Welcome to the Xcalak to Chinchorro Dive Center (XTC)! We are located in the small fishing village of Xcalak. It is the southernmost town on the Mexican Caribbean coast, on the border with Belize and within the Xcalak Reef National Marine Park.
Xcalak is on the tip of a peninsula that borders the Caribbean sea to the east and Chetumal Bay to the west, which are part of a unique, extremely connected and bio-diverse eco-system made up of coral reefs (15miles of protected reef), mangroves, rivers, lagoons and bays that make for a nature lover’s paradise.

Xcalak is at the center of the Great Maya Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world. Scuba Diving around Xcalak offers incredible diversity. There are deep walls, shallow walls, unique geographical formations, vast canyons between spur and groove reef systems, swim throughs, caverns, and an exotic array of Caribbean marine reef creatures.

Xcalak is most definitely the quintessential fishing village, unspoiled by development and certainly remote in the best sense of the word. You will find your cell phone doesn`t work here, internet access is limited, and most lodging options are small beach inns that run on renewable energy. This allows our guests to enjoy a truly memorable experience in a very special place. All of us who work here at XTC were drawn here by Xcalak´s peacefulness and paradise-on-earth feel and work very hard to protect it and preserve its unique eco-system. You will find that spirit in everything we do; from our facilities, we are 100% self contained, to our trips and instructional philosophy.

For us, sustainability is not an aspect of what we do but a way of life that is shared by the locals. More than a decade ago, they requested the federal government declare Xcalak a National Park to protect it from the development happening not far north of here, where there now is a cruise ship pier. This means that Xcalak is one of the few Marine Reserves that were protected well before there was any development.

XTC’s full service dive center offers PADI diving instruction—everything from Bubblemakers to Divemaster; TDI Technical diver training and all levels in between.

We also offer bird watching trips, trolling, bone fishing and snorkeling tours in Xcalak.
Additionally, we have access to the Chinchorro Bank Biosphere Reserve, the largest and oldest reef on the northern hemisphere. This highly protected Marine Sanctuary is a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage Site Designation not only because of its amazing reef ecosystem but also its rich shipwreck history.

We are fortunate enough to work with local fishermen who have lived and fished in these waters for generations and are now captains. Ocean lore is everywhere here as this is one of the few places on the Mexican Caribbean coast with a very rich history. For more on Xcalak history go to our About section.

Come to Xcalak before we get discovered by the mainstream dive travel industry. You´ll be glad you did.

The town of Xcalak, the southernmost on the Mexican Caribbean coastline, has become a model for sustainable eco-tourism in the Meso-American Reef System area in the last ten years for its conservation status, a result of a well thought out and implemented plan, as well as for its privileged location and heritage.
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Xcalak is located within the Xcalak Reef National Marine Park, a Federal Marine Park with strict environmental regulations, both in the water and out. It has been a focal point in the study of natural resource management and a priority area for the Federal Government, The World Bank´s World Wildlife Fund and for many other researchers and naturalists. It is not unusual for marine biologists doing a dissertation, high level conservation beaurocrats or professional photographers to join us on the dive boat.

When you come to Xcalak you will find an eclectic community of lifelong residents, expatriates and sustainable-tourism entrepreneurs working together to provide you with a collection of small beach inns, guesthouses and eco-tour operations that make Xcalak a hidden gem for people looking for that last unspoiled frontier.

If it´s isolation (the good kind), overwhelming natural beauty and an authentic, well-worn fishing village as a backdrop setting for your vacation you seek, then you´ll be coming back to Xcalak over and over like many of our devoted return customers.
You can dive or go on excursions with XTC Dive Center no matter where you stay in Xcalak. There are mid-range hotels, inns, guesthouses and private homes on the beach road going north as well as a campground and budget accommodations in town. There are a few properties specially suited for easy pick-up/access to take advantage of XTC´s famous full-valet diving services. Drop us a line with your budget, group size and other ideas and the team @ XTC will work with you to make sure you have the best possible vacation in Xcalak.

By helping countless travelers make arrangements to visit Xcalak we have established relationships with car rental companies that will drop-off/pick-up cars in Xcalak (in case you want to continue on to, or are coming from, San Pedro in Belize); and hotels on the way to Cancún airport. We have come to understand which area attractions and itineraries you would enjoy while visiting us. We will gladly answer any questions or give you a recommendation. We’re here to help!

 

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