sarahj
15th July 2005, 11:30 AM
We will be returning for the third year in a row to Akumal at the end of August. We stay at the Hotel Akumal Caribe, a small, oldish hotel and love it. I think we like it because it NOT like a shiny all-inclusive resort. We get a lovely, clean, air-conditioned room (with a coffee maker and big dispenser of bottled water) with a sliding glass door out to a little patio and then about 200 feet to the water.
One year we stayed in a condo on Half Moon Bay. That beach isn’t child friendly because of the rocks/coral just at the water’s edge, but it was beautiful.
There is terrific snorkeling from the beach – especially in the early morning when the rest of the family and most everyone else is still asleep. Our daughter is now 8 and it has been a perfect place to vacation. She loves the sand and water, there is a pool for variety but she loves jumping off the floating swimming platform. She can really snorkel now and we see sea turtles, coral and beautiful fish without fail.
One exciting thing about being there in late August is the opportunity to witness a turtle hatch. Last year we went to Jade Beach (just south of Akumal) and watched/helped. After the females lay their eggs, the conservation folks are relocate the nest in a big chicken wire cage with other nests. They are all labeled so the scientist know when to expect the hatch. So on the night we were there, sure enough up came the baby turtle! What an experience! The scientists examine the little turtles and put them in a big bucket and then carry them down to a dark place on the beach and let them crawl down the sand to the water. They let the audience help keep the turtles on the path to the water. My 8-yr old got to pick up straying baby turtles and put them back on their way. It was amazing.
Services: There are two dive shops, which isn’t surprising since this is one of the original dive centers on the Yucatan. The Super Chomak is well stocked for gringo needs, but the little market across the road is cheaper and has more local flavor.
Food and drink: The Lol Hah snack bar/bar has great soup that changes each day that I sometimes have for lunch. The best part may be the late afternoon margarita and chips before we set off for dinner. The snack bar has good pizza,
The main Lol Hah restaurant is very good, but feels a bit polished and expensive. Excellent food though.
Great fish at Cueva del Pescador! This one is off the beach a bit, and the heat / mosquitos are more troublesome, sometimes, but they have fans.
We had a nice breakfast at the Turtle Bay Bakerye, but generally bring instant oatmeal from home and buy milk and fruit at the market.
There is an open air cafe (Loncheria Akumalito) where the locals eat next to the Super Chomak that is also a great place for breakfast – much cheaper and...more local flavor.
I think La Lunita is our favorite in Half Moon Bay (just north of Akumal). Small place right on the beach, with plastic chairs that sink into the sand and an on shore breeze... some bio-luminescent flickering in the water ... the kids can come and go...(Had a terrific cantaloupe / jalapeño / lime salsa there and huechalocote ( sp? corn fungus) crepes).
Our experience at La Buena Vida was not so good.
Further afield – we have had excellent meals at Pizzeria Leo (South of Akumal, west side of the road) and Oscar y Lola’s at Soloman Bay.
We’d love to hear about other folks experience. We like to explore and are always looking for more recommendations!
One year we stayed in a condo on Half Moon Bay. That beach isn’t child friendly because of the rocks/coral just at the water’s edge, but it was beautiful.
There is terrific snorkeling from the beach – especially in the early morning when the rest of the family and most everyone else is still asleep. Our daughter is now 8 and it has been a perfect place to vacation. She loves the sand and water, there is a pool for variety but she loves jumping off the floating swimming platform. She can really snorkel now and we see sea turtles, coral and beautiful fish without fail.
One exciting thing about being there in late August is the opportunity to witness a turtle hatch. Last year we went to Jade Beach (just south of Akumal) and watched/helped. After the females lay their eggs, the conservation folks are relocate the nest in a big chicken wire cage with other nests. They are all labeled so the scientist know when to expect the hatch. So on the night we were there, sure enough up came the baby turtle! What an experience! The scientists examine the little turtles and put them in a big bucket and then carry them down to a dark place on the beach and let them crawl down the sand to the water. They let the audience help keep the turtles on the path to the water. My 8-yr old got to pick up straying baby turtles and put them back on their way. It was amazing.
Services: There are two dive shops, which isn’t surprising since this is one of the original dive centers on the Yucatan. The Super Chomak is well stocked for gringo needs, but the little market across the road is cheaper and has more local flavor.
Food and drink: The Lol Hah snack bar/bar has great soup that changes each day that I sometimes have for lunch. The best part may be the late afternoon margarita and chips before we set off for dinner. The snack bar has good pizza,
The main Lol Hah restaurant is very good, but feels a bit polished and expensive. Excellent food though.
Great fish at Cueva del Pescador! This one is off the beach a bit, and the heat / mosquitos are more troublesome, sometimes, but they have fans.
We had a nice breakfast at the Turtle Bay Bakerye, but generally bring instant oatmeal from home and buy milk and fruit at the market.
There is an open air cafe (Loncheria Akumalito) where the locals eat next to the Super Chomak that is also a great place for breakfast – much cheaper and...more local flavor.
I think La Lunita is our favorite in Half Moon Bay (just north of Akumal). Small place right on the beach, with plastic chairs that sink into the sand and an on shore breeze... some bio-luminescent flickering in the water ... the kids can come and go...(Had a terrific cantaloupe / jalapeño / lime salsa there and huechalocote ( sp? corn fungus) crepes).
Our experience at La Buena Vida was not so good.
Further afield – we have had excellent meals at Pizzeria Leo (South of Akumal, west side of the road) and Oscar y Lola’s at Soloman Bay.
We’d love to hear about other folks experience. We like to explore and are always looking for more recommendations!