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The popular beach resort of Akumal is around an hour and a half south of Cancun, located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. It has long been admired by visitors who arrive ready to swim with the populations of turtles that frequent its natural lagoon – in fact, the name Akumal means ‘Place of the Turtles’ in Mayan.
But Akumal is more than just a day-tripper’s paradise, with plenty here to warrant making it your vacation base, including the lovely Yal-Ku lagoon. And with Tulum airport due to open in 2023, Akumal will soon become even easier to visit.
Apart from the top-quality restaurants and bars, another reason to stay in Akumal is the choice of luxury resorts. Selecting your accommodation can be difficult, so here we’ll walk you through 5 of the best resorts in Akumal.
Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya
Opened in 2016, Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya has gone on to become a favorite resort for discerning guests seeking a romantic adults-only escape, with all the facilities you could need or desire. Offering around 400 sumptuously decorated suites, this is a mid-size hotel, but with attention having been paid to design, you’ll feel like you’re in a much smaller, more intimate resort.
Couples will love the hideaway feel, with trails meandering through the beautiful grounds, filled with tropical plants. Secrets ‘Unlimited Luxury’ ethos offers everything you could want while in-resort, including unlimited food and premium drinks and 24-hour room service, as well as quality entertainment day and night. The premium Secrets Spa by Pevonia provides luxury wellness treatments and massages, while the wide variety of restaurants will appeal to gourmet diners.
Check prices at: Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya
Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort
The focus switches from partying to wellness at the Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness Resort. The full program of activities at this oceanfront resort, including meditation, yoga classes, paddle boarding, and more, will appeal to beach lovers and people seeking a low-key but luxurious vacation spot.
Boasting almost a mile of private beach, this is a great location to try snorkeling, maybe catching sight of a famed turtle if you’re lucky. There are four swimming pools spread across the resort, or you can take a dip in your suite’s jacuzzi tub while enjoying the ocean views.
When it comes to dining, Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness Resort offers the usual buffet, but the food is quality turned up to eleven, plus there are Brazilian and Peruvian eateries for something a little different. Inventive cocktails can be enjoyed in the bars, or while sunbathing on the beach – as you like it.
Check prices at: Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness Resort
TRS Yucatan
In the northern section of Akumal, around 30 minutes from Playa del Carmen, is the TRS Yucatan, an adults-only resort perfect for a getaway with friends or for a couples vacation. With its emphasis on creating calmness, this is an inviting and peaceful place where you can let your worries slip away.
The 454 suites are ‘elegant modern’ in style, ranging from the spacious 60 sq mt Junior Suites right up to the huge 125 sq mt Ambassador Suite. All offer a 24-hour butler service, as well as comfortable seating areas, in-room tubs, ocean views, and there are even suites with a private pool and garden.
The food at this resort is spectacular, with 9 a-la-carte restaurants to choose from, including the meat-rich Gaucho Argentinian, the classy Tentazione Italian, and La Boheme French brasserie.
Check prices at: TRS Yucatan
Bahia Principe Luxury Sian Ka’an
The Bahia Principe Luxury Sian Ka’an resort is great for people seeking a jungle adventure or when beachfront accommodation isn’t a must-have. It’s a 420-room adults-only idyll, perfect for golf enthusiasts, as there are 18-hole and 9-hole courses easily accessible at the nearby Riviera Maya Golf Club.
Junior Suites are sleek and sophisticated in design, each offering seating areas and a balcony, and the penthouse has its own large terrace with a hot tub and loungers.
Guests can enjoy the dedicated spa, with a full program of massages, plus more unusual offerings like an agave treatment. There are also workshops to enjoy, such as cookery and mixology, and access to water sports, such as paddle surfing and kayaking.
Guests of the Bahia Principe Luxury Sian Ka’an can enjoy facilities at the other nearby Bahia Principe properties, giving access to the beach as well as additional restaurants.
Check prices at: Bahia Principe Luxury Sian Ka’an
UNICO 20 87 Hotel Riviera Maya
A little further out from Akumal center is the UNICO 20 87 Hotel Riviera Maya – ‘Unico’ means ‘unique’ and this hotel certainly lives up to its name. UNICO aspires to be different, blending permanent features with pop-up attractions and eateries, keeping the whole offering fresh and exciting for guests.
Rooms are natural, with rustic elements making them feel comfortable and in keeping with their surroundings. Standard suites are 624 sq ft, with an airy, spacious, and calming feeling – some offer ocean views, others are swim-up. The premium Estancia suite is almost 1,900 sq ft and has two bedrooms, plus a sizeable terrace with two hydro spa tubs and full-length ocean views.
Rotating local chefs keeps the Mexican restaurant innovative. There’s a fine-dining Mediterranean option, an Asian restaurant, casual beachside dining, plus – in a nod to modern eating styles – plant-based vegan dishes are available in all its restaurants.
Check prices at: UNICO 20 87 Hotel Riviera Maya
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Beverly Corsmeier
Saturday 9th of April 2022
Love your articles. Would love to see something written on resorts that are smoke free or at the very least in designated areas only. Social media always stokes a very nasty argument between non-smokers and smokers so it is hard to get a true answer on the resorts.
The Cancun Sun
Sunday 10th of April 2022
Great tip Beverly and we will include that in an article soon. Stay tuned!