By Carlos G. de Velasco

Akumal, meaning “land of turtles” in Mayan language. Is another pearl, within the powerful Mayan Riviera, where large resorts and bountiful nature get combined.

Akumal could be similar to the paradisiacal locations complex that the Mexican Caribbean has, but reveals to be the same, this pearl hasn’t been polish trough large resorts developments , mostly it has been based in it’s very natural, way of been.

In Akumal the tourist accommodation hasn’t been permitted or given, whit large hotel chains, it’s rather a collection of small buildings and houses, which work as hotel-apartments.

The bay, which includes the tourist resort of Akumal, it is not very extensive, but present to the senses – an unforgettable experience - the shock you once you feel the ocean. It allows to watch, smell, hear and taste the atmosphere.

This bay that I’m talking about, is not the classic beach, although it has its share of “powder” look sand, the sea area, the one that becomes different been so a giant reef, with a stunning underwater beauty.

Being there, requires to have a viewfinder and snorkel, because if you go without this basic artifacts for diving, you could miss a great part of the fun, witch by the way, you don’t have to pay anything to dive, as in most of the complex whit the same characteristics in de Mayan Riviera .

Whit a few strokes can see under water, fishes, stunning coral formations and whit little luck lobsters and turtles.

But Akumal is not just its bay; also represent the tranquility that had not been eaten by the material progress, whit a personality of its own, where large part of its permanent residents and visitors are Americans, who have chosen this redoubt, to live and relax, to stay away from modern speed.

Akumal was “discovered”, in modern times by Don Pablo Bush (1905 - 1998), that even when his last name sounds foreign, he was a Mexican in love whit professional diving that in the 70´s, founded this area whit the specific objective to attend the lovers of this sport that challenged the deep sea, and the town continues doing so.

Even at dawn of the Mexican Caribbean development, in that time the current President Luis Echeverría was invited by Pablo Bush to Akumal, to encourage him, that this land could be the spearhead of that development, which finally landed in Can Cun.

Akumal has a strategic position at the Mayan Riviera, its near to the relative new poles, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, it is also near to some other main attractions , like Xel Ha, Coba or the ecological reserve of Sian Ka`an in Punta Allen.

Given the tranquility and natural beauty of the place, Akumal today has a challenge, how can these concepts be balance, the actual profile of to reason tourism claims major recreation options.

Some would sustain to keep the place as it is, based on a profile of tourists looking that wants that characteristics ,but to expand the flow of visitors, who ultimately are the ones that generate the economic movement of the region, from a very personal point of view, Akumal requires to expand and improve its options and infrastructure for tourist.

Today, you can find streets in a poor state, the nightlife; except for a couple of good restaurants is almost none, the green area dedicated to Don Pablo Bush (founder of the village), is almost neglected, small monopolies like the only grocery store where everything sells In higher prices, does not helps the area.

I insist that Akumal has a very special "glamour", propitious for philosophy and romanticism to bloom. But this place can’t live in the past, today the visitor require a bigger range of options, which should be provide within reasonable economic parameters.

In Akumal some ambitious projects are cooking, such as declaring a new ecological reserve, complemented whit an investigation center of natural areas and a real estate development, maybe that will give an spin to the place, conserving its identity, but whit the dynamic that the Mayan Riviera has, Akumal, must be aware to don’t stay behind.

As a final comment if you enjoy gourmet Mexican food with a delicious meal or dinner, accompanied by the effects of Caribbean nights, where the moon, the ocean and the beach, the sound of the palm trees, waves and wind combines, I recommend, “La Lunita” (The little moon), a restaurant located in the suites of “Hacienda la Tortuga”, you sure can fall in love again whit life and everything it entails.