we hired a taxi from Barcelo maya Riviera to take us here and wait for us about 2 hours as we had tried it once before a few years ago. It did not disappoint. Aquarium like snorkeling till the tour groups arrive around 11 to 1130. They open at 9 go then. 550 pesos for two without snorkel rental which i advise to bring your own including a wet suit and gloves as the corral can be close. many people stand on it which is not good. it is quite long and this year they roped off the way towards the ocean which i was glad to see as the last time we went to far the ocean currents made it very hard to get back. There is not alot to see further down the best is towards the entrance and there are private resorts along the way sharing the waterway. We are glad we went when the ocean was too stirred up at the resort for a few days

So glad we tried this cenote. Set in lovely grounds, short walk to the lagoon. Once in you will be happy with the amount of fish and wildlife around. Snorkel heaven with a wide amount of varied and colourful fish making this lagoon their home. Easy for the less experienced swimmers as there are lots of rocks to stand on in shallower areas if you need to stop. Different currents arise from the mingling of sea and cenote water and you will feel differences in temperature between them as you swim. As others have said arrive early or late to experience at its best as it did get busy with tour groups whilst we were there as time went on. Best cenote we have found up to now. Would definitely recommend this one.

Lovely little spot with some great snorkelling if you go when the tour groups aren't there and haven't stirred the water up a bit. There are two owners/entrances to the lagoon the original one and the xcaret one. They both lead to the same swimming area but the main differences are that the original one is slightly cheaper (300 pesos) and life jackets are not mandatory whilst the xcaret one is a bit more built up i.e loungers food and drink etc. they both have showers and toilets. I have included a map to the original one in my photos as I believe this is the better of the two personally just because of the life jacket situation (the water is more than salty enough for floating!) The water is very clear though gets a bit blurry when stirred up by many swimmers as the lagoon is a mixture of fresh and salt in water. The current is relatively strong so would not recommend it for weak swimmers particularly if you swim further up towards the sea (as the current is against you trying to swim back to the entrances into the water). The landscape is quite rocky out of the water (and sharp) so definitely need either water shoes or flip flops if you're having a bit of an explore off the path. The rocks inside the water are covered in seaweed/algae and are not sharp. The original entrance does not have much shade which isn't under the dense trees (so comes with mosquitos!) So if you want to spend a whole day here (which is definitely possible) bring an umbrella if you want some shade along with food and drink (not alcohol though). There are around 10 spaces to park there so may need to get there early to grab a spot (we hired a taxi for the day which was cheaper or similar to the tour prices which di not stay at the lagoon long).

For all ages and abilities. No waves and easy access. No coral but lots of friendly fish. $300 Mx per adult for entry fee for all day. Go to the entrance to the left for the best price and go early. Be respectful of the aquatic life and water, wear a shirt and leave the sunscreen in the car.

Where the fresh water meets the ocean. Tranquil location to snorkel at your own leisure. There are two entrances I suggest the first entrance to the left as this end of the lagoon appears to have the biggest variety of fish to see. As other have mentioned tour groups to arrive and they use the other entrance.

Not sure how this attraction isnt 5 stars. It was an absolute highlight of our trip to Mexico. If you love snorkeling for lots of tropical fish in clear warm water and diving through caves and under mangroves, you will love this spot! We went to the Blue and White outfit and equipment rentals while not the cheapest, worked well. We paid around 100 for a family of 4 with admission and most gear. TIPS: wear rashguard since no sunscreen allowed and you really do not need water shoes. Also. My older son rented no equipment, he just brought goggles( he’s a good swimmer)and he did fine. End the day at the restaurant La Buena Vida around the corner- amazing oceanfront spot with incredible views, great food, hammocks, a pool and more. Loved Akumal.

Such a beautful place. Our first cenote. Great snorkelling among some beautful fish. My advice would be to head to the left entrance. That side is run by local folks and seemed less crowded.

We really enjoyed snorkeling here! There are so many beautiful fish to see in a small area. We had our own snorkeling gear, but they do rent gear as well. There are 2 spots to enter the lagoon. Following advice of another post, we entered at the “left entrance”. From what I have read, this is operated by locals, and the other entrance is operated by Xcaret. The local entrance is slightly cheaper, with more basic amenities. They have rental equipment, bathroom/shower amenities, and a couple small dock/stairs for entering the lagoon, basically everything you need, but nothing more. As soon as we entered the water, we were surrounded by all types of fish. We enjoyed our time exploring the area and admiring the fish. We found that most of the fish were closest to where we entered the water, so that’s where we ended up spending most of our time. We arrived later in the day and spent about 1.5 hours swimming. Some groups looked like they had spent several hours there and had brought snacks and towels to sunbath on the rocks. We arrived in our bathing suits, swam, then left. Next time, I’d plan for a longer day there.

A visit to Yal-ku lagoon should certainly be on your list with any stop in Akumal. We rented a golf cart and drove up to the lagoon. An early arrival assured us individual one-on-one attention and a few laughs with the front desk staff (Jesus). We spent three and a half hours swimming the lagoon, guiding ourselves through it. Many tours came and went. I recommend taking a few minutes to catch your breath when they come near and allow the tours to pass through. Once the sediments settle again in just a few moments, you're back to swimming and seeing all the beautiful fish in the lagoon.

We went around 2pm and there were many different tour groups there. There is a large area to swim in and you see a lot of fish. There is a slight current as the lagoon is connected to the ocean but the current is manageable. I think the cenotes are more interesting but I would go here again.