Akumal means “The Place of the Turtle” in the Mayan language, and it is the turtles first and foremost that have made this place famous. Once a year, turtles swim hundreds of miles to lay their eggs carefully on this particular beach. Akumal Beach is now a protected habitat for endangered green turtles, and this status ensures that the natural beauty is preserved for human visitors too.
Even without the turtles, Akumal would be just as tempting. Only 120 kilometres south of Cancún city, Akumal Beach is a stretch of tranquil, soft, white sand with warm, shallow waters lined with palm trees. At the Yal Ku lagoon to the north, fresh and salt water meet to create an absolutely stunning array of underwater life. In the clear blue water, snorkelling with the barracuda, stingrays, manta rays and turtles is a journey into another world.
On the shore, wander down lazy, sandy roads under palm trees and bright red bougainvilleas swim, sail, fish or kite-surf unwind in one of the many cabanas with a chilled cerveza (beer) or fresh fruit juice. Akumal is the place to relax away from the rigours of modern life.
Life at Akumal Beach will hopefully be this way for many years to come. Wildlife preservation is de rigueur here: many of the local hotels, diving organisations and independent marine tour operators work with the Centro Ecologico de Akumal, the ecological centre to the north of the beach, to ensure the protection of the turtles and their environment.
With its easy-going resorts, bars, restaurants and diving shops, there’s little need to venture away from Akumal Beach. That said, the ruins, cenotes (sinkholes) and nightlife of Playa del Carmen are just a short taxi or colectivo (minibus) ride away.
