פֿאַרעפֿנטלעכט: 26.07.2018
After the beach in Akumal got too crowded, we took a taxi to the Yal Ku Lagoon. Our taxi driver offered to take us to a family's house that is located directly on the lagoon, where we could have a private section for a lower entrance fee. It didn't seem very trustworthy to us, but we decided to check it out anyway. However, we ultimately decided against it. Somehow, we had a feeling that it might be somewhat illegal. Luckily, the taxi driver then drove us to the right entrance without further discussions. He even gave us a tip to go to the back entrance, as there is usually less people on that side of the lagoon. The entrance turned out to be officially part of the lagoon, which was a relief. We thanked him and paid the quite hefty 260 pesos per person, but at least we didn't feel like we were doing something illegal :D
In addition, the entrance fee was definitely worth it because the lagoon was beautiful! We saw the most and the most beautiful fish during our entire stay here. The taxi driver's tip turned out to be true, as after a while, the first loads of tourists arrived, but they were all taken to the other entrance. Since the two entrances are separated and there is no way between them, all the hustle and bustle took place on the other side of the lagoon, while we were almost alone on our side. Very cool!
Unfortunately, just like in all cenotes, you are not allowed to apply sunscreen in the lagoon. We realized this at the end of the day, despite the cloudy weather. Unlike in the cenotes, there is no shade here. So, it's best to buy biodegradable sunscreen or wear a shirt. Your skin will thank you!
After seeing many colorful fish and enjoying the beautiful surroundings, we slowly started heading back. It was time to get out of the sun, as the clouds had cleared up by now. We took a taxi back to the beach and from there, we took the collectivo back to Playa del Carmen. This time, we decided to take a taxi from there to the hotel instead of walking the rest, because unfortunately, I wasn't feeling well anymore. But once we reached the hotel, we could finally rest.