vacationbound

Hello. My husband and I are going to take a taxi from the Puerto Aventuras area to Akumal for a day of snorkeling. We are thinking of being dropped off near the Yal-Ku lagoon and then moving on to other snorkeling spots from there throughout the day.

What will be the best way for us to get from each snorkeling spot to the next?

We have never been there. Is it a small town?

Should we take taxis from each spot to the next?

Does anyone have suggested spots that we should go to and what would be the most logical order to visit each?

Thank you!

zootsi

Yal-Ku lagoon is quite amazing, and is at the northernmost end of the small, driveway like road that winds thru Akumal. From there, you can either walk (about 1/2 hour), bicycle, or call a cab to get to Half Moon Bay. You can just walk up on to the beach near the Vista Del Mar hotel. Half Moon is a quiet, shallow bay with a very rocky bottom that is rich in sea life - just watch out for the sea urchins! For lunch, stop at the Buena Vida, our favorite place in Akumal. From there it's about a 15 minute walk to Akumal beach which is all sand, but has some reef and sea grass so there are sea turtles and fish to be seen here also. You might be able to rent bicycles in Akumal, which would make getting from spot to spot very simple.

vacationbound

Thank you Zootsi! Sounds amazing, as well as diverse. Thanks for the sea urchin warning! We need to be careful not to step on them, right?

We are going mid-month. Will the weather be too hot for a 30 min walk?

The suggestion to rent bikes sounds like a great idea. Do you know if they give you locks?

Thanks for the lunch suggestion. Is Akumal a small town. Will we able to find it easily? Also, we speak a little Spanish and do our best with it, but... Do you think many people in Akumal will know some English?

Thanks!

zootsi

It will probably be in the high 80's low 90's, but walking on the road small road is pleasant and safe. However, I would think renting bikes in Akumal, then biking down to Yal-ku and working your way back would be the best plan. Since we had a car, I don't know too much about bike rentals, but I did see a lot of then. As for the seaa urchins - Half moon Bay is very rich in sea life including sea urchins. You definitely need to enter the water with your fins on. My wife tried to go in with Tevas on, and got stung within 30 seconds.
Akumal is a small cluster of hotels, condos, restaurants and a few shops. Very small and quiet.Most people there can speak at least some English. Did you check out locogringo.com?

vacationbound

I checked out locogringo and also found another Akumal site that had maps of the area. I feel like I have a much better feel for the area now. Thanks so much!

vacationbound

BTW, on that Akumal site I found Buena Vida on the map so now we will have no problem finding it.

Diana

Another fun thing to do is rent a golf cart to go whizzing around Akumal.

I would recommend you get there early enough in the day that you could take advantage of the coolness, and have the taxi drop you off right in town and walk to Turtle Bakery for coffee and breakfast.

They have the most delicious and fresh food. After breakfast, stroll around the (very) small town, go into the shops and have a look-see, and then go make your arrangements for bikes or a golf cart.

Depending on which you choose, Yalku is about 10 minutes. (Too far to walk imho, but then again, I am not fond of 30 min. walks in tropical heat

Once you have seen enough of Yalku, La Buena Vida IS a very cool place for drinks and a relaxing lunch. Here are some pics:

http://www.akumalinfo.com/la_buena_vida.html

Then, mount up and go hang at the beach for awhile before more snorkeling at Half Moon Bay.

Taxis back are easy to get, or you can save a bunch and catch a collectivo which would be less $.

Have a great time!

vacationbound

Thanks so much Diana! The golf carts sound really fun! I am so NOT into walking around at length in the tropical heat. I think bikes or a golf cart will be the way to go. Do you know if we rent bikes do they give you locks for them and are there places to lock them up near the beaches and snorkel spots? The golf cart does sound like the best idea. I am just a bit leary about it after reading some posts from people about how careful you need to be about renting a car; that the places will zing you for any little ding on the car and often expect you to pay in cash on the spot. Am I being paranoid?

I loved the pics of Buena Vida and hope we get to meet Cheyenne! Thanks again for all of your tips.

summer04

I would rent the car and just make sure every little scratch is recorded. That way you could go to some cenotes in the area, too. Again, go to Locogringo for cenote info. Their forum gives great advice.

cdt

There is a small, round-ish (octagonal?) building in Akumal, near the beach, where they rent bicycles - I believe it's called Akumal Travel Services. Locks are provided.

Of the three snorkel locations, we liked Akumal Bay the best. Yal-Ku is an unusual experience (a lagoon, lots of fish, little coral, mix of fresh and salt water). Half Moon was too rocky and shallow for my taste - hard to find a sandy spot for entry; but allegedly lots of turtles there.

There's a path to Half Moon Bay next to the dive shop, just N of La Buena Vida, which is a great lunch spot. There are several places to eat in Akumal, such as Lol-Ha, El Cueva del Pescador, Turtle Bakery, and the loncheria next to the grocery store.

The colectivos run only on Rt. 307, not on the road to Yal-Ku. Taxi from Akumal to Yal-Ku is $5 one way.