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 Coming back in from the sea by whitneyone
the bonus is your guide who will jump in the water with you and point out the most spectacular things!
Akumal is a turtle breeding ground, and if they are around, he will get you to them.
No tocar! don't touch!
We also saw a giant ball of fish herded by a barracuda, eels and so much more.
ONE day I'm going to have my underwater photos developed. Leave a Comment Address: Main beach at AkumalDirections: Drive to the main parking lot for the beach, it is on your left. Free parking in their lot.
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Yal Ku Lagoon is located about 3 miles from the centre of Akumal. You can walk along the road to it (about 30-40mins) but it is very hot with little shade. It is interesting to look at all the villas, hotels and apartments along the route, however. The Lagoon is where the fresh water reaches the sea and is a lovely natural environment which has been enhanced with sympathetic planting and the addition of well chosen and tasteful statues. As for the snorkelling, what can I say! We saw more varieties and greater numbers of fish there than we did at the much more expensive Xel Ha, and in a much less commercialised setting. It was only $7 dollars for adults to snorkel all day, with lockers to store your kit in. The water is very clear and was warm enough to be comfortable without suits when we went in April. As other tips mention, you cannot wear ordinary sun cream, only biodegradable, so please remember to take a t-shire to be more environmentally friendly. Another tip is definely to get there early, before lots of people with flippers reduce the visibility by stirring up the bottom layer. We were the first people there in the morning at 0830hrs, and the visibility was great. Also be careful what you do with your shoes. We left ours under a bench and someone moved them by mistake. This resulted in a few panic-stricken moments thinking they had been stolen before they were returned to us! Leave a Comment Address: Yal Ku Lagoon, 3 miles from AkumalDirections: Follow the road from Akumal until it reaches Yal Ku Lagoon - it is signposted.
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 Even with clouds it's
paradise! by whitneyoneLeave a Comment Address: take the akumal exit off 307Directions: Drive until you see the beach, about a quarter mile from the 307. You can park for free right across from Akumal Realty, or drive a little further and pay ten pesos an hour (about a dollar an hour)
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 Tallest Mayan Structure in the
Yucatan. by MaosRedArmy
In 1891, the Austrian archaeologist Teobert Maler, after hearing of an ancient city lost in the jungle, came to Coba and began its first excavation.
The city remained undisturbed for another 35 years until 1926, when the Carnegie Institute financed two expeditions headed by Eric Thompson and Harry Pollock.
In the 1970�s the Mexican government through the INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History) financed more excavations at Coba. In spite of all this work, only a few of structures in Coba have been excavated and restored. Also, Coba boasts of having the tallest Mayan structure in the Yucatan Peninsula.
When I arrived, a small man of Mayan descent (most Mayans are pretty short) approached and asked me if I wanted a guided tour of the ruins for US$20. I handed over the money and was very glad I did. I highly recommend a guided tour it if you can find someone hoest and straightforward.
He pointed out many things I would have missed if I walked around alone - stopping along the way to point out an perfectly straight elevated road covered by overgrowth, that in actuality, was part of the famous Mayan highway system. He also showed me where sacrifices were made, and I even tasted some local fruits that grew wild in the jungle.
Coba is not a major tourist attraction and is extremely different that Chichen-itza. I liked it even more than Chichen-Itza or Tulum (probably because of my guided tour).
Anyways, if you are adventurous and like exploring - Coba is a great day trip from Akumal. The round-trip drive, tour,of the ruins, and lunch took about 5-6 hours. Leave a Comment Address: Middle of the jungle.Directions: Take the highway to Tulum. Turn right and head straight into the jungle about 27 miles. The ruins are surrounded by jungle, so don't expect huge signs pointing you to an easy to find clearing. You literally park in a dirt lot next to the jungle.
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Yal-Ku is a narrow inlet through which fresh water traveling via underground rivers reaches the ocean. The lagoon has many small islands and areas where wildlife, flora, and fauna thrive. The primary activity at Yal-Ku is snorkelling.
One of the things that makes the Yal-Ku park so unique and beautiful are all of the great statues they've added throughout the grounds--on the rocks and in the forest. It's hard to tell exactly how many there are. Dozens? More than a hundred? They're all unique and genuine pieces of original art.
There's no beach at Yal-Ku, you just jump in off the rocks and start snorkelling.
Towards the entrance (the shallow area) there are lots of colourful fish. I got to see one of the very shy bright yellow "parrot fish". Out further, in the area where the lagoon meets the sea, you can see stingrays and if you're lucky, some sea turtles.
You can buy burgers, pop, and a modest lunch from their snack stand or you can bring your own. We saw several locals that had come to the park for the day and brought picnic baskets.
There are small bathrooms and a shower at the park but no change rooms--you'll have to use the bathroom for that.
Yal-Ku is open every day from 8:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m.
Admission was 65 pesos. Snorkel equipment rentals are available at an extra cost. Leave a Comment Directions: Yal Ku Lagoon is in North Akumal, 2 km from Akumal Bay. Walk in from the highway and follow the beach road. It's quite far, especially in the searing sun. This walk takes about 45 minutes, so you may want to take a taxi in.Website: http://www.i-akumal.com/lagoon.htm
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 Snorkelling in a cave by lxine
Save some money and don't take a packaged tour offered from your hotel. Xel-Ha is only a few minutes drive from Akumal, easily accessible by Collectivo (shared taxi bus) for a couple dollars. You can also save a bit by taking your own snorkeling gear, and bringing a "to go" lunch from your hotel. It is worth renting a locker and life jackets are freely distributed at the park.
Leave your camera behind unless you plan to do underwater photography. There are strategically placed photogs throughout the park that will take your picture, then you'll find them printed all big and glossy at the exit. You can decide as you're leaving whether to purchase for about US$9.00. Personally I think that's a great souvenir (see the shot I included with this tip)!
One more thing - all sunscreen used at Xel-Ha must be biodegradable! You can buy a bottle there, but save yourself the trouble and bring your own! Leave a Comment Address: Kilometer 240 of the Carretera Chetumal.Directions: Just off the coastal highway of the Riviera Maya.Website: http://www.xel-ha.com/
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 Akumal - Gonzalo Guerrero
Statue (2005) by Kaspian
Six years later, in 1517, emissaries were sent by Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortes from Cozumel to look for survivors of the wreck.
Jeronimo de Aguilar returned to the Spaniards and helped in the conquest of Mexico using his new Mayan language skills.
The other survivor, Gonzalo Guerrero, remained behind having already married a Mayan cacique (princess) named Ixpilotzama, a relative of Nachan Can, the Lord of Chetumal. They had three children together, the first "mestizos" (half-European and half-Amerindian, from the Latin "to mix") of Mexico. Guerrero became a Nacom, a lord of the Serpent order. He declared himself Mayan--he spoke Mayan, tattooed his body and his face, wore earrings, became a worshipper of Mayan gods, and helped the people with warfare against the Spaniards. He died in 1536, killed while fighting on the side of the natives against the Spaniards.
Some historians believe this account of Guerrero to be largely fictional, a story concocted by de Aguilar to make himself appear more loyal to Spain and his religion.
Plaque incription reads: "Gonzalo de Guerrero, of Palos de Noguera, Spain, seaman, who in 1511 shipwrecked near this beach, married the Mayan Princess Xzamil and thus founded the first Euro-American family." Leave a Comment Directions: At the Akumal beach access entrance.
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 Yal-Ku Lagoon by Dabs
Admission is 75 pesos for adults, more if you need to rent snorkel gear. I didn't ask but I didn't see any lockers. There is a bathroom and changing room. Currently it's open from 8 am-5:30 pm.
Things to bring-camera, money, towel, biodegradable sunscreen, bathing suit, extra tshirt if you are as fair skinned as me to snorkel in, snorkel gear, water/beverage. Although I swam without fins, it would have been nice to have them.
We visited from Playa del Carmen via a combination of colectivo and taxi, if you are staying in Akumal, you'll probably either be able to walk or catch a taxi, check with your hotel on the distance. Leave a Comment
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Scraaape-ka-bonk! That's about the dozenth time I've hit my head on a stalactite crawling through this enormous underground cave and cenote system. I'm glad we were issued these helmets or I'd be covered with blood by now. A "cenote" is a cave formed by an underground river travelling through porous rock. "Aktun Chen" literally means "cave with an underground river inside" in the Mayan language.
"A stalactite hangs from the ceiling," our guide explains, "and a stalagmite is what grows on the ground." He describes how they take thousands of years to form from water dripping off limestone, and how the stalactite and stalagmite will eventually join together forming a hollow column.
Some of the cave tunnels open into massive caverns. Cave walls have been lit up with hidden bulbs, showing spectacular formations.
Our guide is extremely knowledgeable and quite funny. He points out quartz deposits, alcoves where bats are sleeping, areas that archaeological artifacts were found, and conch shells that have been petrified into the limestone walls. "This whole area used to be under the ocean," he tells us.
In the last cavern at the end of the one-hour tour, he hits a switch that lights up an underground river. It's a gorgeous sight!
Exiting the cave system is an area with exotic animals to look at as you walk your way back to the entrance gate--parrots, monkeys, deers, capybaras. Nothing very impressive with this part of the tour and I feel sorry for most of the beasts. I walk over to a cage that says "Danger, vicious animal!" I look inside a hollow log in the cage and see a little cat trying to sleep. The display of snakes is impressive, and as much as I don't like them, I feel sorry for them as well.
Overall, the $25 price was reasonable for the tour but Aktun-Chen isn't something I would recommend first-time visitors to the Mayan Riviera. Do not bring your bathing suit because you can't swim in these caves. But wear clothing that breathes; the caves are hot and humid. And bring bug spray against the mosquitoes. Leave a Comment Directions: Entrance is on the west side of the highway, 4 kms south of the town of Akumal. (107 km south of Cancun.) The admission gate is several kilometres through the jungle. You will need to take a taxi or rental car.Website: http://www.aktunchen.com
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 Wow by whitneyone
The fact the people are always smiling? There aren't many cranky tourists?
there are so many turtles?
I don't know, but I love these views! Leave a Comment
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