Bahia Principe Akumal is a huge all-inclusive resort where you can spend your entire holiday without ever having to leave the premises.

After three nights, however, we’ve made up our minds: the hotel runs smoothly, is very clean and offered decent value for money, but don’t expect true luxury.

Next time, I’d choose a different hotel; for example, we liked the Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres in Cancún or the Shibari in Tulum better.

We stayed at the hotel in May 2026. At the time of our stay, it was called Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal; you’ll now find it under the name Bahia Principe Explore Akumal. It’s still the same resort.

Check current prices for Bahia Principe Akumal on Booking.com

Bahia Principe Akumal at a glance

	Our experience
Length of stay	3 nights in May 2026
Price	265 eur per room per night, total 794 eur
Type of stay	24-hour all-inclusive
Room	A spacious room in an older, as yet unrenovated building
Biggest plus	A sheltered beach free of seaweed and very clean grounds
Biggest downside	Average food, weak drinks, a hotel that’s too sprawling
Suitable for	Less demanding families
Our rating	7 out of 10

Is the Bahia Principe Akumal really a luxury hotel?

The word ‘Luxury’ in the original name set expectations a little higher than what the hotel actually offers.

I’d describe Bahia Principe Akumal more as a large, well-run all-inclusive resort offering good value for money. But certainly not as 5* luxury.

The grounds are lovely, the staff are efficient and everything was very clean. In the older part, however, the rooms feel a bit cheap, and neither the food nor the drinks live up to the standards of an expensive five-star resort.

The price at 265 eur may seem high at first glance, but in the context of the very expensive Tulum, it is acceptable and more or less matches the quality.

Price of the stay and booking via Revolut Stays

For three nights, we paid a total of 794 eur, which works out at 265 eur per room per night for two people.

The price included accommodation, meals, standard alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, the minibar, room service, sun loungers and most of the hotel’s activities.

We booked through Revolut Stays because the hotel was running a limited-time offer with a reward of 5 RevPoints for every 1 eur .

We therefore earned 3,840 RevPoints for the entire stay instead of the standard 768. I mainly use RevPoints to convert them into air miles.

For example, they were a huge help when I booked a business class flight with Air France from Prague to Mexico.

However, Revolut isn’t automatically the cheapest option. Before booking, we recommend comparing the final price on Revolut Stays with the price on Booking.com.

Get Revolut and start collecting RevPoints

Location: The hotel is not right next to the famous Akumal Bay

The hotel’s name can be misleading. Bahia Principe Akumal is not situated directly on the famous Akumal Bay, where people go snorkelling with sea turtles.

It is about 5 km from the hotel to Akumal Bay, and you’re unlikely to walk there. You’ll need a car, a taxi or an organised trip.

The resort is situated directly on the main road 307 between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. The journey by car from Cancún Airport takes approximately 90 minutes, depending on traffic.

We travelled in a hire car.

The turn-off from the main road is well signposted, the entrance to the extensive Bahia Principe complex comprising several hotels is easy to find, and parking right by reception is free.

• 👉 Compare car hire prices at Cancún Airport
• 👉 Book a turtle-watching trip to Akumal Bay

Check-in and first drive through the hotel complex

Check-in was relatively quick and went smoothly. We were given a welcome drink – in our case, a very sweet juice – and then an electric buggy took us right to our room.

It’s during this journey that you really get a sense of the resort’s sheer size for the first time.

Bahia Principe Akumal doesn’t feel like a single hotel, but rather like a small housing estate comprising dozens of multi-storey buildings.

Roads, pavements and routes for electric buggies run between them.

From the more remote areas, the electric buggies run approximately every 5 to 10 minutes.

Other routes connect Akumal with the neighbouring Bahia Principe Tulum, Coba and Tequila hotels. We had no trouble finding our way around after the first day, but accommodation far from reception or the beach may not suit everyone.

Tip: Ask at reception for a QR code to download the Bahia Principe app. It features a map, current opening hours, the activities programme and available restaurant bookings.

Room: A bit dated, but spacious and spotlessly clean

Some of the rooms have already been refurbished; we were given a room in one of the older buildings without a sea view.

The age of the building was evident in the design and the materials used. The room didn’t feel luxurious, but we didn’t lack anything essential.

The biggest advantage was the space. Both the living area and the bathroom were large, and the room had its own balcony.

The facilities were functional and, above all, spotlessly clean.

It was surprisingly cool inside, even without the air conditioning set to full blast. However, in the hot and humid weather, that suited us just fine.

There was a simple filter coffee machine and a minibar with two bottles of water, soft drinks and packets of biscuits. The minibar is included in the price of your stay.

The bathroom is also spacious and functional. It’s nothing to write home about, but it doesn’t disappoint either.

The room also features some handy little extras:

• special beach towels
• bathrobes
• slippers
• an ironing board and an iron

What’s included in the all-inclusive package

The hotel describes its concept as 24-hour all-inclusive. In our case, we didn’t have to pay anything extra for standard meals or drinks.

Included in the price	Note
Main buffet	Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Tikalito and Katok	Snacks and meals throughout the day
À la carte restaurant	No extra charge, but by reservation only and subject to availability
Standard alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks	Quality and selection may vary depending on the bar
Room service	We ordered directly via the app
Minibar	Water, soft drinks and light snacks
Swimming pools, beaches, sun loungers and towels	Sun loungers cannot be guaranteed; they’re available on a first-come, first-served basis
Wi-Fi and a safe	No extra charge
Transport by electric buggies	Within the resort and between selected hotels in the complex

The following are subject to a surcharge: massages and spa treatments, water sports, certain premium items, golf, childcare, excursions and shopping in the shops.

Food: Wide selection, average quality

Food is usually one of the main considerations at an all-inclusive hotel. In my opinion, you’ll have no trouble finding something to eat at Bahia Principe Akumal, but I certainly wouldn’t come here specifically for the cuisine.

We mostly went to the main buffet restaurant, Yum.

There’s a wide selection and there’s something for everyone, but the menu hardly changes from one day to the next.

We found the dinners, and the desserts in particular, to be the weakest. They looked lovely, but the taste was mostly well below average.

On the other hand, the service was good. Although the restaurant is huge, the staff clear the tables quickly and the waiters serve coffee and other drinks without a long wait.

Breakfast

You’ll find almost everything for breakfast, but nothing particularly original and very few traditional Mexican dishes.

• Western cuisine: scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon
• egg station
• fruit and vegetables
• a wide selection of pastries
• desserts and sweets (the weakest part)
• a few cold dishes (rather limited selection)

Lunches and dinners

Lunches and dinners are quite similar.

At lunchtime, lighter dishes such as fish or chicken tend to predominate, whilst in the evening there is a wider choice of dishes such as steaks or pork knuckle.

However, fish and cold dishes are available at both lunch and dinner.

Restaurants and opening hours

The hotel states the current opening hours as follows:

Restaurant	Menu	Opening hours	Bookings
Yum	Main international buffet	7.30 am–10.30 am, 12.30 pm–3.30 pm, 6.00 pm–10.00 pm	Sun
Katok Beach Restaurant	Breakfast and lunch by the beach, adults only	7.00–10.30, 12.30–15.00	Sun
Tikalito	Poolside bistro and snacks	10.30 am–6.00 pm and 10.00 pm–7.00 am	Sun
Ku'uk	Modern gourmet cuisine	5.30 pm–10.00 pm	Yes
Dolce Vita	Italian and Mexican cuisine	17:30–22:00	Yes
Frutos del Mar	Fish and seafood	17:30–22:00	Yes
Katok Steakhouse	Grilled meats, adults only	17:30–22:00	Yes

We mainly went to Tikalito because it was on the way from our room to the beach.

And it’s the only place that serves refreshments at night as well.

Opening hours may vary depending on the season and occupancy. Always check the current status on the app or the hotel’s official website before visiting.

Book your dinner as soon as you arrive

According to the hotel, à la carte dinners are included in the all-inclusive package with no set limit. In practice, however, availability is the deciding factor.

Reservations for the nearest available dates fill up quickly, and the restaurant won’t seat you without a booking.

Casual smart attire is also required; swimwear or sportswear is not permitted.

We underestimated the need for a booking on the first day. For reasons that weren’t entirely clear, the main buffet remained unavailable to us that evening, and there were no tables left in the restaurants.

In the end, we ordered room service via the app. There was plenty of food and we didn’t have to pay extra, but the quality was rather poor.

Our advice: Once you’ve logged into the app, book your dinners first, and only then decide which poolside area you’ll head to for a lie-down.

Bars and drinks: classic sweet beach cocktails

Within the complex, you’ll find a bar right in the water by the main pool, another between the pool and the beach, the Sports Bar Pakal by reception, and a café.

Standard alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are included in the price of your stay and are available to drink as much as you like.

At the main bar, situated between the pool and the beach, you can also help yourself to as much water and soft drinks as you like, such as Coca-Cola, Sprite or Fanta.

We weren’t particularly impressed by the mixed drinks. The bartenders don’t skimp on the alcohol, but most of the cocktails are very sweet and rather bland in flavour.

They’re fine for a refreshing drink by the pool, but lovers of quality cocktails should keep their expectations low.

It was with a twinge of nostalgia that we reminisced about our tour of the 5 best bars in Mexico City.

What bothered us most was how early the poolside bars closed. Pool bars usually close around 6.00 pm, so in the evening, the main options are the lobby and the Sports Bar. The app shows the exact times again.

I quite liked the café right next to the hotel reception.

Coffee drinks such as lattes, flat whites and cortados are noticeably better here than in the buffet restaurant, and there’s also a selection of sweet pastries on offer. Once again, everything is included in the all-inclusive price.

One evening by the main pool, there was an entertainment programme featuring a musical performance and cocktail mixing, though the quality of the drinks was very similar to that at the beach bars.

Two hotel beaches, two completely different experiences

The beach is what you go to a hotel like this for. 

Bahia Principe Akumal has a long coastline, but its different sections vary considerably.

Main beach: Lovely, but unusable during the seaweed season

The long beach, facing the open sea, has fine sand and looks good at first glance. However, during our stay in May, it was full of sargassum, a type of seaweed.

The hotel kept clearing the seaweed from the sand, but a continuous layer remained between the beach and the open sea.

It was practically impossible to get into the water comfortably. This is not the hotel’s fault, but a seasonal problem affecting much of the eastern coast of the Riviera Maya.

Protected beach: No seaweed, but very shallow

The smaller, north-facing beach is protected by artificial breakwaters.

Here, during our stay, we found clear water free of seaweed. It was the only hotel beach where we saw no sargassum at all during our trip along the Tulum coast in May.

There’s just one catch.

The water is extremely shallow and, practically right to the end of the bay, it only came up to our waists. This is an advantage for small children or for a gentle dip, but less so for proper swimming.

There are plenty of free sun loungers on both beaches. You can’t book them, and naturally, the best spots go to those who arrive first.

Important: The resort’s private beach is not the famous Akumal Bay with its turtles. To go snorkelling with the turtles, you’ll need to head outside the resort.

• 👉 Book a turtle-watching trip to Akumal Bay

Swimming pools: Clean and spacious, but they close early

There are three swimming pools at the resort. The two larger ones are open to all guests, whilst the infinity pool and hot tub are in the adults-only area.

The water was clean, the surroundings were well-maintained, and we always managed to find a free sun lounger during our stay.

The opening hours are a slight drawback. The hotel states that the pools are open from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm in winter and until 7.00 pm in summer.

On a holiday at a tropical resort, closing so early feels unnecessarily restrictive to us.

The grounds: tropical greenery, long distances and curious coatis

Despite its size, the grounds have a pleasant feel to them. They are full of mature greenery, the paths are clean and the areas around the buildings are carefully maintained.

However, do expect longer journeys or waiting times for the shuttle, especially if you’re staying far from reception.

Coatis are commonly seen roaming around the hotel; in Mexico, they are known as coati.

They weren’t aggressive, but they’re very quick to spot where food is being served.

They are particularly fond of the area around Tikalita, and as soon as you leave food unattended, they show great interest in it. Do not feed them and do not leave food within their reach.

Entertainment at the hotel: daily programme and sports

Every evening, the hotel organises various cultural or musical performances in the grand hall.

To be honest, it seemed to me that these were aimed more at older guests, and nothing really caught our interest.

Next to the hall is a small games room with arcade games, table football and air hockey. There is a charge for these activities. Payment is by cash only at the individual machines, at around 40 mxn per game.

There are also courts for sports such as beach volleyball, water volleyball, table tennis and so on in various parts of the hotels.

You can also hire kayaks for free at the beaches.

Shop, cash machine and currency exchange

At reception, you’ll find a shop selling snacks, beach equipment and souvenirs. Prices are significantly higher than in standard Oxxo or 7-Eleven shops. If you have a car, it’s best to buy essentials before you arrive at the resort.

The cash machine at reception operated under similar conditions to other cash machines in Mexico and charged a fee of around 175 mxn. When making a withdrawal, always decline the option to convert the amount into your home currency and let your bank determine the exchange rate.

There is also a currency exchange service at reception, but the rate offered was extremely unfavourable. We would only exchange cash here in an absolute emergency.

At a time when one dollar was worth around 17 pesos, the hotel was offering a mere 12.50 pesos.

• 👉 How to withdraw cash from an ATM and pay in Mexico

Fitness Centre

We were quite pleased with the large, modern fitness centre, which is particularly quiet early in the morning.

Towels, fruit and water are provided free of charge.

The gym is open from 7.00 am to 8.00 pm.

Things to do around the resort

Bahia Principe Akumal is like a holiday world in its own right, but it would be a shame not to venture out of it for at least one day. Within a reasonable driving distance, you’ll find some of the Riviera Maya’s most popular attractions:

• Akumal Bay: snorkelling with sea turtles, about 5 km from the hotel
• Aktun Chen: a cave, cenote and small nature reserve practically next to the resort
• Xel-Há: a water park perfect for a day trip
• Tulum: Mayan ruins, beaches, cenotes and the hotel zone
• Cobá: extensive Mayan archaeological site in the interior
• Sian Ka’an: a protected nature reserve, which is easiest to visit on an organised tour

You can book an organised trip directly through the hotel at several counters near reception.

However, prices are usually 20 to 50 per cent higher than if you were to book the trip through local agencies, which you can easily compare on the GetYourGuide website.

• 👉 Compare trips from Akumal on GetYourGuide

Conclusion: Would we book the Bahia Principe Akumal again?

Probably not. The resort isn’t exactly bad, but to be honest, I’d probably prefer to pay a few per cent more for a more modern and luxurious resort, or alternatively stay somewhere cheaper in a more local hotel in Tulum.

Bahia Principe Akumal wasn’t the best hotel on our trip to Mexico, and in our opinion, the ‘Luxury’ label didn’t really suit it.

However, it offered exactly what a good all-inclusive resort should offer: a simple, hassle-free stay, clean surroundings, plenty of space, a few dining options and reliable service.

What saved our experience most was the protected, seaweed-free beach. Without it, in May we would have had swimming pools and lovely sand, but practically no swimmable sea.

On the other hand, because of the mediocre food and drinks, we wouldn’t want to spend two weeks here.

We’d recommend the hotel mainly to families and couples looking for a comfortable all-inclusive stay at a reasonable price.

Our rating: 7 out of 10

Check current prices for Bahia Principe Akumal on Booking.com

Frequently asked questions

Is Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal the same hotel as Bahia Principe Explore Akumal?

Yes. Bahia Principe Explore Akumal is the new name for the former Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal. It is the same resort in the same location.

Is all food and drink free at Bahia Principe Akumal?

Standard meals, non-alcoholic drinks and local alcoholic drinks are included in the all-inclusive package.

À la carte restaurants are also included, but you must book them in advance.

Some premium items and services may incur an additional charge (typically certain types of massage, shops or the games room).

Is there seaweed on the beach at Bahia Principe Akumal?

It depends on the time of year and the specific part of the coast.

In May, the main open beach was full of sargassum, whilst the smaller cove sheltered by breakwaters was completely free of seaweed.

Is it possible to swim comfortably on the hotel beach?

The sheltered cove has calm water with no big waves, but it is also very shallow. It is not ideal for adults to swim comfortably.

Are there free sun loungers by the beach and the swimming pools?

Yes, sun loungers and beach towels are included in the price. The best spots are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Is parking at the hotel free?

Yes. When we visited, there was a large free car park right next to reception.

Is the hotel right next to the turtle beach in Akumal?

No. The well-known Akumal Bay, home to the turtles, is about 5 km from the resort. You’ll need a car, a taxi or an organised trip.

Is the Bahia Principe Akumal suitable for children?

Yes, it’s a family-friendly resort with swimming pools, a kids’ club and access to the water park at the neighbouring hotel. We haven’t personally tested the quality of the children’s programme, as we were travelling without children.