Akumal, Mexico
Tourism

... More >

and by European standards one of the best developed, places for bathing on the east coast of the Yucatán peninsula.

History

Akumal, originally a small Maya settlement (the name being Maya for turtle) only really became known about 25 years ago when CEDAM, a marine archaeology research and conservation organisation commenced activities there, later making the bay its headquarters. Since then, in the course of its many expeditions, CEDAM has uncovered several Mayan sites both above and below water and has raised a number of old Spanish wrecks. In conjunction with the U.S. National Geographic Society and the Instituto Nacional de Arqueología e Historia (INAH), CEDAM has also carried out exploratory dives in the Sacred Cenote at Chichén Itzá.

Activities

Akumal provides plenty of opportunity for watersports, fishing and excursions. Not far off the beach it is possible to look down through the clear, relatively shallow water and spot wreckage (cannon, anchors, chests, etc.) some of which dates from the 16th and 17th C. The little museum housing finds brought up from the seabed has now been moved to Xel-há.