Akumal planning for a group of newbies

[on99]

Hi everyone, I’m new to this forum, gonna visit the Akumal in august, pls kindly give ur comments on my initial planning:

a group of 4, i'm the only one hv diver license, here is my schedule:
1st day/ shore snorkeling out front the hotel (any 3star hotel/resort recommend?)

2nd day/ boat trip for snorkeling off shore (any snorkeling site n operator recommend?)
3rd day/ discovery dive (any dive shop recommend?)
4th day/ Tulum n Coba day tour (rent a car or join day tour?)

5th day/ down town Cancun visit for half a day (any must see attractions?)


any suggestion is welcome n grateful

 

[mikeycanuk]

It's been a few years but the Akumal Beach resort is a Mecca for a lot of people on locogrino.com. I would book it through them too.

Right out in front of the ABR is/was(showing a lot of abuse in 08) an amazing reef. Then the left for a few mins is guaranteed turtle sightings.

DO NOT use Akumal Dive resort!! They managed to lose our 10 year old within 2 minutes on our very first dive of the OPW.


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[on99]

thx for ur advice n sorry abt wht u hv experienced.

 

[lamarpaulski]

Regarding the Tulum/Coba trip..I would rent a car and at least snorkel a cenote or two...maybe en rt back from Tulum ?? I snorkeled Gran Cenote and Dos Ojos and liked them both and they made a nice cool break. I did not find the drive to Tulum to be challenging and have found some (most ?) tours waste so much of your time picking other people up and stopping at kick-back (as in money) shops and restaurants to almost waste the day. You can hire a guide at Tulum by yourself. Better to be on your own agenda...its not hard to get there or find imo...Buy/bring a cheap cooler with plenty of cold bottled water as August was very hot and humid when i went there ...the cenotes are refreshingly brisk !

 

[TSandM]

We sent some newly certified students to dive with Dive with Natalie and Ivan, on the recommendations of a friend who lives and teaches down there. They were extremely happy with their trip, and have used the same operator on subsequent visits.

Akumal itself doesn't have much in the way of resorts. If you are looking for something fancy and all-inclusive, you will need to look in a more general area. The Akumal Beach resort is pleasant but very basic.

 

[driftwood]

For my vacation time and money, I would vote for a day trip over renting a car. We have used both Yucatreks and Tours and Excursions Riviera Maya | Alltournative Tours Riviera Maya Well worth the added expense over renting a car.

While I will not dive with the Akumal Dive Shop again, they do have a morning snorkel tour that is very good.

Be aware that eating out is in Akumal very expensive . We stop in Playa to do our grocery shopping.

August is the sea turtle hatching season. Contact Centro Ecológico Akumal | Ecology Center CEA | Quintana Roo | Mexico I think they still do evening "turtle walks" looking for nests that are hatching. Very cool!

Edit: One additional thought, watch the costs for a transfer from CUN to Akumal. You really don't want to plan on catching a cab at the airport.

 

[on99]

Regarding the Tulum/Coba trip..I would rent a car and at least snorkel a cenote or two...maybe en rt back from Tulum ?? I snorkeled Gran Cenote and Dos Ojos and liked them both and they made a nice cool break. I did not find the drive to Tulum to be challenging and have found some (most ?) tours waste so much of your time picking other people up and stopping at kick-back (as in money) shops and restaurants to almost waste the day. You can hire a guide at Tulum by yourself. Better to be on your own agenda...its not hard to get there or find imo...Buy/bring a cheap cooler with plenty of cold bottled water as August was very hot and humid when i went there ...the cenotes are refreshingly brisk !

we gonna rent a car for the Tulum/Coba trip, since we'll do snorkeling on the first 2 days, shld we rent a car on 3rd day at PDC? or go get it right after we get off the plane at cancun airport? i still hv no idea where to stay in, relaxing Akumal or everything right there PDC.

---------- Post added July 1st, 2014 at 09:46 AM ----------

We sent some newly certified students to dive with Dive with Natalie and Ivan, on the recommendations of a friend who lives and teaches down there. They were extremely happy with their trip, and have used the same operator on subsequent visits.
Akumal itself doesn't have much in the way of resorts. If you are looking for something fancy and all-inclusive, you will need to look in a more general area. The Akumal Beach resort is pleasant but very basic.

thx for ur comment TSandM, shld i switch my stay to PDC then? we dont need fancy, but sounds like Akumal is too basic.

---------- Post added July 1st, 2014 at 09:54 AM ----------

For my vacation time and money, I would vote for a day trip over renting a car. We have used both Yucatreks and Tours and Excursions Riviera Maya | Alltournative Tours Riviera Maya Well worth the added expense over renting a car.

While I will not dive with the Akumal Dive Shop again, they do have a morning snorkel tour that is very good.

Be aware that eating out is in Akumal very expensive . We stop in Playa to do our grocery shopping.

August is the sea turtle hatching season. Contact Centro Ecológico Akumal | Ecology Center CEA | Quintana Roo | Mexico I think they still do evening "turtle walks" looking for nests that are hatching. Very cool!

Edit: One additional thought, watch the costs for a transfer from CUN to Akumal. You really don't want to plan on catching a cab at the airport.

the evening "turtle walks" shld be a fascinating event, thx so much driftwood!
i'm thinking to switch my stay to PDC, n rent a car from CUN airport instead of getting chop by the local cab.

 

[driftwood]

Best way to get to PDC/Coz from CUN is the ADO bus. Leaves from the terminal and drops you in PDC on 5th very close to the ferry dock going to Cozumel. Nice modern bus' that leaves every 45 minutes or so. To avoid all the timeshare sharks and transfer companies at the airport, all you have to say is "ADO".

If my wife chooses, we stay in Akumal because of the near perfect beaches. If I get to choose, we stay in PDC. Better nightlife and restaurants. Needless to say, we stay in Akumal most of the time.

If you haven't driven in Mexico before, I would catch a cab and have the driver bring you up to speed on the local rules of the road.

 

[rongoodman]

thx for ur comment TSandM, shld i switch my stay to PDC then? we dont need fancy, but sounds like Akumal is too basic.

You might want to look into Puertos Aventuras. It's just up the road, and there's quite a bit to choose from there in terms of hotels, condos, dive shops, etc.

 

[on99]

Best way to get to PDC/Coz from CUN is the ADO bus. Leaves from the terminal and drops you in PDC on 5th very close to the ferry dock going to Cozumel. Nice modern bus' that leaves every 45 minutes or so. To avoid all the timeshare sharks and transfer companies at the airport, all you have to say is "ADO".
If my wife chooses, we stay in Akumal because of the near perfect beaches. If I get to choose, we stay in PDC. Better nightlife and restaurants. Needless to say, we stay in Akumal most of the time.
If you haven't driven in Mexico before, I would catch a cab and have the driver bring you up to speed on the local rules of the road.

thx for the ADO bus info, i'm still think whether to stay at Akumal or PDC.

---------- Post added July 2nd, 2014 at 08:48 AM ----------

You might want to look into Puertos Aventuras. It's just up the road, and there's quite a bit to choose from there in terms of hotels, condos, dive shops, etc.

thx for ur suggestion rongoodman~