I recently took a vacation to Akumal, Quintana, Mexico with my boyfriend and his family. This was hands down one of the best trips I’ve ever taken. Akumal is located south of Cancun but north of Tulum, which put us beautifully in between the tourist attractions, without being right in them.

We had the pleasure of staying at Casa Amistad, a spacious house with an ocean side front. The ocean was a little further away from us, due to the Winter season, but if you stayed in the Summer, the ocean would land right at your feet. If you ever have the opportunity to stay there, I highly recommend it. There are loads of places that you can stay though, so you won’t be stuck finding somewhere. If you are still unsure about where to stay then why don’t you check out these beautiful homes for rent in Tulum?

This vacation included experiences like zip lining, checking out Mayan temples, a rain forest tour and even getting a pedicure from fish but the best experience I had on this trip was dining at a Chamico’s.

Chamico’s was recommended by a local who said we’d love it cause this is where the locals actually eat. A lot of the food we on this trip was good but many restaurants were also crowded, had slower service and filled with smoking Euros. Not my bag. My boyfriend told me not to write Chamico’s up. Not because he didn’t love it – but because he loved it so much he’d hate to see it become a “tourist trap.” While I understand where he’s coming from, I just can’t resist sharing this hidden gem with our readers.

Chamico’s
Unnamed road, located in Soliman Bay, Tulum, Mexico

Chamco’s can be a little confusing to find, the best way to get there is to take Soliman Bay Road, go past all the hotels on this street and look for the beachside fish shack. I hope that helps!

This little hut is on the beach and is surrounded by their casual fold-up seating on the beach and plenty of hammocks if you’d like to nibble in one. Be sure to get there earlier in the day, I recommend between 11 AM – 1 PM, so you don’t struggle to get seating. The view of a secluded beach is breathtaking and so different than the other more populated spots in Tulum. The combination of the sun, sand and breeze with your meal adds an extra element of relaxation that is hard to recreate anywhere else.

 

We started with an order of cheese quesadillas. It may have seemed like a little silly to order since it was so simple, since we were at a place known for its seafood, which is in fact fished out of the bay daily by the owner, Chamico, But we were just craving some cheese on this day. Am I really defending why I ordered a quesadilla? Is that what the foodie scene has brought me to? WHATEVER.

 

Ceviche. This is the reason you come to Chamico’s! It was the best ceviche I’ve ever eaten and to have a little lobster added to it made it heavenly. The fish was so fresh; I assume Chamico reeled it in right before we arrived. Combined with lots of lime, Pico de gallo and buttery avocado, it makes for the most mouthwatering dishes I’ve eaten in a very long time. I also devoured those crispy corn tortilla chips; the ceviche juices made them extra special.

Another factor that makes this spot so unique is you can watch your food being cooked. Not that I totally hovered over staff (maybe just a little) but I was able to see them fry our whole fish, and you can see that video here. If only all restaurants allowed us to see what’s going on in the kitchen…

This fish was fried to a crisp, golden perfection. Like the ceviche, the fish was right-out-the-bay fresh and served piping hot off the frying pan. I have never experienced this level of tenderness with fish before, especially after it’s been fried. The flavor was so delicate, not fishy, and the skin was crispy but perfectly salted. This is just one of those rare, amazing eats; you just have to experience it for yourself.

Our tummies were full so instead that of driving around, we just stayed on the beach, even after Chamico’s closed. Watching the sunset on the bay was one of the most relaxing things I’ve ever done. I know my guy didn’t want me to share this experience online, but I wouldn’t feel right about that. I think everyone should go out of their way to experience this. It’s worth sleeping a couple of nights on the couch if he’s reading. 😉

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