Del Sol Beachfront Akumal Condos: FAQ’S

Call our US office at 505-992-3333 and talk to Heidi for up-to-date availability and more answers to your Akumal FAQ’s. Reservations for our Akumal condos may be also be made online or arranged by email.  We will be happy to answer your questions, place a condo on hold, or accept your credit card payment on an existing booking.

For reservations in Spanish please call 52-984-875-9060.

Once you have chosen your dates, we will email you a confirmation. A non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking.  Final payment is due 7 days prior to arrival. We can hold a reservation for you for a couple of days if you need time to finalize plans. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Del Sol has only a few ground floor condo units and hotel rooms; they are very popular and mostly reserved for guests with mobility issues and families with small children. Requests for a certain floor can be made at the time of booking, but there are no guarantees as to floor assignments.

Email  us as soon as you know you need to change or cancel your reservation. We are a small property and promise to work with you to reschedule your holiday depending on how late you cancel.  You may cancel (no refund for your deposit) up to 7 days prior to arrival. Except during Holiday Season (Dec 15-Jan5)

Cancellations for reservations during Holiday Season (Dec 15-Jan 5) are refundable, less first night’s deposit, up to 30 days prior to arrival.
No refunds if cancellation is made under 30 days prior to arrival.

Cancellations made more than 7 days prior to arrival during the reminder of the year will receive a refund, less the first night’s deposit.
Cancellations within 7 days of arrival are non-refundable.

We will always endeavor to re-book a last minute cancellation for you.

Monthly rates are discounted between 20% and 40% depending on the season. We offer 10% off to wedding parties who are having their wedding at La Buena Vida Restaurant. Call us or shoot us an email to find out about any special discounts for your upcoming dates. Cheapest rates are between May and September.

The phone number to call from the US for the front desk in Mexico is 011-52-984-875-9060.  Please do not use the number to try to make a reservation unless you require someone who speaks Spanish.  Guests cannot be contacted directly in their accommodations, however, you may leave a message with the front desk to be delivered to one of our guests.

Akumal has excellent weather year round. The most popular and drier months are from November through April. The months of July, August, and September are the hottest months, but still have pleasant breezes off the Caribbean. Sargassum (or seagrass) tends to build up along the shores of the Caribbean during the late spring and summer months.

Sargassum is the naturally occurring seaweed that drifts ashore seasonally. The Riviera Maya and Caribbean coastline are experiencing larger than normal amounts of sargassum as the ocean temperatures get warmer.

Property owners on Half Moon Bay are strictly limited to manually removing the seaweed or leaving it there to deteriorate and release nutrients into the sand. Heavy machinery, which compacts the sand, is prohibited on the shores of this fragile marine sanctuary.

Simply removing the wet sargassum also removes large quantities of sand, causing erosion and loss of essential beach structure. When the sargassum reaches shore it dies and begins to decompose, sometimes causing an unpleasant smell when the wind shifts. By following this process the sargassum is allowed to decompose over the next months and is re-introduced back to the beaches as nutrient rich sand.

• Beach towel (or you can rent a beach towel for a small deposit)

• Beach attire: shorts, t-shirts, lightweight sweater,
casual evening attire, bathing suit, sarong, raincoat

• Sturdy walking shoes/sandals/reef walkers

• Sunscreen and insect spray

• Flashlight/batteries/power cords

• Binoculars

• Ground coffee, spices and cooking basics (not provided)

• Shampoo and Conditioner

• Hat and sunglasses

• Small denominations of US bills for tips

• Hair dryer

Pesos as well as US dollars (in $20 notes or smaller) are widely accepted. You can use dollars and receive your change in pesos at most businesses throughout Akumal, or exchange money upon arrival at the airport. There is an ATM in Akumal. Del Sol and La Buena Vida Restaurant accepts Visa and MasterCard. It is requested that gratuity be left in dollars or pesos.

Communication is easy on the Mayan Riviera. Most locals know a little English. It is always interesting and fun to know some Spanish and practice it with people you meet.

Some people like to rent a car and drive to Akumal from the Cancun Airport.  There are many great day trips in the area and it is convenient to have a car at your disposal during your stay. Driving from Cancun to Akumal is easy and a straight shot down Highway 307. The drive south takes 70-90 minutes. Gas stations are common along the highway – a new Gulf station is right outside Akumal.

Taxis are available for hire from the airport to Akumal. The cost for a cab ride can run between $90-$120, so we recommend you come to an agreement on a rate before taking the ride.

Some of the best ways to get around are by bicycle (for rent at the Del Sol office), on foot, or rental car. A bakery, restaurants, dive shops, yoga studio, and gift shops are located in the main part of the town.

Akumal lies along the perimeter of Akumal Bay, Half Moon Bay and Yal-ku Lagoon. Many amenities are within walking distance of Del Sol. Half Moon Bay itself has 2 restaurants, a convenience store, and arts and crafts shops.

• TAXIS (call 52-984-875-9056) and Moto-Taxis (call 52-984-320-3301) are available for hire at the main entrance to Akumal. Taxi Fare is about $5 for travel within Akumal. They also offer transportation to surrounding areas along the coastline from Cancun to Tulum, however, these rides can be expensive.  It is a good idea to agree on a price before you take the ride.

• BUSES travel along the highway (307) between Cancun and Tulum and stop on either side of the road at the main entrance along the highway. Bus service is approximately every hour and will stop for anyone flagging them down. They are often crowded with only standing room, but offer an inexpensive way to travel.

• FIRST-CLASS BUSES first-class buses are more expensive and offer assigned seating, a/c, and bathrooms. They make no stops between terminals, hence can cut travel time. However, you must catch them in either the Playa del Carmen or Tulum terminals. Destinations available through these buses are Cancun, Coba, F. Carrillo, Puerto Aventuras, Chichen Itza, Merida, Chetumal, Palenque, Villahermosa, and Mexico City.

• COLLECTIVOS (combis) are usually commuter vans, also known as “combis,” that pickup and drop off along the highway at second class bus fare prices.

The main part of town is a 15 minute walk down the beach road, about a 1/2 mile.

The reason the pool is not located in front of the condos and hotel is because this area is a designated turtle hatching zone, and protection of this endangered species is crucial. The swimming pool for the property is located about 100 yards away next to La Buena Vida.

Yes, Del Sol condos and hotel, as well as  La Buena Vida Restaurant & Bar offer free wireless internet. Please ask for the latest password to connect.

Yes, after putting down a $10 deposit, guests may get a fresh beach towel from the front desk daily.  You will receive the deposit back once the towel has been returned.

The most asked question! Hair dryers are not provided. US electrical devices work in Mexico. So YES, bring your own if you need one.

Del Sol does not have any laundry facilities on the premises. There is a drop off “fluff and fold” laundry service across the highway in the pueblo of Akumal.

There is a grocery store located at the main entrance to Akumal, as well as an Oxxo store. There is a small convenience store in North Akumal just north of the property.

• Across the highway on the other side of Akumal is a grocery store and a pharmacy where local folks shop. It’s worth a trip over there to explore the other side of Akumal.

• Aventuras Akumal is located 15 minutes north on Highway 307,  and has a large supermarket called Chedraui. We recommend stocking up here on your way down from the airport or have your groceries delivered prior to your arrival by Riviera Maya Groceries.

Use the same precautionary measures that you would while traveling anywhere on vacation. Keep valuables securely locked in your vehicle and your accommodations. Safes are provided in the condos. There is no need to carry large amounts of cash, as many places accept credit cards. Akumal has its own police patrol and private security.

Do not drink the tap water. Every unit at Del Sol provides purified bottled water. Use this for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth, and to clean fruits and vegetables.

Day or night, La Buena Vida Restaurant & Bar is a great place to hang out, eat, and drink—located right on Half Moon Bay. There’s a fun happy hour from 5-6 pm. La Buena Vida also provides a relaxed venue for Akumal Weddings, family reunions, Welcome Parties, Rehearsal Dinners, and parties for all occasions. Contact the manager at La Buena Vida to arrange your special occasion.

Lunch and dinner are served on the beach under shady palapas with a casual atmosphere, and an appetizing menu ranging from fresh ceviche to tasty hamburgers, juices and salads, and Maya cuisine.

As in the U.S., tipping is recommended around 20%, or as you feel is appropriate. Maids appreciate being tipped $2 per guest per day, depending on the size of the accommodation, how much cleaning is needed and the quality of service you receive.

All condominiums and hotel rooms are serviced Monday – Saturday by our team of housekeepers. While every effort to clean the rooms early in the day is made, sometimes the maid service is not completed until the afternoon. We appreciate your patience!

Some of the best snorkeling in Akumal is right in front of Del Sol.  While the bay is tricky to enter due to the sea grass and small rocks and coral, it is the best place to catch a glimpse of marine life such as sea turtles. Exercise caution if the water is rough, as there can be an undercurrent present. Usually, however, the bay is very calm.

Akumal Bay is more crowded and charges an entry fee of $5. Access is through the dive shop or Hotel Akumal Caribe Tip: buy a drink at Lol-Ha Restaurant and gain free access to the bay.

Don’t miss the underwater world of Yal-ku Lagoon, just a five minute walk down the road from Del Sol. The brackish water is a sanctuary to all sorts of colorful fish and coral life. You can rent snorkeling gear, and dive shops can suggest the best places to see marine life.

With over thirty dive sites in the region, the clear waters around Akumal are popular among divers. Centers offer beginning scuba courses, as well as advanced PADI certification. Take a Resort Course to get acquainted with the art of underwater breathing.  Shore dives are not permissible in the area.

Akumal strives to be environmentally conscious. While snorkeling please don’t touch any of the coral. The oils from your hand will damage or even kill the coral. Some of the formations in the area have been growing for thousands of years and need to be given plenty of room. Please view these fragile formations from a few feet away and be aware of the currents so you are not accidentally pushed into a coral head. Try not to stand on any rocky bottom and please do not take any shells or coral from the surrounding bay.

May through November is the turtle nesting and hatching season. The best time to view these placid creatures is at night around the full moon. If you discover a turtle laying her eggs or a turtle nest in the process of hatching, please inform the reception at Vista del Mar of where and when you saw the turtle or nest. The staff will, in turn, contact the local turtle people so the nest can be marked and recorded.

Please keep lights that face the beach off or low at night, with your curtains drawn; this helps hatching babies find their way to the safety of the ocean.

Photo by Drew Wohl