RV park in Paamul, Yucatan

Thinking of driving your RV to the Yucatan ?    Here are my impressions of the what the trip might entail.  First off, I own an RV,  live full time in it (in Texas, this year) - but did not drive  down to the Yucatan in it, as I had a position lined up to stay 6 months, which later turned sour,  in a duplex in Xcalak -  almost on the Belize border.

 

It is definitely do-able, but,  be prepared for  some long driving days,  have stops  pre-selected along the route (I saw only one  RV camp site right along the main routes down )  - there may be many further off the  beaten path, but I cannot comment as I did not venture off to find them.

 

Las Palmas hotel in Matehuala does have RV spaces &  if the hotel is any indication of the services/value -  I  would definitely recommend it.  From there to the Yucatan, as I said, no  places were right on the route I travelled (Google directions from Laredo, Texas,  to  Xcalak, Mexico for the route I followed).

 

Roads are relatively good -  follow cuotas (toll roads) whenever possible !!!   Tolls  for an auto totaled  just under $200.00  US -  RV  will be  - more.   The free roads (libre)  are often  in much worse condition & go thru the center of small towns w/ numerous topes!    The area around Monterrey is  hilly (mountainous) - but not nearly so bad as the area around the city of Puebla!!   Steep  grades, and quite a bit of truck  traffic will make that area the least fun to drive.  There are two lanes  for most of the climbing / descending,     so opportunities to pass are frequent.  I  would estimate that you will be  climbing/descending  for about   4  hours or  more, depending on your set up .    Road construction before & after the town of Escarcega (you are getting close to the Yucatan - hang in there !) is a crap shoot -   driving down, I  was delayed for about  2 1/2  hours total;  coming back,  only about 1/2 hour.  Good  luck !!

 

Once you  get thru Escarcega,  the  road starts to flatten out but you will start to encounter the dreaded Mexican topes (speed bumps)  4, 5  or  more sets  before, &  after every small town that the road passes thru.  Finally,  after you pass thru the Chetumal  area, you will  be on route 307 -  a  very nice  road, w/  speed limit around 60 / 65 MPH  (100 /110 KPH).

 

Honest, average speed over the road w/ all things considered (topes,  toll stops,  re-fuels, coffee , bathroom breaks  & etc. )  is   50  to  55  MPH  -  your  MPH  may  vary !!  I did not  drive much more than the posted speed limit (within 10 KPH) so that I could report times for someone driving  something other than a car.   Most traffic was travelling significantly  faster than the posted speed limit !

 

So,  all of this leads to the RV site in Paamul,  north of Tulum, north of Akumal,  but  south of Playa del Carmen.  I visited this site for a friend to check it out before his trip down there.

Hope this gives you an idea -  the  exit road is well marked off route 307 - but the access road is quite pot holed - just take it slow.  The office is all the way at the back on the left side.  The sites are small &  exposed to the sun, there is one they showed me w/ palm trees for shade,  but it is right in front (in fact you will back up to the building) that has  bathrooms.   They may have other shaded sites, I just didn't see them.   The sites are located away from the beach, w/  buildings  between the beach & the sites,  so the breeze was negligible;  A/C (electric) cost may be high,  until you adjust to the climate or just say -  cost be damned,  I want comfortable !  Again,  this was in July,  fall/winter may be more moderate.    They have a pool there ,  a private beach a few minutes walk away, a beach is right out front, but not as nice as the private one.  There is a restaurant there &  I  think, a small convenience store as well.  Large super markets are not that far away on route 307 -  Chedraui is a few miles south,  WalMart  further away in Playa del Carmen,  north.  Most of the sites are taken up by permanent residents, but there were spaces available.  I visited during the summer -  the winter months, I was told, is quite a bit busier.  I don't wonder why - the area is  wonderful !
Attached are some  photos.      There  is a  US  Phone number that you can call & speak to the owner -  (612) 597 0888  -   email  is -   paamul@me.com - in Paamul itself.

 Just a suggestion -   make sure you have a surge guard  between your rig & the  shore power - some residents  told me  that  while the electric supply  is  mostly  fine,  there are occasional spikes & drops & the  surge  guard  shuts  down  supply -  as it is designed to do. 

 

There are  NO  ocean  view  sites available for the foreseeable future;  all are taken by permanent residents or  by structures  of the  RV park  /  hotel  itself.  All information / photos were current in July of 2013.    ALL sites are cleaned  of litter, palm fronds, &  etc. before you pull in  -  per management. 

 

Enjoy !!!!!!