In Akumal, Mexico, about an hour south of Cancun... Hotel Club Akumal Caribe, located on the beach in Akumal, only 25 minutes drive south from Playa del Carmen and a short drive from Mayan ruins in Tulum, features a variety of accommodations, from the economical Villas Maya to Cannon House Suites and Half Moon Bay Condominiums. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Akumal_Mexico/hotelakumalcaribe/hotel/231/11/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:40:24 EST If this is your first visit, we would like to acquaint you with our hotel, Akumal bay and its surroundings. No doubt you have chosen Akumal as your destination in order to relax, enjoy the sun and sea, and visit the nearby attractions. We would like to make your stay more enjoyable. One of the brightest jewels of the Yucatan lies just 50 miles south of the Cancun airport and resort area. It is Akumal "Place of the Turtle" and it remains a secluded hideaway where you can truly get away from everything. Akumal's unique bay with its clear, blue-green waters and glistening white sand beaches that never burn your feet is breathtaking, inviting and uncrowded. And it's the safest bay for children of all ages. Nearby, in the tropical jungle are easily-accessible ruins of the mysterious Mayan civilization, which flourished centuries ago. Home base for your Mexican Caribbean adventure is the beautiful Hotel Club Akumal Caribe. Here you'll feel more like a guest at a friend's beach house than a customer at a resort. And this beach house has it all. I remember when... I remember when I used to get to Akumal by boat from Cozumel, and it would take at least 5 hours, depending on the weather, and it was the best way to get here! Now, I complain Because the 4 lane highway is still not finished all the way to Akumal! I remember when we could go into the water inside the bay, to catch lobster with our hands, get conch right off the bottom, and cook it right on the beach! Now, I complain because Sam's club in Cancun does not always have scallops! I remember when our accommodations were an open air palapa on the main beach, luxury hammocks to sleep on, and an outhouse to beat all outhouses! Now, I complain when our air conditioner doesn't cool enough, we can't see the ocean from our king size bed, and the bathroom doesn't have a bathtub! I remember when there were so many palm trees with tons of coconuts, that we could not sit underneath them because they would fall on our heads! Now I complain because we don't have enough shade on the beach!(and that comes from palapas, not palm trees!) I remember when there were such few visitors to Akumal that I was able to meet all of them, and Akumal was full! Now, I complain because we don't have enough visitors to have 100% occupancy year -round! I remember when our only pastimes in the evening were playing backgammon, playing the guitar on the beach by a bonfire, and watching shooting stars! Now I complain because I want to spend a weekend in Cancun, go dancing, eat at the outback steakhouse, see a movie, and bowl, and fm too busy to get away! I remember when the electricity was supplied by generator, and it would be turned off at 10 PM, so I could not read in bed! Now, I complain because once in awhile the electricity will go off, and I have to Walt a few hours for it to get restored! I remember when I used to go to the only restaurant in Akumal, the Zacil, and give the waiters a hard time, (just because we were teenagers), about their being only one thing on the menu! Now, I get upset if we run out of snicker's pie! I remember when it was a special occasion if a boat came in the Bay, to stay a few days. Now, if I happen to look out into the Bay, I might notice that there is a strange boat anchored in the Bay! I remember when the only school n Akumal was in our bungalow with my grandmother teaching the kids a few things during the summers, and now, we have to complain because the schools in Chemuyil and Akumal are not enough to accommodate all the kids! I remember when every worker in Akumal had a room for himself and sometimes his family right on the Cancha, and now we complain because there is not enough housing between Chemuyil and Akumal to take care of everyone! I remember when we could talk to the outside world every day by radio for one hour at the Villas Maya reception, and now, I complain when our fiber optics lines are down because I can't send my e-mail! I remember when we had parties, they were for everyone in Akumal, and everyone fit n our living room. Today, the only way to get all of Akumal together(or almost all), is to have a grateful dead concert at the ecological center! I remember when I could tell you what each house in Akumal looked like inside, and today, I cannot even tell you what some of the condos look like inside! As I look over my "I remember when's", and my "now's", I have to chuckle at the thoughts that come into my head! There are things I liked about the Akumal that will never be again, and there are things that are so much better now for me! Why complain about progress, or complain about the Akumal that will never be again? There's nothing to complain about! I am grateful I have a piece of this paradise. I can control what is done on my piece, and I can enjoy Akumal to the fullest!. Everyone that has a piece of Akumal has the opportunity to do their part in keeping Akumal beautiful. Everyone must have memories of their ideal Akumal. Don"t let them be just memories. Make of Akumal today what you want it to be now! Getting married in paradise Imagine standing on the beach, with the love of your life and your closest friends and family. As a background an orange sunset, a calm sea with water from teal to deep blue. Later, a barefoot walk on the beach, under stars shining so bright they illuminate. Your wedding party ends up in front of the Lolha Restaurant, a beautiful thatched roof building right on the main bay, and you have your drinks and appetizers under the stars with tiki torches to light the area. Dinner is served inside, or on the veranda, with a menu personally selected by you, served by our friendly and professional staff. You may or may not wish to kick up your heels later, with live music or your own CD selection, but whatever you decide, your evening will be an unforgettable one, from start to finish. If this sounds like something out of a movie, it is, but it could also be you, in this tropical paradise, with very little effort on your part. The details are all done for you. Just give us your ideas and we will do the rest. AMENITIES: Looking for accommodations? Hotel Akumal Caribe has a lot of different types to offer you A cozy beachfront hotel, bungalows in a garden setting, a house in a quasi-secluded setting, beachfront villas or some quaint studios if you just want a nice quiet place to stay. No matter which you choose, you will be very comfortable and have maid service every day. Just click on any of the buttons on the left to visit. LOL-HA DINING ROOM You will love our newly rebuilt restaurant right on the beach, with a cool outdoor veranda for dining "Al fresco", or inside the impressive palapa building with a view to the bay. We feature daily seafood, Mexican, and vegetarian specials, in addition to the complete menu that has something for everyone. Please click on the links below to see some of our friendly staff and, for a visual grand tour of the of our restaurant, a new browser window will open for you to view this tour. When finished touring just close that browser window. For a cold drink, a quick bite, or a full meal, visit the snack bar Lol-Ha and Pizzeria, and get acquainted with other guests. This is the ideal spot to choose for meals while spending the day at the beach, or after a trip to Xel ha Lagoon, or other side trips lasting half a day. You know you will always get what you want here, how you like it, and never have to order the same thing twice while on your vacation. You can sample local dishes, or get a juicy good old fashioned hamburger and fries. ACTIVITIES: Scuba divers and underwater photographers have kept Akumal a secret among themselves for many years. But this intimate resort has something to interest and intrigue everyone. In addition to a world of diving and water sports, Akumal offers jungle walks, exotic bird and wildlife photography, nearby ancient Mayan cities you can visit on your own or with a guide, a private pool and even satellite TV to keep up with events at home. A PARADISE FOR DIVERS Nowhere in the world are the waters so clear and the fish so colorful. Home for these fish is a stunning barrier reef, longest in the western hemisphere and one of the most elaborate coral structures on the planet. Divers can arrange for a variety of dive trips and rent equipment at the Akumal Dive Center - a PADI training facility featuring resort courses and full certification. Training for underwater cave (cenote) diving is also available. Fishing trips, snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing and raft rentals can all be arranged with the friendly dive shop personnel. DINING/RESTARUANTS: Type: Hotel Beach Location: Beach Front (Directly on Beach/Water Front) http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Akumal_Mexico/hotelakumalcaribe/hotel/231/11/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:40:24 EST