If you’ve ever wanted to swim with sea turtles, Akumal is the place to go! Akumel is a little beach located 106 km south of Cancún, where you can snorkel with endangered green sea turtles. Best of all, you don’t need to rent a boat or a guide to snorkel with the turtles. They are at a very short distance (10m) from the beach. The ocean floor at Akumal is covered with sea grass, one of the turtles’ favourite foods. Therefore, you can find the turtles everyday all year long. If you want to be there for the nesting season go in May or October.

 

There is no admission price to visit Akumal. The beach is free to access and if you’ve got your snorkel equipment, you are good to go! If you do not have snorkel equipment, no problem! There are plenty of dive shops that rent out masks and flippers and they will also provide lockers for your valuables while you swim. 

 

Some tips: 
-You might be approached by a tour guide asking if you want to do a tour to see the turtles. This is completely up to you but you don’t necessarily need a tour guide in order to find the turtles! They are all over the place.
-Get there early! By 11am the tour buses will start to arrive and you won't be able to move for clumsy, goggle-eyed snorkelers elbowing you in the face and thwacking you with their flippers. 
-Give the turtles some space, they are wild animals in their natural environment. Don’t come to close, and do not try to feed them!! 

 

How do you get here?

-The most inexpensive way to get to Akumal from Cancún is by colectivo (€1,75 one way). You get the colectivo in downtown Cancun in the parking lot of ‘La Comercial Mexicana’ on Tulum Ave. Colectivos will drop you off by the pedestrian overpass on the highway. Cross over the overpass and keep following the road for about ½ km and you will be walking through an archway. Keep going straight and you’ll be on the beach. 
-If you drive, just take the main highway 307 from Cancún to Akumal, and park in the public lot near the beach.