"Akumal" Top 5 Page for this destination Akumal by Kaspian

Akumal Travel Guide: 71 reviews and 146 photos

Akumal - Downtown (2005) - Akumal
Akumal - Downtown (2005)

Travel Dates: March 15 2005, March 8 2007, December 5 2011.

Akumal (pronounced "a-coo-moll") means "land/place of the turtles" in the Mayan language. The actual town itself (shown above) is a dusty little village on the top of a hill right beside Highway 307, between Playa Del Carmen and Tulum. Take a good look at this sleepy little village because you probably won’t recognize it in a few years--growth in the Akumal beachfront area is booming and massive development of the downtown will probably come with it very soon. There’s not much to see in the tiny downtown--some small shops selling to locals, kids playing, dogs wandering around aimlessly, and some workers taking naps on the sidewalks. There are definitely no tourists.

Akumal Beaches
Akumal - Beach at Half Moon Bay (2005) - Akumal

Akumal - Beach at Half Moon Bay (2005)

The Akumal beaches are a different story. They're not crowded like the beach in Cancun or Playa Del Carmen, this is where you really want to be when visiting. There are lots of little restaurants, great places to swim, a few monuments, and some little shops.
"But wait," you say? "Where are all the blasting boom-boxes and sand kicking jocks yelling obnoxiously while playing beach volleyball? Where are all the skinny girls with fake tans and skimpy bikinis who won't swim because they'd get their hair wet? Where are all the overweight couples wearing matching T-shirts and fanny packs that like to argue loudly in English with their waiter?"
Exactly, I say to you dear traveller, exactly. Enjoy the serenity.

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Quiet, great sand, clean water, chance to see sea turtles in their natural environment.
  • Cons:Damned if I know...
  • In a nutshell:No big stores? No traffic? No fat, obnoxious tourists? Perfect!
  • Last visit to Akumal: Mar 2005
  • Intro Updated Jun 26, 2012
  • Add to Trip Planner (?)
  • Report Abuse

Reviews (7)

Aktun Chen - Tour Guide (2007) - Akumal Aktun Chen Things to Do (4)

Scraaape-ka-bonk! That's about the dozenth time I've hit my head on a stalactite crawling through this enormous... more travel advice

Akumal (2005) - Akumal Downtown Akumal Things to Do (4)

I don't know if this tip belongs in "Things to Do" or "Off the Beaten Path", but it's my personal theory that every... more travel advice

Pablo Bush Romero Memorial Park (2005) - Akumal Pablo Bush Romero Memorial Park Off The Beaten Path (1)

Don Pablo Bush Romero (1905 - 1998) was the head of the Mexican National Archaeology Department, a writer, photographer,... more travel advice

Akumal - Gonzalo Guerrero Statue (2005) - Akumal Statue of Gonzalo Guerrero Things to Do (4)

In 1511, a Spanish galleon shipwrecked off the shore of Akumal. Seventeen of the sailors survived in a lifeboat but the... more travel advice

Comments (5)

  • Reply
    Arkeolog's Profile Photo
    Apr 28, 2010 at 5:13 AM

    looks like undiscovered place by tourists. good tips and nice photos.

  • Reply
    Greggor58's Profile Photo
    Feb 18, 2010 at 10:10 AM

    Now this is more my speed Edward...I spent a few weeks here perched on the beach a few years back and thoroughly enjoyed the beach and ocean....Its a GREAT spot to unwind and watch the tides move in and out..Another great page..Thanks!

  • Reply
    hindu1936's Profile Photo
    May 26, 2009 at 1:22 AM

    I sure hope it hasn't changed much before we get there next July. Just the kind of palce where you can rest, eat, and relax without the hordes trying to sell something as in Rome. good stuff

  • Reply
    Mar 24, 2009 at 11:16 AM

    LOVE LOVE this place - we accidentally found it a couple years ago & ate there most meals thereafter on the trip -- they had tables by the water & a treehouse - - my son played (in sight) while we relaxed. . .ask if they have fresh lobster that day!

  • Reply
    Dabs's Profile Photo
    Apr 21, 2007 at 7:47 AM

    Ha ha sometimes it sucks to be 6'5", doesn't it? Don't underestimate those vicious kitty cats ;-)

Kaspian's Related Pages

Akumal Travel Guide

 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Kaspian's Profile Photo

Kaspian

“Be epic!”

Online Now

Male

Top 1,000 Travel Writer
Member Rank:
0 0 5 6 1
Forum Rank:
0 1 2 7 1

Badges & Stats in Akumal

  • 7 Reviews
  • 20 Photos
  • 0 Forum posts
  • 6 Comments
  • 18,609PageViews
  • See All Stats
  • See All Badges (10)

Have you been to Akumal?

  Share Your Travels  

Latest Activity in Akumal

Photos in Akumal

See All Photos (20)

Top 10 Pages

See All Travel Pages (83)

Friends

See All Friends (134)

Travel Interests

See All Travel Interests (4)

Latest Akumal hotel reviews

Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya
2577 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 22, 2013
Grand Oasis Riviera Maya
271 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 21, 2013
Akumal Beach Resort
1254 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 22, 2013
Gran Bahia Principe Riviera Maya
894 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 22, 2013
Gran Bahia Principe Akumal
2892 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 21, 2013
Hotel Akumal Caribe
174 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 14, 2013
Vista del Mar Hotel
207 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 19, 2013
Chan Chemuyil at Xcacel Beach
48 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 14, 2013