My family's vacation to
Las Casitas Akumal was among the best ever. The casitas, which means little houses in Spanish, are right on the beach and very private. A maid cleans every day, so you have the benefit of a hotel, with the privacy of a home. The two bedrooms are spacious and each has its own bathroom. The kitchen is fully stocked, so we were able to eat some meals in and some out. There was high speed interent access, so my kids spent some time on the computer. The outdoor patio is very private and overlooks the beach, which is a few feet away.
The beach is steps from the casita, and the water is gloriously warm and filled with the most incredible variety of sea life. I swam with sea turtles, baracudas, rays, schools of red fish, blue fish, squid -- it was amazing. The casitas are on a bay that is about 1-2 miles long, perfect for a morning jog, if you're so inclined. There were a number of restaurants, my favorite one had a palapa meaning it had a roof and was cool underneath, but was open, and the lovely sea breezes were delightful. The other restaurant was a touch more formal, and featured both Mexican food and American food. The bar under the palapa had tequila shots that were incredibly cheap. Best of all was the non-touristy feel of the place. The beach is a public beach, and American tourists make up a small portion of the sun bathers and swimmers. The rest are Europeans and Mexicans, all enjoying themselves immensely. Akumal is not built up as is Cancun, a short drive away, and feels truly "Mexican." The Mayan ruins in nearby Tulum are quite accessible and an interesting way to spend a full or half day. The night tour of the Mayan ruin was interesting.
Las Casitas Akumal is a little piece of heaven on the Mexican Riviera Maya.
