Akumal Holidays

Akumal is a nice little town located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It sits between the popular places of Tulum and Playa del Carmen, and is about one hour drive away from the popular resort of Cancun. What makes Akumal a popular holiday destination are the many nice clean beaches and top quality tourist facilities and services. Akumal is also blessed with a nice warm weather throughout the entire year, with average annual temperatures in the upper 20s C.

The word Akumal translates as ‘land of turtles’ and that explains it all. Akumal is a place frequently visited by large sea turtles. They are very attractive to see both for adults and children, and they often come very close to the beaches of Akumal. The main beach in Akumal is a long stretch of white powdery sands and the sea waters are very warm and shallow. Akumal has a very picturesque shallow bay with crystal-clear turquoise waters, ideal for families with children. It is a very peaceful and quiet place, perfect for those that want to spend a calmer holiday. In the center of the town you will find a few nice restaurants, as well as some shops that sell beach products, clothing and textiles.

Akumal is a popular place for snorkelers and there are some very attractive coral reefs close to the shore. You can reach them by swimming or you can ask guidance from some of the local experts. From Akumal you can go on numerous snorkeling trips and interesting excursions to attractive diving spots. There are a couple of dive shops in the town where you can rent a gear or ask to join an excursion. Glass-bottomed boat trips are very popular for the families, where you can go and observe the giant sea turtles, coral reefs and exotic fish.

Akumal can serve as a perfect base for exploring the wider region. Renting a car is advisable as many of the most popular spots are around half an hour drive away. If you do not want to rent, you can hire a taxi or you can use the very popular mini-van service that picks up tourists and takes them from one place to another. These vans run frequently and are very cheap way for travelling around.

The closest places which you can visit from Akumal are Tulum and Playa del Carmen. Tulum is less than half an hour away and there you can go see the ancient Mayan ruins and a few other archaeological spots. Playa del Carmen is a popular tourist spot full of lively bars, clubs and restaurants. There are also a few great diving spots near Playa del Carmen which you can explore. If you wish to go further, then the historic Chichen Itza is about couple of hours drive away from Akumal. Guided tours are available, and these tours also involve stopping at some attractive colonial towns on the way towards Chichen Itza, such as the charming little town of Valladolid.