fresh fruits and vegetables at a great price. To the left, ocean side is Akumal. There are marvelous choices in restaurants, a gym, dive shops, two small grocery stores and gift shops. Just drive on through the arches and smile at the guards. They are there to keep up appearances. Akumal is a bit expensive, but also exclusive in some of it’s services.

After passing Akumal the highway is not divided anymore. However this is ever changing, so please pay attention. 

To get to Nah Alux, continue on Hwy 307 for another 10 kilometers or 15 minutes further. You will pass the turn to Chemyuil, which is a small village where many of the Mayan workers live. Leo's pizza restaurant is a great place for dinner off Hormiga Street on the right if you choose to go into Chemyuil. On Hwy 307 you will pass several large all inclusive resorts. Look for the large green highway sign advertising Xel Ha. At the Xel Ha turnoff watch your odometer as we are 4 KILOMETROS away! As you reach the 4 Kilometer mark, there will be a sign on the right or on the left at this time… (like I said… it is ever changing!) that will say OSCAR Y LALO, BAHIA PUNTA SOLIMAN. Our driveway is directly across the road from the restaurant.  At this time the highway is not complete, so follow the rule of pulling off to the right until all traffic clears. Or, if the road is done… you may have to go further south and do a retorno.   The entrance is through a rock wall that says Predio San Francisco. If you are arriving at night, after the restaurant closes hopefully there will be some lights installed on the sign, so watch carefully. If not, there should be some red reflective tape on the sign. It is ever changing. Remember to make a left turn, pull off to the right with your hazard flashers on until all traffic has cleared, then make your left turn.

Travel down the dirt road until you reach the Y in the road. Turn right and go about 1 Kilometer until you see the following three houses: Casa Corazon, Casa Playa Maya and then Nah Alux. All three houses are in a row with the names posted out front. Casa Corazon is where Rosa Chavez and Andy Field live. Rosa is our Manager and will help you with anything you need. Tony is our Ayudante and lives in the little green house in front of Nah Alux with his wife, Esmeralda and baby, Milagro and he will take good care of you. The keys for you will be on the table in the yellow kitchen house. If it is Sunday, it is Tony’s day off and he may not be on the property… And if you are not finding all you need, ring the bell at Casa Corazon and Rosa will help you.

Have a wonderful time and please give me feedback either in the diary at Nah Alux or send me an email when you arrive home.

Hasta Luego and Thanks!
Colleen and Jon