Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business Akumal is a small beachfront community on the Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo, set between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Its name means land of the turtles in Maya, and the bay still lives up to it.
Akumal Bay
The beach and shallow water
Snorkeling with green sea turtles
The nearby reef
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Akumal was founded in 1958 as a community for scuba divers, and the water is still its main attraction.
In 2016 the bay was declared a marine refuge to protect the threatened turtle population, so visiting here means following the posted rules. Beyond the bay, you can reach cenotes, Maya ruins and lively beach towns without long drives.
Akumal is not a big town, and that is part of its charm. Most of the activity centers on the bay, a handful of dive shops and a few restaurants, while larger towns lie a short drive away.
The bay and the nearby beaches are fragile, so treat them gently. Bring your own gear if you can, keep a respectful distance from wildlife and follow the posted rules.
The bay is the reason most people come. A wide white-sand beach curves around warm, clear water, with a few restaurants and dive shops along the shore.
Akumal has a wide white-sand beach and warm shallow water. Photo: Wasquewhat, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Much of the bay is shallow, which makes it easy for wading, floating and relaxed swims. Facilities are modest, so bring water, shade and a towel.
Green sea turtles visit Akumal Bay to feed on sea grass. Photo: P.Lindgren, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Green sea turtles feed on sea grass in the bay, and spotting one is the highlight of many visits. Never touch or ride the turtles, because it is illegal to bother wildlife here.
Half Moon Bay lies just north of Akumal Bay. Photo: Ken Thomas, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Just north of Akumal Bay, Half Moon Bay is a quieter curve of shore with vacation rentals and a casual restaurant and bar. It suits a slower morning with coffee and a swim. Allow about two hours.
A reef lies not far from shore and can be reached by swimming, although hurricane Wilma damaged parts of it. Dive shops in town run snorkeling trips, and a life vest helps in deeper water.
Cenotes are water-filled sinkholes scattered across the Riviera Maya. Photo: Eduardo Manchon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Akumal makes an easy hub for the coast. Highway 307 links the main towns, and the sights below are within about an hour by road.
The Riviera Maya is dotted with cenotes, freshwater sinkholes linked by underground rivers, and Akumal's dive shops can arrange cenote and cave dives. Beginners can snorkel at some sites too.
Beaches south of Akumal are visited by nesting sea turtles in the warm months. Photo: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
South of the main bay, this stretch of coast has quieter sand and a residential feel.
The walled Maya site of Tulum stands on a cliff above the sea. Photo: edenpictures, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
This small roadside community nearby has more restaurants than Akumal itself, including casual pizza and taco spots. It works well for a simple lunch stop between beach days.
About twenty minutes by car, Tulum has Maya ruins on a cliff above the sea. Go early to avoid the heat and the crowds, and allow two to three hours.
Playa del Carmen is the nearest large town north of Akumal. Photo: Giorgio Galeotti, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Playa del Carmen is the closest big town north of Akumal and has shops, restaurants and a ferry to Cozumel, a popular dive island. A day trip suits visitors who want nightlife or shopping.
Ferries run from Playa del Carmen to the island of Cozumel. Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Akumal has a modest but decent mix of beachfront restaurants and small taquerias, with more choices in nearby Chemuyil.
Cochinita pibil, slow-roasted pork in achiote, is a regional classic you will find on many menus across the peninsula. A casual market is held near the Super Chomak area, and Lucy's Tacos sits across from it.
Popular dishes to try in Akumal
Akumal Bay puts you steps from the main beach, dive shops and restaurants, so it suits snorkelers and first-time visitors who want to walk everywhere.
Half Moon Bay is a quieter choice with vacation rental condos, good for families or small groups who want a kitchen and some space.
Staying at the Akumal end of the coast also keeps Tulum and Playa del Carmen within easy reach by car or colectivo.
Where to stay in Akumal
The Caribbean coast is warm all year, and the sea is generally easiest for snorkeling in the drier months from about November to April, when visibility is often good.
Turtles nest on nearby beaches between May and September. In November the Akumal Arts Festival brings muralists and artists from across Mexico to the community.
The nearest major airport is Cancun International, roughly an hour north by road. Cozumel's airport is another option, followed by the ferry to Playa del Carmen.
From Cancun, take an ADO bus to Playa del Carmen and then a second-class bus along Highway 307 that will drop you at the Akumal turnoff.
Driving gives the most freedom, with the closest sights at least a twenty minute drive away. Taxis are available if you prefer not to drive.
Arrive, settle in and walk Akumal Bay at sunset.
Snorkel in the morning, following the turtle rules, then rest at Half Moon Bay and spend the evening at a beach bar.
Visit Tulum early, then cool off at a cenote on the way back.
Dive or snorkel the reef with a local shop, then spend a slow afternoon at the Ecological Center at the end of the bay to learn about the local ecosystem.
Take a colectivo to Playa del Carmen for shopping, or ferry across to Cozumel.
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