When I visited Akumal for the first time I was convinced they were manta rays and I swam quite close to them which was a big mistake. We still learn a lot about the local flora, fauna, and culture simply by speaking to locals whenever we can. If you really dont want to pay there are ways of accessing the beach without paying but be warned if seen by a local there is a good chance they will let you know their unhappiness with you. Please dont be that person! When you get to the beach area, after the arch, there is a cute souvenirs shop on the right-hand side, along with the entrance to a hotel. I cant find anything else online that says this is true. This means all public parks, and beaches are closed to the public. However, the owners of the land surrounding the beach have blocked these public access points, or at least made them very hard to locate so unless you are a local it is almost impossible to enter the beach through one of the public access points. Hover over the arrows to browse the best snorkeling in Cancun activities. Help spread the word. If a state is in red that means they have high case numbers and are in full lockdown. Sea Turtles are photo-tactical, which means they are attracted by the light. Where did you see that? FAQs Snorkelers swimming sans guide can walk over to the central area of the bay just past Club Akumal Caribe Hotel where youll see another series of white buoys for you to enter. I am an Italian expatriate with a Mexican permanent Residence. These are not rocks. All of this is helping to protect the natural environment while still giving the local people some income, something very much needed right now. Pay attention, Ive seen people accidentally kicking a turtle with their fin, while adjusting their mask or other parts of their equipment. The beach is open from 9am to 5pm, but my recommendation is to be there right when they open. We would be happy to take you and your group to swim with the sea turtles in Akumal. We got there late in the afternoon, which turned out to be just perfect. worlds 7 sea turtle species. Its my mission to teach YOU how can you turn YOUR dreams of travel and career, into reality. Im not going to share a full COVID 19 in Cancun and The Riviera Maya update here in this post, but Im going to talk about how that has affected visiting the Akumal turtles. Even the. Observing wild turtles in their natural habitat is a wonderful thing, and I understand why people want to go to Akumal to have this experience for themselves. . Like one of my friends mom used to say back home, Mi casa es tu casa pero sin hacer mugrero which means My home is your home just dont make a mess.Do wear a life vest, regardless of what an awesome swimmer you are and how many trophies youve won. Theyre beautiful coral heads that can display a rainbow of colors and are home to other marine animals. We truly provide the Mayan Riviera's best quality in service and tours, and we always ensure the total satisfaction of our clients. Because the owners of the private land want to make you pay to enter the beach. Corfortable, fresh clothing and long-sleeved-cotton shirt, Sunglasses & Biodegradable sunscreen (please apply prior to tour). The entry fee for foreigners is 100 pesos, but a hired guide can get you in for 50. Fishing, hunting, or poaching turtles is now a Federal offense. The current situation is much improved, which is why we felt good about returning to Akumal. We were very vocal about our reasons for not returning to Akumal, the main one being over tourism of this beautiful bay. Explore the fascinating underwater world of Turtle Bay on a leisurely snorkel tour in search 3 of the Our guides will make sure you have a safe and memorable experience swimming with turtles in Akumal and exploring ancient cenotes. Map | Weather. Think of Akumal as a middle school for Turtles. Listening to many of the recommendations on this blog, we decided not to pay a guide, especially because we did not want to feel restrained by time. Born and raised in Italy, I have been living in Mexico for 7 years as an expatriate until I decided to leave and explore the world, starting from other parts of Mexico, with lots of bags and a camera. Whether its your first visit or your 20th consecutive year joining us in Akumal, youll find a myriad of options, indications and of course, opinions about who, how and where you can swim with turtles in Akumal Bay. Take home pictures, memories and all your trash with you. The sky was at its best, like a beautiful colorful painting, priceless. A few years back Akumal Bay was free for all and you could swim with the turtles whenever you wanted. You are entering the ocean, an entirely different habitat where even the most avid swimmer may quickly tire or find themselves in a bind. It normally doesn't close (it was closed on Tuesdays usually). If you like to streamline your vacation for maximum playtime, you can always just contact LocoGringos excellent concierge, Paulina, and shell set up a snorkel tour for you! The entrance fee is $100 pesos ($5 USD) and in fairness, it does give you access to bathrooms, lockers, and showers. The ecosystem is very fragile there and easily damaged if you arent careful. Trees, plants and water came from there. Our guides are enthusiastic, experienced and knowledgeable. is not possible. Swimming with turtles in Akumal is a much more authentic experience. This means all public parks, and beaches are closed to the public. It means there are far fewer people visiting them. Enjoy the warm caribbean water while snorkeling around the bay in search of many interesting fish and corals. Located approximately 90 km from Cancun International Airport, Akumal is one of the most popular beaches on the Riviera Maya, mainly for its natural resources. As well as environmental issues, there were some other things going on. All rights reserved. The weird rock formations in the middle of the bay are not natures rest stops for you to stand on while you take a breather or selfies. Akumal Bay provides these young turtles with everything they need to reach adulthood. You can rent the, , as you can get burnt while hanging out on the beach, even under the shade of a palm tree. After 7 years of living in Cancun, I have decided to leave my job and explore my beloved Mexico and the rest of this beautiful world, starting from South America, while sharing my travel stories and offering useful travel tips about traveling as a solo female traveler and digital nomad. Wear a rashguard and put on your sunscreen after the tour. As cute as they may look to you hugging them may harm them, so please dont do this. This seaweed is the food of choice for the growing turtles making Akumal Bay the perfect choice for these green sea turtles. After my last swim, which was actually the most amazing, I took my face out of the water, pulled off my mask and looked up. If the service is cancelled by the supplier. Akumal Bay provides these young turtles with everything they need to reach adulthood. Also when you spot the turtles you need to keep a distance of 3 mt and for a period no longer than 5 minutes. If you are a regular reader of our blog you will know our stance on animal encounters. So there you have it guys, now you know how to swim with turtles the right way in Akumal in a nutshell. Thank you for your comment. All our guides are trained in CPR. Most of our guides are diving instructors or dive masters, and have all been hand-selected by Ocean tours for their passion and care for nature, awesome attitude and exceptional empathy. This activity is totally free and this is why Ive done it three times already while living in Playa del Carmen as the turtles are only 20 minutes away! Don't miss this great opportunity. The nature reserve fee of 13 USD per person is not included in the price. While in Akumal check out Yal-Ku lagoon. You can learn more about our tour here. You will have a wonderful day as you swim with turtles in Mexico! The situation was complex and to really understand what was happening on Akumal Beach there are a few important points to know. This is no longer the case while Quintana Roo is still under the orange traffic light. Enjoy fantastic views of the Caribbean Sea. As the water erosions the underwater caves, their roofs collapse giving birth to cenotes. In any case remember that if you want to swim on your own you can do it, just do it with respect to rules, both made by humans and by mother nature. We stopped taking our guests to Akumal as we didnt want to contribute to the damage. Our professional guides will make sure you feel safe and ensure you have a truly fascinating experience. You finally made it to Riviera Maya, and youve probably got Swimming with Turtles on your list of things to do in Akumal. When the sun went down behind the jungle, it turned into a rainbow of colors, from pink, to orange and yellow. Sea turtles are beautiful, gentle creatures that are a pure delight to hang around with and if youre lucky enough to be on this coast its easy to get caught up in the hype about swimming with turtles in their natural habitat. In this snorkel tour we explore the warm and shallow underwater world of Akumal Bay where we will swim with sea turtles in their natural habitat. Dont do it. COVID-19 Updates: Learn about our recent updateshere. Eleven cenotes serve as entrances to this system. Toll free in Mxico 01 800 462 1212, Latest from our blog Tour includes:Certified guide, snorkeling equipment, lockers, showers, water. stalactites that surround you at every turn. Youll probably encounter free-lancing snorkel guides who will offer their services which you can only power through with a smile and a no thank you. I personally recommend avoiding making eye contact as they are great at engaging conversation and before you know it youve spent twice what you wanted. You can learn more about our tours, COVID 19 in Cancun and The Riviera Maya update here in this post. The white buoys define the swimming areas designated for swimmers, and the orange ones are the paths for boats to navigate safely in and out of the Bay. Visit the most beautiful Caribbean Islands. Check out my brand new site Lets travel to Mexico. For a long time, we took people to swim with the turtles in Akumal bay because the turtles were in their natural habitat and we had very strict rules for our guests about what they could or couldn't do while snorkeling with the turtles. Limestone is very porous, allowing water particles to flow through it, forming underground rivers. rays and unbelievable visibility makes this an unforgettable experience. However, if you have the intention to eat, you can enter through the Beach restaurants on the right side and you will have the entrance included in your restaurant bill unless you want to rent beach beds and sunshades which have an extra cost. The crystal-clear waters of these caves offer perfect visibility. Boundless Roads is by no means liable for any purchase of tours, tickets and any other online reservation that are made with any third party provider. I have been there a few times since I have been living here, and this particular weekend I made the most of the occasion of friends visiting from Italy to show them some of our wonders. Mexico is dealing with the pandemic with a traffic light system. cannot be agreed upon. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to write in the comment section below or send us an e-mail to contact@kay.tours, Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram @kaytoursmexico, Terms & Conditions | Privacy | Medical Form| Blog | Community. | Discover Cars, How to get from San Antonio to Big Bend National park [2022 guide], Visit Guatemala in October Weather and Climate and Other Travel Tips, The 17 Best Places to Visit in California in December For Solo Female Travelers [2022], 4 ways to get from Lisbon to Algarve Portugal The ultimate guide for 2022, How to plan an unforgettable 10-day Alaska itinerary in 2022. The water at dusk was warm and inviting and the sky was dark blue, getting ready for sunset. You will be approached by various tour guides asking if you want to do a tour to swim with turtles, feel free to ignore them and keep walking. Even though I didnt, I was still happy with my turtle does. The bay is full of teenage turtles who live here until they become adults. That was luxury indeed! Unfortunately, due to the rising amount of ignorant tourists touching and grabbing poor turtles, causing damage to the marine ecosystems, now there are limits to 300 people per day and the activity is supervised. It was actually founded by a scuba diver as a base for him and other divers. If they are amber. Please dont be that person! All of the local guides I met in Akumal and the other towns I visited in Yucatan were so friendly and so full of interesting information that they were so happy to share with a visitor. Each of them is uniquely decorated by Nature. biodegradable sunscreen takes 1-2 weeks to dissolve. Please read the rules and stick to them, they are enforced and you will be informed if you break the rules. Nobody cant tell you that you cannot swim, stay away from the limited area, and you will probably be able to see turtles anyway. Our professional guides are certified in First-Aid. If you would like a private tour of Akumal and the surrounding cenotes we are more than happy to assist you. But over the years the impact that mass tourism brought to the bay caused a lot of damage.