Akumal

Between Tulum and Playa del Carmen, in Yucatan, is a small resort town called Akumal. It is significantly more tranquil and quiet than either of those locations and might as well feel like it is on another planet from all the commotion of the most popular Yucatan vacation spots. Akumal Beach, one of Mexico's top beaches, is located there.

The reason this beach is well-known is that you can swim and snorkel with the turtles that frequent Akumal Bay, and you can easily see them while snorkeling very close to the shore. Akumal Beach is located approximately 1.5 hours from Cancun, halfway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. This beach is pleasant, long, sandy, and has incredibly fine sand and clear water. lined with a dense palm tree forest where you can get some shade from the sun. In order to protect the turtles, swimming with them in Akumal has become so popular in recent years that the Mexican government now requires tourists to take a turtle tour.

But this Mexican beach town is home to more than just gorgeous Akumal all-inclusive resorts and turtles! Yal Ku Lagoon is a stunning location where the calm waters are ideal if you aren't comfortable swimming in the sea. It offers a more tranquil and unique swimming experience. This less well-known Yucatan hidden gem is a pleasant place to spend the day.

Not far from town you’ll also find several cenotes near Akumal, like Cenote Dos Ojos. This is one of the best cenotes in Yucatan, and a great place to swim in an underwater cave. Finally, Akumal is a great starting point to explore Tulum, one of the unmissable places to visit in Yucatan.

Akumal travel tips:

• Where are the best things to do in Akumal Mexico? Check out these best Akumal tours for inspo.
• Where is Akumal Mexico located? Quintana Roo state, Yucatan Peninsula
• What’s the best time to visit Akumal? November-April
• How do you get to Akumal? Fly into Cancun International Airport (code: CUN), and book with Cancun Airport Transportation to get you safely to your hotel or resort.

Google rating: 4.5/5.0
Location: between the towns of Playa del Carmen and Tulum