Akumal Travel Tips

Traveling to a foreign country can be an easy adjustment if you know what to expect.  There are just a few things you should know for your Akumal travel, so we have put together some Akumal travel tips to make your vacation as wonderful as possible. More great travel tips can be found at Silver Saddle Ranch Travel.

Tips for Traveling in Akumal.

Driving to Akumal and Driving in Akumal
The Mexican government doesn’t make it very easy to drive your car from the U.S. across the border.  Between permits, hefty deposits, and strict rules for alien cars once inside Mexico, you run a risk of losing your car – permanently – for any little slip-up, intentional or not.  And I mean permanently.  If your car is seized once across the border, they don’t give it back.
We recommend renting a car.

That said, we also recommend exercising extreme caution while driving in the Yucatan.  The roads in some places will be potholed, and other drivers should be watched out for, they are known for driving very fast and recklessly.  And there are speed bumps (locally know as topes) everywhere, even on the main roads.
Gas stations are few and far between once you get out of Cancun, so be very aware of your gas gauge.  Also, filling stations do not usually take credit cards, so you must have enough Mexican currency to pay.  If the station takes USD, it will be a terrible exchange rate, so exchange your money beforehand.  Also worth noting, the gas stations can be a hotbed of scams, keep an eye on everything that is happening.  From not resetting the meter on the gas pump to faking an automotive malfunction that they will “fix” for a fee to incorrect change being handed back, unfortunately it is very common for tourists to fall victim at gas stations in the Yucatan.  It doesn’t have to happen to you, just be strong and question anything that seems odd. And, always check reviews of a resort before booking.

A Day Trip to Tulum
During your stay in Akumal, take a day to drive a little further south to visit Tulum, an ancient Mayan port, now a popular tourist destination.  Filled with magical temples and ruins from the ancient civilization, Tulum is not to be missed.

Health and Safety
Bottled water is a necessity, as the tap water in Akumal is questionable.  Once there, you can purchase an antibacterial wash for your fruits and vegetables, which you should ALWAYS cook thoroughly before eating.  Otherwise, remember your sunscreen and you should leave Akumal in as good of health as when you came!

Banking in Akumal
One currency exchange, one ATM, different locations.

What to Wear
The attire in Akumal is casual, but it is also nice to dress up a little for dinner if you are going to a nice restaurant.  Women may want to pack a dress (other than a sundress) and men should throw a pair of long pants in the suitcase amongst the shorts.  Keeping in mind that this is a family destination as well as showing respect to the locals, please keep the beachwear at the beach.

Medical Facilities
There are doctors and pharmacies in Akumal.  The nearest hospital is in Playa del Carmen about 20 miles away.

Money
USD is accepted in some places in Akumal, but as a rule of thumb exchange your money in an exchange house.  You will get a significantly better exchange rate that way.  There is no need to spend extra if you don’t have to.

Pets
Dreeaming of bringing Fido to Mexico? Probably not a good idea. From the hassle of flying and quarantine, to the potenial for weird diseases or peteft, Fido will be much happier staying home. If you do travel with Fido we suggest investing in an adjustable dog stair to help him navigate new couches and hotel beds.

Tax
Departure tax is $38, but is usually wrapped up in the price of your plane ticket.  If not, it can only be paid in cash.  Tax on food and merchandise is usually (occasionally not) included in the price, so you will not see tax added.

Telephones
Calls from Mexico to the US are not cheap, even “toll-free” numbers carry a charge.  You can purchase a phone card (needed to make calls from a pay phone) once you get there, and most of the hotels will have telephones in the room.

Tipping
Tip as you would in the U.S.  Fifteen to twenty percent depending on the quality of service. Note: always check the bill to see if a tip was automatically included.

 

Beaches