This is a pretty spot on a the beach, the rooms are clean and pleasant and the staff are incredibly friendly. Cute neighborhood. The beach directly in front of the hotel is rocky, bring your swim shoes, but the water is beautiful and the snorkeling is wonderful. We found this spot with the help of Lisa from Sol Maya Rentals, Lisa has helped us with a couple of vacations in this area and really knows the local places. Her advice made a huge difference in our vacation.

We had a wonderful stay at La Bahia in unit #2, a beachfront unit. One step off the patio and you are on a beautiful, sandy Half Moon Bay beach that is kept up very nicely by the staff. The staff at La Bahia are very attentive and accommodating. We couldn't have asked for better service from them. Our maid was on top of everything and the unit was in tip top shape every day. There are air conditioning units in both bedrooms as well as in the living room/kitchen area. The kitchen is perfectly serviceable. Our unit had a microwave and coffee maker in addition to the stove and refrigerator. Purified water is provided in each unit as is a USA Today newspaper. Each unit has a different owner, so there may be some differences. They are really comfortable, clean condos though there aren't many amenities, ie pool, which wasn't a big deal to us. If we're on the beach, we don't need a pool, but some people like to have one available. We found the whole complex to be very quiet and perfect for a laid back, relaxing stay. There is great snorkeling right out your door. The entry into the water is pretty rocky, so sandals or water shoes are a must.

The condo is in a great central location with many restaurants in easy walking distance. To get to the Akumal arch is about a 15 minute stroll, partly on the beach and partly on the road. We did not rent a car and while that made getting around more of a challenge, it was not impossible and didn't appreciably effect our enjoyment. A taxi stand can be found right at the arch with posted fares which makes it very easy to get a cab to take you anywhere you want to go. Walk another 5 minutes from the arch and you will find the colectivo stop that will take you anywhere up or down highway 307.

Overall, this was a great place to stay and we would highly recommend it to anyone wanting a laid back and relaxed vacation in Akumal!

We stayed at La Bahia condo - #1, which is a ground floor unit, meaning you basically just step off the patio and you're on the most beautiful beach you can imagine - wide, white, fine and soft. The view, between swaying palms, is georgeous - a half-moon shaped bay (called Half Moon Bay!), with rolling waves, and a constantly changing 270 degree view of the horizon with cloud formations entertaining you. And the sunrises and sunsets are spectacular. La Bahia, and the owners of #1, seem to be continually upgrading the property, with a fresh and beautiful new paint job the latest improvement. The unit is extremely well provisioned - you can cook if you like, but there are so many great restaurants nearby. And the value can't be beat - to have your own 2 BR condo that can sleep up at least 5 people, right on this georgeous, uncrowded beach, for the prices you pay - only $160 a night off-season! It's amazing to be able to have your privacy with so much to do if you want, or nothing if you want, in paradise for these kinds of prices.

We've been to the RM area of Mexico 5 times before this trip and had always stayed at All Inclusive properties from Cancun to Puerto Aventuras. This year we decided that we were comfortable with travelling in the area and wanted to try renting a condo on the beach for a week. We also felt we were ready to take the step to rent a car in order to have the freedom to explore the area. While we were in Mexico the previous trip we spent an afternoon in Akumal and thought it was a nice, quiet community to spend a week. So after extensive research we found a 2 bedroom condo on the first floor just steps from the beach. The condo complex, La Bahia, is located in the middle of Half Moon Bay which is on the north end of Akumal. The condo was roomy and very clean. The view from the living room was absolutely stunning! This was a wonderful change from the AIs because you rarely get an ocean front room without paying a ton of money. Another great aspect was we ate better this trip than any other before since we weren't relegated to the buffets or the specialty restaurants at the resort (which generally are mediocre at best). We tried a number of different restaurants and didn't have a bad meal at any. Our favorites were Loncheria Akumalito, La Cueva del Pescador, Lucy's, Naty's, and La Lunita. We took a daytrip down to Tulum and tried Zamas, but wasn't that impressed with it. This year we toured the Tulum ruins again but this time with a guide--we enjoyed it much more and learned lots of information which was very interesting. Also we went to Aktun Chen. It was kinda pricey but was a neat experience and good way to burn off a cloudy morning.

We had a wonderful trip and have already booked our flights to return in July. We are so glad we strayed away from the all inclusives to get a better feel for the real Mexico.