!Turtle.jpg Situated in the heart of the Riviera Maya, Akumal, "The Place of the Turtle in Maya", is located 100km (62 miles) south of Cancun. Akumal was the first resort on the Riviera Maya. It has grown considerably since it's beginnings in the 1950's as an exclusive resort for scuba divers, yet still maintains an unhurried, relaxed atmosphere. Akumal has escaped the hassles and hurries of most of the areas' larger resorts. The Riviera Maya is the is what they call the Yucatan coastline from north of Cancun to just south of Tulum. Akumal is in the middle of the Riviera Maya and is convenient to Cancun,Playa Del Carmen, Tulum, Valladolid, Chichen Itza, and quite a few other smaller towns in between. Akumal has 2 beautiful bays for snorkeling, tropical reefs for scuba diving, beautiful Yal-ku Lagoon with its calm clear waters for more snorkeling, and a world class beach at Akumal Bay. Jade Beach, South Akumal, and Aventuras Akumal are just a few minutes south from the main part of Akumal and are considered part of the greater Akumal area. Combined, Akumal offers vacationers a variety of beautiful beaches and tourist services, plus a selection of beach front hotels, condos and luxury villas. Akumal is a small slice of paradise on the Caribbean. Akumal is situated between the beaches of the Caribbean and the inland jungle, creating an opportunity to see a wide array of tropical flora and fauna. The jungle is full of palm trees, bromeliads, and orchids, supporting animal life and providing the local population with many resources. The Mayans have long utilized these plants for food, medicine, and building materials. Examples of local architecture can be seen in the "palapa" style thatched roofs that are still used today. Akumal is a major nesting site for sea turtles May through November. As more and more tourists pop up to witness the turtles more and more harm is done. Cenotes and Caves The Yucatan Peninsula is made of limestone formations which have been eroded by the constant movement of water creating an extensive underground river and cave system. As a result, cenotes are the natural fresh and brackish water sinkholes that offer great snorkeling and cave/cavern diving. This unique hollow landscape has some of the most amazing dive sites in the world. Attractions: Tour Akumal by Bicycle Take a walk to Yal-ku Lagoon Robinson Crusoe Tour Water Activities Directions from Cancun Airport to Akumal: A taxi costs about $65 and takes about 1 hour to reach Akumal. Some taxis will try to charge you more, so you need to negotiate. You can rent a car at the airport, but you should make reservations before you arrive. Most of the major chains have agencies at the Cancun airport. Akumal is about 90 kilometers (54 miles) southwest of the Cancun airport. Take 307 South from the airport - you will be on this almost the entire way. Following the signs for Tulum (though Tulum is beyond Akumal), you will pass Playa del Carmen and Xcaret. The exit for Akumal is about 25 kilometers after Xcaret. Following signs to Playa Akumal or Club Akumal, you will turn left from the highway, though you are supposed to first take a right in order to take a left, similar to a New Jersey jug handle. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/Akumal_Mexico/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:17:06 EST Akumal is located on what's named the Riviera Maya or sometimes called the Mayan Riviera. This area stretches from Cancun all the way south to Tulum. Geographiclly speaking the entire area is part of the Yucatan Peninsula. Akumal is located south of Playa del Carmen and north of Tulum. * The state is called Quintana Roo. * The Yucatan peninsula is an area that swoops up toward Florida. It is only approx. 500 miles from Miami, Florida. * Latitude/Longitude at the Cancun airport is: 21* 02' 000" lat. 86* 53' 000" long. For great maps of the area check out: http://www.cancunmap.com/ http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/Akumal_Mexico/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:17:06 EST The northeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula has a warm tropical climate - hot and humid. Swelteringly hot in summer, by some people's standards. During June through August, expect monsoon-like downpours in the late afternoon or early evening. These storms usually pass by quickly and leave the night dry and cooler. Occasionally the rain lasts through the night. Hurricane season (June through October) usually brings wetter weather, though direct hits by hurricanes are rare. March and April are generally the driest months and July is drier and more predictable than August. Trade winds help keep coastal areas cooler, while interior jungle regions are more humid with higher temperatures. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/weather/Akumal_Mexico/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:17:06 EST Buy Mexican auto insurance. Driving is on the right hand side of the road. Be aware that many roads are not in the best of conditions. Driving at night should be avoided if possible: cars without lights, drunk drivers, cows in the road, drunks in the road, no reflective lines on the highway, potholes, etc. Always be aware of livestock. Gringos call them "speed bumps", in Mexico they are called tope (TOE-pay). Tope are common even on some major roads so keep your eyes on the road as they are nearly invisible but very tall, which can rip off your muffler. There are not a lot of gas stations in the Mayan Riviera. There are gas stations at Puerto Moreles, Playa del Carmen and Tulum (also one on the island of Cozumel). To be safe, don't let your tank get down below 1/4. Credit cards are NOT accepted at PEMEX, the state run gas company. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/car_rentals/Akumal_Mexico/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:17:06 EST Restaurants and Dining: http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/restaurants/Akumal_Mexico/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:17:06 EST