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4- and 5-star hotels in Akumal
A shortlist of the 5-star and 4-star hotels in Akumal, from large all-inclusive resorts with pools and beaches to smaller villa-style stays. It is for travellers deciding where to base themselves on this stretch of the Riviera Maya.
Staying in Akumal
Akumal is a Riviera Maya coastal village known above all for its bay, where green turtles graze the seagrass year-round. Snorkelling with them is regulated: a certified guide, a compulsory life vest, limited numbers, no sunscreen and no touching or chasing, with a protected-area fee on top of the tour. Going before nine means calmer water and shorter queues.
The hotels here line the Cancun–Chetumal corridor around Akumal and Kantenah, several set back in their own grounds with beaches, pools and gardens. Couples are well served by the adults-only options, Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya, Unico Hotel Riviera Maya and El Dorado Seaside Palms; families have the Grand Palladium trio and Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya, plus villa-style stays such as Las Villas Akumal and Aquatech Villas DeRosa with family rooms and kitchen facilities. The large all-inclusives suit a short break where everything is on hand; the smaller properties suit longer, quieter stays.
The shortlist
Ranked by hotel class, then guest rating and number of reviews.
Grand Palladium Colonial Resort & Spa All Inclusive
Carretera Chetumal Puerto Juarez, Akumal
Best for: Business trips
- Bar/Snack/Café
- Beach nearby
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereA 5-star all-inclusive in Akumal with a long list of on-site activities, from archery and aerobics to diving and canoeing, plus a chapel and beauty salon. The 24-hour front desk and several bars and buffet dining make days easy to plan, and the beach is nearby. It suits families and groups who want a large resort where something is always on offer, and couples happy to dip into a busy programme.
See Grand Palladium Colonial Resort & Spa All InclusiveBahía Príncipe Explore Tulum
Crta Chetumal Benito Juarez Km 250 Local B Traslados, Akumal
Best for: Breakfast · Business trips
- Breakfast in room
- Bar/Snack/Café
- Beach nearby
Why stay hereThis 5-star all-inclusive along the Chetumal-Benito Juárez highway combines a casino and chapel with aerobics, badminton and canoeing, so the day can be as active or as slow as you like. A beauty salon, buffet and 24-hour front desk round out the stay, and the beach is nearby. Babysitting and cots are available, which makes it a practical pick for families, while the casino and bars give adults their own evening.
See Bahía Príncipe Explore TulumGrand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa All Inclusive
Carretera Chetumal, Akumal
Best for: Business trips
- Bar/Snack/Café
- Beach nearby
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereGuests at this 5-star all-inclusive get archery, aerobics and diving among the activities, with entertainment activities laid on and express check-in to start the stay quickly. A beauty salon, buffet and 24-hour front desk are on hand, and the beach is nearby. The mix of organised entertainment and sports suits families and active couples who prefer a resort with a full daily programme over a quiet retreat.
See Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa All InclusiveSecrets Akumal Riviera Maya Adults Only
Carretera Federal 307 Chetumal Puerto Juárez Km 254 600, Akumal
Best for: Breakfast · Business trips
- Breakfast
- Bar/Snack/Café
- Beach nearby
Why stay hereAn adults-only 5-star all-inclusive on the Chetumal-Puerto Juárez highway, offering aerobics, archery, canoeing and bike rental, with breakfast served in the room as an option. A beauty salon, bars and 24-hour front desk keep the day running smoothly, and the beach is nearby. Couples wanting a child-free base with plenty of activities and a choice of places to eat and drink will find it fits.
See Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya Adults OnlyGrand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa All Inclusive
Zona Costera K256, Akumal
Best for: Business trips
- Bar/Lounge
- Beach nearby
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereSet on the coast at Akumal, this 5-star all-inclusive pairs archery, aerobics and canoeing with bike rental for exploring, and a chapel and beauty salon on site. A buffet, bars and 24-hour front desk cover the practical side, and the beach is nearby. Cots are available, so it works for families as well as couples who want a large resort with sports and entertainment built into the day.
See Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa All InclusiveUnico Hotel Riviera Maya Adults Only
Manzana 22 Carretera Chetumal Pto Juarez Km 260 Kantenah, Akumal
Best for: Drivers · Breakfast
- Free car parking
- Breakfast
- Bar/Snack/Café
Why stay hereAdults-only and 5-star, this resort near Kantenah offers a fitness centre, entertainment activities, fishing and bike rental, with breakfast in the room available. Free wifi and free car parking are included, and the beach is nearby. It suits couples who want a calm, contemporary base with a garden and pool time balanced against organised activities and easy dining.
See Unico Hotel Riviera Maya Adults OnlyAkumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort All Inclusive
Km 104 Carr. Cancun Chetumal, Akumal
Best for: Drivers · Pool and spa
- Kids pool
- Free car parking
- Breakfast
Why stay hereA 4-star all-inclusive right by the beach, with a private beach, outdoor pool and kids pool, plus a playground and babysitting service. Diving, fishing and a jacuzzi add variety, and free wifi and free car parking are provided. Families with children are the obvious fit, though couples who want pool and sea days with diving on the doorstep will also settle in well.
See Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort All InclusiveAquatech Villas DeRosa Resort
Lot 36 & 37 Aventuras Akumal
Best for: Families · Drivers
- Free car parking
- Breakfast in room
- Bar/Snack/Café
Why stay hereThese 4-star villas in Aventuras Akumal are set up for independent stays, with apartments, family rooms and kitchens among the facilities, alongside diving and fishing. Free wifi and free car parking make arrivals simple, and the beach is nearby. It suits families and longer-stay guests who want apartment space, and divers drawn by the offshore reef will appreciate the on-site diving arrangements.
See Aquatech Villas DeRosa ResortLas Villas Akumal
Carretera Cancun Tulum Km 104, Akumal
Best for: Families · Drivers
- Outdoor pool
- Free car parking
- Family rooms
Why stay hereA 4-star option on the Cancún-Tulum highway with an outdoor pool, garden and family rooms, plus kitchen and kitchenette facilities for guests who prefer to self-cater. Massage, free wifi and free car parking are available, and the beach is nearby. Families and slower travellers who want apartment-style space and a quiet garden setting are the natural audience here.
See Las Villas AkumalEl Dorado Seaside Palms All & More Inclusive Adults Only All inclusive
Km 95 Carretera Cancun Tulum Kantenah, Akumal
Best for: Pool and spa · Breakfast
- Outdoor pool
- Breakfast in room
- Bar/Snack/Café
Why stay hereAn adults-only 4-star all-inclusive at Kantenah with a fitness centre, outdoor pool, pool bar and entertainment activities, plus breakfast in the room. Free wifi and a garden add to the daily routine, and the beach is nearby. Couples looking for a child-free resort with organised fun, a pool bar and fitness facilities will find this a straightforward match.
See El Dorado Seaside Palms All & More Inclusive Adults Only All inclusive
The shortlist side by side
| Hotel | Class | Parking | Breakfast | Pool or spa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Palladium Colonial Resort & Spa All Inclusive | ★★★★★ | – | – | – |
| Bahía Príncipe Explore Tulum | ★★★★★ | – | Yes | – |
| Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa All Inclusive | ★★★★★ | – | – | – |
| Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya Adults Only | ★★★★★ | – | Yes | – |
| Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa All Inclusive | ★★★★★ | – | – | – |
| Unico Hotel Riviera Maya Adults Only | ★★★★★ | Yes | Yes | – |
| Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort All Inclusive | ★★★★ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Aquatech Villas DeRosa Resort | ★★★★ | Yes | Yes | – |
| Las Villas Akumal | ★★★★ | Yes | – | Yes |
| El Dorado Seaside Palms All & More Inclusive Adults Only All inclusive | ★★★★ | – | Yes | Yes |
From each hotel's own listing on this site; a dash means it is not listed.
How to choose
For families
The Grand Palladium Colonial and Grand Palladium Kantenah are 5-star resorts with pools and entertainment activities; Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya adds a kids pool, playground and babysitting service. Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort has a private beach and kids pool. Aquatech Villas DeRosa and Las Villas Akumal offer family rooms and kitchen or kitchenette facilities.
Grand Palladium Colonial Resort & Spa All Inclusive · Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa All Inclusive · Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa All Inclusive · Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort All Inclusive · Aquatech Villas DeRosa Resort · Las Villas Akumal
For all-inclusive stays
If you want meals, bars and activities in one place, these resorts carry buffets, restaurant bars, business centres and beach access, with aerobics, archery, canoeing and diving among the activities listed. Bahía Príncipe Explore Tulum and Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya also list casinos and chapels.
Grand Palladium Colonial Resort & Spa All Inclusive · Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa All Inclusive · Bahía Príncipe Explore Tulum · Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa All Inclusive · Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort All Inclusive
Plan your stay
When to go
Green turtles graze the seagrass in Akumal bay year-round, so no season is a bad one for seeing them. For the water itself, go early, before nine, when it is calm and the queues for the regulated turtle snorkelling are short.
Questions, answered
Can I snorkel with the turtles in Akumal?
Yes, but the bay is regulated: you go with a certified guide, wear a compulsory life vest, numbers are limited, no sunscreen is allowed and you must not touch or chase the turtles. A protected-area fee is paid on top of the tour.
When is the best time to see the turtles?
Green turtles graze the seagrass in the bay year-round, so any season works. Go early, before nine, when the water is calm and the queues are short.
Which hotels suit families?
Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya lists a kids pool, playground and babysitting service; Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort has a private beach and kids pool; Aquatech Villas DeRosa and Las Villas Akumal offer family rooms.
Are the hotels on the beach?
Every hotel on this list lists a beach nearby, and Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort also lists a private beach.
Are these hotels all inclusive?
Most are: the Grand Palladium hotels, Secrets Akumal, Grand Sirenis, Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness and El Dorado Seaside Palms are all-inclusive, with buffets, bars and restaurants.
Do any hotels have a spa or fitness centre?
Unico Hotel Riviera Maya and El Dorado Seaside Palms list a fitness centre, and the Grand Palladium resorts and Secrets Akumal carry spa in their names.
How do I get to Akumal without renting a car?
The hotels sit along the Cancun–Chetumal corridor and several list car rental services and airport-style transfers in their facility lists, so transport can be arranged through the property.