Akumal’s New Attractions Beyond Turtle Swimming

Tulum, Quintana Roo — With the arrival of September, the traditional sighting and swimming with sea turtles in Akumal Bay has entered a pause, as established by the environmental management plan applied by federal authorities. Far from seeing this as an obstacle, local tourism workers have chosen to diversify their activity offerings to continue attracting visitors and keep the local economy moving.

Braulio Jiménez, a tour guide with many years of experience in the area, explained that this destination has equally attractive alternatives for visitors. “Besides swimming with turtles, we have sport fishing, snorkeling in the Yalkú and Media Luna lagoons, visits to cenotes, kayak rides, beach walks, and cultural tours,” he detailed.

For his part, Manuel Jiménez, another local business owner, pointed out that their strategic location between Tulum and Playa del Carmen is advantageous. He recalled that every year, during the months of February and September, tours with sea turtles are suspended as part of the environmental measures dictated by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp) and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat).

Furthermore, he indicated that every Monday an ecological rest day is maintained to respect the ecosystem's carrying capacity. “The 32 cooperatives that operate here are coordinated with the Port Captaincy, Semarnat, and Conanp to comply with these provisions. We understand it, because it is for the good of the marine flora and fauna,” explained Jiménez.

The interviewee acknowledged that during the summer vacation season, business was good and expectations were met, so the current challenge is to maintain that flow of visitors through safe, sustainable, and environmentally respectful activities. “Akumal still has a lot to offer, even without the turtles. It's a matter of adapting and taking care of what we have,” he concluded.