Travel with Kevin and Ruth: Akumal, Mexico

Monday, December 23, 2024

Akumal, Mexico

Ruth found out that there is a Sunday tianguis (traditional market) here in Playa del Carmen. I was skeptical, since it's such a touristy area, but when we arrived I was pleasantly surprised. It was much like the tianguis that we have been to in non touristy areas, and there were very few other gringos.

After doing some wandering around, we found a very busy stall that was selling carnitas. We've learned that when a food place is very busy with locals, it's because the locals know that it's very good!

Lindsey, Cameron, and Sadie with their carnitas.

Carnita meat cooking in the big vat.

They were absolutely delicious. I thought maybe they were the best carnitas I have ever had! The meat was so tender.

We went and did some more wandering around.

As I said, there were very few other gringos. I overheard one family that passed by us, and I understood what the girl said. "Oh look, some gringos" she had said with a surprised voice, referring to us. I said "yes, gringos", and she laughed, a little shocked that I had understood her.

Technically, the word gringo refers specifically to Americans. But because we look like we could be Americans, the locals don't know any different. Sometimes I correct them and say that we are Canadians, but often I don't.

Lindsey and the kids wanted to do a snorkeling tour to see the turtles at Akumal. So she had booked a tour that started at 2:30pm. It was about a forty minute drive, so we decided to head home and relax for an hour before heading down there.

There are some new murals decorating the bridge over the main highway at Akumal.

Akumal is a very touristy beach. And touristy means they try to grab as many pesos out of you as possible. First, they wanted 100 pesos ($7 CAD, $5 USD) for parking. We decided to park across the highway for free and do the ten minute walk instead.

Then we met the tour company that was leading their snorkel with the turtles tour. They said it was fine that Ruth and I could go to the beach with them and wait there. However when we got there, they wanted 140 pesos ($10 CAD, $7 USD) to get to the beach. We know that Mexican beaches are all free and public. However the problem is that sometimes the access to the beach is not free, and that was the case here. However, we also know that there is normally some way to get to the beach for free.

Ruth and I had almost two hours to waste, so we decided to find the free way in. We walked through a gated area where we simply said that we were going for a walk, and the guard let us through. Then we found a park entrance that went through some expensive homes, and we ended up right at the waterfront. There was no beach at this section, just a rocky shoreline.

Ruth on the rocky shoreline.

Expensive homes line this waterfront area.

A blowhole doing its thing.

We came across a series of 8 resort places that were abandoned and in poor condition with graffiti and broken windows. We sat on the front porch of one of them and enjoyed the view for a few minutes.

One of the abandoned properties.

I did some research online, but the best I could find was one site that said these places were destroyed by a hurricane in the 1990's and never repaired. I couldn't find an exact date.

They are all covered in graffiti.

From there, we came around the corner to Akumal Bay.

Pelican sitting on the front of this boat.

And sure enough, we got to the beach for free!

We found a spot in the shade and waited for Lindsey and the kids to finish their tour.

It was about 4pm by the time they were done. They said they enjoyed it. The company was supposed to send photos, but she hasn't received them yet.

More murals on the bridge overpass.

Back at the condo, we had noticed that morning that the pool was almost filled. They had been working on it every day since we got here, but of course we're still frustrated that we didn't have the use of it the whole week. Not sure yet what we're going to do about that, but I do think we're owed some kind of refund.