Akumal is situated on the eastern Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, some ninety kilometers south of Cancun, between the towns of Playa del Carmen and Tulúm.

Akumal means “Place of the Turtles” in Mayan.

What is CEA: Centro Ecológico Akumal (CEA) was founded in 1993, to “monitor the impact of development on the regional ecosystems and culture, to report findings and their significance to the public through education, and influence public policy”.

CEA has, since its foundation, worked within the Akumal community on the following issues:

• Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Protection Program,
• Sea Turtle Protection, Conservation and Research Program,
• Water Quality Program,
• Environmental Sustainability Program,
• Environmental Education and Communication Program.

In addition to its own independent research, CEA hosts visiting researchers and experts in various fields from around the world.

CEA has a Volunteer Program for individuals who wish to donate their time and expertise to help this small ecological group meet its goals. Volunteers input data to computer, write, edit, create publications, do systems, as well as other tasks.

Participants are expected to be enthusiastic, adventurous, be able to work as part of a team, be respectful of the host country’s environment and cultures, and have a good sense of humor.

CEA has two offices, where you can study and do all your data processing, with a lot of books, documentation and scientific papers.

You will be living in community for a long period of time, thus you are expected to have a proper attitude and be respectful of others.

Use of drugs or any illegal substance is strictly prohibited, and anyone caught using them will immediately be asked to leave CEA without condition.