Safa1

Folks

We are off to Akumal for two weeks. We’ll be staying in a villa there and the main focus is to rest and go to the beach, but we also want to spend some time visiting the important sites around us, especially the Mayan ruins (which was one reason we chose Akumal area). Below is the list of places I have in mind – again we probably are not going to go sightseeing every day, but I want to make sure we don’t miss the most important sites:
Tulum
Chiapas
Uxmal
Chchen Itza
Playa del Carmen
Cozumel?
Dos Ojos caves
Puerto Morelos?

I would appreciate your suggestions. Also, tell us your favorite eating places in that area. We will either rent a car or a driver to take us around.

parrmt

Well, Chiapas and Uxmal are not day trips by any means. Long drives to say the least. Not recommended for a day trip. Have you looked at a map to see if it might be something you would do? Or spend a night or two near Uxmal etc?

Certainly Tulum is a very easy trip. Just 20 mins south of Akumal. Chichen Itza is a great day trip, but do plan on a long day. Playa is also an easy day trip as well as P Morelos and Dos Ojos. Dos Ojos is just south of Akumal. Cozumel could be combined with Playa if you plan on an early AM start.( The ferry to Coz is from Playa.) Also PDC could be combined with P Morelos.

I highly recommend renting a car. Akumal has some very nice restaurants, but Tulum also has some great ones.
Plus the best grocery stores (cheaper) are in PDC and Tulum.
Also depends on where the villa is located in Akumal. Some of the villas in Akumal are not located in Akumal proper, but spread out over the bays just south of Akumal. You would find it very difficult to walk to Akumal from some of the other sites.

Where is the villa located? Ages of your group? Time of year?

Have you been to locogringo.com?
It is quite informative and if the villa you have rented is carried by them, it will show eaxactly where the house is located. Hope this helps!

Safa1

Thanks Parrmt. We are there next week! There are four of us, including my 15 year old son. I don't think my wife will be too excited about a day trip so we may have to just stick to the areas closer to us, although I would have really like to see Chiapas. We are staying in Casa Luna in half moon bay. I am thinking of renting a golf cart to go around for shopping, nearby restaurants, etc. what do you think?

parrmt

You rented a great place. We knew the original owners and spent many weeks there over the years. They used to charge us 80.00 night! It has been improved and enlarged since then. The pool is great.

There is no ocean entrance from the house. You have to walk north a little way to get to the beach. You have all rock in front of the house and no shallow area to get into the water. Our daughters were in their teens when we stayed there and we usually spent our days at Akumal Bay, only going to HMBay to snorkel. Be sure that all of you have good reef type shoes. Tevas, Keens etc.

Most people staying in the area rent a car. A golf cart would be fine, but you will be confined to Akumal. You can walk out to 307 to get a collectivo, but it is a jaunt and hot! You could also walk across 307 to Akumal Pueblo as well, again a little bit of a trek.

You will be able to walk to the rests. on HMB....La Lunita, La Buena Vida, Que Onda (near Yalku lagoon). There are several small stores along the road as well.
In Akumal there are 6 places to eat, Cueva del pescador, Turtle Bay, Imeldas, Loncheria, Lucys and of course the largest and the one on the beach...Lol ha. There are also some new ones in the pueblo across 307.

If you do any day trips, head to Tulum . Both the pueblo and the
beach. Your son will love the water. If you go to the ruins wear your b-suits and swim in the ocean there. AND GO EARLY. Gets crowded with mucho touristas. Have fun!

highflyer

Our favorite restaurant in Akumal was Turtle Bay... for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
I'd also highly recommend a car for visiting Tulum, Chichen Itza and just for ease of getting around etc and do check out a cenote while you're there!

ElleD9

Safa1,

If you are interested in seeing the ruins, you might want to consider Coba.

http://www.locogringo.com/past_spotlights/oct2002.cfm

It is about a 45 minute drive from Akumal and offers an interesting contrast to Tulum. It is in the jungle and its main pyramid is the highest in the Yucatan. It is a pretty expansive site, but you can rent bikes at the entrance.

We're going to HMB in January and really looking forward to it. If you do a seach on this site:

http://www.locogringo.com/index.cfm

you can find some good snorkle maps of HMB and Akumal Bay.

Have fun!