Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya · Akumal venue guide
Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya Wedding Photographer
Adults-only all-inclusive on Akumal bay, famous for its resident sea turtles and calm, swimmable turquoise water.
Secrets Akumal is an adults-only resort on Akumal Bay, about 75 to 90 minutes south of Cancun airport. Akumal means “place of the turtles,” and the bay is calm, shallow and lined with palms that lean over the sand.
The weddings I have photographed here used both of its signature settings. One ceremony was at the Arch, a large white arch open to the jungle. Another was on the beach under a white draped pergola, with portraits among the leaning palms. In both, the first look happened in the hacienda-style courtyards, and the receptions were in the gardens under string lights.
Where to say “I do” — and how each spot photographs
Central Beach
Akumal Bay, with calm water and palms that lean over the sand, listed for about 150 to 200 guests for a ceremony. One of our ceremonies here was on the beach under a white draped pergola, and the leaning palms made the portraits. Beach receptions may be limited by turtle-nesting season, so confirm availability for your month.
Arch
A large white arch open to the jungle, with the ceremony set on a pale stone floor in front of it, listed for about 200 guests. One of our weddings held its ceremony here, under a wooden frame dressed in flowers.
Courtyards and reflecting pools
White stone colonnades, dark wood beams and still reflecting pools between the buildings, like a hacienda. In both weddings I photographed here, this is where the first look and the bridal-party portraits happened, in open shade.
Plaza Akumal
A large open-air terrace for ceremonies, cocktail hours and receptions, listed for up to about 200 for a ceremony and 400 for a reception.
Sea Side Garden
A garden setting for cocktails and receptions, listed for up to about 250 guests at dinner. Both receptions I photographed here were in the gardens at night, under string lights among the trees.
Secret Garden
A small, private garden for about 15 to 30 guests, for couples who want greenery rather than an open beach.
Ballroom
The indoor reception space, listed for about 400 guests, and the rain plan.
Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya wedding packages and prices
These are the resort’s packages and prices, not mine. They come from published sources, checked October 2026, and the resort changes them, so confirm the current rates with its wedding team before you plan the budget.
| Package | Guests included | Published price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elope in Luxury | The two of you | $1,549–$1,849 | A ceremony for the couple alone. |
| Wedding in Paradise | 10 guests | $1,599–$1,799 | A ceremony with flowers, a cake and a sparkling wine toast. |
| Eternal Love | 20 guests | $5,349–$5,949 | Adds a reception, printed photos and a short ceremony video by the resort’s team, and extras for the couple. |
| Beyond Memorable | 79 guests | $12,649–$13,949 | A larger celebration with a welcome cocktail party, a private bar, an hors d’oeuvres station and resort coupons for the guests. |
Ranges, not quotes: each source publishes a slightly different 2026 rate, and the month and the day of the week change the price. Extra guests are charged per person. Eternal Love includes printed photos and a short ceremony video by the resort’s team; if you bring your own photographer, ask how that changes the package. Some venues, such as the Arch and the beach, carry their own venue fee. Confirm everything with the resort’s wedding team, in writing, for your date.
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, because the bay’s light is forgiving. For a ceremony at the Arch we recommend it: the courtyards give the portraits shade and structure before the guests arrive.
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. Protect the final 45 to 60 minutes before sunset for portraits. Sunset runs from about 6:10 to 6:30 p.m. in winter to about 7:30 p.m. in summer, and the ceremony time guide calculates it for your exact date.
Real weddings at Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya
Photo sessions at Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya: lifestyle & maternity
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.
What wedding packages does Secrets Akumal offer, and how much do they cost?
The resort publishes several for 2026: Elope in Luxury at about $1,549 to $1,849, Wedding in Paradise for 10 guests at about $1,599 to $1,799, Eternal Love for 20 at about $5,349 to $5,949, and Beyond Memorable for 79 at about $12,649 to $13,949. The month and the day of the week change the price, and extra guests are charged per person. The rates change, so confirm them with the resort’s wedding team before you plan the budget.
What is the Arch at Secrets Akumal?
A large white arch open to the jungle, and one of the resort’s signature ceremony spots, listed for about 200 guests. It gives a ceremony away from the sand real architectural character, and it photographs in soft, even light late in the afternoon.
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.
What is the rain plan at Secrets Akumal?
The ballroom. Agree on it with the coordinator before the day, so the call on the morning is quick. Rain here is usually a short storm, and a few dry minutes are often enough for portraits outside.
How late can the party go at Secrets Akumal?
Most venues are listed until 10 or 11 p.m. Confirm the end time for your venue with the coordinator, in writing.
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 know where I would begin for your date, tell me about it at /contact/.
Getting married at Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya?
I've photographed here — I know the light, the spots and the rules.