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When I was a kid, I used to hang posters of exotic, unreal beaches on my walls.
At Akumal, I found that beach.
Boyfriend and I went to Akumal at the suggestion of a work friend, who said I would love the “beach with the turtles.” (Thank you, Anna Laura!) She was absolutely right. And when Boyfriend and I return to Mexico, we plan to stay in Akumal.
Unfortunately, no tortugas (turtles) were seen on this trip, even after snorkeling for three hours. But there were some amazing fish and coral.
We spent two full days at Akumal. We swam, napped, snorkeled, and napped some more. Bonus: The best lunch spot was there: Loncheria Akumalito. I highly recommend the chicken with mole and beans and rice. Mucho delicious.
That’s my sister on the left. This pic was captured by my brother-in-law while we waited for dinner at Lol-Ha Beach Restaurant and Bar, which is part of the Hotel Akumal Caribe. Might we stay there next time? We shall see. Dinner was very good, that’s always a good sign.
Sis and her husband met Boyfriend and I in Mexico. We had dinner (some nondescript Italian restaurant on 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen) before spending the whole next day swimming and snorkeling at Akumal. The group also hit Cenote Dos Ojos – an unbelievable snorkel experience into chilly freshwater caves with teeny fish. (Sister’s travel tip: Must shower with soap and water after diving into cenotes. Otherwise, you smell.)
Sis and brother-in-law stayed at the Maroma Resort & Spa – another slice of heaven located between Playa del Carmen and Cancun. I loved their room – a second-level roomy cabana with a thatched-roof outdoor patio furnished with cozy hammock and overlooking a gorgeous beach. The snorkeling there also was pretty killer, I heard.
Getting to their resort was a small adventure because the dirt roads behind the massive gates off of Route 307 weren’t exactly marked. We guessed which way their resort would be; we guessed correctly.
It’s important to note here that mid-way through our trip, Boyfriend and I moved to another hotel. (We had to; it was planned that way.)
Tearfully, we said goodbye to Maya Villa and parked ourselves at Hotel Aventura Mexicana.
I have no pictures of this hotel. Hotel Aventura Mexicana was OK – a decent place a half block from the Playa del Carmen shopping district. Its rooms are built like efficiencies – one room and the bathroom curved around a wall and had no door.
The room also had a curious locking mechanism to secure your room – the key resembled a screwdriver. Our stay also came with a continental breakfast (Read: Bread and coffee/juice). We liked the swimming pool.
Our trip to Mexico ended on the beach at Akumal with my sister and her husband. We dined on the beach and closed the evening listening to the spirited beats and strums of a local band. The flamenco dancers were hypnotizing. (I’m now officially looking for local lessons.)
That day at Akumal with Boyfriend and my family was among the happiest in my life. I wouldn’t have changed a single minute. OK, maybe I would’ve added at least one tortuga.
(The final installment: Lessons learned. What you should know about traveling to Mexico. Wait, did you want to see the other posts? Here you go. Preview. Beginning. Maya Villa. Tulum and Cozumel. Oh, and do you play on Twitter, too? Follow me on my excursions.)
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