After a dreamy getaway to Mexico to kick off 2022, I’m so excited to share a recap of our getaway to Akumal, Mexico!
Located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, you’ll uncover a captivating, small seashore city filled with true authenticity of the Riviera Maya. Uncover Akumal, which means “Place of the Turtle” within the Mayan language. This lesser-known seashore city ought to be the subsequent cease in your Mexico bucket listing, and we are able to’t rave sufficient about our keep. The which means behind the title holds true, because the beautiful white sand seashores are surrounded by two bays enclosed by the Mesoamerican Reef, the second largest barrier reef system on the planet. Should you’re a scuba diver like me, you’ll love exploring the reefs – and also you guessed it, a number of sea turtles!
We spent New Years Eve in Akumal, Mexico and had an unimaginable time! Akumal is a straightforward drive from the Cancun Airport, and it’s tremendous straightforward to get to this genuine and laid-back seashore city. It’s the kind of place that appears like time stops from the second you verify in, and it’s the proper getaway for a weekend of true R&R.
Since we have been touring with our two yr outdated, we needed to plan a trip that may be enjoyable for our daughter, but additionally straightforward and stress-free for us. Akumal has been on our bucket listing for some time, so we determined to spend the primary 4 nights of our journey right here then moved down the Riviera Maya to remain on the Fairmont Mayakoba. The Riviera Maya has so many wonderful seashore cities inside a brief distance, so we extremely suggest switching resorts throughout your keep to really feel like two holidays in a single.
Examine Janie’s keep on the Rosewood Mayakoba here
We found Akumal by way of a good friend of ours in Dallas that grew up right here, so we have been thrilled to get to go to his hometown and even keep at his household’s resort! We stayed at Hotel Akumal Caribe and liked our keep! There was a lot to do in Akumal that we have been all the time entertained, and we liked the quiet really feel the seashore with out the vacationers of the extra populated seashore cities.
One factor to notice, there’s not plenty of nightlife in Akumal – nonetheless, you will discover this in Tulum only a taxi experience away! Click on here to learn our Tulum travel guide.
Preserve studying to be taught extra about our keep and plan a visit to Akumal, Mexico!
HOW TO GET THERE:
Akumal is only a brief 1 hour drive from the Cancun Airport, so you may simply e-book a shuttle or hire a automobile in case you desire to have your individual transportation.
Click on here to learn our tips for booking a car in Mexico.
SHOP SWIMWEAR
WHAT TO DO:
Swim With Turtles
Akumal is thought for the turtles, so snorkeling and scuba diving is certainly the most well-liked issues to do. There are a number of outlets the place you may hire gear and join a tour. Should you’re planning a visit sooner or later, I like to recommend getting your license previous to the journey when you have a neighborhood diving heart. We acquired our open water in center college and our superior/nitrox in faculty. The licenses by no means expire, so it’s an effective way to leap proper in as quickly as you arrive!
SHOP COVERUPS
Guide A Spa Day
The resort includes a spa on property with rave opinions, however sadly we had a lot enjoyable on the seashore that we didn’t have time to e-book a therapy.
Discover The Native Boutiques
The whole lot we did in Akumal was strolling distance, and I used to be pleasantly stunned in any respect the purchasing. The boutiques are very genuine, so bear in mind to have pesos available. There may be additionally an ATM close by simply in case you allow with a couple of extra souvenirs than anticipated!
Hire A Golf Cart
We rented a golf cart from the resort someday and cruised throughout the realm. We cruised over to La Buena Vida for a day lunch and relaxed all day. This was a spotlight of our keep! In addition they provided bike leases, however with a 2 yr outdated, the golf cart was the best choice.
Snorkel At Yal-Ku Lagoon
About 1.5 miles from the resort is Yal-Ku Lagoon, which is a crystal clear lagoon that’s good for snorkeling to see a number of fish, mangroves, and rock formations. They mentioned it appears to be like such as you’re swimming in an aquarium, so we plan to do that subsequent time! Whereas we didn’t snorkel, we liked the very peaceable and pleasurable stroll to the lagoon by way of a residential space with fabulous seashore homes.
Plan A Fishing Tour
Should you’re an avid fisher, Akumal is the place for you! Whereas we opted out on the fishing excursions, the dive store on property can organize guided fishing journeys to your keep.
Discover The Riviera Maya
If in case you have a automobile or hire a taxi, there’s a lot to discover within the space. We deliberate a day journey to Tulum (learn our information here) for lunch and purchasing. You too can go to the cenotes, golf, discover Tulum Ruins, and a lot extra!
WHERE TO EAT:
Lol Ha
That is the restaurant on the resort, and we liked it! Our room included free breakfast, and we normally dined at Lol Ha for both lunch or dinner. They’ve fabulous Mexican delicacies, however additionally they have a pizza menu which we loved as nicely. The tables are located on the sand, so it’s such a beachy-feel and the views can’t be beat.
Taverna
Discovering our favourite Taverna in Dallas has a location in Akumal was fairly the shock however we liked having a style of house on our trip. It’s certainly one of our favourite eating places, however I have to say, the open-air views from the 2nd ground eating space made this Taverna even higher. It’s most likely the nicest restaurant in Akumal, so remember to go to in case you’re planning a dressy date evening. One evening that they had a musician, and it was an evening to recollect.
Turtle Bay Café
We have been unhappy we didn’t uncover this spot till the final day, however this restaurant has an ideal menu. Turtle Bay Cafe’s morning pastries and occasional bar regarded wonderful, and I undoubtedly plan to go to for breakfast throughout your keep. That they had selfmade ice cream, so we extremely suggest stopping by for a scoop of their Mexican Vanilla!
La Buena Vida
Don’t miss! This spot is immediately on the water and each desk is within the sand. La Buena Vida has hammocks and even a tree home! The restaurant additionally includes a pool and native boutiques, and we liked it.
SHOP ACCESSORIES
La Lunita
Sadly we didn’t have time to go to La Lunita, however we heard their Mexican entrees can’t be beat!
WHERE TO STAY:
Lodge Akumal Caribe
We stayed at Hotel Akumal Caribe, and we had a superb time!As quickly as we checked in, we knew we have been going to like our keep. The hospitality was wonderful, and everybody was extremely pleasant and welcoming. The resort is small, nevertheless it had all the things we would have liked and we liked the intimate really feel of the property and seeing acquainted faces all through the day. one thing, and there was loads to do this we have been all the time entertained. We stayed for 4 nights which was good!
Since we had a couple of suggestions from our good friend, he advisable one of the best room – #401! Our room was floor ground with two balconies and only a few steps to the pool and the seashore. It was heaven. The main focus of the hotel is on the seashore and nature, so our room didn’t have a TV or luxurious frills – however we liked the way it allowed us to completely disconnect and revel in a lot wanted R&R from the hustle and bustle of Dallas.
The room had all the things we would have liked, together with a mini kitchenette, and one of the best views. Just a few steps from the resort was a mini grocery retailer that had snacks, sunscreen, and so on, so it was all very straightforward! The hotel is positioned in Akumal City Heart close to the entire eating places and the place we spent most of our time if we weren’t on the seashore. It was so good to have the ability to stroll in all places, and apart from our day journey to Tulum, we by no means wanted a taxi!
SHOP GIRLS SWIMSUITS
Las Casitas Akumal
Las Casitas Akumal was positioned subsequent door to ours, and it’s an ideal choice in case you want a bigger models in case you’re touring with a gaggle or a household. The 18-individual models have non-public terraces overlooking the bay. One factor to notice although, this property doesn’t have a restaurant, bar, or market on property – nonetheless it’s conveniently positioned to city, so you will have all the things you want only a fast step away!
Home Leases
Most of the instances Ellen has traveled to Mexico, she has rented a big villa to separate with associates and raves about it. If that is one thing you’re open to, there are such a lot of fantastic villas to hire to your keep! As a tip, be sure that to learn the opinions earlier than reserving a house 🙂
Total, Akumal is a really quiet city with chill vibes, however we liked how pleasant and protected it was. There have been plenty of Europeans on the resort, and we liked the worldwide feeling! As I discussed earlier than, our objective was to relaxation and actually get away – which we achieved in Akumal. We expect 3-4 nights is loads to see all the things and get a real really feel of Akumal!
We hope you like Akumal as a lot as we do!