Things to Do in Akumal

Akumal means “place of the turtle” in Yucatec Maya, and swimming with green sea turtles in Akumal Bay is the reason most people come. Beyond the turtles, the town is a base for cenotes, lagoon snorkelling, and the Maya ruins of Tulum just 25 km south. Here are the best things to do in Akumal, in rough order of priority. Start with the Akumal travel guide for the full picture.

Water Activities

Swim with sea turtles in Akumal Bay

Akumal Bay is a protected marine sanctuary, and green, loggerhead, and hawksbill turtles feed on the seagrass here year-round. Since 2017 you must enter the water with a licensed guide inside the roped sanctuary zone, and you need to rent or bring a life jacket. The beach entry fee is about MXN 120, and a guided snorkel tour runs roughly MXN 500 to 700 (US$28 to 40) for 45 to 90 minutes, gear included. Turtles are most visible from May to October, but sightings happen every month. Go at 8 AM to beat the tour vans, and do not touch the turtles or stand on the seagrass. The best time to visit Akumal guide explains when visibility is highest.

Snorkel Yal-ku Lagoon

Yal-ku is a sheltered inlet at the north end of Akumal where freshwater from the cenote system mixes with seawater, creating a shimmering halocline effect. Entry is about MXN 350 to 400 (US$18 to 22), open 8 AM to 5 PM daily, with snorkel gear rental around MXN 150 to 250 on top. The lagoon is calm enough for kids and beginner snorkellers, and the mix of tropical fish along the rocky sides is better than the open bay. Buy a combo ticket with a reef snorkel if you want both. Lockers and showers are on site. Check the forecast before booking a rainy-day visit.

Dive or snorkel Cenote Dos Ojos

Cenote Dos Ojos (“two eyes”) is 5 km north of Akumal on Highway 307 and is one of the most famous cenotes on the Riviera Maya. It is a flooded cave system with two connected sinkholes, crystal-clear water at about 24 °C (75 °F), and sunlight shafts that make it a photography favourite. Snorkel entry is roughly MXN 350 to 500, and a guided cenote dive with an operator runs US$100 to 130. It opens around 8 AM and gets busy by 11 AM. Certified divers should book a two-cenote dive that pairs Dos Ojos with the Bat Cave.

Ruins and Eco-Parks

Visit the Tulum ruins

The Tulum archaeological site is 25 km south of Akumal, and it is the only Maya city built directly on the Caribbean coast. El Castillo sits on a 12-metre limestone cliff above the beach. Entry is about MXN 90 (US$5) plus a MXN 58 federal tax, open 8 AM to 5 PM daily with last entry at 3:30 PM. Bring a swimsuit to use the small beach below the ruins. Parking costs about MXN 100 and fills by 10 AM, so take a colectivo from Akumal (about 20 minutes) or arrive early. The Akumal travel tips guide details the colectivo route.

Explore Aktun Chen park

Aktun Chen is an eco-park 10 minutes from Akumal centre with a dry cave tour, an underground river cenote, and a small native-animals area with spider monkeys. The cave tour runs about MXN 850 to 1,200 depending on the package, and the park opens around 9 AM. It is a good rain-day option because the cave and cenote are sheltered. The guided cave walk takes about 1 hour and covers stalactites and cave formations. Ziplines were added in recent years for an extra fee.

Spend a day at Xel-Ha

Xel-Ha is an all-inclusive natural water park 15 km south of Akumal, built around a large inlet where you can snorkel, cliff-jump, and float on inner tubes. Entry is roughly US$90 to 120 depending on the package, and the price includes food, drinks, lockers, and gear. It opens at 8:30 AM and you can easily spend 5 to 6 hours. The lagoon is managed and calm, which suits families with children who find open-water snorkelling difficult. Book online for a discount over the gate price. The where to stay in Akumal guide lists hotels close to the park entrance.

Beaches and Day Trips

Snorkel Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay is the quieter bay north of Akumal centre, and it has better coral and more reef fish than the main bay, plus the occasional eagle ray or nurse shark. It is a public beach with no entry fee, though you bring your own gear or rent from a nearby shop. The reef starts close to shore on the north side, so it works well for a self-guided snorkel when Akumal Bay feels crowded. Sea conditions are calmest in the morning. The Akumal neighborhoods guide covers what else is in this part of town.

Day trip to Xpu-Ha beach

Xpu-Ha is a long crescent of white sand 10 km north of Akumal, with beach clubs that rent loungers for about MXN 300 to 500. The water is shallow and clear, and it is one of the less crowded beaches between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Several beach clubs offer day passes that include a lounger, umbrella, and a food-and-drink credit. It is a good alternative when sargassum seaweed covers the beaches further south in summer. Arrive before 11 AM to get a front-row spot on weekends.

Take the ferry to Cozumel for diving

Cozumel, the island 40 minutes offshore, sits on the Mesoamerican Reef and is one of the best dive destinations in the Americas. From Akumal you drive 37 km north to Playa del Carmen, then catch the 45-minute ferry (about MXN 550 round trip). Certified divers can book a two-tank reef dive for about US$90 to 120, and November to March brings bull shark encounters. It makes a long day, so leave by 7 AM. The Akumal weather by month page notes when the crossing is calmest, and the events and festivals in Akumal guide covers dive-season highlights.