Swimming with turtles in Akumal: season, rules and what to expect
The short answer
There are green turtles in Akumal all year round, because the bay is their feeding ground, not just a nesting beach. Nesting season runs from May to October. To get in the water a life jacket and a certified guide are compulsory, and ordinary sunscreen is not allowed.
Akumal means "place of turtles" in Mayan. It is not brochure talk: the bay has seagrass meadows in very shallow water, and green turtles go there to eat. That makes it one of the few places on the Mexican Caribbean where seeing them does not depend on getting lucky out at sea.
Are there turtles all year round?
Yes. This is the most common confusion: many people believe turtles are only there during nesting season, and that is not the case.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| All year | Green turtles feed on the bay's seagrass |
| May to October | Nesting season: more activity and warmer water |
On the best months for visibility, sources disagree: some point to spring and summer, others to winter. The reason is that the day matters more than the month: wind, swell and sargassum shift visibility from one week to the next.
The rules of the bay
Akumal is a protected area regulated by CONANP. The rules are not suggestions: they are enforced and supervised.
- Life jacket compulsory. Not only for your safety: it keeps swimmers at the surface so nobody steps on the seagrass or rests on the bottom.
- Certified guide compulsory in the turtle area, in small groups — around six people per guide.
- No ordinary sunscreen. Biodegradable only, and ideally go in with none at all: whatever is on your skin ends up in the water where the turtles feed.
- Do not touch them, chase them or block their path. Keep about three metres away.
- The tour lasts around 45 minutes and runs in turns, so the bay is not overcrowded.
Why it matters. An adult green turtle spends much of the day eating seagrass. Surrounded by swimmers, it stops feeding and surfaces to breathe earlier than it should. The rules exist because without them the bay empties: the animals leave.
Are sightings guaranteed?
No, and be wary of anyone who promises them. These are wild animals in their habitat. What can honestly be said is that Akumal is the place on the Mexican Caribbean where it is most likely, because they live there and feed close to shore.
If the sea is choppy or there is sargassum, visibility drops. It happens, and it is nobody's fault.
What to bring
- Swimsuit and towel
- Biodegradable sunscreen — or better, a rash guard with sun protection
- Cash for the protected area's conservation fee
- A change of clothes
A tip almost nobody gives. If you are going to use sunscreen, put it on when you come out of the water, not before. You stay protected on the way back without leaving anything in the bay.
Do you need to know how to swim?
You do not need to be a strong swimmer: the life jacket is compulsory and you float effortlessly. What does help is being comfortable with your face in the water, because snorkelling is done face down and the bottom, though shallow, is not always within reach.
Our tours that include swimming with turtles
- Akumal: Reef and Turtle Sanctuary — both snorkelling sessions, sanctuary and reef, in about 4 hours. Departs from the Riviera Maya.
- Tulum, Cenote and Swimming with Turtles in Akumal — adds the Tulum archaeological site and Cenote Mariposa. Departs from Cancún.
- Two Cenotes and Swimming with Turtles — two contrasting cenotes plus snorkelling with turtles.
On all three, the USD 25 eco fee per person is paid in cash on the day and is not included in the price: it is the area's access and conservation fee.
Quick questions
Can I go on my own?
To the beach, yes, but to enter the turtle area you need a certified guide and a life jacket. It is not something you improvise from the sand.
Can you touch the turtles?
No, never. Do not touch them, chase them or cut off their path to the surface.
Is it worth bringing my own snorkelling gear?
You can, but it is included on the tours. What nothing replaces is the life jacket: that one is compulsory.
What time is best?
Early. There are fewer people in the bay and the water tends to be calmer.
Want to swim with them?
Certified guide, snorkelling gear and life jacket included. Departures from Cancún and from the Riviera Maya.
See the Akumal tourRules and seasons cross-checked against local and conservation sources in October 2026. Access to the bay may be restricted by order of the environmental authority.
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