5-6 weeks in Mexico, for diving mainly

[Pajjpen]

My wife and I usually stay in a set of condos called Las Casitas. You would probably not think of it as affordable, but because they are condos, we save a lot of money by making our own breakfasts and lunches and even some dinners. They are right on the beach, and that section of the beach is exclusive to those condos. During the evenings we will walk to the beach and pull some lounge chairs into the water and gaze up at the stars sipping tequila while the waves gently ripple beneath our chairs. (I want to be there now!)

There is a hotel nearby nearby (Akumal Caribe) that has cheaper rooms than that.

Here is a site with more information on local accommodations: https://www.locogringo.com/

That sounds pretty damn sweet, i am however not interested in making my own food on my vacation haha.
Im also traveling alone so no chilling with the wife haha. I'll check out the accommodations, are there dive ops on the beach all around in akumal or would I have to be somewhere a bit more specific to be decently close to the dive ops?

 

[gearhound]

Check out Underworld Tulum. Very nice accommodations at a very reasonable price. Plus they can take you to all the cenotes. Lanny and Claire always treat us great. And you can borrow a bicycle to ride down to the beach.

 

[Dive Right In Scuba.]

That sounds pretty damn sweet, i am however not interested in making my own food on my vacation haha.
Im also traveling alone so no chilling with the wife haha. I'll check out the accommodations, are there dive ops on the beach all around in akumal or would I have to be somewhere a bit more specific to be decently close to the dive ops?

The nearest dive op that will take you to the cenotes is about 100 feet from the west end of the condos in which I stay.

 

[Pajjpen]

Check out Underworld Tulum. Very nice accommodations at a very reasonable price. Plus they can take you to all the cenotes. Lanny and Claire always treat us great. And you can borrow a bicycle to ride down to the beach.

If I decide to stay in Tulum I'm definitely staying there, looked really sweet.
Are there any nice bars around that area, or perhaps something interesting to do besides diving?

 

[gearhound]

There's not a lot of nightlife in the Tulum area that I'm aware of. We usually just dive and then just go out for dinner afterwards. Underworld Tulum does have a palapa in the pool area that people would gather under at the end of the day and drink beers. There's lots of restaurants in town, but I don't recall going past any bars. For that, I would recommend staying in Playa Del Carmen. Dive through ProtecPlaya and stay at Moms Hotel which is right beside it. You'll be walking distance to the beach, bars and night life. And there are wonderful restaurants very close by. If you stay off the strip and eat where the locals eat, you can get some awesome food for cheap. One of our favourites is El Fagon, which is a block away from Protec. Cheesters is another restaurant close by that you can get mounds of pasta for a low price.
Moms didn't have a web site, but Protec can help make the arrangements. I think they get a cheaper rate, but don't quote me on that. Email Patrick at patrickprotecplaya@gmail.com

 

[Clernix]

If you want to do Cenotes in the Playa area check out Budgie. Dude is amazing. X-English military diver that does cave and cavern. He also has a couple rentals. I just did three days with him in May and I am doing a day or two in Jan. I have pretty much taken advantage of his services since I first met him 5 years ago. Here is a youtube of my last dives with him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji6pqTacgkw I am not the best video man.

If you are looking for laid back all the posters are correct Akumal or Tulum.

Home Page

 

[lamarpaulski]

since you are going to be in Cabo...have you checked out Cabo Pulmo and (as others say) some of the diving in La Paz then go to Tulum or thereabouts.

 

[mmmbelows]

If I decide to stay in Tulum I'm definitely staying there, looked really sweet.
Are there any nice bars around that area, or perhaps something interesting to do besides diving?

Tulum started out as a back packers destination, over about 20 years now it's grown into a eco destination, lots of places you stay are on solar or wind power, limited electrical, very eco oriented, there are of course also more luxurious places there now too but all are very small boutique places (4-15) beds. Tulum is super chill, you have the Tulum ruins right there of course and cenotes very close.

Akumal has grown richer and more exclusive over the last 20 years, it gate controlled little community with a stunning beach and a dive shop on the beach. (akumal's beauty blows Playa away) Awesome beach bar in Akumal -La Beuna Vda.

Some pics La Buena Vida -- https://www.google.com/search?q=aku...NBKkQ_AUIBygC#tbm=isch&q=akumal+la+buena+vida

Akumal bay https://www.google.com/search?q=aku...AUIBygC#tbm=isch&q=akumal+half+moon+bay+beach

Tulum https://www.google.com/search?q=aku...UEKyYKHSLNBKkQ_AUIBygC#tbm=isch&q=tulum+beach

 

[Pajjpen]

Thanks for all the info! Much appreciated!
going to sit down and have a proper look soon.
cheers for now!

---------- Post added December 14th, 2015 at 05:45 AM ----------

since you are going to be in Cabo...have you checked out Cabo Pulmo and (as others say) some of the diving in La Paz then go to Tulum or thereabouts.

What specifially should i check out there? The diving or the place in general? Id Love a little more specific info

 

[lamarpaulski]

Diving in Cabo Pulmo can be great and you are already there so a couple days would be worth it..they encounter tornados of jacks...tons of fish life...for examples..see posts on Scuba Board...area is also a sport fishing mecca...nearby La Paz has close encounters with sea lions and some very diveable wrecks, including a huge ferry that I thought was great. LaPaz itself is worth a couple hours in historic areas.

On the other side...Cozumel is a must-see worth 5-7 days...diving is great there...if you then stay in Tulum there are cenotes and Mayan ruins and ocean diving. I loved Coba ..ruins in the jungle. Chitzen Itza is very doable too.

From Tulum I also thought of going to Belize but didnt have time...you might think of that wirh your lengthy time window..lucky guy - a reasonable bus ride south. Ideas on that are posted on Scubaboard too.