Lunch on the Beach at Lol Ha in Akumal

435836 — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 01:48:00 GMT

This weekend, we decided a quiet beach day was in order so, on Saturday, we piled everyone in the truck and headed 30 minutes south to our favorite spot in Akumal. Depending on our destination of choice, I sometimes pack a cooler for these impromptu beach days. This day, we were craving some really good food and we knew just where to find it.

In the past decade, options for good beach eats have really taken off. But, when we first arrived in Playa del Carmen, finding a really good meal with a really good view often meant a day trip to Akumal. Years ago, Lol Ha Restaurant was one of the few places you could go and enjoy consistently great food on the beach. Despite the addition of new (and admittedly more convenient) Playa beach eateries such as Wicky's, Indigo Beach, Canibal Royale and Kool Beach Club, Lol Ha has still remained one of our very favorites. The menu features a nice selection of homemade soups, fresh salads, sandwiches, hamburgers and a variety of grill items. With a stunning beachfront location it would be easy to lay back and rest on their laurels but Lol Ha has never wavered on their commitment to high quality food and good service. The menu options have recently been given an extra boost by the addition of a pizza oven and a nice array of toppings to choose from. Every time we go, we have a great meal and a nice time. We almost always opt for the Lol Ha Burger, stuffed with poblano peppers and cheese and one of my picks for Top 5 Burgers on the Riviera Maya, but a recent shift toward healthy living has made us look at some of the other items. The winner this day was my vegetarian panini with pesto and goat cheese. Sooo gooood!!

Lol Ha Restaurant in Akumal

You can't beat the view!

Vegetarian panini with grilled veg, pesto and goat cheese. Yummo!!

Coconut Shrimp

Grilled chicken sandwich with lightly grilled poblano peppers

Fresh grilled Grouper

Sev got this great shot of Birdie

....and Cole. Little fishes, the two of them!

Break time for Ethan and Cole

Josh taking Sawyer for a spin!

Cole and Birdie cooling off.

A nice day on the beach and lunch at Lol Ha were just what the doctor ordered. The water was crystal clear and perfectly still. Everyone went out with masks and fins to see the majestic sea turtles that call Akumal Bay home. Sev was thrilled to find a group of colorful sea slugs, a variety rare in these waters. Birdie saw a Lionfish and I followed a pod of cuttlefish through the coral formations. The reef was teaming with life and the visibility was just great for a day of snorkeling. Akumal has always been a favorite getaway for our family and we are forever dragging friends out of Playa to enjoy the quiet laid back beach and the family friendly atmosphere. Anyone with small kids will find that Akumal Bay is the perfect place to spend a day and relax under the coconut palms. If you have limited your beach time thus far to Playa del Carmen, you will definitely want to check out Akumal.

Vamos a la Playa! Riviera Maya Beaches - Xpu Ha

435836 — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT

After an unusually long "winter" here on the Riviera Maya, the Caribbean sun has finally won out and we are now, thankfully, experiencing more seasonal weather. That of course means beach days are back on the schedule! Saturday, we chose Xpu Ha as our "playa of choice", packed up some coolers and headed 20 minutes south of Playa to this long stretch of white sand. Dotted with rustic beach bars, camp sites, restaurants and a few small resorts, Xpu Ha has managed to maintain a sort of undiscovered quality. Hundreds of coconut palms line the sand providing shade for locals and sun scorched tourists alike. Depending on the weather patterns, the waters in the bay will vary between glass-like stillness to crashing surf. Just a few meters from shore, underwater enthusiasts can easily reach the reef and enjoy the all splendor it has to offer. Kitesurfers, fishermen and kayakers share the waters while families on the beach play touch football, beach volleyball and build sandcastles in the sugar white sand. It is a special place and for those of us living in Playa del Carmen, it seems a million miles away. Entrance from the carratera is 25 pesos per person. Children enter free. Here are some pictures from our day.

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Lunch on the Beach at Lol Ha in Akumal

Vamos a la Playa! Riviera Maya Beaches - Xpu Ha