Picolo recommends · Villa in Akumal, Mexico
Villa Aaktun
The whole villa is yours, with a pool carved into the limestone, Tempur beds and room for nine. Akumal Beach is a five-minute drive away.
You wake up in a Tempur bed, walk barefoot across the stone and lower yourself into the grotto pool while the jungle is still quiet. Villa Aaktun sits in a residential area of Akumal on the Riviera Maya, and Akumal means «place of the turtles» in Maya. You will understand why the first time you snorkel in the bay.
The villa is let by a private host, and you get the whole house: two pools, its own restaurant and breakfast cooked when you ask for it. It suits extended families and groups of friends who want peace and quiet without giving up the service.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose Villa Aaktun
The whole house is yours, with two pools: one in the limestone grotto outside and one indoors. Breakfast is cooked to order, and golf and caves are within walking distance.
Best for groups of friends or extended families of up to nine. Good to know: the villa is in a residential area, a five-minute drive from the beach.
What you get
- Outdoor grotto pool and indoor pool
- Restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Breakfast cooked to order
- Beds with Tempur-Pedic mattresses
- The whole villa for your group
- Private host
- Airport transfer at extra cost
A day at Villa Aaktun
- Morning
- Breakfast by the pool, then a five-minute drive to Akumal Beach. Snorkel in the bay where sea turtles graze on the seagrass, and keep your distance when they come up for air.
- Late morning
- Walk the fourteen minutes to Aktun Chen, where caves and a cenote offer a cool break from the sun.
- Afternoon
- A round at Riviera Maya Golf Club, the same distance on foot. If you would rather snorkel in a lagoon, Xel-Há Park is a ten-minute drive away.
- Evening
- Dinner at the villa’s restaurant and a last swim in the grotto pool as night falls.
Location
- Akumal Beach
- 5 min by car
- Xel-Há Park
- 10 min by car
- Aktun Chen (caves and cenote)
- 14 min on foot
- Riviera Maya Golf Club
- 14 min on foot
- Cancún International Airport
- Over 1 hour by car
Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Open in MapsWhen to go to Akumal
The dry season from December to April is high season on the Riviera Maya, and a villa for nine books up fast around Christmas and Easter. For quieter beaches, November and May are good choices.
June to November is hurricane season in the Caribbean, so read the terms carefully before you book. See also where is hot in December.
Questions about Villa Aaktun
How many people can stay at Villa Aaktun?
Villa Aaktun sleeps nine, and you rent the whole villa. It suits extended families and groups of friends who want to share the pools and restaurant but have their own rooms. Extra guests may cost more, depending on the host’s rules.
Are meals included at Villa Aaktun?
Breakfast is included and cooked to order. The villa’s restaurant also serves lunch and dinner. Check what is included in the rate you choose on Hotels.com, as terms can vary.
How far is the beach?
Akumal Beach is a five-minute drive away. The villa is in a residential area rather than on the beach, so plan on a car, taxi or transfer when you want to swim in the sea.
Can I cancel my booking at Villa Aaktun?
The villa is let by a private host, and the host’s own cancellation policy applies. Read the terms carefully on Hotels.com before you book.
What is there to do around Akumal?
Snorkel with sea turtles in Akumal Bay, swim in the cenotes, or take a day trip to Xel-Há, the Maya ruins at Tulum or Chichén Itzá. You will find Picolo’s pick of tours further down the page.
Would you rather stay in a hotel?
Three hotels on the same stretch of coast, each picked for a different reason.
Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya
For golfers: an all-inclusive beachfront resort with a spa, close to Riviera Maya Golf Club.
All inclusiveGolf
Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya
Adults only: all inclusive, a ten-minute walk from Akumal Beach, with a spa, seven restaurants and three outdoor pools.
Adults onlyAll inclusive
La Valise Tulum
For two: a small beachfront hotel in Tulum with a private beach, spa and thatched-roof rooms.
Beach hotelCouples
Updated 3 Nov 2026All articles
How Picolo chooses
Our editors pick every hotel themselves, and most of them we have stayed at. No hotel can pay to be included or ranked higher. When you book through our links, Hotels.com pays Picolo a small commission. It never changes the price you pay, and it never decides what we write.
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