Akumal is a small seaside village on the Riviera Maya, about 100 kilometres south of Cancún and a short drive north of Tulum. The name means "Place of the Turtles" in Mayan, and the bay lives up to it — green sea turtles feed in the shallow seagrass beds of Akumal Bay year-round, and several species nest on the beaches between May and October.
The snorkelling is the main draw. You can wade straight into Akumal Bay and find yourself swimming alongside turtles within minutes. Half Moon Bay, a little further north, has a reef wall close to shore and excellent visibility. Yal-Ku Lagoon, at the north end, is a natural inlet where fresh and salt water mix — the result is a kaleidoscope of tropical fish in glassy water. Inland, the Dos Ojos cenote and the Aktun Chen cave make for easy half-day trips when the sun gets too strong.
The village itself is tiny: a handful of restaurants, a few dive shops, and a stretch of white sand. It is quieter and less developed than the resort strips to the north, which is part of the appeal. Most visitors stay in rented condominiums or villas rather than hotels.