When the sun went down behind the jungle, it turned into a rainbow of colors, from pink, to orange and yellow. I could stay in the water and watch them all day. As cute as they may look to you hugging them may harm them, so please dont do this. Is this still true that its free to enter the public beach and why is it closed in February. Now you are required to pay a small fee to get to the beach because its a marine park. 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. Our first concern is to give our clients a unique experience that they can remember for years to come. This paid off because we saw turtles only after our second hour of snorkeling. If you are coming from Tulum, just turn right before the bridge. The water is not deep, and if you like to dive in you can do so easily. Contact us any time for more details. You can rent the, , as you can get burnt while hanging out on the beach, even under the shade of a palm tree. Discover the wonders of Akumal Bay and explore ancient Mayan Ruins. Please feel free to ask for the boat option, or upgrade your experience with a Discover Scuba Diving Adventure. The beach is closed during the months of September and February. We just need to respect them and refrain from touching them or giving them food. The water at dusk was warm and inviting and the sky was dark blue, getting ready for sunset. You did it! They seem to be used to we humans, and are unscathed by the hundreds of visitors who stare at them every day; they simply mind their own business. Results of an environmental study in Akumal, We would be happy to take you and your group to swim with the sea turtles in Akumal. If a state is in red that means they have high case numbers and are in full lockdown. Help spread the word. $1.60) each way. You can hop on a colectivo (minibus) from the colectivo stand located on Calle 2 Norte between Avenida 15 and 20 (search for Correos Mexico on Google Maps). Our transportation is very safe and comfortable, and our drivers are very experienced. Mexico is dealing with the pandemic with a traffic light system. However, I believe the crowd is a very small price to pay for such a beautiful experience. The ecosystem is very fragile there and easily damaged if you arent careful. Important: The nature reserve fee (13 USD per person) is not included in the price. Swimming with turtles in Akumal is a much more authentic experience. In this post, I am going to share with you everything we know about the current situation in Akumal and how you are still able to swim with the turtles in Akumal during COVID19. For many years this was one of our most popular tours, but we took the difficult decision a while back to not return to Akumal beach. Now, this is where things get a little tricky. Im a Polish-born citizen of the world. Eleven cenotes serve as entrances to this system. Every service and every part of the tour is directly operated by Ocean Tours. I actually recommend you bringing your own snorkel equipment to avoid paying huge rental prices ($20+). 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. Please dont be that person! You can not buy a beach in Mexico. Working with small groups of clients, max. Akumal beach is a public beach so you do not have to pay an entrance fee to be on the beach. While in Akumal check out Yal-Ku lagoon. COOKIE POLICY Unfortunately, all 7 species of Sea Turtles are endangered. But COVID19 has brought about many changes in the world and one of them is the situation in Akumal. Our team guarantees an excellent, high-quality service and ensures the total satisfaction of our client-friends. Wear a rashguard and put on your sunscreen after the tour. The Akumal turtles dont want to eat your sunscreen. 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. 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. Limestone is very porous, allowing water particles to flow through it, forming underground rivers. 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. If they are amber. Please dont be that person! You cannot go through there anymore, but you can walk on another few meters, and there is beach access next to a dive shop. At this point, they will leave the bay for the open water to find a mate. If you dont have your own you can easily purchase a set at some stores in Playa del Carmen. In Boundless Roads I share travel stories and practical information about the places I visit and the nomadic lifestyle. If youre coming with children or want to have more privacy you can obviously get a taxi to Akumal, but colectivos are equally safe so dont be afraid of them! Akumal Bay provides these young turtles with everything they need to reach adulthood. However,if you wish to swim on your own, you still can. These are now the turtles safe areas and where the seaweed grows. Whether youre swimming alone or with a guide, please remember these tips. Of course, this has all changed thanks to COVID19. The ecosystem is very fragile there and easily damaged if you arent careful. Either way, please make sure to read signage and follow instructions accordingly. Because of this protection, most predators stay outside of the reef. And those that are visiting the turtles in Akumal are doing so in a far less harmful and more controlled way. A few years back Akumal Bay was free for all and you could swim with the turtles whenever you wanted. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); nice report. On top of raising kids and a cat. Please read the rules and stick to them, they are enforced and you will be informed if you break the rules. If someone yells at you, rent one. However, if you rent only the equipment (75 for life jacket plus 75 for snorkel gear) you can keep it for the entire day. So although you as a member of the public cant just walk on the beach in Akumal if you wanted to do an Akumal snorkel tour, that would be allowed. I always search for deserted beaches, which are abundant among all the, What do you need when you go to Akumal beach. From there its just a couple of hundred meters down to the beach. Colectivo willcost only 35 pesos (approx. Map | Weather. Toll free in Mxico 01 800 462 1212, Latest from our blog 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. Think of Akumal as a middle school for Turtles. And lastly please remember to stay 6 ft away from the turtles, use a rash guard, pee in the restroom, and don't use sunscreen. At this point, they will leave the bay for the open water to find a mate. Explore the fascinating underwater world of Turtle Bay on a leisurely snorkel tour in search 3 of the stalactites that surround you at every turn. Even the reef-safe biodegradable sunscreen takes 1-2 weeks to dissolve. We would be happy to take you and your group to swim with the sea turtles in Akumal. They are beautiful and funny, a marvelous work of nature. At all times, our team is there for you with knowledge, motivation, attention, and trust. Around the World in 80 Castles: Beautiful Castles in Europe. Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links. You DO NOT need a tour to swim with turtles. If you have any other questions regarding visiting Akumal please comment below and Ill try to help you as much as I can! Warmer temperatures produce mostly females, while lower temperatures produce mostly males. They only come up every now and then to breathe and put their cute little heads outside the water, but only for a matter of seconds. This seaweed is the food of choice for the growing turtles making Akumal Bay the perfect choice for these green sea turtles. COVID-19 Updates: Learn about our recent updateshere. As you can see there is an area thats limited by buoys. We are rated excellent on TripAdvisor, Google, and other rating platforms thanks to our commitment to excellence. I have no specific travel goals if not just to travel because the journey is my destination. Even though I didnt, I was still happy with my turtle does. Also when you spot the turtles you need to keep a distance of 3 mt and for a period no longer than 5 minutes. Quintana Roo, Mxico One of the benefits of people not traveling for several months in 2020 is that the bay, and its turtle inhabitants have been able to get a, We would be happy to take you and your group to swim with the sea turtles in Akumal. They dont like it. middle school for Turtles. Out of the 7 species of sea turtles that remain, 6 of them nest in Mexico. We truly provide the Mayan Riviera's best quality in service and tours, and we always ensure the total satisfaction of our clients. This means all public parks, and beaches are closed to the public. Why did they close the public access to Akumal beach? At this point, the government decided to take action and they shut down the bay completely. They have enough in the water and dont need our unnatural stuff. If you like you can purchase a digital copy with your personalized images. This paired with the fact that there are far less tourists here in 2020 because of the pandemic, which means there are far fewer people visiting the turtles. They also limited the number of tour agencies who could bring tourists in on guided tours, so it requires slightly more organization from you. It was actually founded by a scuba diver as a base for him and other divers. Take the memories of your snorkel experience back home for $50 USD (individual, couple, family or group price). Brightly colored tropical fish, spectacular coral, amazing rock formations, However, what makes this place so alluring, and, What I dont like about this beach is the multitude of people, there are just too many. Not even the reef-safe stuff. Hello traveler! If a date change is requested at least 24 hours prior to the date of the tour and a new date | 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. Tourism in The Riviera Maya is classed as an essential service. Copyright 2022 Anna Everywhere | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, 20 Best Traditional Polish Foods You'll Love, How I Became Fluent in Spanish Fast in 6 weeks, Things to Know Before Renting a Car in Italy, Where to Stay in Amsterdam: Best Neighborhoods - By a Local, Best Travel Strollers: Honest & Updated Reviews, Marrakech Travel Tips: What to Know Not to Get Disappointed, How to Take Good Pictures of Yourself When Traveling Solo, Things to Do in Verona, Italy - Tips from a Local, What To Expect If Youre Moving To Sydney Australia. Thank you for your comment. Paradise is at hand's reach! The U-shaped bay and coral reef provide them with shelter, with the reef protecting everything inside the bay itself. It really is a beautiful bay. If the service is cancelled by the supplier. Subject to change without notice, consult your sales advisor, Akumal Riviera Maya, Snorkel and swim in tthe Mayan Cenotes! All of this is helping to protect the natural environment while still giving the local people some income, something very much needed right now. I am an Italian expatriate with a Mexican permanent Residence. That said, lodging, parking, life vests and snorkel gear are not free nor is the use of restrooms so do bring your pesos to pay for the use of these facilities or equipment. You are still able to snorkel in Akumal, just not in these areas. If you need snorkeling equipment youll need to pay an extra 85 Pesos (approx. We love what we do and we want to share these amazing experiences with you! The bay is full of teenage turtles who live here until they become adults. This is due to illegal poaching and pollution. Snorkel with Whale Sharks in Cancun on our most-popular tour! Tulum Ruins, Akumal Turtles & Cenotes Tour, Private Snorkeling, Tulum Ruins & Cenote Tour, Private Tulum Ruins, Akumal Turtles & Cenotes Tour, Private Contoy Island & Isla Mujeres Tour. No peeing in the water. This is Isabella, a serious case of wanderlust! Akumal Turtle Beach is one of the most popular among all the beaches you can visit along the Riviera Maya, mainly because from there you can swim with turtles that are enjoying freely their natural habitat! So while it was true that before COVID19 you were able to access and swim with the turtles in Akumal without paying. This is the reason we have decided to return to Akumal with our guests. Getting to Akumal from Playa del Carmen is easy. Akumal means the earth of the turtle. Pay attention, Ive seen people accidentally kicking a turtle with their fin, while adjusting their mask or other parts of their equipment. Trees, plants and water came from there. DO NOT LEAVE your important belongings unattended (as applies to anywhere else in the world! Then we go for a Cenote swim, an amazing adventure where we explore the underground mysteries of the most beautiful Mayan Cenotes and caves in Yucatan. You can wear flippers if you are more comfortable, but they are not necessary since you dont need to go out that far. There are two large penned areas assigned for tour operators (pink and purple on the map) and one area that is always off limits year round as part of the bay protection program (black on the map). The guide, lifejacket, and snorkel equipment for one hour costs 350 pesos per person. Many were very upset at the loss of income with little notice and no help to deal with this unexpected situation. All our guides are trained in CPR. Plus you're putting money directly into locals' pockets so they can afford to support their families doing what they love. 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. The coral bay also creates a microclimate inside of the bay which allows for 3 different types of seaweed to grow. 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. Our mission is to provide wonderful and once-in-a-lifetime experiences through excursions full of nature, culture and adventure. Our guides will make sure you have a safe and memorable experience swimming with turtles in Akumal and exploring ancient cenotes. It was really disappointing for us. If you are a regular reader of our blog you will know our stance on animal encounters. I cant find anything else online that says this is true. you will find soft sand and palm trees, supplying relieving natural shade; pristine water that apparently not even the daily crowd are able to spoil; and delicious local restaurants where you can taste typical food. There are very few small passages that allow for public access to the beach. I think that paying one of the guides on the beach is actually the best way to do it cause then he or she can tell you stories and info about their beautiful country during the tour. biodegradable sunscreen takes 1-2 weeks to dissolve. Everyone's invited to join! Even more important be careful with stingrays (yes, these guys that killed Steve Irwin)! Do not touch, chase or harass the turtles in any way or form. Nobody cant tell you that you cannot swim, stay away from the limited area, and you will probably be able to see turtles anyway. For those of you here for the first time, we at Kay Tours only support. As the whole of Quintana Roo is currently in Amber, this means we are only allowed to operate essential services. 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. They even stationed police and military there to enforce this closure. Did you know that you could swim with green sea turtles in their natural habitat in Mexico? 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. What they found was that many of the young turtles had tumors and growths growing on their skin which are caused by the stress of being touched, human pee, and sunscreen. The beach is open from 9am to 5pm, but my recommendation is to be there right when they open. If youre not here yet or well on your way, please contact us immediately, and well gladly correct this situation for you. Dont stand on the coral. I am sure the rules they implemented are more of a business than a preservation issue, but it serves both purposes, I guess. Even if you are not such an experienced snorkeler or if you are not so comfortable swimming the guide will be there every step of the way even holding your hand if needed. How would you feel if somebody showed up at your door and started touching, poking, grabbing and running after you in your own home? Our Akumal Turtles Tour is child-friendly and elderly-friendly. It is probably about 3m/9ft deep. Now, Im a successful digital nomad who visited over 90 countries on 7 continents and lived in 8 countries. I would never actually go to a place where turtles or any other species are kept and raised in captivity; in this case, they are just free and available for you to enjoy from a distance, I might add. However the land next to the beach is available to buy and much of it has been bought by private companies, including hotels and resorts. Theyre beautiful coral heads that can display a rainbow of colors and are home to other marine animals. One of our guides will escort you through Akumal Bay. This is no longer the case while Quintana Roo is still under the orange traffic light. My favorite way to enjoy a destination! cannot be agreed upon. Its my mission to teach YOU how can you turn YOUR dreams of travel and career, into reality. Theres one important rule when visiting Akumal: DONT touch the turtles! If the cancellation is made after 5pm (local time) the day before the tour. This tour is rated as one of the best snorkeling in Cancun and Riviera Maya activities. The bay is full of teenage turtles who live here until they become adults. A few years ago the Mexican organization CEA - Centro Ecologico Akumal - began monitoring the turtles and investigating the impact on them caused by tourism. 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. You're awesome for doing it! If you would like a private tour of Akumal and the surrounding cenotes we are more than happy to assist you. We gazed at it, from both inside and outside the water, taking turns to keep an eye on the stuff that we had left on the beach, but without losing sight of the show nature provided for us. You can follow the people to get to the beach or simply continue straight and see some signs for the beach. Posted on Last updated: February 23, 2022. The only way to swim with the turtles is to book a tour with a registered tour company or stay in one of the neighboring hotels, like the Akumal Bay Resort or Secrets Akumal. Tell the driver youre going to Akumal Puente and hell drop you off on the other side of the road that you can cross using the bridge. essential services only, and green means everything is open. The group size for private tours is between 2 to 10 customers maximum, which helps us to provide a customized experience. Take home pictures, memories and all your trash with you. Do you know whats even more incredible? 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. This means all public parks, and beaches are closed to the public. $4). Upon arriving in Akumal Bay, youll find a system of orange and white buoys has been installed. 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. Don't miss this great opportunity. The most common sea turtles you will find in Akumal are green sea turtles. You can learn more about our tour here. You will have a wonderful day as you swim with turtles in Mexico! is not possible. . 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. Have fun and let me know just how right I was! To the Mayan, the depths of the Earth were full of life. You can learn more about our tours, COVID 19 in Cancun and The Riviera Maya update here in this post. Amazing, isnt it? What I would do then, is to walk further south, Raw Elements Organic SPF 30 Zinc Sunscreen, 3oz (2-Pack), Best Car Rental Deals w/ Free Cancellation, Compare & Save! Anyway, as I mentioned, the beautiful, friendly turtles made me forget about the unpleasant encounter, and the already beautiful day spent with my friends turned out to be amazing, ending up with a lovely dinner under the stars, in one of the restaurants on the beach. Due to illness, presenting a doctor's report. Because of this, we are pleased to announce that we are once again running snorkel tours to Akumal Bay because we are confident that our presence there is no longer a harmful one. Is Istanbul Safe to Visit Now as a Woman? The whole team will make your tour unforgettable. Things have changed a lot last and especially this year and so has our position on this issue. Mosquito repellent if you wish to stay till dusk and after, otherwise, mosquitoes will have you for dinner, and it wont be pleasant. Full snorkeling gear will be provided, you can use wet suits at the cenotes. Snorkel with Amazing Sea Turltes in Mexico's Akumal Bay (Turtle Bay), in their natural habitat! Sign up for our newsletter For example in case of bad weather and reschedule A short 5 minutes boat ride will be included to go to the turtles area. Akumal Bay provides these young turtles with everything they need to reach adulthood. However, what makes this place so alluring, andtherefore so populated, is the fact that only a few arm strokes away from the shore, you can see an abundance of turtles swimming, having their lunch, or just hanging out pacifically, with no fear at all of the human presence. So that means no swimming with dolphins or any other sea animal in captivity. And lastly please remember to stay 6 ft away from the turtles. Its a natural aquarium for snorkeling and swimming and not as well known as Cenote Azul or Cenote Jardin del Eden. Wear a rashguard and put on your sunscreen after the tour. 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