Tulum Travel Diaries; Sunset Hues & Moonlit Views At Vagalume

As the afternoon softened into evening on the shores of Tulum in early February, we made our way down the powdery stretch of sand just as the sky began its nightly transformation for our penultimate sunset of the trip.

While Tulum sits on Mexico’s east coast meaning the sun technically sets behind the jungle, the Caribbean still puts on a spectacular show.

For the evening I leaned fully into the boho beach aesthetic with a long brown maxi skirt from ASOS paired with a brown flower detail bikini top, my pearl necklace from By Alona, a butter yellow handbag from Topshop, and my ever faithful Celine sunglasses to complete the look.

Soft blush pinks, pale blues and hints of lavender slowly spilled across the horizon, reflecting off the sea in the most dreamy way.

We wandered along the shoreline as the light shifted minute by minute, the colours becoming richer and more surreal with every step, and the sky melting into a pastel painting above the water.

Eventually we drifted back towards Vagalume to soak in the final moments of the sunset.

Cocktail hour felt essential so naturally I ordered a spicy margarita, my go-to whenever we’re by the sea.

With the last glow of the evening lighting up the beach club, we took a few aesthetic photos along Vagalume’s famous wooden walkway, framed by the sculptural pair of hands that look as if they’re cradling you.

It’s one of those iconic Tulum photo spots that feels just as mesmerising in person as it does online.

As the last traces of colour faded from the sky, the moon appeared bright, full and impossibly majestic high above the sea.

The beach took on a quieter, almost cinematic feeling underneath the moonlight; a magical moment I will never forget ❤

Tulum Travel Diaries; Turquoise Swims With Ancient Turtles

Being my first time in the Caribbean Sea off the shore of Mexico, I was super excited to go snorkelling with turtles in those iconic crystal clear waters. It was a bucket list moment and such a special memory we will cherish forever.

We discovered the tranquil village of Akumal beloved for its sea turtles grazing on seagrass in the shallow bay.

True to its Mayan name ‘place of the turtles’, Akumal welcomes visitors to swim side by side with the spectacular sea life including lots of tropical fish and stingrays too.

Only a 40-minute taxi ride from Tulum we arrived in the quaint village at midday, so started by grabbing a spot of lunch at an authentically whacky local Mexican restaurant.

I had a refreshing plateful of fruit with an iced coffee, whilst my boyfriend had a classic burrito which he claimed to be the best he had during our trip. Local food done well and at a fraction of the prices we were used to in Tulum!

We hadn’t pre-booked any particular tour but instead found a local guide when we arrived on the beach and it was only about £25 each for an hour long guide, lifejacket and snorkel equipment hire.

After a group briefing on the beach, we paddled out together and soon enough we encountered our first sea turtle; but the further we swam out, the clearer the water was and we were able to see the sea turtles in all of their glory.

Every few minutes they have to come up to surface for air and one of them popped up their head right by me! The coral reef and tropical fish were also mesmerising and we even got to see a sting ray on the bottom of the seabed.

In total we probably saw about 5 or 6 different turtles in the hour we were out there and it was a magical experience I’ll cherish forever.

After snorkelling we showered off the sand, changed into dry clothes and went to the beach bar where there was a band playing live music.

We ordered a portion of pico de gallo with tortilla chips as an afternoon snack along with a beer for my boyfriend and a crisp glass of white for me.

Sat there overlooking the white sand beach with the late afternoon sun glistening on the water and the band playing vibey tunes from the bar, I felt in full holiday mode bliss.

On our way back to the taxi rank I spotted a local gift shop where I couldn’t resist a cute little turtle figure for my niece and a fun sombrero hat fridge magnet for my mum.

I’d highly recommend visiting Akumal if you’re looking for somewhere in Mexico to snorkel with turtles as you can also make a day of it with the quaint town offering authentic local food, boutique shopping and a relaxed, beachside vibe perfect for holiday makers wanting to lap up the Mexican sun ❤