Home > Neighborhoods > International > Mexico > Quintana Roo > Akumal

Akumal Expert

Akumal InvestmentsFull Real Estate Service in and around Akumal, Mexico.

Akumal Investments-Real Estate Services

	Email Akumal
	Visit My Website
	View My Profile
	View Area Listings

Phone:	984-875-9187
Toll Free:	888-769-3861
Cell:	984-157-5762

My Other Neighborhood Pages:Akumal North Akumal Pueblo Akumal South Aventuras Akumal Bahia Príncipe Chemuyil Half Moon Bay Jade Bay San Martin Sian Ka'an Sirenis Soliman/Tankah Bay Tulum Yal Ku

Akumal

The Akumal Community

Akumal, is a small resort village, situated in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Located halfway between the towns of Playa del Carmen and Tulum, Akumal lies one hour to the south of Cancun. With a population of around 1,500 inhabitants, the beachfront resort village is a popular tourist location. In the Mayan language, Akumal means the "Place of the Turtle", due to the fact that sea turtles are present year-round, and nest here each year from the end of April to October. These magnificent creatures can frequently be seen swimming in the crystal clear waters in the bay.

Akumal is where one travels to find quiet beaches, powdery sand, lush jungle, and friendly people. Tropical life abounds in our protected bays where the most experienced snorkeler will find fulfillment, and where the youngest can discover the beauty of the underwater world. Your days can be as busy and varied as you choose, or as restful and unwinding. There are plenty of reefs, jungles, sacred Mayan ruin sites, and cenotes all within easy reach of Akumal, and the natural setting almost guarantees unforgettable sunsets and moonlit nights.

The village of Akumal has kept its relaxed, laid back mood amongst boom towns such as Playa Del Carmen and Cancun. Unlike the many pre-planned resort communities popping up on the coast, Akumal is a quaint Mexican village with a rich history and a proud local mix of Mexicans and ex-patriots. Centro Ecologico Akumal monitors and protects the bay and turtles for future generations to enjoy as well.

The area’s shallow bays are a popular destination for scuba divers and for those who enjoy snorkeling. There are 6 crystal clear bays. From north to south, is National Geographic's 50 best secrets of Mexico, Yal Ku Lagoon, then Half Moon Bay, Akumal Bay, South Akumal, Aventuras Akumal and Jade Bay. The water is an incredibly brilliant turquoise blue color with fantastic clarity. The world's 2nd largest barrier reef (Meso-American) occupies these waters and the abundance of sea life is amazing. There are over 500 species of fish and 4 different species of sea turtles that can be seen here. For those who prefer fresh water, there are a number of Cenotes (sinkholes leading to underground rivers) that provide entrance to underlying cave systems, offering the cave diver and snorkeler fantastic opportunities for exploring.

Adventures on land include exploring the surrounding jungle where hidden caves can be explored and exotic flora and fauna can be seen. Deep-sea fishing is an active sport in these waters as well; the promise of a day's catch might include Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Marlin or Sail Fish.

Akumal is unspoiled in its natural beauty, providing all the comforts and services you will need on your vacation, and a true balance between tourism and the environmental conservation. Centrally located in the heart of the Riviera Maya, Akumal is easily accessible to many popular destinations such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Coba, the Chichen Itza and Uxmal ruins (stay at any of the fabulous Mayaland Resorts), and do not miss the Sian Ka'an biosphere.

AKUMAL HISTORY

It was a dark and stormy night punctuated by charged bolts of lightning illuminating the wind-bent palm trees along the sandy beach, and the foaming surf breaking over the reef 150 meters off-shore. Outside the reef, a small Spanish merchant ship, El Matancero (official name is Nuestra Seńora de los Milagros – Our Lady of Miracles), is in panic mode as the lookout cries, “breakers”. With a sickening crunch and a violent lurch, El Matancero ran aground on the coral reef.

The date is February 22, 1741, and this is Akumal, the Maya’s “Place of the Turtles”.

Seventeen of the sailors were washed up on the beach, where the Mayans captured them and made them slaves. Fifteen later died, and the two survivors were Geronimo De Aguilar, who was a friar and warrior, and Gonzalo Guerrero. It was Guerrero who would have a lasting impact on the Akumal area culture.

Gonzalo Guerrero wound up marrying the Mayan princess Zazi and fathered the first mestizos, so called white Indian. He went on to teach the Maya new war techniques they would later use in their fight against Spaniards.

The Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortes arrived in Cozumel and heard about the ship wreck and two survivors in Akumal. He sent emissaries to look for them. The search party located the two, and Geronimo de Aguilar was returned to Cortes' camp. Later, the rescued sailor would become the first translator and guide in the conquest of Mexico.

Gonzalo Guerrero adapted to his life with the Maya. As he told the emissaries he was no longer a Spaniard; he was Mayan. He stayed in Akumal with his wife and three children until he died in 1536. Today, a statue of Gonzalo Guerrero stands at the entrance to Akumal, just after the arch.

Then in 1959, a group of ex-WW II Mexican frogmen, led by Pablo Bush Romero, came to Akumal to salvage El Matancero, which lay in shallow water just south of the DIF beach (southern end of Bahia Principe). They formed CEDAM (Club de Exploracion y Deporte Acuaticos de Mexico) to serve their country by turning over to the Federal Government whatever could be salvaged from the wrecks buried in the bottom of the Caribbean, along the Mexican coast.

This tropical coastline was only accessible by boat until the mid 1960s, as Cancun was not founded until the late 1960s. Pablo Bush Romero bought thousands of acres of land around Akumal. So, Akumal was officially founded in 1959 as a community for scuba divers by Pablo Bush Romero.

Recently, the citizens of Akumal dedicated a memorial park in North Akumal (north side of Miramar) to Pablo Bush Romero, and there is a similar bust near the entrance to the Lol Ha Snack Bar in Central Akumal. Cannons that were recovered by CEDAM can be seen at the northern point of Akumal Bay, and they are positioned to guard the entrance to the bay. The Shipwreck Museum in Puerto Aventuras is now home to most of the artifacts from the El Matancero, and it also provides a glimpse into the history of SCUBA diving. Interestingly enough, ‘treasure’, in the form of glass beads, from the El Matancero can still be found at the site of the wreck.

In May 2009, Akumal celebrated its 50^th anniversary with a week-long series of events that recalled those early days in 1959 when Pablo Bush Romero first came to the tranquility of Akumal, now, often referred to as the “Jewel in the Crown” of the Riviera Maya.