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Banks & Money
The closest bank to Akumal is located in Tulum. This bank will issue cash advances on your credit or bankcard. Money exchange is available at the TSA office located in Akumal (#15 Akumal Map). U.S. Dollars are accepted everywhere. There is also an ATM machine in the Super Chomak Grocery (#5 Akumal Map).
Medical Facilities In The Area
Playa Del Carmen has several medical "clinics", small hospitals and a hyperbaric facility. Major hospitals are located in Cancun and Cancun has at least one other hyperbaric facility. Dr. Nestor Mendoza Gutierrez also makes house calls in Akumal and Tankah. His office is located in Akumal, although he is not there every day.
Dr. Nestor's office phone# is: 984-875-4051, 984-875-0764, 984-875-1142, 984-875-9393. His Akumal office is located in Plaza Ukana I local 2. That is in the Akumal "Cancha" (square) around the corner and one door down from the La Palmas grocery store, across the street from the Super Chomak grocery store. He is usually in the office from 9:00am-2:00pm.
Taxis
You will usually find a taxi waiting at the main entrance to Akumal. Make sure to agree on a price with the driver before you leave.
Bus Information
Buses stop at the main entrance of Akumal. They pass more or less regularly each hour; you can also take a “combi” or “colectivo” going north or south. You can travel as far as Merida or Chetumal on these buses. Both (bus and combi) are 2nd class, which means that these buses are usually older models. These buses also stop for anyone who flags them down and at every small village along the way.
The first class, or deluxe buses, operate almost exclusively between terminals; this can cut a lot of time off a long journey. The prices are more expensive, but are still very moderate compared to U.S. prices. They have assigned seats, a/c and toilets; some of them offer free drinks as well as videos. If you are interested in traveling on a first class bus, you should go to Playa del Carmen or Tulum and buy your ticket at the bus station. Some of the destinations available are Cancun, Coba, F. Carrillo Puerto, Chichen Itza, Merida, Chetumal, Palenque, Villahermosa and Mexico City.
Calling from Mexico
To call the United States & Canada, you must first dial 001. For the rest of the world dial 00. For an international operator dial 090. To call other cities in Mexico dial 01, for a Mexican operator dial 020. Calls to the United States are expensive. Alternative calling options include using the Internet Cafe (#12 Akumal Map), or buying a prepaid Telcel SIM card for a GSM cellular phone. Also check out the following links for phone cards and rates:
http://www.peoplesguide.com/1pages/chapts/a2z/intouch/phone/phonecards-cback.html
http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/travel/rferguson/rfcellphones.html
http://1010phonerates.com/mexphone.html
Turtle Tips
May through November is turtle nesting season in the Caribbean and Akumal is a major nesting site. Unfortunately, turtles are shy animals therefore if you are interested in exploring these magnificent creatures and their nesting areas signup for a guided nightly tour at the CEA center (#33 Akumal Map).
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