Akumal Beach – “The Place of The Turtles”

Akumal Beach, or, “the place of the turtles” attracts many tourists throughout the year due to its beautiful tropical weather, the deep blue sea, palm trees and, of course, the large sea turtles that populate the area. It used to be a small secluded community until the 1950’s. Now, it is a popular destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. Despite its growth, Akumal’s beaches remain as attractive as they were before they became famous.

Where is Akumal?

This beach is located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, at the east of Quintana Roo. It is 1 hour and 20 minutes away from Cancún; 35 minutes away from Playa del Carmen and 25 minutes away from Tulum. Overall, it is a well-connected area by land.

The weather is tropical and hot. An average of 78°F can be felt all year round. However, rains are heavy during the fall, plan accordingly.

Akumal beaches

There are several beaches that are part of Akumal. Here is a list of a few of them:

·      North Akumal Beach: This is the site to go to if you want to snorkel and scuba dive; you can see turtles, colorful fish and coral beds.

·      Central Akumal: This place is full of restaurants, shops and accommodations for tourists.

·      Akumal Aventuras, Jade Bay, South Akumal: This is a residential zone. It is full of vacation homes and villas that you can see while walking along the shore.

Things to do

You can swim with the turtles. However, if you want to do it, consider that the government has strict rules in place to protect the animals and you must have a guide (which you can find at the beach). You can also go snorkeling. The Great Mayan Reef (the second largest reef in the world) is right in front of the beach coast: you can see a variety of tropical fish and other marine wildlife. No matter which activity you decide to do, you can rest assured you’ll never forget your visit to Akumal.