We are no strangers to Mexico, and have visited Los Cabos many times, but this year, we decided to visit a different region and set our sights on the Riviera Maya region. Nestled in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo's Caribbean coastline, the Riviera Maya is a real natural gem that boasts the second longest barrier reef (Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System) in the world. We were swayed by the promise of clear blue ocean water, un-spoilt white sandy beaches that stretch for miles and world-class all-inclusive resorts/hotels and the history that we would be exposed to.
You’ve probably heard of Cancun which is one of the most popular cities in that region. We thought about staying in Cancun, but friends advised us that it tends to be pretty crowded, and is more of a party destination, so we kept searching. We wound up staying about an hour away from Cancun in Akumal. Akumal is a small town 60 miles south of Cancun and is home to some of the most breathtaking beaches in Mexico. As such, it is a great family vacation destination for tourists with young kids or teens to visit and indulge in activities like fishing, sailing or exploring the local scenery. You can rent snorkeling or scuba diving gear from locals and go swim with sea turtles.
Where to stay in Akumal
We stayed at the Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort and we were very happy with our decision. Akumal Bay is a 5-Star, all-inclusive, all suite resort. It is a smaller resort and is truly family friendly. It is a beach front resort, and therefore every room has an ocean view. Every room also has a private Jacuzzi. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that we would be staying in a Penthouse suite. Penthouse suites have stairs that lead up to a very spacious rooftop terrace. The Jacuzzi in our suite was located up on the penthouse terrace.
Amenities at Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort
- There is a stocked minibar in every room. The minibar is re-stocked daily at no additional charge.
- 24 hr room service
- turndown service, aromatherapy, and a pillow menu.
- Free wifi! The wifi signal was pretty good in our room, however it was pretty weak in the lobby areas.
- The resort has 3 pools (including a kid’s pool), a buffet restaurant, a snack bar, a sushi bar, and 4 specialty a la carte restaurants, featuring a wide variety of cuisines. Of the four al la carte restaurants, we loved the Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant, and the French/Gourmet International restaurant the most.
- No reservations needed at the a la carte restaurants restaurant
- Nightly entertainment
- Top shelf liquor
- Free snorkeling – bring your own equipment and snorkeling is free!
- Free stand up paddle classes
- Kids club
- Wellness center and spa featuring daily yoga classes
The only negative I witnessed at the hotel was that there appeared to be a seaweed problem. In fact, this explosion of sargassum seaweed is appearing at many beaches in the Caribbean and Mexico. We witnessed hotel workers working hard to remove it all day, but it seems to be coming in faster than they could remove it. It’s kind of annoying, but it’s nature and besides cleaning it up daily, there’s really nothing that can be done about it
Places to Explore in the Riviera Maya
Tulum
Visiting Tulum was one of the highlights of our trip. Tulum is a popular attraction, thanks to the Mayan ruins dating back to the 13th-15th centuries. In fact, it is the right place to visit if you would like to learn more about the ancient Mayan culture. The term "ruins" can be rather misleading since some of the historic structures on this site, for example, the Castillo, are in relatively good shape considering their age. Visitors can explore the Pyramid El Castillo, which is one of Tulum's most iconic structures that also has breathtaking views of the Caribbean ocean. Other notable attractions in Tulum include the Great Palace, Temple of the Frescos, and several temples dedicated to various Mayan gods. In fact, this archeological site is the third most visited in Mexico.
There are many tours available, but when we were researching this attraction, we came across many reviews stating that paying for a tour would be a waste of money, so we opted to do the self guided tour. Of course as soon as we arrived on the road that leads to the ruins, there were quite a few salesman trying to sell us tour packages, “official maps,” etc… The only thing we paid for was the little trolley that brings you to the entrance to the ruins which cost $3 each (children are free), and the entrance fee to see the ruins was roughly $3.60 per person (children are free).
Cenotes
Cenotes are natural formations found all over the Yucatan Peninsula. They are essentially natural sinkholes that typically contain water, making them unique locations for swimming, snorkeling, diving, and simply exploring. In addition, they tend to have uniquely formed stalagmites, stalactites, and other rock formations. Estimates put the number of cenotes on the Yucatan Peninsula at about 7,000. Some enterprising people have commercialized a few cenotes by turning them into fancy bars and natural showers.
Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
Sian Ka'an is a UNESCO world heritage site that extends over 1.3 million acres. Attractions here include wetlands, savannas, cenotes, freshwater lagoons, mangrove swamps, coral reefs, more than 300 bird species, as well as numerous plant and animal species. One of the best ways to explore this biosphere is by hiring a canal and using it to move around. Most of the tour guides are local Maya people who have lived in Sian Ka'an since the fifth century.
Getting Around
Although you can easily take a taxi to get around, the best option is using a local alternative called colectivo. A colectivo is simply a van that provides public transport services. It is the most convenient way of moving from one location to another especially when exploring the labyrinthine roads and highways in Mexico. In addition, they are very cheap with fare to and from most visitor attractions in the Mayan Riviera. We paid $3 per person for a one-way ticket.
I have to say that our vacation to Riviera Maya was great and would recommend it as a great family vacation destination.