Akumal, Mexico

Mexico’s famed Riviera Maya stretches from Cancun in the north, 80 miles south to Tulúm. Akumal (Mayan for Land of the Turtles) rests between Playa del Carmen and Tulúm. Famously known for its spectacular clear bay filled with sea turtles, Akumal has matured from a secretive dive destination to a growing tourist attraction and has become a relevant investment opportunity.

The bay is a strong draw with easy access to the beach and nearby reef from several points. The bay now attracts a growing number of day-trippers who come to dive and snorkel in the clear waters hoping to swim alongside some of the abundant and gentle sea turtles.

The secret is out. Located where the jungle meets the beach, Akumal is learni\ng to cope with increasing numbers of returning vacationers as well as a growing contingent of expats and investors who have staked their claim here.

Until the last few years, this tiny beachfront town, about 40 minutes south of Playa del Carmen, was often a day trip for a small number of vacationers in Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Notably, these day-trippers were often those who had heard of the amazing diving and snorkeling in the clear, shallow bay, permitting close encounters with the many sea turtles who call this special place, home.

For better or worse, Akumal is no longer just a day trip but is emerging as a primary destination. In fact, sizeable real estate developments (one with its own championship golf course) have sprouted, encouraging investors and expat residents to make long-term commitments to the area.

At the southern end of Mexico’s famed Riviera Maya on the Caribbean Sea, Akumal is naturally blessed with good weather and temperatures normally in the 80s F. A refreshing sea breeze keeps the air moving and a nearby reef offers plenty of opportunities for water-borne recreation. When you combine all this with an environment steeped in an ancient Maya culture that perfectly blends life in the jungle with life on the beach, it is no wonder that Akumal has achieved its well-deserved reputation as a distinctive environment.

Retire in Akumal

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Mexico offers an easily obtainable retirement visa, providing for quick, permanent residency for those meeting the simple qualifications. Check the criteria as a temporary residency visa is also easily attainable and the differences are noteworthy.

The straight-forward process begins at the Mexican consulate in your home state. There, the consulate officer will verify your income based on the documents you provide, review a nominal number of other documents and your completed application. After a short interview, if approved, you’ll likely depart with your residency visa affixed to the inside of your passport. Once on the ground in Mexico, you have only 30 days to finish the process by obtaining your residency card. This is a separate process from obtaining your visa but is integral with becoming a resident and, while not difficult, the process must be followed, precisely.

Those over the age of 60 qualify for a discount card from INAPAM (Instituto Nacional para las Personas Adultas Mayores) facilitating discounts on a wide variety of goods and services.

The Akumal Medical Center provides basic emergency services as well as routine medical care. There is also a pharmacy on the premises and they offer ambulance services to transfer patients requiring elevated care. If needed, larger hospitals with all specialty areas covered can be found in Playa del Carmen, an hour north. Nearly all medications can be purchased directly from the pharmacy without a prescription (narcotics and strong antibiotics are obvious exceptions) and cost only a fraction of prices north of the border.

Expat residents can qualify for Mexico’s health insurance plan called Seguro Popular or the IMSS program

Lifestyle in Akumal

Life in Akumal needn’t be boring. With a growing population, it seems like a new restaurant is opening every month or two. And the lifestyle associated with living in a beachfront community means that your social life can be as busy as you wish. There are always tourists in the area to give a boost to your social life and the local residents are quite friendly.

With a strong focus on maintaining an ecologically sound community, there are a number of opportunities to volunteer for such issues as the impact on the resident turtle population as well as the health of the nearby reef. Reducing the use of plastics and ensuring that the bay remains clean is also important to all in this area.

Admittedly, Akumal and the entire Riviera Maya attract those who love the water and water activities, even if that means lazing around, wiggling your toes in the sand and sipping a tall, cold rum drink with skewered fruit hanging from the edge.

When you want a bit more than can be found in Akumal, make the hour drive to Playa del Carmen and take advantage of Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue, a walkable mall area, closed to vehicle traffic. Stretching some 40 blocks in length, this pedestrian walkway is only a couple of blocks inland from the beach. Here you’ll find hundreds of quaint shops, trendy bars, and chic, restaurants. Tucked into small side streets, you’ll discover many small boutique hotels perfect for weekend get-a-ways.

Drive a bit farther north and you’re in Cancun. The well-known hotel zone offers hundreds of dining choices, clubs, and entertainment while you can enjoy shopping at large malls, big box stores, or catching a movie.

For a grand adventure, you can drive down the coast to the Belize border in a bit over two hours, catching the small and historic town of Bacalar, with its gorgeous lake of seven colors, along the way. The beautiful city of Chetumal, capital city of Quintana Roo, sits on the border with Belize and is a good choice for a weekend away.

Things to Do in Akumal

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It would be easy to think of Akumal as a one-trick-pony but that would be a mistake. The obvious and primary draw of Akumal is the access to the calm waters of the bay, waters that provide food and shelter for hundreds of sea turtles who live there. These turtles, and the ability to swim and interact with these peaceful creatures, attract thousands of visitors each month. From time to time, the local authorities will restrict access to the bay in an effort to relieve the pressure on the turtles. And as amazing as it is to swim and snorkel among these graceful reptiles, there is more to Akumal than the turtles and a gorgeous, calm bay. That said, you certainly want to take advantage of this special opportunity. Don your mask and flippers and wade into the warm Caribbean waters with your waterproof camera. Or join one of the guided groups who will usually have a photographer swimming with you.

By the way, did you know that sea turtles (unlike their freshwater counterparts) cannot retract their legs and heads into their shells for protection?

Akumal defines relaxation. Some (count me among them) find total contentment wiggling their toes in the surf and listening to some tunes while maintaining proper hydration with a chilled beverage. Be sure to use plenty of sun screen, just in case you accidentally fall asleep under the sizzling, tropical sun.

As mentioned above, Akumal is now emerging as its own destination and with that comes more permanent residents and…more cool beach bars and restaurants. Take a walk along the condensed beach area to discover the newest offerings in food and libations. You could certainly make an evening or three visiting the local pit stops and making new friends. Yes…that is an activity worth pursuing. The newest and perhaps some of the best offerings may, in fact, be found off the beach. Keep your ear to the ground to learn the latest as a new offering seems to appear every month.

Akumal is not a large entertainment center like Cancun or Playa del Carmen. If it is large shopping malls, movie theaters, the energy of a crowd, and hundreds of bars and restaurants that you seek, a short drive north will put you into the belly of that beast. This small bayside community is best regarded as a relaxing, slower paced, eco-friendly hub from which to explore the surrounding area.

Day Trips from Akumal

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For an interesting day-trip, make the short drive to Tulum. Not only is the town a funky, earth-centered nucleus for those who enjoy a new-age lifestyle but it’s also home to the spectacular archeological ruins of Tulum. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the archeological ruins of Tulum provide spectacular photo opportunities and it is the only Maya ruin that also has its own stunning, Caribbean beach for your enjoyment. You can easily make a day-long side trip of it.

While in Tulum, you may want to visit the Aktun Chen site. This spectacular, underground dry cave is about five million years old. Named by National Geographic as one of the top 10 underground hikes in the world, this is truly a must-see. The stalactites and stalagmites are impressive and the prehistoric vibe is palpable. You can also explore an underground river on the same property. All tours are guided and hard helmets are issued for safety.

The jungle surrounding Akumal provides homes for a fair number of monkeys. In fact, the Akumal Monkey Sanctuary cares for those needing assistance along with a few other jungle animals, as needed. There is a hefty charge for admission but remember, your fee pays for the care of the animals inside.

Another wonderful day trip, and one that can easily be repeated several times per year, is a visit to the Sian Ka án Biosphere Reserve. A painfully bumpy van ride will take you to the boat docks where you will board a small launch for a waterborne tour of this massive eco-reserve. Named among Mexico’s 34 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this stunning area is filled with critters, large and small; finned, winged, and claw-footed.

The warm Caribbean water is crystal clear (most days) and brimming with over 400 different species of fish as the nearby reef shares a symbiotic relationship with the reserve. If you’re lucky, you may see dolphins, crocodiles, certainly turtles, and possibly a manatee or ray. Over 300 different types of birds live in this area, some brilliantly colored so bird watchers are frequent visitors to Sian Ka´an.

Another fun day can be had at the Cenote Santa Cruz about 15 minutes from Akumal. This cenote, like nearly all, is on private property and charges a nominal fee. Access is by reservation made through their website and a guide will meet you and drive you to the location.

Cenotes are underground caves, some of which are closed with small cave-like entrances and others are open, their tops collapsed long ago. The limestone geology of the Yucatan Peninsula is home to thousands of these natural wonders. Most are filled with water of varying depths and an underground river connects them all throughout the region and Cenote Santa Cruz is a spectacular example that combines both a dry cave entrance that opens into a larger complex that becomes waterfilled as you descend the stairs and begin your guided adventure. It is filled with stunning stalagmites and stalactites that have formed over thousands of years. This is an activity suitable for the entire family. The water is about waist deep but life jackets and helmets are provided along with flashlights. Wear your swimsuit and expect to spend about 2.5 hours inside the cave.

The owners are committed to maintaining the natural ecology of the system so no sunscreen is permitted. They also regulate the number of visitors to reduce any residual impact to the eco structure.

Akumal is the perfect place from which to base your explorations of the area. From here, you can experience the lifeforms of the jungle as well as the warm Caribbean Sea and the beauty of the stunning underground caves and cenotes.

Cost of Living in Akumal

In general, Mexico offers a significantly reduced cost of living when compared to the U.S., and Akumal falls in line with that expectation. However, Akumal is a growing tropical town on the Caribbean Sea and that profile is not available anywhere in the U.S. That said, life in Akumal is affordable and provides excellent value for the money. Housing across the globe is more expensive on the shore and Akumal, like its neighbors (Cancun and Playa del Carmen) to the north, is no exception.

Condos are the most popular type of residential housing in Akumal and are king in the investment market. To buy a 775-square-foot condo, perfect for a short-term rental investment property, you’ll spend about $165,000. An example of a luxurious primary residence in the exclusive Bahia Principe development will run about $1.5 million. Long-term rentals can be hard to find as investors typically focus on the significant cash flow generated from vacationers in the short-term market.

Electricity bills are delivered every other month and two months of service is generally less than $100. A local beer will cost about $2 and an inexpensive meal will set you back 120 pesos, which is about $6. A nice dinner for two in a mid-range restaurant will cost 450 pesos (about $23).

Here’s an example of a monthly budget for a couple living in Akumal but remember, what you spend will depend on the choices you make: