In the Mayan language Akumal means "Land of Turtles". The name is fitting, since from may to September, year after year, a large number of turtles arrive on Akumal’s beaches to lay their eggs and thereby fulfill their natural reproductive cycle.
The town was officially founded in 1958 as a community for scuba divers by Akumal Pablo Bush Romero--a Mexican businessman, diver, writer, historian, and archaeologist. The Bush/Wolfe family still owns a large portion of Akumal, including the largest resort/hotel Hotel Club Akumal Caribe. Local bartender and DJ Ryan Wolfe is a direct descendant.
Akumal is nested between two gorgeous and tranquil bays that make it a wonderful place for a relaxing vacation. In the other side of the coin its turquoise colored waters and surrounding virgin jungle dotted with ancient Mayan temples waiting to be discovered, it is also ideal for eco-tourism, scuba diving, snorkeling, amateur archeologists, exciting adventure, bird watching, or simply enjoy the beauty of nature.
Beach and Relax
Akumal’s beaches are relaxing heavens for your busy lifestyle, many of them replete with shady inviting coconut trees for lying in the sand and enjoying the splendid view of the turquoise blue sea, basic ingredients that make you feel on paradise. The restaurant of the main beach is the community’s unofficial town hall for visitors and locals a like, specially at sunset with the happy hour at the bar. There are also many services in Akumal including: Akumal Hotels, vacation rentals, Akumal restaurants, gift shops, dive shops, grocery stores, fun beach bars, Riviera Maya Real Estate Akumal tours and much more.
Scuba Dive at The Barrier Reef
Akumal bay is protected by its coral barrier reef which offers miles of calm crystalline waters, making it the ideal place to learn to scuba dive. The scuba diving in Akumal is spectacular and varied. Great coral formations are typical in the caves and canyons, creating an amazing submerged landscape of twisted rock formations,stalactites, stalagmites and structures that hold an impressive array of life, A truly unforgettable experience!
Open sea scuba diving is also popular in the reefs outside of the bay where you can find a large collection of sites to visit, with depths varying from 40 to 100 feet. Akumal has two highly recommended dive shops: The Akumal Dive Shop and The Akumal Dive Center, both with more than 30 years of experience in this scuba diving area.
Without a doubt there are many interesting places to dive and explore in Akumal but our favorite is “La Tortuga” where giant sea turtles are a common sight.
Cave and Cavern Diving the Next Frontier to Discover.
The Yucatan Peninsula and the Rivera Maya are a Mecca for cave and cavern divers from around the world. Cenotes are the natural spring fed pools that lead to the underwater limestone formations beneath the jungle. Akumal is the getaway to the series of Cenotes considered to be the best cave and cavern diving experience: Dos Ojos, Taj Maha, Chac Mool, Gran Cenote and Ponderosa are a few of the spectacular Cenotes which offer swimming, snorkeling and diving. Each one displays different and unique characteristics.
A professional Full Cave Diver will accompany you to discover this magical and mysterious underwater world, where lovers of this sport or those just beginning, will be enriched by an unusual and spectacular environment. The best thing about Cenote diving is that it offers a cool, freshwater alternative to ocean diving and a great way to keep diving regardless of ocean conditions.
So if you wish to dive in Cenotes should get in touch with the dive shop personnel, who have van transportation to any of the several nearby underground rivers.
Fishing a Memorable Experience
Fishing is another favorite local pastime, and the best part is that you can taste your day’s catch in that evening dinner. You can charter a private akumal deep sea fishing tour for a unique experience or you can hire an small fishing boat at reasonable prices at the dive shop or by making a deal directly with the boat operators.
Yal Ku Lagoon a Truly Paradise
Another of Akumal’s enjoyable attractions is the Yal Ku inlet. Located two kilometers north of Akumal just at the end of the Half Moon Bay. The crystalline waters and the extensive amount of wild life makes of the Yal Ku lagoon a truly paradise site for snorkeling. Swimmers are not allowed to use suntan or sun block lotions to avoid polluting the crystal clear waters.
Nature and Animal Conservation
Sea turtles can be found in Akumal laying eggs on the beaches at night throughout the nesting season (end of April to October) or swimming in the main bay during the day. Hatching season runs from June to November. Many environmental associations are settled in the Akumal area, including Centro Ecológico Akumal, better known as CEA. The local hotels, dive shops, independent aquatic tour operators and CEA are working with government authorities to run a bay management program aimed at protecting the resident juvenile sea turtles and coral species in the bays of Akumal. Sea turtles are endangered species and are protected by federal law. If you want to help the cause please visit the akumal CEA website for further information.
Accommodations
Lodging in Akumal runs the gamut from comfortable akumal hotel room accommodations to a three bedroom totally furnished akumal vacation villas. for the more discerning travelers there are private oceanfront residences with luxurious comfortable amenities. If you are looking for akumal hot deals, travel ideas or akumal cheap airfare to akumal feel free to subscribe to our newsletter.
Tell me what you think! If you know the area share your knowledge about Akumal and leave a comment.
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