Akumal · Venue guide
Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya
Adults-only all-inclusive on Akumal bay, famous for its resident sea turtles and calm, swimmable turquoise water.
Secrets Akumal sits on one of the calmest bays of the Riviera Maya — Akumal means “place of the turtles,” and the protected water is exactly why the beach photographs so gently: small waves, boats bobbing, palms leaning into frame. The resort’s Arch Plaza gives couples a non-beach option with real architectural character.
We have photographed both classic beach ceremonies and Arch Plaza weddings here, and the resort’s compact-but-elegant scale makes timelines relaxed.
Where to say “I do” — and how each spot photographs
Central Beach
Direct Akumal Bay and Caribbean backdrop. Current wedding guides list ceremonies up to 200 guests. Beach receptions may be seasonally restricted because of turtle nesting, so confirm whether a reception is available for the exact wedding month.
Arch
A distinctive open-air ceremony location that appears in the resort's own wedding imagery and in weddings Kristina has photographed here. Current venue guides list ceremonies up to 200 guests.
Plaza Akumal
Large open-air terrace that can host ceremonies, cocktail hours and receptions. Current venue information lists up to 200 for ceremony, 500 for cocktail and 400 for reception.
Sea Side Garden
A lush garden/terrace option that gives a tropical backdrop without placing the event directly on the sand. Current venue guides list cocktail events up to 450 and receptions up to 250.
Secret Garden
Small, intimate garden option for couples who want privacy and greenery rather than an open beach setting.
A photo timeline that works here
Based on a winter ceremony (sunset ≈ 6 pm). I adjust it to your date and your venue coordinator's schedule.
- 2:00 pm
- Getting ready — details, dress, final touches of makeup
- 3:15 pm
- Bride portraits and first look
- 4:00 pm
- Ceremony
- 4:40 pm
- Family and group photos, right where the ceremony ends
- 5:10 pm
- Couple session in the golden hour
- 6:15 pm
- Reception entrance and first dance
- 8:00 pm
- Open dance floor, toasts and party
First look — yes or no?
Optional — the bay’s soft light is forgiving. For Arch Plaza ceremonies we do recommend it, so we can use the plaza’s architecture for portraits before guests fill it.
Logistics worth knowing
Secrets Akumal is roughly 91 km by road from Cancun International Airport. Current route estimates are around 75-90 minutes in normal conditions, with heavier traffic capable of pushing the transfer closer to 1 hour 40 minutes or more. The property has beach, plaza, garden, terrace and ballroom locations, so the final timeline should account for transitions between event spaces. A workable autumn shape here is a 4:00 p.m. ceremony, family portraits immediately after, cocktails at 5:00, couple portraits around 5:30 and sunset portraits around 6:00.
Vendor rules at Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya
- Outside photographers: Accepted
- Outside photography is permitted, and Kristina has photographed several weddings at Secrets Akumal. The resort fee and access requirements are handled between the couple and the resort, so get the current amount and registration instructions in writing for the wedding date.
- These rules belong to the resort, not to me. The resort sets the fee, charges it and changes it, often from one season to the next and sometimes from one wedding to the next, so I do not publish an amount here: any number you find online is already out of date for your date. Ask your wedding coordinator at the resort to confirm it in writing, and ask early: it is a real line in the budget. It is also worth asking whether there is any flexibility. Some venues waive or reduce the fee, often when the vendor team books rooms for a few nights or when the wedding is booked through certain agencies, and plenty of couples never find out because they never ask.
- Tell me about your wedding →
The light here
Akumal Bay faces east, so sunrise comes over the Caribbean and sunset falls behind the resort. For wedding-day portraits, protect the final 45 to 60 minutes before sunset. Around January, sunset is roughly 6:20 p.m.; around June, roughly 7:25-7:30 p.m. The calm bay can be especially strong for early-morning imagery because the water is on the sunrise side.
Real weddings at Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya
Photo sessions at Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya
Questions couples ask about Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya
Can we bring our own photographer to Secrets Akumal?
Yes. Secrets Akumal permits outside photography, and Kristina has photographed several weddings there.
Is there an outside photographer fee?
Yes, and it is date-specific: the amount published in package listings and the amounts couples have actually been told for later years do not match. The resort sets it, collects it and revises it, so we do not publish an amount: any figure would already be old for your date. Ask your wedding coordinator to confirm it in writing.
Does the photographer need a day pass?
The resort publishes a Wedding Pass, but public material does not establish whether it is the photographer's required credential on top of the vendor fee. Confirm photographer access directly with the resort.
Can we have a beach reception year-round?
A current 2026 venue guide states that beach receptions are limited to December through April because of turtle nesting season. Confirm the restriction with the wedding team for your exact date.
Does the sun set over the ocean at Secrets Akumal?
No. Akumal Bay faces east, so the ocean is the sunrise side. Sunset falls inland behind the resort.
How much does a wedding photographer cost at Secrets Akumal?
Experienced destination wedding photographers in this area generally run from about $3,000 to $8,000 USD for the wedding day, and more for multi-day celebrations with film. Most couples marrying at Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya book 6-8 hours, so the coverage reaches from getting ready to the party. Travel to this venue is included or minimal, we are local. To see where I would begin for your date, the collections live at /pricing/.
Getting married at Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya?
I've photographed here — I know the light, the spots and the rules.