Tucked away in the jungle just outside town, this place feels like you’ve stumbled into a secret world. Think lush greenery, wooden pathways weaving through palm trees, and flashes of the brightest turquoise water peeking through the leaves.
Casa Tortuga is made up of four cenotes. Two are open-air with sunlight pouring in, turning the water into glittering shades of blue.
The other two are cave cenotes making them moodier, cooler, and slightly mysterious in the most fascinating way.
The water is refreshingly cold but once you’re in, you never want to get out of those freshwater pools. We swam around, jumped in from the rocky edges and my boyfriend even performed his trademark backflip off one of the highest platforms!
What I loved most was how different each cenote felt. One minute you’re in full sun, backstroking under blue skies, the next you’re in a quiet cave, voices echoing softly off ancient limestone walls.
If you’re in Tulum and fancy swapping beach clubs for something wilder and more adventurous for the day, Casa Tortuga is your sign ❤
From the peaceful oasis of our rooftop at Hotelito Azul in Tulum, sundown felt like a private show from nature on repeat every night just for us.
Each evening we’d make our way up to the hotel rooftop, barefoot and sun-kissed from the day, quietly anticipating the main event.
No beach crowds, no music; just us, the sky and the endless stretch of jungle unfolding in every direction.
Of course we added a touch of extra romance with a lovely bottle of vino and some nibbles too.
From up there, Tulum felt wild and untouched, a sea of luscious green treetops rolling towards the horizon.
Those jungle sunsets just hit different with the sun dipping gently behind layers of green, disappearing into the earth as if the jungle itself is cradling it for the night.
The air cools, the breeze softens, and the sky lingers in pastel hues long after the sun has gone to bed.
Then before you know it, twilight is upon us and the moon glows majestically up above, before dusk soon rolls in and the night sky takes over.
It became our favourite part of our evenings in Tulum, a golden hour goodnight wrapped in warmth, colour and serenity ❤
For me, I can’t think of a more perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon on holiday than to relax poolside at a beach club and soak up the sun whilst getting lost in a good book.
Being one of the more chilled beach clubs, as opposed to Taboo or Tantra where the music was so loud you wouldn’t be able to hear yourself speak, we decided to head to Mia which was just a 15 minute walk along the beachfront from our hotel.
We claimed a cabana by the pool where the soundtrack for the afternoon was waves rolling in, ice clinking in cans and music humming in the background.
The sun shimmered across the water, palm trees swayed lazily overhead, and somewhere beyond the infinity edge, the sea moved in a steady, soothing rhythm.
I stretched out under the sun on our cabana with my current book Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid. She’s one of my favourite authors and there’s something about reading her stories while on holiday that feels indulgent in the best way.
Book in one hand and a cold Coke Zero beading with condensation in the other, absolute bliss.
My boyfriend opted for a beer and we lay there for a few hours content as can be, holiday mode fully activated.
Between chapters and conversation we dipped in and out of the pool, letting the sun warm our shoulders before slipping back into the cool water.
It was one of those afternoons where nothing extraordinary happens, yet everything feels just perfect.
No rush, no plans, just golden sunlight, salty air, and that quiet happiness that settles in your chest when you realise you’re exactly where you’re meant to be ❤
There are some places you visit on holiday once and then there are the places you accidentally turn into a daily ritual; for us in Tulum, that place was Raw Love.
A fully vegan health café tucked right on the beach surrounded by palms giving serious Bali energy from the moment you walk in.
Barefoot in the sand, shaded by swaying palm trees with the ocean breeze rolling through, it’s the kind of spot that makes you want to slow down and stay a while.
The menu is an all-day breakfast lover’s paradise so this place was a dream for me.
Think vibrant smoothie bowls piled high with toppings, perfectly smashed avo toast, hearty nutrient-packed salads, and homemade raw desserts that somehow taste indulgent but wholesome at the same time.
Every dish looks like art and tastes even better.
Just an 8 minute walk from our hotel, it quickly became our go-to morning routine.
Most days started with one of their glorious smoothie bowls; colourful, refreshing, and packed full of goodness that made us feel energised for the day ahead.
Add a good strong coffee, friendly staff who genuinely make you feel welcome, and food that leaves your body feeling amazing, and it’s easy to see why we kept coming back.
A little slice of beachside wellness that turns breakfast into a ritual and makes you feel like you’re doing something kind for your mind, body and soul while on holiday. And honestly, that’s the best kind of souvenir to bring home.
If we ever find ourselves back in Tulum, we already know exactly where our first breakfast will be ❤
I can’t think of a better way to spend a Friday early evening on holiday than taking a stroll down the playa at golden hour and breathing in every hue of the stunning skies as the sun sets.
We arrived at Bagatelle just in time for the horizon awash with pink candy floss tones before the twilight hours were upon us.
Set upon the iconic Playa Paraiso overlooking the Caribbean Sea, Bagatelle Tulum seamlessly mixes the luxury of its French brand with that boho chic Tulum vibe.
My Friday fit were these super cute ASOS butter yellow ruffle hot-pants, paired with a white cropped satin blouse layered over a cream bandeau bikini top, my Sol Concept ruffle heeled mules, and a Topshop butter yellow handbag to match the buttermilk tones of the fit.
And not forgetting plenty of gold and pearl summer themed jewellery and a pair of Celine sunnies to complete the look. I’m obsessed with the subtle ruffle details of this fit and you simply can’t go wrong with butter yellow for summer.
As we sipped our cocktails and watched dusk roll in, it felt like our very own little piece of the French Riviera in the heart of the Riviera Maya.
We enjoyed impeccable service and an electric ambiance that blends laid-back luxury with beachside party vibes.
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 ❤
Happy Sunday! It’s been a week since we returned from 12 glorious days in the Mexican sun and I’m only just getting over the jet lag. I was thrown back in at the deep-end with work last week as we were hosting an event in London on Tuesday, but I do thrive on routine so it was good to get back to usual programming. As you can imagine, I have a shedload of content to share from Tulum so I will posting all of the aesthetic photos and reliving the highlights of our trip over the next series of posts on here…so do stay tuned!
Starting with our accommodation, we stayed at Hotelito Azul located on the popular Beach Road for the duration of our time in Tulum.
We booked one of their garden view villas which was very spacious with a double sink ensuite and aesthetic boho-chic decor.
I particularly liked the tall ceilings and the bed was so big and very comfy indeed.
Our maid Griselda was absolutely lovely and went to the effort of making us a different towel animal every day.
One of the biggest draws to this hotel was the infinity pool on the rooftop overlooking the beach one side, and the luscious green jungle on the other.
Unfortunately the rooftop was out of action for food and drinks service during our stay which was such a shame as the views were spectacular.
We made the most of it though and took our own bottle of wine and nibbles up for sunsets as this really is such a gorgeous and unique spot for sundown in Tulum.
On our first day we wanted to familiarise ourselves with the area, so we went for a walk back down the road towards the town and found a perfect local cafe for delicious smoothie bowls.
Raw Love vegan cafe soon became our favourite place for the most healthy and yummy all day breakfast bowls.
Further up the road was a cluster of cute restaurants, bars and shops.
Seeing this soft top Mini Cooper driving through town made me wish I could have my own Mini there to scoot around in.
Later that afternoon we decided to hire push bikes to explore the rest of the beach road on the other side of our hotel.
We road all along the beach road through the most popular part where Bagatelle, Ilios and Casa Banana are located alongside lots of chic boutique shops.
I was thrilled to find the iconic ‘Follow That Dream’ road sign which is quite far up the road where it seems a lot less busy nowadays.
Before heading back to our hotel, we stopped by Mia beach club on our way back to have a bite to eat overlooking the beach.
I indulged in my first Margarita of the trip and it didn’t disappoint with a perfectly sweet and spicy finish.
My boyfriend had a pepperoni pizza which I had a slice of too. Not exactly an authentic Mexican dish, but you can’t go wrong with a pizza sometimes.
That evening I wore an all white fit for our first meal out in town.
We ended up at Ilios restaurant which I had pinned as the best place for Greek food in the area and it certainly met those expectations.
The interiors here are on point and we were even treated to a brilliant fire show performance!
We had the hummus with flatbread to start, my boyfriend opted for the chicken gyros and of course I ordered the Greek salad which was divine.
With a time difference of minus 5 hours, we were absolutely knackered and got an early night ready to wake up fresh on Mexican time.
So that’s an overview of our first day in Tulum and I can’t wait to share all of the amazing adventures and memories we made together during our two weeks in tropical paradise ❤
And so we find ourselves; it’s mid January, the weather is miserable here in the uk, so we are jetting off in search of sunshine this week. On Tuesday morning we’ll be heading to the airport and boarding the plane to Mexico and I cannot wait for some much needed winter sun on my skin.
We’ll be staying in the coastal town of Tulum known for its ultra cool, boho-chic vibes and picturesque, palm lined, white sand beaches.
My birthday is at the end of January and my boyfriend’s is the beginning of February, so getting away at this time of year is a must for us. Why be in cold, rainy England where everyone is on diets and doing Dry Jan, when we can hop on a plane and escape to warmer climates and tropical beachside living!?
We will be there for just under two weeks so the tan will be tanning and being a beach bum will become my full personality!
Hotelito Azul is where we will be staying for the two weeks, located right on the beach amongst all the best beach clubs and aesthetic restaurants.
I’m thinking fresh coconuts by the sea, a good book in hand and tapping into that boho-chic vibe with all of my cutest holiday wardrobe pieces.
As always I’ve made a Pinterest board for our trip and also have an extensive list of all the top spots nearby our hotel including Papaya Playa, Bagatelle, Ziggy, Taboo and Ilios.
Mexican cuisine is one of our favourites so my inner foodie is super excited for all the delicious authentic food we have to tantalise our tastebuds.
And not forgetting it being the home of the classic margarita, so my hopes are high for some epic beachside cocktails.
I plan on consuming bucket loads of guac with tortilla chips, plenty of fresh tropical fruits and all the seafood including fish tacos and the freshest ceviche.
Aside from all the relaxing beach time, we will definitely be going on a few day trips further afield to see the amazing landscape and nature Mexico has to offer.
We already have booked snorkelling with turtles which was on my goals list for 2026, such a special and unique opportunity in Mexico.
Exploring the breathtaking cenotes is another must while we’re there. A cenote is a natural pit or sinkhole, formed from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes a pool of crystal-clear groundwater, common in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and sacred to the ancient Maya as portals to the underworld.
Seeing these natural pools and swimming in their vibrant turquoise waters will be other worldly, like we’re in a dream fantasy world!
The Mayan ruins are another spectacular historical attraction we will have to visit during our stay.
This walled pre-Columbian city perches on 12 meter cliffs overlooking the turquoise Caribbean Sea, known for its dramatic coastal setting, unique walled fortifications, and status as one of the last Mayan cities built.
I’ve already brought a few pieces to add to my ever growing holiday wardrobe, but I’m also excited to shop the boho chic boutiques and bazars when we get there to achieve the ultimate Tulum beach girl aesthetic.
I have a feeling we’re going to love Tulum with its aesthetic charm, cool coastal vibes and stunning white sand beaches of dreams; nos vemos pronto México! ❤
Dani Aneka 