SHOULD YOU SWIM WITH TURTLES IN AKUMAL BEACH? IS AKUMAL STILL WORTH VISITING?
We recently visited Akumal Beach from Tulum. From what we had read online, we expected Akumal to be a quiet and sleepy little fishing village, with abundant white beaches. We had also heard that this was the best place to swim with turtles in Quintana Roo.
Although we had a great day visiting Akumal, we were a little disappointed to discover that it has become a bit of a tourist trap and that our dreams of swimming in the sea with turtles were not to be realized.
Is Akumal Beach worth visiting? And should you travel here to swim with Turtles at Akumal? Read on to find out more.
Is Akumal beach worth visiting?
First up, Akumal Beach is beautiful. Crystal clear water, white sand – it looks like the quintessential Caribbean coastal beach. It is a perfect place to unwind away from the hustle and bustle of Tulum and is very easy to get to.
One of the main attractions of Akumal Beach is its reputation as a nesting site for sea turtles.
Snorkellers and swimmers have the unique opportunity to encounter turtles in their natural habitat. The presence of tropical fish, adds to the appeal for those interested in snorkelling and underwater exploration. However, as we discovered, the beach is a bit different to expectations.
It is not a quiet or sleepy fishing village. Instead, the beach is lined with expensive resorts and you must pay a fee to enter the beach. On the day that we visited, it was extremely busy. Here’s what you need to know:
1/ The beach is in a protected nature reserve, so you must pay to visit. More on this below.
2/ Unless you book a snorkel tour, you are unlikely to see turtles. But, you will see some interesting fish.
3/ There are not many places to eat and drink, but you can buy food and drink from the supermarket outside the reserve and bring it in.
4/ Sections of the beach are privatized by large hotels.
With this in mind, Akumal is still very beautiful and a wonderful day out. But it is certainly not what we expected.
Swimming with turtles at Akumal Beach
While Akumal has faced challenges related to tourism impact, efforts have been made to mitigate negative effects on the environment and the nesting habits of sea turtles.
Increased tourist activity can potentially disturb nesting sites and disrupt the natural behaviour of turtles. However, local authorities and conservation groups have implemented measures to minimize these impacts and promote responsible tourism.
This is one of the reasons that tourists are charged to enter the beach. And, we totally understand that.
You can take a snorkel tour in Akumal to see turtles. This is supposed to encourage responsible tourism as guides will explain to you how you can safely swim amongst the turtles and not damage their habitats.
However, there are HUGE numbers of tourists going out to snorkel every day and we can’t help but wonder how safe and responsible this really is.
Is it guaranteed that you’ll see turtles?
It is possible to see and swim with turtles in Akumal. Contrary to what you may have read online, it is not guaranteed. We’ve heard that tour guides feed the turtles far out to sea and then charge tourists to swim with them.
It’s unclear if this is accurate, but suffice to say that if you don’t pay for a tour, you’re highly unlikely to be able to swim with turtles in Akumal.
There’s even a guard in a kayak blocking anyone not on a tour from swimming to where the turtles are. This is ostensibly to encourage safe tourism around the turtles habitats. Which would make sense, were it not for such large numbers of of tourists taking up the tours.
We’ve also read suggestions that human intervention, in the form of droves of tourists has prevented turtles from nesting on the beach in the same numbers as before.
It’s hard to verify this, others claim that turtles are still nesting on the beach and that there are no issues. But, had we known this before, we may not have visited.
The entrance fee to Akumal Beach
The fee to enter Akumal Beach is around $7 or 120 Mexican Pesos. This gives you access to the “green zone”, the beach and 20m off shore. You can also use lockers, changing facilities and bathrooms.
*Don’t even think about trying to swim beyond the 20m off shore – there are lifeguards policing it and you will be sent back!
Do you need to take a tour at Akumal Beach?
You are required to pay an entry fee if you visit Akumal Beach. We understand that if you stay in a hotel on the beach, this fee is waived.
At the entrance, you will be offered two options. The green wrist band (pay less) or the red wrist band (pay more). The green gives access to the beach and 20m off shore.
The red to the protected area further out. You are not however required to take a tour. But, from what we saw, you cannot actually enter the “red” zone unless you are with a tour guide.
This is apparently because tour guides will ensure that the environment is taken care of properly, but it also seems that that this prevents anyone not on a tour from swimming with turtles.
If you want to swim with turtles at Akumal, take a tour. That seems to be the bottom line.
If you want to book a tour at Akumal, you have a few options. Book ahead with a company like Get your Guide. Pay for a tour before you get to the entrance (they tell you it’s cheaper but it’s not), or arrange one once you’re inside (very much possible.)
When is Akumal Beach Turtle season?
In Akumal, turtle season typically spans from May to November. During this period, the pristine beaches of Akumal serve as nesting grounds for various sea turtle species, most notably the loggerhead, green, and hawksbill turtles. Female turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in the sand.
Conservation efforts in Akumal are crucial during turtle season. Visitors are encouraged to participate in responsible tourism practices to ensure the continued well-being of Akumal’s sea turtles. Hence, the fee for tourists to enter Akumal beach.
How to get from Tulum to Akumal
Getting from Tulum to Akumal is simple. There are three options.
If you have a hire car, simply drive the 25 minutes North to Akumal.
A taxi is also an option as these are readily available in Tulum and easy to hail from outside Akumal.
We opted for a colectivo. These are mini buses mainly used by locals but tourists can use them. It’s an informal system with no timetable – once the bus is full it will go.
From Tulum, you can find the colectivo to Akumal here. Colectivos go from Tulum to Playa del Carmen every 10 minutes or so and can stop at Akumal on the way. Simply join the queue, ask for Akumal and get on the bus. Don’t be put off by the queue, it goes down very quickly.
Expect to pay 40 pesos per person, pay the driver when you disembark. And don’t forget to alert the driver when you get close to Akumal, they may forget to stop otherwise.
Coming back, cross over the motorway (using the overpass) then wait for a colectivo in the opposite direction, back to Tulum. Again, they are regular until around 21:00.
Can you stay in Akumal?
Akumal offers a range of accommodation options, including hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals.
For a budget stay in Akumal, Itza Hotel Akumal is available with either private rooms or basic doubles. It is close to the beach, but sits outside of the protected zone, so you will have to pay to visit the beach if you stay here. Nonetheless, a good option if you want to be close to the action.
A little more upmarket, is the Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness resort. This is very well priced given the location right on the bay and access to excellent hotel facilities.
For the ultimate in luxury, the five star resort Secrets Akumal, occupies probably the best piece of real estate on the beach. This all inclusive resort is the most glitzy in Akumal.
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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One response to “Swimming with Turtles: Is Akumal Beach Worth It?”
[…] enjoy spotting many beautiful animals and birds, even dolphins and manatees if you get very lucky. Nearby Akumal may also be worth a visit if you’re interested in snorkeling and the possibility of seeing […]