Akumal

Akumal is a small beach town on the Riviera Maya where you snorkel with green turtles in a bay and swim in nearby cenotes.

Find a room in Akumal Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Akumal

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Akumal is a small beach town on Mexico's Caribbean coast in Quintana Roo, between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Most visitors come for the bay, where green turtles feed on seagrass and can be seen while snorkeling. The town sits along Highway 307, and the beach is a short walk or taxi ride from the village.

Cenotes, the freshwater sinkholes of the Yucatan Peninsula, are a drive away and give you a change from the sea. Keep your distance from the turtles, because touching or chasing them is prohibited in Mexico. Plan two or three days to snorkel the bay, visit a cenote, and stay within reach of Tulum or Playa del Carmen. June to November is the Atlantic hurricane season, so check conditions before you book.

Akumal in five

Follow the turtle rules before you get inDo not touch, chase or stand on turtles or seagrass, and keep sunscreen off. The bay has zones and guide requirements that change, so check the posted rules and ask at the dive shop or hotel.
Snorkel early to beat the tour groupsBoats and groups from Cancún and Playa fill the bay by late morning. A first-hour swim has fewer people and clearer water.
Bring cash for beach access and cenotesSmall operators and beach clubs rarely take cards, and ATMs in town can run out. Withdraw in Playa del Carmen or Tulum first.
Treat Akumal as a base for the coast, not for nights outEvenings are quiet, with a handful of beachfront restaurants. Tulum and Playa del Carmen are each 30 to 45 minutes away by car.Tulum travel guide
Plan around sargassum in spring and summerBrown seaweed can pile up on Caribbean beaches in some years, usually from spring into summer. Check recent photos for the week you travel.

Things to do in Akumal

See all attractions in Akumal

brown rock formation on body of water during daytime

Sight · AkumalXelha

aerial photography plaza with trees and buildings

Sight · AkumalXel-Ha Park

Sight · AkumalSistema Dos Ojos

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to AkumalPut the places you like in Akumal on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Cancún (CUN), about 1 hour 15 min north
Getting there: Colectivo or ADO bus on Highway 307, or a rental car
Getting around: Walking in the beach area; taxis to cenotes
Best base: Akumal Bay or South Akumal beachfront
Time needed: 1–2 days, or a stop on a Riviera Maya trip

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Dry, calm
FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°Dry, calm
MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Dry, busy
AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Dry, hot
MayRain16 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Sargassum risk
JuneRain20 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low26°Storm season
JulyRain15 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low26°Hot, humid
AugustRain19 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low26°Hot, storms
SeptemberRain21 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Peak storm risk
OctoberRain22 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Storm risk
NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Quieter, calm
DecemberRain16 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°Holiday busy

Average daily high and low in Akumal, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Akumal

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 29°
Humidity: 89%
Wind: 5 km/h
Chance of rain: 25%

Akumal

12:03 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT-5

Today29°22°25%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 25%.
Wed31°23°61%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 61%.
Thu30°22°41%Thursday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 41%.
Fri31°22°33%Friday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 33%.
Sat29°22°39%Saturday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 39%.
Sun29°23°59%Sunday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 59%.

Updated 07:44 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 18.61 MXN

Amount

Converted to

MXN · Mexican Peso

Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Before you go to Akumal

Guided turtle snorkelAuthorized guides and set time slotsCompare day trips

Beachfront stays in AkumalQuiet bay, few night optionsCheck availability

eSIM for the Riviera MayaMaps for Highway 307 and colectivosRead the guide

Snorkel and water-sport coverCheck what your policy excludesRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Akumal, checked

Many nationalities enter Mexico without a visa. You receive a tourist permit (FMM) on arrival. Check eligibility at gob.mx/sre before you fly.Source
Declare cash above the legal limit on the customs form at arrival or departure. Check the current amount with Mexican customs (SAT) before you travel.
Sea turtles feed and nest along the Akumal coast. Touching or chasing them is prohibited in Mexico, so keep your distance while snorkeling.
Quintana Roo restricts some sunscreen ingredients near reefs. Check the state's current rules before you buy cream for the bay.
Dial 911 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Mexico.

Plan around Akumal

Tulum

Ruins, cenotes and the beach road, 30 min south

Read the guide Cobá

Maya ruins in the forest, about 45 min inland

Read the guide Riviera Maya

Cancún to Tulum along Highway 307

Read the guide Puerto Morelos

A quieter reef town north of Playa del Carmen

Read the guide Quintana Roo

The whole Caribbean state at a glance

Read the guide All of Mexico

Cities, ruins, beaches and entry basics

Read the guide

Akumal FAQ

Can you swim with turtles in Akumal?

Yes, but the bay is regulated. Stay with an authorized guide where required, keep your distance, never touch a turtle and wear no sunscreen. Rules change, so confirm at the beach or with the dive shop.

Is Akumal better than Tulum?

Akumal is calmer and better for snorkeling, while Tulum has the ruins, a bigger food scene and more nightlife. Many people stay in one and day-trip to the other.

How far is Akumal from Cancún airport?

About 100 km, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes by car or shuttle. Colectivos and ADO buses run along Highway 307 but add transfers.

When are turtles in Akumal?

Green turtles feed in the bay much of the year, so sightings do not hinge on one month. Check with local operators for the week you plan to go.

Is there much to do in Akumal at night?

Not much. Expect a few beachfront restaurants and quiet streets. If you want bars and clubs, stay in Playa del Carmen or Tulum.