Let me preface this by saying that I have a condo in Playa del Carmen that we have owned for the past 15 months. And I have traveled throughout the Yucatan, Quintana Roo, and all of the rest of MX for the past 35 yrs.

If you only have one day to spend as you describe in your post, I would pick Akumal, if you are interested in the best snorkeling in the area. In Akumal, you can snorkel off the beach (just walk into the sean from the beach with your fins, snorkel mask, and snorkel on) and see sea turtles, lots of fish, etc. And yes, you can get to Akumal by colectivo from PDC. The colectivo will drop you at the hwy and you will walk about .5 miles down the road straight down to the beach. There is a very good open air palapa-covered restaurant at the beach. You can't miss it, it is pretty large. But do not let that deter you. You food is VERY GOOD and the drinks are too.

If you are not interested in the best snorkeling in the area, then just take a colectivo to Xpu-Ha beach. You will have to pay 40 pesos per person to have the "rope" dropped on the "private road" for you, and you will have a further walk than you would have to Akumal in order to get to the beach (probably a mile or more, and it is a ruddy road, pot holes w/standing water, etc.). But once there, you will have a nice beach, calm water to swim in, and a nice outdoor restaurant and bar.

I have no clue about Paamul.

Paamul has a restaurant and a beach. It would not be my pick for the day. Akumal is a good choice..please don't touch the turtles. I often go to Tulum on the colectivo as well. Take it to the puebla and then taxi to the beach - I like Ziggy Beach Club. Just tell the driver Cabanas Tulum which is where Ziggy is located. In Tulum, I eat at Don Cafeto which is wonderful.

Ditto colokids advice. There is not a more beautiful stretch of beach anywhere than Tulum and Ziggy's is great spot.

I used to really like Xpu Ha beach but based on my my last visit there in May, the beach club has gone so far down hill I wouldn't recommend it any more. There was not one unbroken chair, the shade palapas were ratty looking, the food was mediocre at best and the prices!... equivalent to places like Ziggy's that are much more upscale and a world nicer. Xpu Ha Beach Club needs to clean up their act.

THanks for the tip on Ziggy's. I am going down tomorrow for a wk. and am going to try it.

Ziggy's is nice and they have 2 for 1 drinks from 12 noon onward, good food, a friend stayed at Cabanas Tulum last year and we went to pick him up and ate there, nice looking beach beds also.

Akumal has great snorkeling, get there early to avoid the tour groups.

Thanks for the info. I've been to Tulum already and I'm looking for something closer to PDC. So it sounds like for a day at the beach Xpu-Ha is the better option.

I was at Xpu-ha in July and had a nice day there. We had our own beach umbrella and chairs. We liked the beach restaurant and bar, and the water was great there. Not completely pristine (there was a minor amt. of water bottles and small trash on the beach when we walked down away from the area where you come right onto the beach from parking) but we thought it was nice. And we are going back there next wk.

hi i'm planning on going to riviera maya for primarily a snorkeling vacation. thanks for your advice for akumal.

is mid to late september this year ok to go? i understand this is hurricane season there.

i was thinking of staying at Barcelo Resort Hotel. i read other posts saying snorkeling is good there. has anyone stayed there and is the snorkeling on par with akumal and tulum?