The only thing there is in Akumal is the beach. And a fine beach it is.

The curve of Turtle Bay

Beach with condos

Beach with boats

Oh yes, and there’s also the humidity. Dan and I get into the habit of going out for a run into town at around dawn, and even so, there is no place in the air for the sweat to evaporate. But the breeze is pleasant, and the ocean sounds good.

View from our patio looking east into the ocean sunrise

Sunrise along the road into town

Beach shortly after sunrise

We say “Good morning!” to the Americans who like us are out running or walking and “Hola!” or “Buenas dias!” to the Mexicans on their way to work. It is a mile and a quarter, more or less, from our condo into town, the same on the return. There is only one road, and it is a dead end. On the road we see houses and condos, a few shops, a restaurant or two. Very little traffic.

Condo complex on the road into town

Cute pink house with cute red cars and red bougainvillea

Front wall of a private house

La Buena Vida restaurant, not far from our condo

Roadside shops

La Lunita, the restaurant at (well, near) the end of the road, our favorite

I like being near the ocean but not going into it. There are mosquitos or other biting insects in the sand. I get bitten whenever I venture near the beach. Walking up and down the road is my main (only) form of physical activity. We walk or run into town maybe two or three times a day. Walking is a pleasure, although did I say it was hot and humid in Akumal?

Did I say “town”? That may have been a bit of an exaggeration. A few gift shops and restaurants catering to American tourists, a grocery store, a couple of realtors, and a dive shop cluster for about a block along the single road, just off the highway. It’s not a busy place. Everyone speaks English. There is a very nice beach and nothing much else to do. They roll up the sidewalks by about 9pm. What few sidewalks there are.

archway over the road at the entrance to town from the highway (yes, that's the main--the only--road into town)

Shops in town

Town residents, living across from the dive shop

I rewrite about half a novel in one week in Akumal, listening to the wind pounding the ocean surf against our beach. It’s not a bad way to live.

Our condo building--"La Bahia"--as seen from the street

View from the patio of our condo