Punta Mosquito
A sandbar in the shallows.
Bruno Rijsman — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Vanessa Priego — CC BY 3.0 · Dr. Matthias Ripp — CC BY 2.0 · Bruno Rijsman — CC BY-SA 2.0 · dronepicr — CC BY 2.0 · Bruno Rijsman — CC BY-SA 2.0
A long, narrow sandy island off northern Yucatán, about 42 kilometres long and a kilometre and a half wide, inside the Yum Balam nature reserve. There are no cars: people get around by golf cart and bicycle on sand streets, and life is slow and quiet. A shallow lagoon separates the island from the mainland, home to pink flamingos, pelicans and many other birds. The beach is calm, shallow, green-turquoise water you can wade far into, especially out to the Punta Mosquito sandbar, and to Punta Cocos, where the island's best sunset is. From June to September whale sharks, the world's largest fish, come to nearby waters, and organised trips go out to swim near them under strict rules. On some dark nights the water by the shore glows with tiny bioluminescent organisms. The island has little infrastructure and few cash machines, so bring cash. Its best-known food is seafood and lobster, even a famous lobster pizza, so ask about ingredients.
A sandbar in the shallows.
The island's finest.
In the shallow lagoon.
An island off the north coast of the Yucatán Peninsula; ferry from Chiquilá in about 25 minutes, and Chiquilá is about two and a half hours from Cancún
By car or bus from Cancún to the port of Chiquilá in about two and a half hours, then the ferry in about 25 minutes. Cars are not allowed on the island, so leave yours in Chiquilá's car parks.