Swim with Turtles

 

Snorkeling at Akumal is one of the highlights to visiting the area.  It is a very popular location to see and swim with sea turtles in the wild.  To locate this area, walk south along the beach and watch where the sea turns from turquoise to a dark blue.  There will also be markers for the area you are permitted to swim.  The water is darker in this area because the sea bottom is covered with sea grass that the turtles love to feed on.

There is now an access fee to get onto the beach.  You are also lead to believe by local vendors that you have to rent their equipment to snorkel and you cannot use your own.  This is not true.  It is just a ploy for them to make money off the tourist.

Do not swim too close to the turtles, observe from a good distance.  However, the turtles are curious and not shy and often swim toward you or near-by.