February 2nd - Tulum
When booking this holiday we decided it was time for something completely different. Just to try. And if we like it, we may have found a new 'to return to' holiday destination. As we didn't know what to expect we were a little nervous about our choice in the days prior to our flight out .. .
We had found a very good offer for the flight from Brussels to Cancun at Jetairfly. Adding excess luggage for our diving gear only to our booking only added another €40. So Yucatan, Mexico, it will be. On TA we found nice places to stay in Tulum, so a destination was found as well! Cabana la Luna in Tulum.
Tulum was my bucket list any way. The image of the Maya Temple on top of a white beach impressed me already many moons ago. And now we are finally going there.
Once the plane the 12 hours plus flight happened to be 10:30 hours only (one prior worry gone), and the additional booked leg room (€15 pp one way) a good choice. Hopefully the taxi picking us up also checked the actual arrival, so we don't have to wait 2 hours in Cancun airport. It seem changing the time (day light saving) is too difficult for Belgian air carriers [we remember Port Ghalib too well .. ].
The whole flight we expected to land at 17:45 hours. At arrival it was already 18:30 hours. Aha, the time had been changed.
Picking up luggage and customs was quick. The immigration check (we were picked out for a detailed browse through our stuff) was quick and without any issue as well. Roberto was already waiting for us. 1:45 minutes later we arrived at our home for the next week and a bit.
Edmonda, Dutch (!), explains a bit about La Luna and shows us our room. A quick dinner and than ... sleep. We are soo tired.
We had found a very good offer for the flight from Brussels to Cancun at Jetairfly. Adding excess luggage for our diving gear only to our booking only added another €40. So Yucatan, Mexico, it will be. On TA we found nice places to stay in Tulum, so a destination was found as well! Cabana la Luna in Tulum.
Tulum was my bucket list any way. The image of the Maya Temple on top of a white beach impressed me already many moons ago. And now we are finally going there.
Once the plane the 12 hours plus flight happened to be 10:30 hours only (one prior worry gone), and the additional booked leg room (€15 pp one way) a good choice. Hopefully the taxi picking us up also checked the actual arrival, so we don't have to wait 2 hours in Cancun airport. It seem changing the time (day light saving) is too difficult for Belgian air carriers [we remember Port Ghalib too well .. ].
The whole flight we expected to land at 17:45 hours. At arrival it was already 18:30 hours. Aha, the time had been changed.
Picking up luggage and customs was quick. The immigration check (we were picked out for a detailed browse through our stuff) was quick and without any issue as well. Roberto was already waiting for us. 1:45 minutes later we arrived at our home for the next week and a bit.
Edmonda, Dutch (!), explains a bit about La Luna and shows us our room. A quick dinner and than ... sleep. We are soo tired.
February 3rd - Cabanas la Luna
We wake up early (4:30), but fall asleep again. Well after 7:00 we really wake up. Unpack and breakfast. Edmonda tells us a little more about La Luna, Tulum, Mexico, ... .
Our first day has started, and we will take a slow one .. . A nice stroll over the beautiful beach (left side) .. and back. A lovely lunch back at La Luna. (Edmonda asks if we want to join tomorrows BBQ. Sure, we had kind of planned that any way).
Time to explore the beach turning right. And back. Yes, we picked the right spot to stay. OMG already time for dinner. One last glimpse over the beach and beautiful ocean before the sun sets.
Tomorrow bike riding?
Our first day has started, and we will take a slow one .. . A nice stroll over the beautiful beach (left side) .. and back. A lovely lunch back at La Luna. (Edmonda asks if we want to join tomorrows BBQ. Sure, we had kind of planned that any way).
Time to explore the beach turning right. And back. Yes, we picked the right spot to stay. OMG already time for dinner. One last glimpse over the beach and beautiful ocean before the sun sets.
Tomorrow bike riding?
February 4th - Rain
It is only our 2nd day, so again a slow start. First a good full Mexican breakfast (for me, Petra insists on her daily oatmeal). And, as Edmonda advised us, signing last nights bill. Hmmm. That's not right. Five whine, we had only three. And yesterdays lunch I had already signed yesterday. Let's check at reception what happened. "Crazy system" A little later, we were already back at the beach, she popped by to show how it had been corrected. Better keep an eye on the bills next days. Just to be sure.
During breakfast it rained, so we skip the bike ride plan. Soon after the sun appears and we decide to enjoy a lazy day at the lovely beach.
Petra wants to take some 'jump' pictures on the beach. Sure, no problem.
Time to try the ocean. Nice and warm, but way to heavy waves to really swim. Lunch: 2x Akumal (ginger, pineapple, orange .. yummy), 1x Mexican Chevice, 1x Shrimp cocktail and 2x espresso. The last one covered by the roof over the restaurant terrace. Hopefully the rain leaves before tonight's BBQ starts.
Another nice walk over the beach. To right, the best looking side. Checking out some lunch/dinner alternatives for the coming days.
All precautions had been taken to tackle the rain during the BBQ. The BBQ is full of nice stuff and they have a very nice Band playing: Abril en Paris. We will be back next week!
During breakfast it rained, so we skip the bike ride plan. Soon after the sun appears and we decide to enjoy a lazy day at the lovely beach.
Petra wants to take some 'jump' pictures on the beach. Sure, no problem.
Time to try the ocean. Nice and warm, but way to heavy waves to really swim. Lunch: 2x Akumal (ginger, pineapple, orange .. yummy), 1x Mexican Chevice, 1x Shrimp cocktail and 2x espresso. The last one covered by the roof over the restaurant terrace. Hopefully the rain leaves before tonight's BBQ starts.
Another nice walk over the beach. To right, the best looking side. Checking out some lunch/dinner alternatives for the coming days.
All precautions had been taken to tackle the rain during the BBQ. The BBQ is full of nice stuff and they have a very nice Band playing: Abril en Paris. We will be back next week!
February 5th - Booking a dive
After breakfast, Petra here daily oatmeal, me just a standard Continental (still full from last night's BBQ), we check yesterdays bills. Breakfast, check. Dinner, check. Lunch, nowhere to be found. They had some issues with the 'machine' at that time they say. Let's see if it pops up later this week.
Time to hop in the taxi and go to Mexidivers to book a Cenote dive. $70 excluding gear, wow. Diving is not cheap here! And the place didn't feel good. So for that money we better check out some others as well. Let's check down town Tulum. I had mailed with Koox Diving Tulum a few weeks ago, so let's have a look there as well. Feel a lot better. We are now talking to someone who is interested in diving (and not an uninterested sales guy). And we save a few bucks going here as well.
Tomorrow at 13:00 we'll be back and do two dives: Angelita and Car Wash. Still not cheap ($145 including gear for 2 dives), but it seems that is the normal cost here. If it is fun we go back for Dos Ojos and the Pit on Saturday.
Back for lunch on the beach (2x Fish Taco, Akumal, Corona, 2x Espresso). The ocean is gorgeous and sun shines ... life is good!
A lazy afternoon at the beach. Doing little to nothing feels very good. Seems we need the rest. In the early evening we stroll over the beach. A light rain pushes us back. As we arrive back at La Luna the rain had already stopped and the warm breeze had dried us up.
Dinner at La Luna. Boring? Maybe so. But the food is good, so why go elsewhere? Chicken Marsala for Petra and Fish with Capers for me. Best dinner until now.
Time to hop in the taxi and go to Mexidivers to book a Cenote dive. $70 excluding gear, wow. Diving is not cheap here! And the place didn't feel good. So for that money we better check out some others as well. Let's check down town Tulum. I had mailed with Koox Diving Tulum a few weeks ago, so let's have a look there as well. Feel a lot better. We are now talking to someone who is interested in diving (and not an uninterested sales guy). And we save a few bucks going here as well.
Tomorrow at 13:00 we'll be back and do two dives: Angelita and Car Wash. Still not cheap ($145 including gear for 2 dives), but it seems that is the normal cost here. If it is fun we go back for Dos Ojos and the Pit on Saturday.
Back for lunch on the beach (2x Fish Taco, Akumal, Corona, 2x Espresso). The ocean is gorgeous and sun shines ... life is good!
A lazy afternoon at the beach. Doing little to nothing feels very good. Seems we need the rest. In the early evening we stroll over the beach. A light rain pushes us back. As we arrive back at La Luna the rain had already stopped and the warm breeze had dried us up.
Dinner at La Luna. Boring? Maybe so. But the food is good, so why go elsewhere? Chicken Marsala for Petra and Fish with Capers for me. Best dinner until now.
February 6th - Cenotes
Slow and relaxed morning at the beach. We have our lunch here as well as we need to be at Koox at 13:00. We have to push a little as we don't want to dive on a full stomach. There it is, our yummy fish sandwich to share.
Man, what a lot of weight to carry! Edmonda, who also just happens to leave, bargains for us, saving us a few bucks on the taxi ride. There we go. At Koox a senorita books us in. Our dive guide, called BB (or BéBé?), will arrive soon. He checks our certification (so they actually do that!). A little chat, a final check if we have everything and off we go. The first Cenote we do is Angelita. I had read about this one and checked it on YouTube. BB, a very nice guy by the way, does the briefing. The same is also very clearly explained on the signs at the dive site. He warns us that, due to the fact it is our first Cenote dive and due to this being a very special Cenote: through a sulfur layer to end up in a "Tim Burton Movie" night dive ... well below 30 meter, it may be a little scary!
Only 2 other divers and their guide next to us. A short walk through the jungle to reach the pond. We descent and after a little while the under water river (@ 28 meters) appears.
A layer of sulfur, like white thick smog, created by the rotted plants that fell into to the Cenote, splits the sweet (above) and salt (below) water. In the middle an "island" (the collapsed roof of the Cenote) with some dead trees on it. We slowly decent in the sulfur ... which you can taste (yak).
And than we are in a night dive. Pitch black it is. When you shine the dive light you see dead trees everywhere. BB didn't lie, it really looks (and feels) like a horror movie. Time to go back to the light and the sweet water.
I look around a little, and than look at my dive computer. I am still at 25 meters and was down to 38,2 meter (!), wow. Only 6 minutes left before deco, and we are just in the water. Time to further ascent, look a but around and do our safety stop. After 35 minutes the dive had ended. Petra is nauseous and found it not comfortable. Yep, it was a challenging 1st dive.
Off to the 2nd Cenote: Car Wash (Aktun Ha). First eat the sandwiches and feed to 4 lovely dogs around the car. We have a good time chatting with BB from Guadalajara.
The 2nd Cenote is a more classic one. It is also being used a Guide and Cave Dive training site, so this one lacks the "Ropes to follow". The guide (BB) needs to tie them up when going in, and take them out returning. So we start BB followed by Petra followed by me, and we return me followed by Petra followed by BB. The most impressing part is the sign STOP. At the end we actually, with a big curve, are almost back in the pond, and you can see the exit all the time. So the ropes and routine seem a little overdone. But roles are roles, and I am sure when it's busy (and full of sediment) it may be badly needed.
Once back in the pond I realize that Cenotes are not my thing. Seeing the fish brings back the smile on my face. When we are out I see Petra is having the same thoughts. We are glad we tried, but one afternoon is enough for us. Even so if it was a lot cheaper (I think these were our most expensive dives ever, for sure per minute!).
After we had been shown by the gardener where the local crocodile ran off to (if your lucky you can see it in the pond!), BB takes us back to La Luna. What a joyful nice guy!
Man, what a lot of weight to carry! Edmonda, who also just happens to leave, bargains for us, saving us a few bucks on the taxi ride. There we go. At Koox a senorita books us in. Our dive guide, called BB (or BéBé?), will arrive soon. He checks our certification (so they actually do that!). A little chat, a final check if we have everything and off we go. The first Cenote we do is Angelita. I had read about this one and checked it on YouTube. BB, a very nice guy by the way, does the briefing. The same is also very clearly explained on the signs at the dive site. He warns us that, due to the fact it is our first Cenote dive and due to this being a very special Cenote: through a sulfur layer to end up in a "Tim Burton Movie" night dive ... well below 30 meter, it may be a little scary!
Only 2 other divers and their guide next to us. A short walk through the jungle to reach the pond. We descent and after a little while the under water river (@ 28 meters) appears.
A layer of sulfur, like white thick smog, created by the rotted plants that fell into to the Cenote, splits the sweet (above) and salt (below) water. In the middle an "island" (the collapsed roof of the Cenote) with some dead trees on it. We slowly decent in the sulfur ... which you can taste (yak).
And than we are in a night dive. Pitch black it is. When you shine the dive light you see dead trees everywhere. BB didn't lie, it really looks (and feels) like a horror movie. Time to go back to the light and the sweet water.
I look around a little, and than look at my dive computer. I am still at 25 meters and was down to 38,2 meter (!), wow. Only 6 minutes left before deco, and we are just in the water. Time to further ascent, look a but around and do our safety stop. After 35 minutes the dive had ended. Petra is nauseous and found it not comfortable. Yep, it was a challenging 1st dive.
Off to the 2nd Cenote: Car Wash (Aktun Ha). First eat the sandwiches and feed to 4 lovely dogs around the car. We have a good time chatting with BB from Guadalajara.
The 2nd Cenote is a more classic one. It is also being used a Guide and Cave Dive training site, so this one lacks the "Ropes to follow". The guide (BB) needs to tie them up when going in, and take them out returning. So we start BB followed by Petra followed by me, and we return me followed by Petra followed by BB. The most impressing part is the sign STOP. At the end we actually, with a big curve, are almost back in the pond, and you can see the exit all the time. So the ropes and routine seem a little overdone. But roles are roles, and I am sure when it's busy (and full of sediment) it may be badly needed.
Once back in the pond I realize that Cenotes are not my thing. Seeing the fish brings back the smile on my face. When we are out I see Petra is having the same thoughts. We are glad we tried, but one afternoon is enough for us. Even so if it was a lot cheaper (I think these were our most expensive dives ever, for sure per minute!).
After we had been shown by the gardener where the local crocodile ran off to (if your lucky you can see it in the pond!), BB takes us back to La Luna. What a joyful nice guy!
Jos: 35 [min] / 38.5 [m] | Petra: 35 [min] / 36.1 [m]
Jos: 42 [min] / 15.5 [m] | Petra: 42 [min] / 15.6 [m]
Dinner. What do we do? Just stay here. No hassle? Yes! 2x Special of the day: Seafood Fettuccine. Inside this time, the wind is chilly.
February 7th - Moving Houses
Exiting day today, we are moving rooms. At the time we booked a lot of hotels were already full. Also Cabanas la Luna didn't have one room for the complete stay. So decided to book 5 Marrakesh and 6 nights Marco Polo. On paper, based on the rate per night, a downgrade. Let's see. Marrakesh had a beautiful view, but the set-up wasn't very practical.
After checking at reception if our new room was ready (Edmonda said it would be ready by 13:30 for sure). Still cleaning. At 14:30 we get our key.
Our jaw dropped when entering the room. The room is MUCH bigger than we thought it would be. And beautiful. And the view is good as well. We are happy :-) "Should we have booked this one for the complete stay?" "O, I remember. That wasn't possible".
Today they have another band playing. Man, this place ... so good. A lovely holiday on a gorgeous beach in a cozy hotel. And we still have another week!
After checking at reception if our new room was ready (Edmonda said it would be ready by 13:30 for sure). Still cleaning. At 14:30 we get our key.
Our jaw dropped when entering the room. The room is MUCH bigger than we thought it would be. And beautiful. And the view is good as well. We are happy :-) "Should we have booked this one for the complete stay?" "O, I remember. That wasn't possible".
Today they have another band playing. Man, this place ... so good. A lovely holiday on a gorgeous beach in a cozy hotel. And we still have another week!
February 8th - To bike or not to bike
Petra woke up early. I simply couldn't wake up. Man, I slept soo well. The room is warmer. The bed is bigger. That all helps. During breakfast Petra proposes to go for a bike ride. No idea that we had planned that, but okay. According Sarah (Dutch girl from Breda doing her internship here ... nice), there was only 1 bike available. When I checked a little later I saw she was right. Arranging a 2nd one could take hours. No, that will take too long.
We decide to walk the direction we intended to go. Not to rent a bike at the nearby shop ... luckily, as that was closed today. No just, walk and explore a little. The weather is nice, so we stroll passed all shops. Having a look here and there. At BeTulum we go back to the beach and return to La Luna. Todays activity has been completed. We watch the day passing by from our beach beds.
We really enjoy our "nothing should anything goes" holiday. Where the 'nothing' seems the preferred option.
Specialty of the day: Fresh Lobster. Yummy!
We decide to walk the direction we intended to go. Not to rent a bike at the nearby shop ... luckily, as that was closed today. No just, walk and explore a little. The weather is nice, so we stroll passed all shops. Having a look here and there. At BeTulum we go back to the beach and return to La Luna. Todays activity has been completed. We watch the day passing by from our beach beds.
We really enjoy our "nothing should anything goes" holiday. Where the 'nothing' seems the preferred option.
Specialty of the day: Fresh Lobster. Yummy!
February 9th - Ruins
Flying all the way to Tulum without seeing the main attraction. No, that's not an option! Time to head that way than. Barely 7 km by taxi. And it seems no too busy (yet?). Obviously the buses from Playa del Carmen and Cancun park somewhere else, as the majority of the people come from another direction. 64 Pesos (so actually 'for free').
The site is not too big. But very beautiful, with a kind of serenity over it. We look around and take some pictures. Slowly slowly it gets busier and busier. To our surprise we hear (nearly) no Dutch. Strange, we run into our fellow country man all across the world, at the strangest places. We hear a lot of France. Typical, as we seldom encounter French people.
Snap! SCREAM .. Aaauu. Petra twists her ankle. She can still walk(ish), but at first we were afraid we just saw the end of the holidays. After another peep left and right and some final pics, we head back to La Luna.
Petra's ankle is quite swollen. Let's see what they have at reception. They only have a regular bandage, but that does the job for now. The rest of the afternoon we spend daydreaming, glaring over the ocean.
In the evening we decide to try something else for dinner. We wanted to try Shiva (Indian), but with Petra's ankle that was (way) too far. We end up at Ziggy's at the Beach. A very good choice with excellent food, just around the corner.
The site is not too big. But very beautiful, with a kind of serenity over it. We look around and take some pictures. Slowly slowly it gets busier and busier. To our surprise we hear (nearly) no Dutch. Strange, we run into our fellow country man all across the world, at the strangest places. We hear a lot of France. Typical, as we seldom encounter French people.
Snap! SCREAM .. Aaauu. Petra twists her ankle. She can still walk(ish), but at first we were afraid we just saw the end of the holidays. After another peep left and right and some final pics, we head back to La Luna.
Petra's ankle is quite swollen. Let's see what they have at reception. They only have a regular bandage, but that does the job for now. The rest of the afternoon we spend daydreaming, glaring over the ocean.
In the evening we decide to try something else for dinner. We wanted to try Shiva (Indian), but with Petra's ankle that was (way) too far. We end up at Ziggy's at the Beach. A very good choice with excellent food, just around the corner.
February 10th - Bycicle
Three bikes? No two. And, eh, we are not the "Jungle Room". "Ah. I thought it was the same reservation". Bad luck for the other folks than, and luckily we were early. To the left.
At the Gate of the Sian Ka'an Reserve they tell us the restaurant is 3 km. Okay, we can do that. Sign in (all people who enter need to register), and off we go. Hmmm. No restaurant to be found. And we are riding already some time. "The next 2 km or more is Private Houses only. No Restaurant. You better go back.". Which we do. Some 30 minutes later (so 5 to 6 km) we are back at the Gate. Still didn't see any restaurant!?
On our way back we stop a while at La Luna, and than continue to Mezzanine. Thai food. Looking forward to that. The view is breathtaking, but it is very warm on the terrace. The salad we ordered (green papaya and crispy beef) tasted very good, but I thought it was a little small (Petra said I was whining, they are this size everywhere!).
On our way back we buy a hammock for Elly. And than quickly back to our beach.
Dinner again at Ziggy's. Very good!
At the Gate of the Sian Ka'an Reserve they tell us the restaurant is 3 km. Okay, we can do that. Sign in (all people who enter need to register), and off we go. Hmmm. No restaurant to be found. And we are riding already some time. "The next 2 km or more is Private Houses only. No Restaurant. You better go back.". Which we do. Some 30 minutes later (so 5 to 6 km) we are back at the Gate. Still didn't see any restaurant!?
On our way back we stop a while at La Luna, and than continue to Mezzanine. Thai food. Looking forward to that. The view is breathtaking, but it is very warm on the terrace. The salad we ordered (green papaya and crispy beef) tasted very good, but I thought it was a little small (Petra said I was whining, they are this size everywhere!).
On our way back we buy a hammock for Elly. And than quickly back to our beach.
Dinner again at Ziggy's. Very good!
February 11th - Airport Transfer
Before we forget, we still have to arrange the airport transfer back. And that is less easy than I thought. I didn't expect the 16% tax to be added if we put it on the hotel bill (I remember now Koox also mentioned this difference between cash and credit card). So can pay cash or directly to the transfer company (Tucan Kin). We decide the latter. 3 Hrs later we get the answer: pay cash or PayPal (+5%) .... and no link to PayPal. Hmmm ... this is not working.
In the evening we check with Edmonda. Yes, 16% ... . But okay a local taxi ($90) + 16% is still better than $125++. "You can also ask the taxi to stop at the bank". "Or I can draw some cash tonight on my way home, if you are okay with that and trust me to do that?". We agree on the last one.
It's BBQ night. Abril en Paris is playing. We enjoy it a lot!
Tomorrow is our last day at this lovely place. Let's enjoy every minute of it.
In the evening we check with Edmonda. Yes, 16% ... . But okay a local taxi ($90) + 16% is still better than $125++. "You can also ask the taxi to stop at the bank". "Or I can draw some cash tonight on my way home, if you are okay with that and trust me to do that?". We agree on the last one.
It's BBQ night. Abril en Paris is playing. We enjoy it a lot!
Tomorrow is our last day at this lovely place. Let's enjoy every minute of it.
February 12th - Last Day (45)
We are late out of bed today. All tables in the sun are already occupied. We have time, so we wait until one frees up.
Edmonda is at reception. "I tried 5 ATMs last night". "None of them had US dollars". "So I called the taxi company". "They confirmed it to be $1200mxn, so that is what have drawn for you". So sweet. All is arranged now. Time for breakfast. A table in the sun has freed up. And than to the beach, 3 steps down only, to enjoy a lovely sunny day slowly passing by.
A nice lunch. Some hanging in the waves. A walk over the beach ... .
And than that unwelcome moment: packing. We both are not looking forward to leaving this place. Live is soo good in this Caribbean Bubble. Not looking forward to work and winter. And than that other thing: at home I just turned 46. Here I still can enjoy a few hours of being 45 ... haha. So let's enjoy those few hours.
Despite the fresh lobster the local fishermen brought this afternoon, we decide to return to the neighbors for dinner. The lobster is good, but I already had that. And I didn't taste the Surf and Turf yet. (good choice!)
There are nicer ways to spend your holiday than flying halfway across the world. But it is what it is. First pay (less than I thought) and a last breakfast. The taxi is already waiting. Luggage in and there we go: 1:30 hrs to the airport, 2:30 hrs of waiting, 50 min to Varadero (Cabu), a little wait, 7:15 hrs (yes, THAT fast) to Brussels and than 1:30 hrs drive back home to Maastricht.
The Pelicans are badly missed ... .
Edmonda is at reception. "I tried 5 ATMs last night". "None of them had US dollars". "So I called the taxi company". "They confirmed it to be $1200mxn, so that is what have drawn for you". So sweet. All is arranged now. Time for breakfast. A table in the sun has freed up. And than to the beach, 3 steps down only, to enjoy a lovely sunny day slowly passing by.
A nice lunch. Some hanging in the waves. A walk over the beach ... .
And than that unwelcome moment: packing. We both are not looking forward to leaving this place. Live is soo good in this Caribbean Bubble. Not looking forward to work and winter. And than that other thing: at home I just turned 46. Here I still can enjoy a few hours of being 45 ... haha. So let's enjoy those few hours.
Despite the fresh lobster the local fishermen brought this afternoon, we decide to return to the neighbors for dinner. The lobster is good, but I already had that. And I didn't taste the Surf and Turf yet. (good choice!)
February 13th - Go Home
There are nicer ways to spend your holiday than flying halfway across the world. But it is what it is. First pay (less than I thought) and a last breakfast. The taxi is already waiting. Luggage in and there we go: 1:30 hrs to the airport, 2:30 hrs of waiting, 50 min to Varadero (Cabu), a little wait, 7:15 hrs (yes, THAT fast) to Brussels and than 1:30 hrs drive back home to Maastricht.
The Pelicans are badly missed ... .
