In Akumal, Mexico, about an hour south of Cancun.... La Sirena and La Iguana Condo's combine to provide travelers with very enjoyable accommodations, in an extremely beautiful part of Mexico. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Akumal_Mexico/lasirenalaiguana/hotel/232/11/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:28:30 EST Make yourself at home at La Iguana Condosuites, located directly on the Caribbean with spectacular ocean views. Restaurants and dining in and around Akumal, Mexico Part of the fun of traveling is experiencing new taste treats. You'll find many opportunities in the Akumal area. Enjoy Yucatecan, Mayan and Mexican dishes, as well as Italian, American and other selections. You can do your own cooking, too, if you wish, with fully equipped kitchens in all villas and condos. You will find several small grocery stores in Akumal and a large supermarket in Playa del Carmen. If you choose to dine out, you have about 6-8 restaurants to choose from in Akumal. You'll also find many, many restaurants in Playa del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras. A number of others are scattered throughout the area. If you're in the mood for partying, nightlife can be found in Playa del Carmen. Of course we recommend our own Sirena Hemingway Restaurant, located on the second floor of the main entrance building. Choose from seating inside or on the outside upper level patio. Recently completed, the Hemingway offers a variety of dishes, including pastas, steaks, seafood and numerous other choices. Prices are very reasonable and the portions generous. Enjoy a casual lunch or a sumptuous dinner with fine wine. The Hemingway has a full bar, sometimes featuring Happy Hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Another restaurant in the area is Turtle Bay Cafe. It is on Akumal Bay and is open for breakfast and lunch. The restaurant offers excellent freshly baked goodies daily. Stop by at 7:30 a.m. when fresh muffins are fresh out of the oven. Breakfast menu is very good and imaginative; try the fresh fruit plate or egg dishes! This restaurant is run by Sydney Brewer and her husband Thomas. Another restaurant next door to Turtle Bay is La Cueva Del Pescador (Cave of the Fish). Open for dinner, this restaurant specializes in local cuisine and fresh fish. Lol Ha Restaurant: The grand dame of Akumal restaurants. Located on Akumal Bay. At one time this was the only choice in Akumal. Lol Ha offers something for every palette...beef, chicken, fish, Mexican and Yucatan specialties. The Caesar Salad and bananas flambe are prepared tableside. There is a pizza restaurant attached to the main dining room and a palapa bar on the beach with great tacos, french fries and very cold cerveza among other lunch specialties. The main dining room is open for breakfast and dinner. The food is very good and the prices are moderate. The Palapa Bar is basically a fast food lunch place for people that are hanging out on the beach of Akumal Bay. They serve very tasty tacos (beef, fish and chicken), hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, guacamole, fries, soft drinks and cold beer. The food is good with dining right along the edge of the beach in an open air casual atmosphere. Climb up onto one of the bar stools and enjoy a pleasant lunch. La Buena Vida Restaurant on Half Moon Bay is a popular dining establishment where you'll find something for everyone. On the menu are beef, chicken, fish, pasta, salads and Mayan specialties with a number of dishes prepared tableside. The 2 story structure features a bar downstairs with "swing" seats and a dining room upstairs with great views of Half Moon Bay. Service is generally excellent and the restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfasts are especially wonderful. Prices are moderate. La Lunita: Another popular restaurant on Half Moon Bay located on the 1st floor of La Tortuga Condo building. Offers a variety of food including beef, fish, chicken along with house specialties and daily chef specialties. Seating is either inside or right on the sand under the stars. Prices are moderate. Que Onda Restaurant: If you want a leisurely meal in beautiful surroundings and like fresh pasta, give this a try. We found the chef is willing to custom prepare past dishes to include ingredients of our choice. I asked that they add onions and spinich to a dish and it turned out great. Prices are moderate. They also occasionally prepare homemade desserts. Other Dining Options: In Playa del Carmen: Playa Da Gabi, on the northern end of town, serves up great Italian dishes (including pizzas) as well as fish, pasta or chicken; you'll like the atmosphere. El Faisan Y El Venado is located on Highway 307 at the entrance to Playa; Mexican fare (at pleasing prices) is the specialty here. Menu selection is huge and the portions are, too. Good atmosphere and service is excellent. Ana Y Jose on the beach in Tulum is recommended. AMENITIES: Oceanfront • Fully Equipped • Daily Maid Swimming Pool • Near Yal Ku Lagoon In addition to La Iguana 1 and 2 B.R. oceanfront condos, our quartet of Sirena Villas offer you a comfortable home away from home during your vacation stay. Each of the 3 B.R., 2 bath villas is spacious and conveniently located along the large "T" shaped swimming pool. The beach area is just 300 feet away and the famous Yal Ku Lagoon is only a couple minute's walk down the road. You can cook your own meals in your villa or dine at our on-site Hemingway Sirena Restaurant (both inside seating and outside terrace with jungle views). The Sirena Villas are two-story with the living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom and a bath on the first level. The living area is light and airy with curtained windows facing the pool/courtyard. There is a stereo/CD player and cable TV in the living area which is handsomely decorated, including colorful paintings and handmade pottery pieces. There is one bathroom on the first level; another is on the second story. Just outside the living room is a small patio area overlooking the swimming pool. The dining area can seat 6 with additional seating at the lunch counter. The kitchen is fully equipped with all appliances, dishes and utensils. Stock up on your favorite beer, soft drinks and munchables for snacking, or more supplies if you want to cook some of your meals. There are several great restaurants in the area, so you'll want to dine around a few nights, too. Each of the Sirena Villas has three bedrooms. Two bedrooms are located on the main level; one with a king size bed, the other with two twins. The master suite is located on the second story and has a private bath. The master suite also has access to the second story balcony overlooking the pool and garden courtyard. All bedrooms are decorated with quality, custom-made furnishings including intricately carved headboards featuring fish, birds or flowers. Stylish bedspreads were specially designed for the Sirena Villas. All bedrooms are air conditioned and there are ceiling fans throughout the property. Daily maid service is provided, as well as purified bottled water. AMENITIES: • 3 Bedrooms (2 kings, 2 twins) • 2 Baths • Air conditioning in bedrooms • Large freshwater pool • Near Yal Ku Lagoon • Cable TV • CD/tapeplayer • On-site restaurant • Full kitchen • Maid service • Linens and towels • Purified bottled water provided • Close proximity to historical sites and attractions ACTIVITIES: You will find plenty to do right in the Akumal area. Enjoy the beaches and the sun, sample the margaritas at each restaurant/bar. If you're in the area at the right time, you might get the opportunity to watch as the turtles come ashore to lay their eggs on the beach. Snorkel in the bay or at the Yal Ku Lagoon. Take a walk along the playa (beach). Get out and about and explore the area. Head north or south and you'll discover a number of attractions, including: Chemuyil, just south of Akumal, a Mexican village, with traditional/ regional food. Try the regional drink of "Chilada", a dash of lime juice with a beer, on ice. Add spice and it is called a "Michilada". Leo's Pizza is a popular off-the-beaten-track restaurant that guests really enjoy. Xel-Ha is one of the most popular snorkeling spots on the coast. Modern facilities offer snorkeling gear, gift shops and snacks. You can swim with the dolphins! Just south of Xel-Ha is Dos Ojos and the Ejido Jacinto Pat. This ecological area is controlled by a number of Mayan families who govern the land. They have many cenotes (sacred wells) of crystal clear fresh water. Dos Ojos, the main cenote, is beautiful with many stalagmites and stalactites and is the entrance to one of the largest underwater caves in the world. The ejido has a number of other cenotes to visit as well as traditional crafts and textiles for sale. At Tankah you'll find the Casa Cenote restaurant, favored by the local "gringos". Located 21 km. south from Akumal, the area also boasts the Manatee Cenote, just behind the restaurant. This fresh water lagoon offers a winding open water snorkeling route and a refreshing swim. Food is sensational at the casual beach bungalow restaurant. The Mayan ruins at Tulum are about 20 minutes from Akumal. This is known as "The Walled City." These are some of the most dramatic ruins of the Maya and the only city build directly along the ocean. There are stunning views of the sea and the ruins; don't forget your camera! Coba is another impressive site of Mayan ruins just 40 minutes west of Tulum. The site features a pyramid over 100 feet high set amidst the jungle. You'll find this area less touristy. You may need to walk a fair distance, so morning is the best time to tackle this site. Puerto Aventuras, 20 minutes north, is a resort community with a 9-hole golf course, marina, museum, hotels and a couple of dive shops. There are about 14 restaurants in this area. Xcaret, "Nature's Sacred Paradise" is a natural amusement park. It is a great place to spend a day, especially for families. Snorkeling, horseback riding, music, swimming with the dolphins and demonstrations and shows are available throughout the day. There is an evening mayan show in their amphitheater. Do float down the underwater rivers, ala Indiana Jones. Also on the grounds are a replica of a Mayan village, a butterfly aviary, a series of scale models of mayan archaeological sites. Come early, stay late. Playa Del Carmen is about 20 minutes north of Akumal. This would be a party place, shopping center, people-watching spot and where you would catch the ferry to Cozumel. Playa has lots of restaurants and lots of shopping. Some stores are closed for siesta around midday. You could do an easy day trip to Cozumel (take the ferry in Playa del Carmen). Cozumel is noted for its fabulous scuba diving and snorkeling. There are also many restaurants and lots of shops. Best beaches are south of the only town (San Miguel). DINING/RESTARUANTS: Type: Condo Beach Location: Beach Front (Directly on Beach/Water Front) http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Akumal_Mexico/lasirenalaiguana/hotel/232/11/ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:28:30 EST