Tulum and Bacalar

We didn't warm up to Tulum... maybe it was because we both had a stomach infection or maybe it was the unfriendly hostel (the first unpleasant hostel in Mexico) or maybe it was just Tulum itself. We stayed in the center of town and used bikes as our transportation, as the beach is about 30 minutes away from the center. The accommodations at the beach are very expensive... it's ridiculous! The water is really beautiful though, a true turquoise color, but it's just too touristy here. Due to the mentioned stomach issue, we spend one day sweating in the hostel and the next day we visit the Mayan ruins, which are right by the sea, even though we feel a bit sick. We also visit my travel friend Alex, with whom I traveled in Russia and Mongolia. He has been living in Tulum for 5 years and works as a kiteboarding instructor, a nice reunion!

The next day we take a colectivo to Akumal, where you can snorkel with turtles. It was a nice experience for us, but not so much for the turtles, as many people don't keep a distance, touch the animals, scare them... silly humans! The poor animals must be totally stressed! So, we can only partially recommend it and, as I said before, we also didn't like Tulum very much, it was our lowlight in Mexico (everything else was great!). That's why we are leaving earlier than planned. Even though Alex invited us to some things, we have to move on somehow.

So, it can only get better 😊 and it does! Bacalar is amazing! A quiet, small town on the so-called Lagoon of Seven Colors. It's really hot, so we mostly stay near the water, either at the lagoon or at a cenote, which can be found here and where you can swim wonderfully! One day, we went out with a kayak and had to be rescued because a nasty storm was approaching and we wouldn't have been able to make it back with the wind 😆 The hostel is nice again and we meet a great Spanish girl again, whom we had met in Cozumel, and we team up with her, a Mexican couple, and 2 girls from Montreal. We have beautiful days here and after an eventful month in Mexico, we are preparing for the first border crossing into Belize!

After leaving Cozumel, we head south towards Tulum, a city known for being very beautiful. And although it has some things that make it very special like its ruins and its coast full of turquoise colors, it doesn't completely win us over. The reason may be that we are not staying in the most beautiful hostel or because of the large number of tourists around here.

Anyway, we have a good time here. One of the days, we rent bikes for the whole day and first go to the Mayan ruins, which are a bit less spectacular than the ones we saw in Palenque, but located in a very beautiful place by the sea. Then, we visit a French friend of Ninja's, whom she met on her trip to Russia and Mongolia and who now teaches kiteboarding in Tulum.

Another day, we rent snorkeling masks to go to Akumal Bay, where you can see sea turtles. And indeed, we see some, but we don't like how little respect people have for these animals, making a lot of noise, getting too close, and even touching them. Although it is clearly stated in several parts of the beach not to do it. Well, I imagine the turtles will eventually leave here. What a shame.

Our last destination in Mexico is Bacalar, a small and still peaceful town next to a beautiful lagoon. There, we happen to meet Esther, a Spanish girl we met in Cozumel. We team up with two Canadian girls and another Mexican couple. Together, we go swimming at a cenote called Azul and have a great time. The next day, Ninja and I decide to rent a kayak to go to the other side of the lagoon. But when we're returning, a sudden storm starts. Between the wind and the waves, it's impossible to move forward. Luckily, there are several motorboats where we got stuck, and one of them offers to haul the kayak and take us back, thank goodness!

Now we're heading to Belize, to the island of Caye Caulker, where we plan to do some diving!