Akumal Beach is a beautiful white sand beach with crystal clear water, located in between Playa del Carmen and Tulum right along the ocean highway. It's home to beautiful coral reefs teeming with wildlife ready for you to explore.
Photo: Cancun Elite
How to get there: Akumal Beach is a 30 minute drive south of Playa del Carmen and 20 minutes north of Tulum on Highway 307. On the ocean side is the beach town, and across the highway is Akumal Pueblo. Once you arrive, you can park in the paid parking lot.
There are many different areas for you to explore at the beach, including several coves. The best snorkeling is in Akumal Bay, where most of the action on the beach is.
Did you know Akumal Beach is home to the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world? The Great Mayan Reef reaches from Mexico into Central America. This means there's a huge variety of coral species that are home to hundreds of fish and shellfish.
Photo: Destinationless Travel
What else can you find here? Besides the creatures mentioned above, you can find yourself swimming with stingrays, sharks, and turtles! Akumal is famous for it's turtles, among them being Green, Loggerhead, and Hawksbill.
Loggerhead Turtle photo via RRF
Be sure to grab your favorite Reef Tourer gear and explore this world famous spot to snorkel!
Cover photo: Fishory