History of Akumal Mexico

Submitted for your approval on September 24th, 2006 by Tortuga.
Where: Akumal Mexico and Riviera Maya articles.

Akumal Mexico

Akumal Mexico has kept its relaxed, laid back mood amongst boom towns such as Playa Del Carmen and Cancun. Unlike the many pre-planned resort communities popping up on the coast, Akumal is a quaint mexican town with a rich history and a proud local mix of mexicans and ex-patriots.

One of the most notable stories of the area is of Gonzalo Guerrero, a seaman from Palos who was shipwrecked at Akumal and taken hostage and went on to marry a Mayan Princess and begin the first “mestizoss” (Euro-Americans). Wikipedia

The history of Akumal Mexico - Akumal traces its roots back to the Mayan Conquistador Gonzalo Guerrero. A memorial to Guerrero and his family is located inside the town arch.

Just inside the town arch, you will notice a statue of the majestic Mayan warrior, Gonzalo Guerrero and his family.

Guerrero was a Conquistador shipwrecked and captured by indians on the Mayan coast in 1511. He is believed to be the first Spaniard to set foot on Mexican soil.

The daughter of the Mayan chief became Guerrero’s wife and the mother of today’s modern Maya.

Fortunate for Guerrero, the Mayan chief of his captors had a daughter so intrigued by this strange prisoner she chose to marry Guerrero rather than sacrifice him to the gods. Their children were the first mingling of Spanish and Mayan blood.

Guerrero’s descendants - the first mix of Spanish and Mayan blood.

Today, you can see the handsome physical traits of their descendants in the faces of the modern Maya who live and work in Akumal today.

Specifically the history of Akumal Mexico begins in the late 1950s.

Akumal Mexico’s founder Pablo Bush Romero, an adventurer and world explorer who pioneered underwater exploration.

When rediscovered by adventurer and world explorer, Pablo Bush Romero, Akumal was a pristine beach fringed with coconut palms on one side and crystal clear water on the other. With no roads leading to this primitive area, it was virtually undisturbed by man. This worldly traveler was so taken with the beautiful bay he purchased it from a coconut plantation owner and founded a city consisting of a small resort catering to scuba divers.

Akumal memorial to Pablo Bush. This one is a private memorial, one of three located in Akumal.

Bush was also a pioneer in underwater exploration. He united with other distinguished divers and formed CEDAM (Club of Exploration and Water Sports of Mexico). In 1972, Akumal was established as the world headquarters for CEDAM International and CEDAM of Mexico.

Although CEDAM’s headquarters has relocated to the United States, the diving exploration organization left behind an innovative underwater museum that is in Akumal bay today. The museum consists of cannons and anchors that once adorned doomed ships of the past.

The town was officially founded in 1958 as a community for scuba divers by Pablo Bush Romero - a Mexican businessman, diver, writer, historian, and archaeologist. Wikipedia

[Editor’s note: The Akumal DVD contains footage of a CEDAM museum in Puerto Aventuras about 15 minutes north of Akumal. Here are original artifacts found by CEDAM divers as well as paintings of the founding of Akumal when Pablo Bush came ashore. You can also see a free preview here.]

When visiting, be sure to notice the Spanish cannons that stand guard over Akumal bay. They were recovered from their ocean grave by CEDAM divers.

A memorial park was dedicated by the citizens of Akumal to Pablo Bush, the city’s founder.

Also check out these tips…

• Akumal DVD Introduces Akumal to the World

• Akumal Mexico in Quintana Roo on the Riviera Maya

Loaded with tips and things to do in Riviera Maya Akumal. Click here to watch video now.

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