Akumal, Mexico Trip Report

[Teddy Salad]

We spent a week in Akumal, Mexico from February 14-21. Akumal is on the Yucatan coast about 60 miles south of Cancun. It was our first time there.

We were told about Akumal by a guy we met while walking our dog. We checked into it and decided to try it. We had been looking for a place that's fairly easy to get to for us and not too expensive. Akumal surpassed our expectations. A laid-back place with a small town feel. Quite a few Americans, and the locals are very friendly.

We got a direct flight from Denver to Cancun that arrived a little late due to the fact that Cancun's airport only has one runway and it can get congested there. It took about 45 minutes to get through immigration and then we had to find our bags, which is not an easy thing to do there. We breezed through customs and got our rental car. Just as we were about to leave we were hit up for a timeshare presentation by the car rental employee. That was a new one. We politely declined and went on our way. I had hoped to get to our condo before dark, but with the flight delay and immigration line, we lost about an hour and a half and by the time we got going, it was almost sunset.

The drive down was uneventful except for the a military roadblock we had been warned about. These are mainly to catch drug runners. We weren't pulled over and made it with no problem.

This is the view out our window we woke up to.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3301731301/" title="IMGP1225 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3615/330 ... 718c_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1225"></a>

Our condo was right on the water.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3302580226/" title="IMGP1236 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3635/330 ... 64b1_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1236"></a>

The bedroom had a window instead of a wall, which was a cool idea we thought.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3308423612/" title="IMGP1330 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3576/330 ... aa00_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1330"></a>

Our condo was on the north end of Half Moon Bay, which is north of the center of Akumal. The bay is pretty shallow and has great snorkeling. A reef protects it. The shore was rocky at our end of the bay and our beach area had imported sand.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3302578292/" title="IMGP1235 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3507/330 ... 2c74_b.jpg" width="1024" height="790" alt="IMGP1235"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3301836259/" title="IMGP1324 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3539/330 ... 25ef_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1324"></a>

There was a lagoon called Yal Ku close to our place that charged 110 pesos (about $7.50) to get in. The snorkeling there was very good.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3301756023/" title="IMGP1250 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3360/330 ... 8799_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1250"></a>

They make you wear biodegradable sunscreen there and request that you wear it in all the Akumal beaches. They also recycle. We were surprised since in our experience Mexico wasn't too much into ecology. Maybe it's just that area, or maybe the whole country is changing, we're not sure.

This is the main beach of Akumal.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3301763435/" title="IMGP1263 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3345/330 ... 2ff0_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1263"></a>

The size of the police station reflects the low crime rate.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3301761597/" title="IMGP1258 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3438/330 ... 9f6b_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1258"></a>

We drove to the Tulum ruins and got there early before the crowds came.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3302603176/" title="IMGP1271 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3311/330 ... f5a9_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1271"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3302606966/" title="IMGP1274 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3308/330 ... 2b42_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1274"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3302643204/" title="IMGP1294 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3475/330 ... f282_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1294"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3302649958/" title="IMGP1302 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3417/330 ... e413_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1302"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3302653420/" title="IMGP1304 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/330 ... a3c6_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1304"></a>

There is a beach there where people were swimming, but we didn't have our suits.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3302635962/" title="IMGP1290 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3581/330 ... a9d3_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1290"></a>

We left when it started to get crowded and stopped at a beachside restaurant (La Buena Vida) not too far from our condo for lunch. My version of food porn:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3302655302/" title="IMGP1306 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/330 ... d70c_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1306"></a>

Shared some chips with this guy.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3302657206/" title="IMGP1309 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3354/330 ... 5a06_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1309"></a>

Our building is the tallest one in the center.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3307593829/" title="IMGP1241 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/330 ... 7e42_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1241"></a>

This pooch reminded us of our own:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3302660548/" title="IMGP1311 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3660/330 ... 63e9_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1311"></a>

Lots of pelicans to entertain us:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3301831007/" title="IMGP1314 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3364/330 ... d7a4_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1314"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22826825@N05/3302665702/" title="IMGP1320 by TeddySalad, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3354/330 ... e59d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMGP1320"></a>

We enjoyed Akumal very much. Our last two trips to Mexico left something to be desired and we had pretty much given up on her, but were very glad we gave her one more shot.

[Wakey]

My dad & his wife were there during the same time period with a group of friends escaping Mardi Gras.

First time for them also, they really enjoyed it.

Those ruins are awesome! Thanks for the report & pics.

[iowaguy]

Good report and photos, Mr. Salad. We have several friends here in Des Moines that have been to Akumal a few times and have really enjoyed it. The main beach looks beautiful and Tulum looks interesting. How was the town and the restaurants/bars?

[RickG]

Thanks for the flashback. There's nothing like beach time with the Hanging Bee God.

Cheers, RickG

[Teddy Salad]

Iowaguy, the town is small and we felt very safe there. We were told by our neighbors who own their condo that no building can be more than four stories high.

Good restaurants. We had dinner at a place called La Lunita the night we got there and liked it so much we ate there two more times. It's right on the beach. Had variations of shrimp the first two times and both had the lobster special the third time. Our landlady had told us that La Lunita was her favorite and we agreed. Great waiter named Luis who tried to teach me some Mayan but none of it stuck.

An Italian-themed restaurant real close to our condo was called Que Onda. We had dinner there twice, the first time we each had a pasta dish that was so big we took the leftovers home and had it for dinner the next night. Our second night there we had lasagna.

The only other restaurant we ate dinner at was called La Cueva del Pescador (The Fisherman's Cave). They specialize in fish. I had a grilled grouper that was very good and I can't remember what my wife had because . . . although we were warned by our landlady about their potent margaritas, we let the waiter talk us into getting a pitcher. We could only finish about half the pitcher and I was very glad we walked, although it was about a mile and a half from the condo. Our waiter, Carlos, was disappointed in my inability to empty the glass he kept filling.

We had lunch a couple of times at La Buena Vida, the beachside place with the Corona bottle. We had breakfast there our first morning. The food was OK (good burgers) but the atmosphere was unbeatable. We stopped by there one evening for Karaoke night. We're not real big on nightlife (would usually rather sit on the beach, listen to the surf and stargaze) but we had a good time. Fun bar. We also had breakfast/brunch a couple times at the Turtle Bay Cafe. Good breakfast. The homemade ice cream at Lucy's Kitchen is outstanding. We never did venture into the south part of town where it's more resorty from my understanding.

[loria]

thanks for that--we've always thought of going to that area --your pictures were really great!

[Terry]

TeddySalad,
Glad you did a trip report. Thanks

It looks like you had choppy water. When we were there in the month of June, it was hotter than you'd like, but the water was like the Caribbean, glass.

The place you stayed was right across the water from where we stayed. Lovely location.

It's a hidden hide away, and takes some effort to get to, but for us Westerners, airfare is more reasonable. Here is a good agency to book accommodations: http://www.caribbfan.com/

Thank you for bringing back memories of our trip there years ago...oh and by the way, there was no one at Ya Kul...let alone charging. This place hasn't changed much in the 15 years we've been there. Police station is still the same.

[chicagoans]

Teddy, great pictures! My favorite is the lagoon - it looks so serene. It's great that they make people wear coral-friendly sunblock.

I've never been to this area. It's going on "the list"!

[Teddy Salad]

Teddy, great pictures! My favorite is the lagoon - it looks so serene. It's great that they make people wear coral-friendly sunblock.

I've never been to this area. It's going on "the list"!

OK, just don't tell anybody. We don't want it to get ruined.

[linne]

Thank you for the report and the great pics. The lagoon picture was so beautiful.

Linne

[lprof]

I enjoyed the trip report and photos...glad that it was a great trip for you. Akumal looks so calm and natural compared to the bustle of Cancun. Thanks for sharing.

[waterguy]

Great report
Thanks Tom