Punta Bete (Xcalacoco)

Dividing Punta Maroma from Punta Bete (also known as Xcalacoco) is a river that spills into the sea. South of the split, Punta Bete consists of a 7-km-long (5½-mi-long) beach dotted with bungalow hotels and thatch-roof restaurants, isolated because it backs into dense forest. From Carretera 307, there are two access points to reach this little paradise. If you're coming from Cancún, look for the newer road at Km 296 at the Princess Resort. Completed in 2011, this paved route makes for a smooth ride but lacks the adventure of the original road just south. For a more scenic ride, take the 2-km (1-mi) pitted path dotted with potholes the size of swimming pools. From Playa del Carmen (northbound), the dirt road is located at Km 42. Lining both sides of this gutted trek is a jungle that provides refuge to green parrots and squirrel monkeys. Just as you begin to smell the ocean, the road forks—the left leading to more-affordable accommodations and the right to luxury hotels. Since Punta Bete is simply a beach area dotted with hotels, there are no shops, bars, or restaurants other than what are available in the hotels themselves. For those who don't mind getting sand in their suitcase, there's a beachfront campsite where you can hang your hammock for less than $5 a night.