Local Areas
Akumal
Akumal Mexico is known as "The Place of Turtles", but could just as easily be called
"The Place of Magic" because of its ability to make all your worries and stress disappear...
Akumal is located just one hour and ten minutes south of Cancun on the Mexican Caribbean coastline of the Yucatan peninsula. Akumal has long been a secret getaway, discovered only by those who dared to travel down the coastline in search of adventure. Yet once discovered many travelers found themselves returning to Akumal year after year. Why...? because Akumal has "Magic", tropical therapy for the soul! And Akumal cares about its precious environment. Akumal is the home of Centro Ecológico de Akumal CEA, a non-profit group dedicated to environmental~marine research, education and sea turtle protection. Now Akumal is leading the way with The Akumal Council, our community organization dedicated to keeping Akumal the magical place it is today, with vision to the future.
Akumal Mexico—town & beaches
Akumal is a small community with sandy white beaches, swaying palms, sun, surf, and a feeling of paradise. This gem of the Caribbean has 3 beautiful bays—Half Moon bay, greater Akumal bay and Aventuras Akumal bay—for snorkeling, tropical reefs for scuba diving, beautiful Yal-ku Lagoon with its calm clear waters for more snorkeling, and a world class beach at Akumal Bay. There are also many services in Akumal including: restaurants, gift shops, dive shops, grocery stores, fun beach bars at the Lol-ha and La Buena Vida, and much more.
Jade Beach, South Akumal, and Aventuras Akumal are just a few minutes south from the main part of Akumal and are considered part of the greater Akumal area. Combined, Akumal offers vacationers a variety of beautiful beaches and tourist services, plus a selection of beach front hotels, condos and luxury villas for your full dose of paradise on the Caribbean.
Riviera Maya
The eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula fronts the Caribbean, and it is the beaches above all that define this area known as the Riviera Maya or Mayan Riviera -- soft, blinding white strands of sand embracing clear turquoise waters, shorelines that curve into calm lagoons, waves that crash against cliffs, mangrove swamps with minuscule islands where only the birds hold sway alongside freshwater cenotes (sinkholes).
Offshore, a magnificent coral reef teems with marine life swimming lazily among the shipwrecks and relics left by pirates, while inland, savannah gives way to wetland to scrubby limestone terrain to jungle, the flora and fauna varying with each setting. All this makes the Caribbean coast, which borders Mexico's state of Quintana Roo (keen-tah-nah roh-oh), a marvelous place for lovers of the outdoors.
Playa del Carmen
The unique harmony of Playa del Carmen is generated by its village like atmosphere and the smiling face of its people. Although "Playa" as it is called by locals and frequent visitors, is becoming a very popular international destination, its original charm and atmosphere remain untouched by townspeople tranquil and hassle free lifestyle. Playa del Carmen offers the kind of service and hospitality provincial Mexico is so well-known for you'll find mi casa es su casa the prevailing attitude, whether you book a rustic beach front cabaña or a 5 star hotel in Playacar surrounded by lush, tropical gardens.
The town offers both and if you're concerned about your meals, don't be. Playa's restaurants are as varied as its hotels and offer traditional Mexican food, fresh seafood, pastas and other continental cuisine. Playa del Carmen's pedestrian street Quinta avenida or "Fifth Avenue" is well known for its sidewalk cafes, each with its own unique atmosphere and charm. In the evening you can sip tropical cocktails at a waterfront bar, dance the night away to live music at Captain Tutix, or join a beach party bonfire.
Playa del Carmen Tours and Excursions nearby
Playa del Carmen beach is perhaps one of the spots in the whole Caribbean where you can admire the seven hues of turquoise blue in one single beach. A day or two at the beach are great but due to its privileged location, Playa del Carmen allows you to know several interesting points nearby.
If you are a nature lover (or even if you're not!), the amazing eco-park Xcaret (pronounced Sh-kah-ret) is just 10 minutes from Playa, many archeological mayan sites are near too. Tulum is a must-to-see point where impressive Mayan ruins challenge a cliff facing the breath-taking views of the Caribbean Sea. If you enjoy extreme sports, Playa del Carmen also offers skydiving, and cave snorkeling in the Riviera Maya.
If shopping is your thing, well, you will find Playa del Carmen most attractive handicraft stores and designer boutiques in the new Paseo del Carmen, a unique modern mall with open spaces and delightful architecture at the end of La Quinta.
Cancun
Warm white sand beaches, crystal indigo seas, romantic Caribbean nights, world-class hotels, restaurants and nightlife; does all of this sound too good to be true? This is Cancun! World-renowned fishing, diving and snorkeling, archeological sites dating back thousands of years, a balmy tropical climate and water sports galore…this is Cancun! A very complete resort where you could keep busy 24 hours a day just participating in the many activities and tours available, and yet Cancun remains a tranquil retreat where you can relax to your hearts content along the peaceful shore of the Caribbean …this is the real purpose of Cancun!
In Cancun you can literally choose a pace and lifestyle to suit any frame of mind, from ultra chic to funky laidback beach bum. Cancun is a resort for everybody, from college students on a strict budget to the rich and famous from all over the world. Cancun caters to all who visit and everyone should experience Cancun at least once.
Cancun is definitely Mexico’s showcase resort. The original developers and the Mexican government can be proud of what they have accomplished here. Built in a location that was named by Mayan people, long ago, for the large number of snakes in the area, Cancun has been carefully groomed into one of the most polished resorts anywhere. Long gone are the snakes and most of the mosquitoes that might have enjoyed the numerous lagoons. Few resorts in the world have the infrastructure and amenities that were built into Cancun from the beginning. Everything just seems to flow together effortlessly in Cancun. This is one of the reasons that Cancun is Mexico's most popular resort, the other reason being... Location, Location, Location.
