Swimming with turtles in Akumal, Mexico

Last Updated on March 12, 2024

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Swimming with turtles in Akumal is one of the top experiences to have in Mexico. This small fishing village is a popular beach destination in Riviera Maya, but it’s the snorkeling with green sea turtles that it’s best known for. In Mayan, Akumal means “land of turtles” and the town sure lives up to its name. The Bay in Akumal is protected and rich in seagrass, which attracts a lot of turtles, that come to the area to nest and feed.

A few years ago, swimming with turtles in Akumal was much easier and completely free. But the growth of tourism and lack of regulations caused a lot of damage to the turtles and ecosystem. Overcrowding and large amount of ignorant tourists, who kept harassing turtles, proved that changes needed to be made.

In 2016, Akumal was declared a protected marine area and new rules and restrictions were introduced in order to protect the turtles and their environment. So if you are in the process of planning a visit and come across conflicting information, it’s because the situation in Akumal is different now than it was just a few years ago. Swimming with turtles in Akumal is no longer a free for all and while it’s still the top activity, there are now more rules and regulations to be aware of.

How to get to Akumal

Akumal is a small beach town in Riviera Maya, located about halfway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Since it’s only 65 miles from Cancún, 24 miles from Playa del Carmen and 17 miles from Tulum, Akumal is a perfect day trip from all of these popular tourists destinations. Getting there is easy and there are several ways to do it.

Getting to Akumal by car

The best and easiest way to get there is by car. If Akumal is one of your stops on the Yucatán Peninsula road trip, or even if have other places to visit during your Mexico trip, you can’t beat the convenience of a rental car. It also gives you flexibility and a chance to arrive to popular places early before the crowds and tours. Akumal is about a 30 minute drive from Playa del Carmen, 20 from Tulum and about 90 minutes from Cancún .

Once you get to Akumal beach, you will see the main parking lot, which is 20 pesos/hour. Keep driving and on your left you’ll see another one, where you can park your car for 50 pesos for the entire day.

Getting to Akumal by Colectivo

If you don’t have a car, the easiest and cheapest way is to take a Colectivo. In Playa del Carmen they leave from from Calle 1 S and Av 45 ( right next to a big Chedraui ). You are looking for one that says Playa del Carmen-Tulum, just tell the driver you are going to Akumal when you get in. It’s about a 30 min drive and it costs 40 pesos one way ( you pay in cash before you get off ). This a very popular route with a lot of people heading to Tulum, so there’s literally one Colectivo leaving after another.

The driver will drop you off on the side of the 307 highway and you’ll need to use the footbridge to get to the other side. From there it’s about a 10 minute walk before you reach Akumal Beach. When it’s time to head back, just walk back towards 307 highway to catch the next van heading to Playa del Carmen.

If you are coming from Tulum, you will use the same Colectivo, just heading to Playa del Carmen.

There is no direct Colectivo from Cancún to Akumal, but you can take the ADO bus to Playa del Carmen, then hop in one from there. It’s about a 10-15 minute walk from the bus station to where Colectivos to Tulum ( and Akumal ) leave from. Just head east down Avenida Benito Juárez, then take a left on Av 45. You’ll see several white vans in what looks like a Colectivo ” Terminal “. You can’t miss it.

Akumal Tours

Swimming with turtles in Akumal can easily be done on your own, but if you prefer not to worry about logistics, there are plenty of tours from Playa del Carmen, Cancún and Tulum, that will take you there. Most of them combine Akumal turtles with another activity like a visit to a cenote and Tulum ruins.

The advantage of group tours is, that it’s hassle free and you don’t need to worry about anything other than being ready for your pick up time. All the details and transportation are taken care of. The disadvantage is, that most tours don’t arrive in Akumal Bay until 10-10.30 am, which is the beginning of the busiest time of day in Akumal Bay.

Here are some of the most popular and highest rated Akumal guided tours.

• Half-Day Sea Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling Tour from Cancun & Riviera Maya
• From Cancun/Riviera Maya: Tulum Ruins, Sea Turtle Swim and Cenotes
• Tulum Ruins, Cenote and Swimming with Turtles from Playa del Carmen

Swimming with turtles in Akumal – things to know

If swimming with turtles in Akumal is on your Mexico bucket list, here are some things to keep in mind before you start planning your trip.

• the beach is closed in September and February
• there’s no swimming with turtles on Mondays
• there is a limit of 300 snorkelers a day
• the activity is allowed from 9 am -5 pm.
• there is a fee of 120 pesos ($6) to access the beach. This also gives you access to the bathrooms, showers and lockers. This, of course, doesn’t apply if you are staying in one of the beachfront hotels.

Where to swim with turtles in Akumal

Akumal has a long stretch of sandy, wide beach, but if you’re there to swim with turtles, you want to be in Akumal Bay. This area is protected by the reef, so the water is calm with little waves, which makes for great snorkeling.

Do you need a guide to swim with turtles in Akumal?

There is a lot of confusing information online when it comes to swimming with turtles in Akumal. Some say the only way to do it is to pay for a guide. Others claim, swimming with turtles can be done on your own and completely free, encouraging you to ignore the aggressive tour guide sellers. So what is the truth?

A few years ago, not only was the Akumal beach free, but you could just grab your snorkeling gear and head out in the water whenever and wherever you wanted. But as more and more people discovered Akumal and the activity became more popular, it led to overcrowding. Due to the increasing number of ignorant tourists, who instead of being respectful guests, kept harassing the turtles, Gobierno de Mexico decided to put a stop to a situation, that seemed to be getting out of control. In 2016 Akumal was declared a natural protected area, the beach was closed and swimming with turtles got suspended. When the beach reopened, it was with a whole set of new rules and restrictions.

There are now designated areas to swim with Akumal turtles and buoys have placed in the water to indicate where you are and are not allowed to swim on your own. Green section is open to anyone, while the areas marked in red are only accessible with a guide.

So while no one can make you pay for going in the water with your snorkeling gear, you are limited to about 150 feet off the shore. It might be possible to spot a turtle in that area, but most of the time you really need to head out further to see them. Sea turtles come to Akumal Bay to feed on seagrass and those areas are mostly what is now the red section of the bay. More seagrass equals more turtles, and you can only access that area with the guide. That’s where you are pretty much guaranteed to see them.

So while it might have been possible to swim with turtles in Akumal for free, that’s no longer the case and you DO need to pay for a guide to access the area where sea turtles usually hang out. Finding one is not a problem, as you will be approached ( way too many times ) as soon as you get close to the beach area. I recommend going past all these guys and heading straight to Akumal Dive Center or Akumal Dive Shop. The cost is 700-750 MXN for a 45 minute swim with the turtles with a guide. The price includes snorkeling gear, if you didn’t bring your own.

Best time to swim with Akumal turtles

Swimming with turtles is allowed from 9 am – 5 pm from Tuesday to Sunday ( not allowed on Mondays ). Like with most popular activities, I highly recommend getting there first thing in the morning. This is definitely the most popular thing to do in Akumal and besides people staying on the beach and independent travelers, there are also many tours making a stop in Akumal. Most group tours arrive around 10-10.30 am and there are more of them as the morning progresses. If you can, avoid 10 am-2 pm. We went right at 9 am and were the only two people in the group.

So if you are heading to Akumal just for the day, get there early. There won’t be many people there yet and the visibility will be much better. The more people in the water, the more the sand gets kicked around, turning crystal clear water into a murky one. Going early in the morning will make your experience of swimming with turtles in Akumal so much better. Or you can spend an overnight in one of the hotels right in Akumal Bay, so you can basically walk out of your room and be in the prime spot. We stayed at Hotel Akumal Caribe and it couldn’t have been more perfect.

Rules for swimming with turtles in Akumal

• DO NOT touch the turtles! – this should go without saying, but you’d be surprised how many people need that reminder. As tempting as it may be to get really close to them, leave an appropriate distance and admire them from at least 6 feet away.
• don’t hover above the turtle.
• while in the water, always stay horizontal and do not step on seagrass.
• use reef safe sunscreen, or even better, a rash guard or a long sleeve shirt instead.
• life vests are mandatory to prevent people from diving down and harassing the turtles.
• fins are not allowed.
• there is max 6 people allowed in a group, although from what I’ve seen, that rule is not always followed.

Top tips for swimming with turtles in Akumal

• arrive early in the morning to be one of the first people to head out. Not a lot of people and best visibility.
• you can also stay overnight in one of the hotels in Akumal Bay to get an early start. Bonus: Akumal Beach has amazing sunrises!
• avoid the busiest time, which is between 10 am – 2 pm
• bring your own snorkeling gear – you can rent one at the Akumal Dive Shop right on the beach, but I personally prefer to have my own mask.
• wear a rash guard or a long-sleeved shirt instead of sunscreen (even the reef safe kind).
• don’t forget your GoPro to capture your experience.
• if you are not staying in one of the nearby hotels and need to bring your own towel, this quick dry travel towel is perfect.

Is snorkeling with turtles in Akumal still worth it?

Absolutely! Don’t let the changes discourage you from a chance to see these beautiful creatures in their natural environment. Snorkeling alongside green sea turtles in the wild is an incredible experience and it’s definitely one to add to your Mexico bucket list. If you are planning a road trip around Yucatán Peninsula, make Akumal one of your stops. And if you are staying in the nearby Tulum or Playa del Carmen, be sure to plan at least a day trip to Akumal.

Where to stay in Akumal, Mexico

• Hotel Akumal Caribe – a reasonably priced beach front hotel, right in the Bay, so you are just steps away from where you leave to see the turtles. You can choose from a hotel room or a bungalow. We stayed in the hotel part of the property, and our ocean view room was spacious and comfortable, with a little balcony overlooking the pool and the beach. The hotel is in the prime spot for swimming with turtles, which allowed us to just step outside and be the very first people in the water. Also, the sunrise in Akumal Bay is something not to be missed!
• Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort – if you want more of an upscale place, this all inclusive resort is a beautiful, beach front property, that gets high praises for its top notch service and hospitality. It is a bit pricier than Hotel Akumal Caribe and they have a 3 day minimum policy when booking.
• Secrets Akumal – this adults only resort is just a short walk to Akumal Bay.

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