Puerto Aventuras vs Akumal

[rlskill1]

Hey Everyone,

Price being equal, which is the better of the two with regards to diving, snorkeling, and topside touristy activities/shopping? I plan on diving, but my wife wants to spend all her money.

Thanks!

 

[driftwood]

Playa del Carmen is where your wife will be happiest. In the interest of domestic tranquility, drop Akumal. The beachs are world class, the snorkeling is very good and the shopping is extemely limited. Puerto Adventuras is a planned community that has better shopping (it willl take an afternoon) and the ocean diving is better. There are no beaches worth mentioning in PA.

If I had to choose between the two, go with Puerto Adventuras since it is closer to PDC and you will spend much less in cab fare getting there.

 

[TSandM]

Hmmm.

PA has a lot of shops and restaurants in a centralized area that you can walk to from most lodging. I haven't found anything there I couldn't live without, but there is jewelry and clothing that's pretty typical for the area. The food, in the places I have been, is not exciting, but it's also not expensive, and the margaritas are near-lethal.

I have snorkeled in the bay at PA, and although it's very shallow, on a calm day there is a lot of life in the coral heads. The water is very warm.

Akumal is smaller and more strung-out. There is some GOOD food in Akumal, but it would be easy to be in lodging that would require driving to dinner. There are few shops there.

In my opinion, if you want a place where shopping is good, restaurants are interesting, diving is available, and you can walk most places, you should be looking at Tulum.

 

[travelure]

I agree with the posts above. I would pick Playa for an all around better vacation. Puerto is a slice of USA (not that there is anything wrong with that if that is what you are looking for). The dolphin discovery downtown is not my thing, nor are the shops.

As far as Akuhell is concerned...spent a week there one night and would never return. To me it is overrated, over priced, and underwhelming. Had prepaid 3 nights on the net for our room (over priced) and couldn't leave quick enough. Forfeited the prepaid without a blink just to get out.

Playa can give you and your wife all you want from shopping to diving to eating and clubbing. Tulum is great, with a beach to hold up its rep. The town is a short drive from the beach, but it has a different flavour from all the aforementioned. Don't know the dive shops in Playa, but in Tulum I would dive with http://www.mayadiving.com/.

Sam

 

[SolarStorm]

I liked the snorkling better at Akumal, but my wife and daughters much prefer Playa for its other amenities. They will play in the water, and snorkle and one of my daughters started diving. But shopping and clubs are much better for them.

 

[Chocoholic]

I have dove Puerto Aventuras , Akumal and Playa. I liked the dives in all of them, PA had good coral and lots of fish, Akumal lots of turtles with more flat topography, Playa had lots of fish and good topography. Any day diving is a good day for me.
Playa has the shopping, PA has some shopping but it is limited, Akumal has a bit of shopping around the central area. I haven't spent much time in Tulum. The cenotes are close to PA (about 5 mins drive) but not far from any of the places.
We snorkeled Akumal twice and found lots of stuff, rather spread out, but you can go to Yal Ku (very,long walk or short drive in Akumal) and have a wonderful time. We have snorkeled many hours in PA and loved seeing all the stuff right out in front of our condo. I haven't snorkeled Playa.

My choice is Cozumel for the DIVING!!! The shopping in Coz is good too, and the food is excellent if you ask around. The snorkeling on Coz is good too.

 

[keuka4884]

If you want turtles and snorkeling, it's Akumal. If you're looking for coral, reef fish (an occasional turtle) and pelagics, dive Paamul. PA is closest to Paamul but some (but not all) shops in Playa will take you there. Fantasea will go there. It is a long boatride from Playa but worth it in spades. The reefs at Paamul are the richest between Cancun and Tulum. They remind me a lot of San Andres. Current can vary widely. The coral formations and sponges are first rate. No hurricane damage at Paamul. Now I've let the secret out of the bag. We're going back in late Feb. and will spend as much time as the operator will give us at Paamul.

 

[Pez de Diablo]

Puerto Aventuras is only 4 km from Paa Mul and the dive shops in Puerto dive there all the time, it's no secret.

I love diving the Paa Mul wall (the wall is from 80' - 130') and using nitrox to max bottom time at depth, a real fun dive. Another dive is just south of Paa Mul, Ruins North. Both Aquanauts and Dive Aventuras dive these spots.

To answer the op question, I would stick to Puerto Aventuras over Akumal, just a little more going on in PA.

Dennis