Very few people have heard of Dzilam de Bravo, a tiny fishing village on the north Yucatán coast of Mexico. If you have heard of it then you’re in for a real treat because this is one of the few remaining truly untouched areas of Yucatán and an absolute hidden gem of a location.

This information, of course, comes with responsibility. Treat the area with respect.

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🏝 But What is Dzilam de Bravo?

Dzilam de Bravo is a tiny fishing village with a population of around 2,500 people. There are really no big tourist sites or attractions here, which is what makes it so very special.

Visiting Dzilam de Bravo is a little like finding your own desert island.

➡️ Let’s talk safety in Yucatán for a second. Yucatán is Mexico’s safest state, making it a perfect spot for a vacation. If you’re interested in reading more about whether Yucatan is safe and how to look after yourself while in Yucatan, you know I’ve got you covered!

🧭 Where is Dzilam de Bravo?

Dzilam de Bravo is located on the north coast of the state of Yucatán on the westerly edge of the Parque Nacional de San Felipe. The eastern edge of this park is another small fishing village called San Felipe.

Dzilam de Bravo is accessed either via the coast road from Progreso (1hr30 along the 27) or from Mérida via Temax on the 176 (1hr30).

Despite it being relatively close to Mérida very few people ever visit because there are plenty of other gorgeous beachside locations along the coast that are closer to Mérida or Valladolid.

Most Popular Beaches to Visit from Mérida

🏝 Progreso, Chelem, Chuburna, San Benito, Telchac Puerto, San Crisanto, Sisal, Celestun

Most Popular Beaches to Visit from Valladolid

🏝 Rio Lagartos, El Cuyo, Las Coloradas (the famous pink lakes of Yucatán)

Where to Stay Near Dzilam de Bravo

What is there to do in Dzilam de Bravo?

If you’re looking for big activities; water parks, shows, and shopping, you will be disappointed with Dzilam de Bravo. If, however, you’re looking for gentle, natural fun and exploration, then you will just love Dzilam de Bravo. The main thing to do here is relax and marvel at the virgin beaches and utter tranquility. 

Everyone can enjoy adventuring around Dzilam de Bravo: families with active kids, groups of adults or couples looking for a romantic get-away. 

Xbuya-ha

📍 Xbuya-ha is an ojo de agua (freshwater spring) that bubbles up in the sea a few hundred metres from shore. It is really quite an incredible experience to swim through fresh water pouring out into salty water. When the sea is cold, it is warm and vice-versa so you really will feel the difference.

The water isn’t deep for an adult (maximum chest high on me) and although the water rushing out creates a fast current, with my feet dug into the ground there was no way I was going anywhere. For the kids with us who weren’t tall enough to stand up, we held onto them or they would have struggled. They wouldn’t have been pushed out to sea but the current was enough to make them a little nervous.

It’s recommended to take goggles or a snorkelling mask with you as the best way to experience the ojo de agua is to take a deep breath and dive down to the seabed (actually harder than you’d think). We found a handy rock to grab onto, which allowed us to stablise ourselves before pushing off to really have a look at the fish and the open hole in the seabed.

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Cenote Elepeten

📍 Close to the ojo de agua, back on-shore, is an open-air cenote (reminiscent of El Corchito near Progreso). When you visit here the boats pull up at a tiny dock, (please take valuables with you, don’t leave anything in the boat) and then you walk for five minutes along a wooden path through the mangrove. The walk itself is pretty spectacular and then you find the stunning cenote.

🐊 We were warned that sometimes there is a small crocodile hanging around but that people still swim there so we did too.

The morning terrors and sweats when I wake up thinking that we swam where a croc hangs out were worth it, right? We followed the locals’ behaviour but I just can’t stop thinking about it. So maybe, go and see the cenote, talk to the guides and ask them what they think about crocodiles before you swim. Even if you don’t swim, it’s worth seeing.

Wild Camping at Las Bocas

Las Bocas de Dzilam is a tiny spit of beach within the national park that is entirely unreachable without a boat and locals who know how to get there. Las Bocas is sometimes used by local fishermen but otherwise there is never anyone there.

Note that if the weather isn’t good then there is no way of reaching this area so there is always a chance your camping trip will be cancelled without much warning. If this happens, there is a campsite on the mainland you can use instead.

⛺️ How to Camp at Las Bocas 

You’ll need to visit with a guide to camp at Las Bocas.

📌 My recommendation is to hire Sayachuleb eco-tourism cooperative to take you (details below). They’re local, ethical and lovely people, too. You could visit on spec and find a local guide but better to book in advance with these guys to get the most out of your visit.

They provide tents, bedding and, if you request, an evening meal (fresh caught fish cooked over an open fire).

What to do While Camping at Las Bocas

Camping at Las Bocas feels like being on a deserted island. There’s really very little to do, and that’s the appeal.

➡️ Swim, snorkel, walk on the beach, watch the birds, seek out the crocodiles (our guide took the group to find them at night), see the starfish, marvel at the shells, visit the small fresh waterhole that fishermen use for bathing, relax.

➡️ The water is so shallow and calm and the beach so deserted that if you go with kids they can run free and play without worry.

⭐️ Remember: Please be super respectful of nature if you do visit. Our guide told us that there are far fewer flamingos now in the area of Dzilam de Bravo that used to be known as the “flamingo nursery” because people just weren’t respectful of the birds’ needs. This is an incredibly special, still fairly un-explored part of Yucatán and while of course, we can visit, we must always do so respectfully.

So How do You Book This Phenomenal Trip?

Well, head over to Facebook and get in touch with the Sayachuleb team. You’ll feel extremely safe with them but just know that none of them speak English, only very fast Yucatecan Spanish(!). Don’t let this put you off though, use gestures, use google translate (yeah, there’s reception almost everywhere) and be brave. You won’t regret it, I promise.

📌 Did you know that I wrote the definitive guide book for families exploring Yucatán? It’s available in both English and Spanish.