When you choose Akumal Dive Center for diving, snorkeling or scuba certification, you will find easy access to the best tourist attractions in the Mayan Riviera. Many people love diving in Cozumel and we can arrange your tour to these beautiful reefs, but staying in Cozumel doesn’t offer the same access to all that the Mayan Riviera offers for tourists. In Akumal, you can start your day with an early dive in our beautiful reef and take your family to one of the many Mayan ruins in the afternoon.
Tulum Ruins
What makes the Tulum Ruins so spectacular is that they are right on the Caribbean, overlooking the sea and only a 20 minute drive from Akumal. Tulum was a seaport for the early Mayan world and traded in jade and turquoise. After entering the ruins through one of five doorways in the wall, visitors are greeted by a field of gently-rolling hills. Black and grey stone outcroppings, which were once buildings, dot the sun-baked landscape. The ruins are the only ones located on the coast and are surrounded by a beautiful 784 meter wall.
Ek’ Balam Ruins
Ek’ Balam is located in Temozón, Yucatán, Mexico and approximately an hour and a half drive from Akumal. It lies in the Northern Maya lowlands, 25 kilometres north of Valladolid and 56 kilometres northeast of Chichen Itza. From the Preclassic until the Postclassic period, it was the seat of a Mayan kingdom. Visitors can stop in Vallodolid for shopping or lunch on the way to Ek’ Balam. These are one of the ruins that are off the beaten path of most tourism routes and have stone structures that you can still climb.
Coba Ruins
Coba means ‘water stirred by the winds’ and is located between 2 lagoons. These ruins are only about a 45 minute drive from Akumal and the road leading to them offers many cenotes for snorkeling. The walkways are shaded and are true a sac-be or ancient Mayan road.The three main areas to visit in the Coba Ruins are the main pyramid or Nohoch Mul structures, Conjunto Pinturas or spiritual area, and Macanxoc structures (close to the lagoon that bears the same name. There are many restaurants near the ruins where visitors can enjoy a traditional lunch in the Yucatan style.
Cenotes
When the weather isn’t the best for ocean diving, staying in Akumal allows you to dive in one of our many cenotes or underground cave structures. There is no special certification needed for diving in a Cenote because you are never more than 500 feet from an opening and the entire route is lined with ropes. Our dive instructors will provide flashlights and tanks and lead you through the cenote, where you will observe stalactite formations. Swimming through these channels, you will see openings filled with light and beautiful trees. This is truly something all divers to the Mayan Riviera shouldn’t miss. Many cenotes are open for snorkeling and swimming.
We would love to help you discover the many wonders of the Mayan Riviera and can help arrange tours when you are not diving. We offer dive certification for all levels and dives at 9am, 11am and 2:30pm. Contact us today to arrange your diving and while you are here, we can guide you to the best that this area offers divers and their families.