Free access trail to Playa Blanca | Tourist Attraction

Mexico

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Verified:
over 3 years ago
Altitude:
-13.8 masl

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There are three places to snorkel. The beach right in front of town called Akumal Beach, the bay north of town (playa Blanca) and Laguna Yal Ku. We did both beaches. Playa Blanca was a little easier as you could just drive past all the paid parking guys and not worry about bouys. We located this trail (which is depicted on OSM and is at this GPS location). It's at a yellow TOPE sign which is next to a chain link fence. Parking is on the same side of the road immediately south of the sign. We walked north along the beach, left our bag tucked in tree, and snorkled no problem. We saw locals using this access and the beach. So for Playa Blanca: We didn't pay to park, didn't pay for a guide (only required for the better/inner areas of Akumal Beach), and didn't use a life jacket. Didn't see turtles today but many colorful fish and some coral. The lagoon Yal Ku is a different story, seems the only way in is by paying the $300pp fee (includes a $100p pp life jacket rental).

Akumal Beach is tricky. We chose the paid parking in front of Akumal Dive School which is $20p/ hr. We have our own masks. We arrived at 9am which is when the beach opens for snorkelers and did it for free along the north part, staying outside of the bouys. No life jacket, no problem. Try ADS if you want a guide because they offer a tour for $100ppp and you get your money back if you don't see a turtle.

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Playa blanca:

Trail to the beach is now closed with a fence, but you can enter the beach via the abandoned house behind the chain. We did that without Problems, but saw no turtles in the water.

Caution: if you just drive through the parking-catcher-guys and don't stop, as we did (about 2 km before the destination point), you find a gate/drawbar with guard on the half way. as we drove to, it was open and the guard was not there (siesta?), on the way back in the afternoon, he was there and the gate was closed. He opened us the gate friendly, but we were 'on the way back'. On the way to, maybe it is better, to have a reason, or say the name of a hotel or something from the other side.

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found the beach acces to blanca. only parking for cars. our van was to big.
parked 100m down the road on a gras spot.
follow the narrow path and you will end up on the middle of the beach. awesome! but be carefull, big stingrays on the ground!!!

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There are three places to snorkel. The beach right in front of town called Akumal Beach, the bay north of town (playa Blanca) and Laguna Yal Ku. We did both beaches. Playa Blanca was a little easier as you could just drive past all the paid parking guys and not worry about bouys. We located this trail (which is depicted on OSM and is at this GPS location). It's at a yellow TOPE sign which is next to a chain link fence. Parking is on the same side of the road immediately south of the sign. We walked north along the beach, left our bag tucked in tree, and snorkled no problem. We saw locals using this access and the beach. So for Playa Blanca: We didn't pay to park, didn't pay for a guide (only required for the better/inner areas of Akumal Beach), and didn't use a life jacket. Didn't see turtles today but many colorful fish and some coral. The lagoon Yal Ku is a different story, seems the only way in is by paying the $300pp fee (includes a $100p pp life jacket rental).

Akumal Beach is tricky. We chose the paid parking in front of Akumal Dive School which is $20p/ hr. We have our own masks. We arrived at 9am which is when the beach opens for snorkelers and did it for free along the north part, staying outside of the bouys. No life jacket, no problem. Try ADS if you want a guide because they offer a tour for $100ppp and you get your money back if you don't see a turtle.

Report Check-In

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