Akumal, Mexico: A beautiful Mexican Town

Akumal, which in the Mayan language means “Place of the Turtles” or “Land of turtles”, is a small beach-front tourist resort town located 100 km (62 miles) south of Cancun, between Playa del Carmen and Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

Some of the popular locations we recommend on your Akumal trip include Akumal beach, Aktun Chen Natural Park, Yal-Ku Lagoon, and Half Moon Bay.

How to get to Akumal from Cancun Airport

The Cancun International Airport is the nearest Airport to Akumal. The town is approximately an hour’s drive from Cancun.

You can get to Akumal by rental car, a tour ride, or by taking a Colectivo (sharing a local bus with other visitors). If you are planning on spending more time in Yucatan and you want to cover more locations at your own pace, a rental car will be a preferred option.

The Beautiful Bays of Riviera Maya In Akumal

Just to clarify any misunderstanding, the words Riviera Maya or Mayan Riviera can be used interchangeably to describe the over 100 miles stretch of Caribbean coastline along the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

There are about five beautiful bays of Riviera Maya near the small town of Akumal. Akumal Bay in Akumal, Mexico is the closest bay to the main entrance to Akumal and is also situated at the heart of Akumal, that’s why it’s called Akumal Bay. To the north is Half Moon Bay which is about 1 kilometer to the north of Akumal Bay, and further up is Yal Ku Lagoon. These two are perfect for swimming and snorkeling with marine life. To the south is Jade Bay which is just under 1 kilometer to the south of Akumal Bay. Further south is South Akumal Bay which is just about 2 kilometers to the south of Akumal Bay, about 55 minutes of walk to the main Akumal bay. Finally, you have Aventuras Akumal at about 3 kilometers to the south of the central Akumal bay.

Attractions in Akumal

Akumal beach

The beach at Akumal Bay Is excellent for snorkeling, it attracts guests from all around the Riviera Maya, who come to spend a couple of hours, swimming and snorkeling with the marine life at the beach. Akumal beach is the busiest beach in Akumal, recording its highest foot traffic in the winter season of each year.

Address: Carretera Tulum, Yodzonot, Cancún, Q.R., Mexico

Aktun Chen Natural Park

Aktun-Chen, which in the Mayan language means “natural well inside a cave“, is a natural park located next to Akumal in the Riviera Maya, it is a rainforest park with an underground river for swimming, walk-in cave, fly over zip lines. In its 2010 publication, National Geographic ranked Aktun Chen as one of the Top 10 Underground Walks

Address: Carr. Cancún – Tulum Km 107, 77780 Akumal, Q.R., Mexico

Yal-Ku Lagoon

For visitors that like snorkeling, Yal Ku Lagoon is a popular snorkeling spot. The Yal Ku Lagoon, which is considered part of the Nature Preserve in Mexico is located 1 mile from the Akumal Bay.

Address: Calle Acceso Etapa H Lote 5 Akumal Norte, 77776 Akumal, Q.R., Mexico

Half Moon Bay

The relatively low water level in the Half Moon Bay which is great for visibility makes it one of the best snorkeling spots on the Riviera Maya.

Address: CM2R+V8 Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Parking close to the Beach

If you want good parking at Akumal Beach, you need to get there early before 9.00 am. You can get full-day parking not too far from the beach for less than 70 pesos.

Things to do at Akumal Beach

Akumal enjoys mass tourism as visitors enjoy beautiful water adventures with scuba diving, swimming, kayaking, snorkeling with the turtles, windsurfing and beachcombing, or meeting new people through the ecotours.

Tips for a great time at Akumal Beach

Bring comfortable footwear, towels, sunglasses, and a change of clothing.
Only wear Bio-degradable sunscreen at the beach.
Do not pee in the water
Do not touch the turtles while Snorkeling
Check your snorkel gears before getting in the water
Only snorkel and swim in protected bay areas
Remember to bring some money to pay for parking, souvenirs and renting gears
It is recommended that you bring your own snorkel gears for hygiene reasons

Some of the best restaurants in Akumal

For foodies, we have a list of restaurants you will be interested in exploring on your visit to Akumal.

Lol Ha Restaurant on Akumal Main Bay. You get a great view of the beach at this restaurant
Cocina Economico
Lucy’s Tacos
Turtle Bay Cafe & Bakery
La Cueva del Pescador
Imelda’s Ecocina
Taverna Akumal – Italian/Pizza Restaurant
Tequilaville Cosme’s Taqueria La Buena Vida
La Lunita – Mexican/Caribbean Restaurant
Beached Bikini Bar and Grill – Mexican/Caribbean Restaurant
Que Onda – Italian
Restaurante Maiko – Japanese, Sushi Restaurant
Le Gourmet
El Dorado Restaurant at Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa
Taco Maya
Terraza Careyes
Que Onda Tortu-Go
Gourmet Arlequin Restaurant
Margaritas Akumal
Restaurant Familiar Taco Maya
Tequila Restaurant
Restaurant Bar El Ultimo Maya
La Gira Rodizio –
Cafe Te Latte – Coffee & Tea, Cafe
Freedom Garden – Mexican, International
Bamboo Restaurant – Asian Restaurant
Crepes francaises a Akumal – French Restaurant
Restaurante loro – Seafood Restaurant
Restaurante Akumal Natura – Seafood Restaurant

Where to stay near Akumal

Most people planning trips to this region want to know the best hotels and resorts in and around Akumal. Cancun is the biggest town with a lot of hotel and resort options in the Cancun hotel zone. However, It is more convenient to get accommodation and lodging closer to Akumal for a more fun and seamless experience. Here are a couple of hotel and resort options closer to the Akumal Beach.

Akumal Bay – Beach & Wellness Resort

This is a top-rated hotel located on the main Akumal Bay (south end). It is formerly known as Akumal Beach Resort (ABR).

Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya

The 434-room Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya is an adults-only resort conveniently located in the center of the Riviera Maya along the soft white sand beaches of Akumal. The beautiful beachfront and top-notch service make it a recommended option for your Mexico trip bucket list.

Hotel Club Akumal Caribe

Hotel Club Akumal Caribe is a resort situated along the shore of Akumal Bay (62 miles south of Cancún), on the Mayan Riviera, located on the Caribbean coastline of the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. The resort is owned largely by the original founders of Akumal, the Pablo Bush family who founded Akumal as a diving town in 1950, Hotel Club Akumal Caribe remains the first and largest independent, family-run resort in Akumal. The resort’s symbol, a tribal depiction of a turtle, comes from the meaning of the Mayan word “Akumal”, which is “place of the turtles.”

Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort, Akumal, Mexico

Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa is a 5-star hotel complex made up of two hotels, Grand Sirenis Mayan Beach Hotel & Spa and Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Hotel & Spa.