Akumal Webcam – Akumal Bay Beach on the Riviera Maya

The Akumal Webcam looks along the beach of Akumal Bay on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, from a camera tucked under a thatched palapa roof at the back of the sand. Facing north, it takes in a beachfront palapa restaurant with rows of white chairs on the left, a sandy path lined with a low hedge, tall coconut palms and young palms planted in the sand, and the calm water of the bay on the right, where small boats ride at their moorings. The beach curves away to a line of palms in the distance. A second tab turns the view south, down the other end of the beach under the palms. After dark both cameras switch to black and white night vision, and the colour returns with the sunrise.

About Akumal

Akumal sits on the Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo, in the municipality of Tulum, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Cancun and between the towns of Playa del Carmen and Tulum. It was founded in 1958 as a community for scuba divers by Pablo Bush Romero, a Mexican businessman, diver, writer and archaeologist, and it is still a small place: 2,154 people lived here at the 2020 census.

The bay is famous for its green sea turtles, an endangered species that comes into the shallows to feed on the seagrass. To protect them, Akumal Bay was declared a marine refuge on March 7, 2016. The cameras on this page sit right on that bay.

Akumal has two main bays, Akumal Bay and Half Moon Bay. The webcams are shared by Loco Gringo, a vacation rental company that lists homes in the area.

Weather and Climate in Akumal

Akumal is hot all year. At the weather station in nearby Tulum, January averages a high of 29 C (85 F) and a low of 18 C (64 F). By April highs reach 31 C (88 F), and July averages 32 C (90 F) with nights around 22 C (71 F). October still averages 31 C (88 F) by day.

The area receives about 1,137 millimeters (44.8 inches) of rain a year, and September and October are the wettest months, with about 167 and 178 millimeters (6.6 and 7 inches). The hurricane season runs from June to October, when the camera can show grey skies, wind-bent palms and rougher water in the bay. Outside those months the skies over the bay are usually drier and clearer.

Things to Do Near Akumal

Snorkeling with the turtles is the reason most visitors come to Akumal Bay, and it is regulated. Entry is through the official access point with an environmental fee, life jackets are required in the snorkel area, and the zones closest to the turtles can only be visited with a certified guide. Swimmers must keep at least 3 meters (10 feet) from a turtle, and turtle viewing is limited to daytime hours.

Beyond the bay, the Tulum area is known for its cenotes, the freshwater sinkholes of the Yucatan Peninsula, including Gran Cenote, as well as the Maya ruins of Tulum. Playa del Carmen lies to the north, and Cancun is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) up the coast.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

More live cameras from the Mexican Caribbean and beyond:

• Playa del Carmen Webcam
• Cozumel Webcam
• Los Muertos Pier Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you see on the Akumal Webcam?

Facing north, the camera looks along the beach of Akumal Bay past a palapa restaurant, a sandy path and coconut palms to the calm water of the bay and the boats moored in it. The second tab faces south down the other end of the beach.

Does the Akumal beach webcam have sound?

No. Neither Akumal camera carries any audio, so the player is silent at all times.

Can you see sea turtles on the Akumal webcam?

Not usually. The green turtles feed on the seagrass on the floor of the bay, out of sight of a camera on the beach. What the cameras can show is the snorkelers heading in and out of the water to see them.

Is Akumal Beach free?

Snorkeling in Akumal Bay is not free. Since the bay became a marine refuge in 2016, visitors enter through the official access point and pay an environmental fee, and a certified guide costs extra for the turtle zones. Fees change, so check the current rate before you go.

Do you need a guide to snorkel with turtles in Akumal?

Only in the protected turtle zones. A life jacket is required in the snorkel area, the areas closest to the turtles can only be visited with a certified guide, and everyone must stay at least 3 meters (10 feet) from a turtle.

Where is Akumal?

Akumal is on the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Quintana Roo, Mexico, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Cancun, between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

What is the weather like in Akumal by month?

Hot all year, with average highs from 29 C (85 F) in January to 32 C (90 F) in July. September and October are the wettest months, and the hurricane season runs from June to October.

Why is the Akumal webcam black and white?

After dark, both cameras switch to infrared night vision, which shows the scene in black and white. The full colour picture comes back at sunrise.

Source: Loco Gringo