YOU’LL NEVER FORGET…

WHY IT’S SPECIAL

With a swathe of white sand on one side of the road and lush tropical jungle on the other, it’s no wonder that this Yucatan Peninsula hotspot has been a magnet for yogis, hippies and the fashion jet set, all looking for the next boho-chic word-of-mouth getaway. These days there’s still a laid-back, dawn yoga, dreamcatcher vibe, but the place has become busier too, with all-night parties and big hotel investment rolling in. Days spent sipping fresh coconut juice and lolling on beach loungers soon drift into candlelit dinners at Arca (arcatulum. com) (order small plates of soft shell crab and ceviche) and live music and mezcal at Gitano (grupogitano.com/ gitanotulum-about). But it’s worth prising yourself away from the scene to explore the ancient Mayan ruins and some of the many, magical cenotes nearby too. There are plenty of cenotes to swim in – but one of the best is Dos Ojos (which means “two eyes”). One pool has blue water and the other clear, which means there’s something for everyone – divers, snorkellers and those who want to lie back and float.

Practising yoga at Sanara’s beachfront studio where daily classes range from hatha to sound healing and meditation. Every month on the day of the full moon there is Full Moon Flow, a mix of yoga and sacred rituals to live music (sanaratulum.com/activities).

INSIDER TIP

Tulum is split into two areas – the town itself, which has a more local vibe but no direct access to the sand, and the beach (the further south you go, the nicer and more zen it gets) where most restaurants, nightlife and luxury hotels can be found. Try The Beach, where ocean-view rooms have hammocks on the terrace (thebeachtulum.com); or toes-in-the-sand Posada Margherita (posadamargherita. com), a restaurant with eight lovely rooms, serving up sensational Italian suppers and wood-fired pizzas.

UPLIFT A healing moment in Rishikesh, main; on the Andres trail in Peru, left