Posts Tagged ‘Akumal’

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Touring the Mayan Ruins of the Riviera Maya

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

A trip to Akumal and the Riviera Maya region of Mexico would not be complete without a visit to one of the numerous Mayan ruins in the area. This area is steeped in the history of this ancient civilization that still influences the art, cuisine and culture of the region today. Akumal and its surroundings were important trade routes for the Mayans and archaeologists are continuing to uncover many ruins of this once mighty civilization.

One of the most popular ruins to visit not only near Akumal but in all of Mexico is Tulum. There are also the Coba and Xel-Ha which are all conveniently located not far from Akumal and other areas in the Riviera Maya region. They are accessible by car or if you prefer, you can arrange to take a tour bus.

One of the biggest secrets to really enjoying the Mayan ruins in Tulum is to get there early in the day. The ruins open at 8:00 a.m., long before the sweltering heat of the midday sun. Most of the tour buses don’t arrive that early, so if you want to spend some quiet time taking in the site, you can rent a car and get there early in the morning. The tranquility coupled with the milder temperature will help you really enjoy the beauty and wonder of these ancient ruins.

Arriving early means you can explore a little bit on your own before taking a guided tour. The beauty of the ruins of Tulum are that they are situated on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean, and you can take the steps down to a pristine private beach and enjoy some serene time before you take a more formal tour and learn about the ancient civilization that once thrived in this region. To really enjoy having some private time, get there early and get to the ticket counter as soon as possible so you can really enjoy the cliffs and beaches amidst the ruins.

Tour buses arrive at 9 a.m. and if you prefer that route, you can take a guided tour of the ruins. Each of the ruins are marked with plaques in several languages so you can take a self guided tour, or hire a tour guide to get some real insight to the Mayan culture and the history behind these majestic ruins. Tour guides are available just outside the ruins and most of them are multilingual so you can find one that speaks your language and can give you a full tour of the ruins and answer any questions you may have. You can also tour the ruins on your own. The ruins at Tulum has a bookstore where you can purchase a book about the ruins and guide yourself through the ruins. Either way, a tour of the Mayan ruins of this region is a must-see on any itinerary.

Rent our house on the beach in Akumal and explore the Mayan culture.

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Learn More about Akumal, Mexico

Monday, October 6th, 2008

The more you know about Akumal, Mexico, the more exciting it will be to take your vacation to the paradise land. Therefore, the months or weeks leading up to your trip should be spent doing research so that you can learn more about Akumal.

To learn more about Akumal, Mexico, you can easily turn the Internet. The Internet is a wealth of information, providing historical and accurate information as well as tips and reviews from other travelers who have taken a trip to the area. Both types of information can provide all you need to learn about many parts of your vacation, including the best places to eat, stay, shop, and explore. Travelers will tell you what they enjoyed and what to watch out for, while the other sites will tell you all about the areas that you plan to visit.

In addition to these types of information, you can also learn more through Akumal hotel, resort, and tourism websites. Each hotel will provide you with pictures of their accommodations, a list of local attractions and activities, and typically, a brief history of the area. They may also provide information about items that they provide, which will not only help you learn more about Akumal, but also help you plan your daily activities while on vacation.

Although their objective is to pull you into the area, the information that they provide about their hotel and the area needs to be accurate or they will begin to lose business. Therefore, you can typically trust the information from a website, including the information that they provide about local attractions and the history of the area.

Another way that you can learn more about Akumal is through a travel agent. It is the job of a travel agent to know a wealth of information about their top destinations or at least be able to provide that information to customers. Even if you do not plan to book your trip through a travel agent, you can still find a lot of information through them.

A trip to Akumal, Mexico can be a learning and bonding experience for the whole family. Discover the history and culture of the land. Learn about the sea and what activities you can enjoy in the water. Plan your days based on the information that interests you most. The more you learn about Akumal, the more fascinating it will be once you finally arrive.

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Akumal Dream Vacation

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Travel to Akumal, Mexico for Turtle Beach

Saturday, September 6th, 2008

When you travel to Akumal, you will quickly discover that it is well-known for being “The Place of the Turtle in Maya,” a recognition that it receives because of the Centro Ecologico Akumal (CEA) that is located in the Akumal area. The Centro Ecologico Akumal is an environmental conservation organization that focuses on the study and protection of the sea turtles, as well as the rest of Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.

Also known as La Playa Tortogua, the turtle beach area runs along with the Akumal Bay, Half Moon Bay, and Jade Beach as well and is known for the different turtles that come ashore to nest and eat along the bay. Typically, turtle season runs from April to November, which is when the Marine Time sea turtles nest. Turtle “walk and talk” tours are available during these months to allow eco-tourists and all guests can have a part in managing the beaches to allow each nesting mother to find a place for her to leave her eggs in a hole that has been dug once she comes ashore.

At any one time, there can be hundreds of nests and thousands of hatchlings. This includes both Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta Caretta) and Green Turtles (Chelonia Mydas), which are two of the eight existing species of sea turtles species that are protected by law because of the threat of extinction. By tagging the females, they can help them determine the level of success for hatchlings and the abundance, behavior, and distribution of the hatchings that travel along Akumal’s Turtle Beach.

Throughout the nesting season, the turtle staff at the Centro Ecologico Akumal and any volunteer search for female turtles that may be nesting, existing turtle nests, and recent eggs that may have hatch into hatchlings. In addition, they have begun to monitor juvenile turtles every couple of months, which includes capturing the turtles through snorkeling and marking, measuring, and weighing the turtles. They also take sample of blood to monitor any sicknesses that may occur and to conduct genetic sampling and testing.

The Turtle Talks and Walks allows guests to travel Akumal along the famed Turtle Beach in groups of 10 people each night during the week. Donations are requested, though the money goes directly to the Turtle Protection Program. Beginning at 9 p.m., volunteers will be taught exactly what to look for, find out valuable information about sea turtles, and how to further offer protection to the turtles.

Rent our house on the beach in Akumal and visit the Centro Ecologico Akumal.

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Travel, Safety and Health Tips for Akumal Mexico Tourists

Wednesday, January 16th, 2008

Akumal is a safe place to travel and is not known for crime like some other larger resort areas. It is always a good idea to be smart about your cash and valuables when traveling anywhere, and Akumal is no exception. Violent crimes like muggings are virtually non-existent in Akumal, but theft is a possibility like any tourist area. If you rent a car, don’t leave valuables inside the car and make good use of the safes that hotels provide. Wearing a money belt is also another good tip to make sure your money stays with you and you can avoid being pick pocketed.

One health tip that is a must not just for Akumal, but for all of Mexico is not to drink the tap water. This sounds like a cliché, but it is one that is true. Drink only bottled water or purified water and even use that to make your morning cup of coffee. It is okay to take showers or wash dishes with the water, but to avoid any illness, do not ingest the tap water. Hotels and other accommodations usually offer plenty of bottled or filtered water to their guests.

Another important travel tip especially for Akumal is to bring a small flashlight with you, especially if you do not plan to rent a car. While everything is within 15 minutes walking distance, at night you will most likely be walking along unlit roads. There are no streetlights along these roads, so it’s important to have this flashlight handy so you can see where you are going and motorists can see you traversing along the road. Some of these roads, especially the North Akumal road, need paving and can be rough walking at night. You need the flashlight to make sure you don’t trip over anything or fall into a pothole. Put a flashlight at the top of your things to pack list, especially if you do not plan to rent a car.

In terms of renting a car, you can decide to rent a car and there are plenty of rentals in town, or you can take advantage of the many taxis or collectivos available. Collectivos are white vans and are less costly than taxis or car rentals. They can be hailed from the street and are often available to take you to popular tourist destinations. For only $2, you can take a collectivo from Playa de Carmen to Tulum. This is definitely a bargain for the traveler on a budget who doesn’t mind sharing a ride with others. If you are going to rent a car, especially during high season, it is best to make your arrangements in advance as availability can be limited when there are a lot of tourists in town.

If you follow these tips, pack a lot of sunscreen, and travel smart and safe, you can enjoy your trip to Akumal and not have any unfortunate incidents or illnesses.

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