This past November my husband Rich and I embarked on our honeymoon to the “place of the turtles” –beautiful Akumal, Mexico, staying at the equally beautiful Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya. Our honeymoon experience at the resort was so wonderful it prompted me to want to share it with you. If you're wondering if Akumal is your kind of romantic destination, then here is what can expect honeymooning at the Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya.
Opened only a few years ago, the resort was built by preserving the existing wildlife in the area, so the landscaping is out of this world. Among the lush gardens, secret nooks, and colorful flowers are the gourmet restaurants and bars, three unique pools, Preferred Club Lounge, and so much more.
We arrived on a Monday to the open air lobby. The design and style of the resort is so cool and is immediately felt when you hit the lobby. It has a boho-chic ambiance, and I am obsessed with the pops of purple here.
We booked a Preferred Club room (which I highly suggest by the way), so we were brought to the Preferred Club Lounge for check-in. While we waited for our concierge to escort us to our room, we took advantage of the premium liquor bar and complimentary gourmet hors d'oeuvres offered in the lounge. This was incredible after a day of traveling! The food was fantastic and the lounge is serene and private, so it was a great way to relax and unwind.
Our concierge Zobeyda met us and led us to our room. The concierges are in every Preferred Club building, dedicated to helping you with anything you want to arrange or to answer any of your questions. Their desk is easy to find as they are on the first floor of each building and they are there throughout the day, so you can find help at any time. If you’re lucky enough to have Zobeyda as your concierge, you are sure to have an awesome trip. She is amazing!
We stepped into our Preferred Club Ocean View room and were floored. The suites are spacious here, and the view from our room was the ideal mix of ocean and palm trees. We were in Building 3 and I would highly suggest requesting this building, as we had quick access to the beach, the pools, and the restaurants. In fact, one of the things I love most about this resort is that it is so easy to get around. The buildings essentially surround the centrally located pools and restaurants. As long as you keep walking, you’ll find what you’re looking for!
For our first night we ate at beachfront Oceana, and yum! Our meals were fantastic and so was our server. Afterward we strolled around the property – something we did nightly because the resort is enchanting and the ocean air is so fresh in the evening.
The next day, after we ate at Oceana for breakfast as well since it is a la carte and exclusive to Preferred Club guests, Zobeyda helped us to reserve one of the beach cabanas for the day. I would absolutely recommend this for honeymooners or anyone on a romantic getaway. The bali bed is unbelievably comfortable and the view is like something straight from a postcard. The best part, though, is you have a wait service attendant who brings you drinks and food, so you never have to leave your cabana (which we didn’t).
We also explored the beach for the first time. The beaches of Akumal are gorgeous, and you may have heard how the waters are a year-round feeding ground for Green Sea Turtles! At Secrets Akumal, you can take a complimentary guided snorkel tour every morning where they provide the gear for you, or you can bring your own gear and snorkel whenever you want. Though we ran out of time to do snorkeling (I know, how could we?), we did wade through the waters and were lucky to see lots of tropical fish and even a couple of small stingrays!
Because the beach is open to the public, you can really explore the bay. Toward the farthest end, there is a dive shop and old maritime canons, supposedly recovered from Spanish shipwrecks. The dive shop was where we saw our first agouti! The little guy said hi to us and then ran off.
There is a ton of wildlife on the resort as well. You will see geckos everywhere (except in your room or anywhere you don’t want them). They line the paths soaking up sun on the pavement and are so adorable. They’ll scurry anytime you come near, so don’ be afraid. They’re more scared of you. We also spotted a couple of iguanas and some exquisitely-colored butterflies.
So I know you’re all thinking, “what about the honeymoon perks?!” They are fabulous! We had sparkling wine, fresh fruit and flowers in our room upon our arrival and an enormous breakfast in bed. Just a note, if you book the Secrets Eternity Honeymoon Package, you have even more inclusions, including a choice of a couples spa treatment and private beachfront dinner. Best part is the package is complimentary if you book at least 7 nights. For us, the breakfast in bed was worth it in itself! You choose your menu and there is no limit, so we definitely gorged. I had to take a panoramic shot to fit it all in to the picture! I now have a severe obsession with Nutella-stuffed crepes.
We also booked the Moon and Stars Couples Massage at the spa, an absolute must if you’re honeymooning. You begin your treatment by going through the hydrotherapy circuit, which is complimentary to all guests of the resort. The treatment includes a series of varying temperatures and pressures of water, as well as a sauna and steam room. For the massage, we were provided a private spa cabin, which has a Jacuzzi tub, secluded terrace, and oversized outdoor shower. We were unbelievably relaxed after the treatment and loved enjoying our champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries on the terrace to cap it off. Sorry I have no pictures! We wanted to completely disconnect here and were happy we did.
A resort is nothing without great nightlife, though, and Secrets Akumal has this in spades. The quality of nightly entertainment here is phenomenal. The shows we saw were Elements and The Beatles, and oh my goodness, were these amazing! The performers are supremely talented and they put together exciting shows. There is also always entertainment out by Rendezvous Bar, which has a small stage, swing seats, and a fire pit. It is probably my favorite spot on the entire resort – so chill and inviting. You would be surprised how nice that fire pit feels at night - even in Mexico!
I could go on about the pools, the bars, the daytime entertainment, and the close proximity to points of interest as well, but I definitely suggest experiencing everything yourself, honeymooning or not. Secrets Akumal is a truly unique resort that you can tell has had a lot of love put into it. It’s really something special.
We here at Weddings by Funjet would love to help you with making your honeymoon special, too. We do more than just weddings because we love love! If you would like help choosing a destination and resort for your honeymoon, as well as help in booking your travel, feel free to reach out to us!
