Last week of the year, our last week in Mexico and our first week with a friend staying with us in the campervan - the expectations were high for our week in the Yucatan. We prayed for milder temperatures at night (even installing a fan above our bed), and we researched and researched recommended places to stay…. And the Yucatan lived up to it’s representation as a perfect holiday destination! New Years eve was spent on an immaculate white sand beach with our Argentinian overlanding neighbours. We ate our 12 grapes as the clock struck midnight and then, while Manon looked after our children, Florent and I managed to sneak into the pool side party at the luxury resort next door and enjoy the live music under the palms (and the free snacksJ ). 2017 started very nicely!
We then managed to find the ultimate camping spot at a private beach with a restaurant open only in the day. That meant that from 5pm to around 11am we fairly much had the beach to ourselves and the decision between yoga on the beach, snorkelling on the amazing coral reefs, or relaxing in the hamac was tough to make… The kids used this time to get creative with the shells and coral and make some art – which they then decided to sell on the beach! Their shop was pretty successful and they’re now taking mail orders J Santa made a few new deliveries via amazon and Manon’s suitcase and Flo now has a new GoPro and a camera so underwater videos will follow.
Our last days were spent in Tulum discovering the magnificent Mayan ruins site right on the beach – along with hundreds of tourists of course – and the beach with the finest sand I have ever seen. It was so flour-like that the water was almost milky near the shore. The kids loved rolling around in it – so much so that 10 days later I am still finding sand that has snuck along for the ride in the campervan in a pocket or trouser hem….
So thank you Mexico, our two months in your care had highs and lows, intriguingly often inversely linked to the temperature at night ….
Our next challenge is to make it across Belize in a day and make it to Guatemala – upping the level of overlanding adventure a notch as we do if the roads are as bad as we’ve been told….
ps. Some bonus photos from Christmas at Playa Paraiso, Mahahual where poor Santa got rather a thrashing…
Cave / Cenote
Happy New Year !!! - Xpu-Ha Beach
Cracking a coconut - Xpu-Ha Beach
Mighty Tulum
"Gringo" Beach at the ruins
One of our favorite spots so far ... South of Tulum
Kids making handcraft
Ready for the sale
The best snorkeling so far
Life at its peak !!!
El Castillo - Chichen Itza
Nice campsite in Chetumal (just before the border with Belize)
And also Xmas in Mahahual:
