By car:
These routes are not necessarily the fastest routes according to google maps – google doesn’t take into account potholes and the state of the roads – we do! These routes are tried and tested in our beautiful beetle, so our timings may be slightly slower than yours!
Please read ‘Driving in Mexico’ on the ‘How to Get to El Cuyo‘ page before you decide to drive.
From Cancun: 2 hours 30 minutes
Leave Cancun on the 180 (Carretera Costera del Golfo) signposted towards Valladolid and Merida. This becomes a toll motorway which costs less than $200mx for a standard car.
Turn off the motorway towards Kantunilkin/Holbox and continue on this road until you reach the town of Kantunilkin.
When you arrive at Kantunilkin, take the left turn signposted for Colonia Yucatan (the road splits here for Holbox, so no longer look for Holbox signs). Please be aware that there are some potholes in this next stretch of road – although it has recently been repaired.
Continue through to Colonia Yucatan (at the roundabout in Colonia, take the 1st exit) and follow the signs for El Cuyo.
Gas Stations: Cancun, Kantunilkin, Colonia Yucatan (you need to turn off towards Tizimin) and El Cuyo.
From Playa del Carmen: 2 hours 15 minutes
Head out of Playa on Avenue Colosio (follow signs for Merida) which will take you onto the 305D toll motorway (it costs around150$mx for a standard car). Once on the motorway, continue straight following signs for Holbox, Kantunilkin or Colonia Yucatan.
As you come off the motorway, follow signs for Kantunilkin.
When you arrive at Kantunilkin, take the left turn signposted for Colonia Yucatan (the road splits here for Holbox, so no longer look for Holbox signs). Please be aware that there are some potholes in this next stretch of road – although it has recently been repaired.
Continue through to Colonia Yucatan (at the roundabout in Colonia, take the 1st exit) and follow the signs for El Cuyo.
Gas Stations: Playa, Kantunilkin, Colonia Yucatan (you need to turn off towards Tizimin) and El Cuyo.
From Tulum: 2 hours 30 minutes
Head out of Tulum on Avenue Coba (follow signs for Coba) which will take you onto the 109.
Turn right (1st exit) at the Coba roundabout towards Nuevo Durango. Continue on this road until you reach the 180, and turn left towards X-can. At X-can turn right onto Calle 19 (not signposted but the road forks slightly, and if you miss it, you can take any other right turn afterwards) and from this, you’ll arrive at Calle 20. When you arrive at the crossroads, (tienda Popular is on the corner of Calle 19 and 20 – on your right) turn right onto Calle 20 and continue on this road for 30km, following directions for Colonia Yucatan.
When you arrive at the roundabout coming into Colonia, take the 2nd exit, and continue straight on this road, through Colonia Yucatan and onto El Cuyo.
Gas Stations: Tulum, Coba roundabout, Colonia Yucatan (you need to turn off towards Tizimin) and El Cuyo.
From Valladolid: 2 hours
Leave Valladolid on the 295 towards Tizimin. Remain on this road and enter the outskirts of Tizimin. Turn right onto the 79 (Pemex garage on the far corner) and stay on this road for 4 km (the road forks slightly at one point, take the road to the right) and follow the road around the city, until you reach a crossroads with the 15 (Coca-cola shop on your right). Turn right onto the 15 (signposted El Cuyo and Colonia), and continue on this road for 44km until you arrive at Colonia.
On arriving in Colonia Yucatan, turn left at the T junction and continue straight on this road through to El Cuyo.
Gas Stations: Valladolid, Tizimin, Colonia Yucatan and El Cuyo.
From Merida: 3 hours & 30 minutes
Leave Merida on the 176 towards Motul, Yucatan. Remain on this road for approximately 150km.
Just before arriving into Tizimin (about 13 km after the turnoff for Sucila), turn right onto the ring round to take you south of Tizimin (to avoid the centre). It’s signposted for Colonia Yucatan and El Cuyo. After about 7 km, you’ll arrive at a T junction onto the 295. Turn left towards Tizimin (it’s also signposted El Cuyo), and continue for 3km and then turn right onto the 79 (Pemex garage on the far corner). Stay on this road for 4 km (the road forks slightly at one point, take the road to the right) and follow the road around the city, until you reach a crossroads with the 15 (Coca-cola shop on your right). Turn right onto the 15 (signposted El Cuyo and Colonia), and continue on this road for 44km until you arrive at Colonia.
Coming into Colonia you’ll arrive at a T junction, turn left and continue straight on this road through to El Cuyo.
Gas Stations: Merida, Motul, Buctotz (you need to turn off the 176 and head into town), Sucilá, Tizimin, Colonia Yucatan and El Cuyo.