Bahia de Solimán

By Jenna Mahoney

Somewhere between Tulum and Playa del Carmen, there’s a quiet cove that’s perfect for chillin.’ Bahía de Solimán is a calm inlet set off from the main highway, which links Cancún with Tulum. The bay has a restaurant, an outhouse and some clearings for visitors’ personal hammocks. Best of all, the spot is so remote you won’t be hassled by trinket peddlers.

To get to Bahía de Solimán, take a left if you’re traveling south. There’s a large cracked sign that advertises homemade food and the name “Oscar” (located just south of Xel-Há). An immediate right and a left onto a dirt road eventually leads to the cove’s dusty parking lot. There, you’ll be greeted by resident hens, ducks and dogs. A few local guys may also give you a smile and a quick “hola.”

The large clearing is surrounded by palm trees and strangler figs. It’s between these trees that you can set up your hammock and stay the night. As with everything in Mexico, the fee changes, so settle on the price before you hang it. Straight ahead from the parking area sits the coral inlet’s beach. The sandy area is actually quite limited in relation to the expansive cove, as it stretches only a few hundred meters across.

To the left sits the area’s small restaurant, officially named Oscar and Lalo’s. It’s a three-walled structure that’s open to the ocean, which allows breezes, patrons and animals to pass through with ease. A bar and kitchen are stationed in the back. Plastic tables, chairs and a lone restaurant manager occupy the space. There’s also a loud TV that hangs high above the dining room. Planted in the coral-infused sand are some weathered plastic tables. Centerpieces made of coconut sit atop them, serving as anchors for the menus and napkins. What’s on the menu and what’s actually available may be completely different, so just ask the restaurant manager for some guac, a cerveza and some fresh seafood. Dig your chair into the sand and watch the gentle waves move about the rocky shoreline.

If you see a few kayaks resting on the beach in front of the dining room, ask the manager how much for a rental. Note: You’ll need to specifically request a life jacket. They’re hidden somewhere in the kitchen or behind the bar. Then, explore the cove afloat (no worries about your belongings—the manager will safely watch them).

Jagged coral abounds at the bottom of the cove, so hop into your kayak as soon as possible. That way, you’ll avoid cutting your feet and disturbing the marine life. Once out in the middle of the cove, you can lash your kayak to your friend’s and jump out. Just below the surface, you’ll find colorful schools of fish, sea vegetation and maybe a lone sea turtle swimming around the inlet’s enormous coral reef.

Once back on land, order up another beer, some salsa and tortillas and continue to relax. Not a bad way to spend a day.