Trade the snow for a beachfront mahjong table
Gather your group, pack your current NMJL card and set up your table steps from the Caribbean this winter. Book by December 12 for the best rates we are offering on winter 2026-27 stays, then mention the codeword MahjAkumal for an additional discount.
Akumal is a small beach town on Mexico's Riviera Maya, about 90 minutes south of Cancun International Airport. Its name means "place of the turtles" in Maya, and its calm bays and beachfront villas make the shaded terrace the best mahjong room you have ever played in.
Two ways to plan the trip
The couples getaway. The tiles come out on the terrace while the men head out on the water. Akumal's reefs are 5 to 10 minutes away by boat, and Akumal Dive Shop, in town since 1975, runs reef dives, cenote dives and sea fishing charters. Everyone is back at the house by sunset for dinner and one more game.
The all-girls tile trip. Mahjong is a four-player game, so choose a home by how many tables you want running. A villa that sleeps 8 seats two tables, one that sleeps 12 seats three, and the largest home below seats five. Between games there are kayaks, beachfront pools and rooftop terraces for sunrise coffee.
Early nights, long games
Akumal is a quiet town. Shops and restaurants wind down by about 9 p.m. and there are no nightclubs, so your evenings belong to your own beachfront terrace.
That is exactly what a mahjong trip needs. Several of the homes below offer cook service, so dinner can come to the table between hands, and the game can run late to the sound of the waves with nobody calling it a night but you.
Where to play: 11 waterfront homes
These homes sleep 8 to 20 guests, with posted high-season rates from $550 a night.
|
Home |
Setting |
Bedrooms |
Sleeps |
Nightly rate, Jan to Mar 20 |
Good for the game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Beachfront, Half Moon Bay |
5 |
20 |
$1,500 |
Cook included, 2 meals a day Mon to Sat; rooftop plunge pool |
|
|
Beachfront, Half Moon Bay |
6 |
14 |
$1,350 |
Two dining tables seating up to 18 each; rooftop terrace for 25 |
|
|
Beachfront, South Akumal |
7 |
14 |
$950 |
Two kitchens; outdoor dining on two levels; cook service |
|
|
Oceanfront, rocky shore; sandy beach a 5-minute walk |
5 |
14 |
$550 |
Fajitas dinner and morning fruit and coffee included; tennis courts |
|
|
Beachfront, South Akumal |
5 |
12 |
$1,150 |
Wraparound pool and heated Jacuzzi; cook from US$10 per person |
|
|
Beachfront, Jade Bay |
4 |
12 |
$900 |
Heated pool; rooftop terrace and bar |
|
|
Lagoonfront, Yal-Ku Lagoon |
5 |
12 |
$750 |
Lagoonside palapa; cook packages from US$480 for 3 days |
|
|
Beachfront, South Akumal |
5 |
11 |
$790 |
Beachfront pool; rooftop terrace; cook service |
|
|
Beachfront, Jade Bay |
5 |
10 |
$900 to $1,000 |
Infinity pool; large outdoor dining table |
|
|
Beachfront, Jade Bay |
4 |
9 |
$800 |
Continental breakfast Mon to Sat; rooftop terrace |
|
|
Beachfront, South Akumal |
4 |
8 |
$620 |
New beachfront pool; four kayaks; cook on request |
Rates are in USD as posted on each listing for 2026 dates, before 22% tax and a US$75 to US$100 damage waiver. High season needs a 5-night minimum. Holiday weeks (Dec 19 to Jan 3) and Presidents' Week cost more, and early winter (Nov 28 to Dec 18) costs less.
Book by December 12, then add MahjAkumal
Book by Dec 12, 2026 to lock in the best deal we are offering this year on winter 2026-27 stays. Then use the codeword MahjAkumal when you book for an additional discount.
Pick your home, gather your players and check dates and book direct with Akumal Direct.
Your mahjong getaway checklist
- Pack your set, racks and current NMJL card in checked luggage, since a full set is heavy.
- Count your tables: one for every four players, plus a spot for whoever sits out a round.
- Tell our team which meals you want cooked before you arrive. Groceries are extra.
- Book dives and fishing charters ahead for anyone who would rather be on the water.
- Bring water shoes, since some shorelines, including parts of Jade Bay, are rocky.
- Check that every traveler has a valid passport.