Akumal Beach

Just 120 kilometres down the coast from Cancun in the beautiful Riviera Maya lies the wonderfully tranquil beach resort of Akumal Beach. Perfect Caribbean shoreline, clear turquoise waters and year-round warm weather make Akumal a picture-perfect escape from the real world.

Sit back and relax for the day in the shade of a palm tree on the powdery white sands or take a dip in the warm, gentle waves, which are protected by an offshore reef. Akumal is a Mayan word meaning “The Place of the Turtle”, called so for the turtles that come here every year to lay their eggs on the beaches. A number of friendly turtles also inhabit the shallow waters of the tranquil bay – if you’re lucky you’ll catch sight of them swimming gracefully in the clear waters during your stay.

Akumal Beach is a quiet and peaceful resort, removed from the partying crowds of other Riviera Maya locations, making it a perfect destination for families. The beach is dotted with cabanas and bars meaning you won’t have far to walk before you’ll find a deck chair and an ice-cold drink.

More active visitors are also catered for with sailing, fishing and kite surfing all offered along the beach. A real treat is to rent a snorkel and pair of flippers and swim in one of the nearby sinkholes – called cenotes – where you’ll find stingrays, manta rays, barracuda and green and loggerhead turtles.

Just 1.6 kilometres to the north is the Centro Ecológico de Akumal (CEA), a centre dedicated to protecting the local marine environment and the native turtle population in particular. The turtles’ importance to the area is underlined by the fact that many of the hotels, diving schools and tour operators in the area work closely with CEA to ensure that the turtles and their breeding grounds are protected.

You’ll scarcely need to leave Akumal Beach, with its plentiful restaurants, bars and shops but if you want to explore the surrounding area, just jump in a taxi or colectivo, or rent a car.