Michael Powell's Blog, page 90
February 12, 2014
Temazcal: The Mexican Sweat Bath
During our stay in Tulum’s Akulik Hotel, we were invited to try out the traditional sweat bath called a Temazcal. “That sounds pleasant”, I thought, not at all anticipating the intense and exhausting cleansing of the body, soul and mind which we were about to endure.
For centuries, the Temazcal has been practiced by the Mesoamerican cultures of Mexico, including the Maya. The word comes from the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs. It’s a physical purging of the body, a spiritual way to reconnect w...
February 11, 2014
The Azulik Hotel in Tulum
Located in the Tulum National Park, the Azulik Hotel hosted us for five days. Built atop a natural hill, each cabaña boasts breathtaking vistas over the shimmering azure waters of the Caribbean. We couldn’t have hoped for a more wonderful home away from home.
Because of its proximity to a beach frequented by sea turtles, and location within the borders of a national park, there is no electricity in any of Azulik’s cabañas. Candlelight all the way. Though it’s tempting to see this as an annoyan...
Pictures from Tulum Town
The beaches are unforgettable, but there’s another side to Tulum which has nothing to do with sand or turquoise blue waters. The actual town, where most of the locals live and work, is found well away from the shore. But don’t let that keep you away… it’s not as picturesque, but we enjoyed the pueblo almost as much as the coast.
We spent a lot of time in Tulum Pueblo, which provides a nice dose of “normality” after the paradise-overload found on the beach. The bars and restaurants here are gre...
February 10, 2014
Snorkelling at the Yal-Ku Lagoon
On completing our Open Water SCUBA certifications, I had expected the idea of snorkeling to lose its appeal. Why float on top of the water when you can dive right down into it? But with places as amazing (and shallow) as the Yal-Ku Lagoon in Akumal, snorkeling is just as good as scuba. Perhaps even more so.
Besides an enthusiastic recommendation from a friend, we hadn’t heard anything about Yal-Ku and didn’t know what to expect. But the two hours we spent here were incredible. This is a natura...
Swimming with Sea Turtles at Akumal
Floating on our bellies in the waters of Akumal Bay, while massive turtles grazed on the sea grass just a couple meters below us, was an experience so unique, so moving, that it instantly joined the ranks of my favorite memories of all time.
Still, we had been a little skeptical upon showing up in Akumal, found just north of Tulum. Yes, all our friends and acquaintances had raved and tried to assuage our doubts, but really. A place where you can swim with sea turtles? For free? I’ll believe it...
February 9, 2014
Cobá: Our Final Maya Site
Found about forty minutes inland from Tulum, the Maya city of Cobá has become popular with tour buses departing from Cancún. Luckily, the ruins are spread out across such a wide swath of jungle, that the crowds never become overwhelming. This would be the final archaeological zone of our 91 days in the Yucatán, and we greeted it with both sadness and a little relief.
Cobá was established at some point between 100 BC and 100 AD. At its zenith, around 800, it was among the most powerful cities i...
February 8, 2014
The Howler Monkeys of Punta Laguna
Found just twenty minutes from Coba, down a horrific road with some crater-sized pot holes, we found the natural reserve of Punta Laguna. This beautiful park of protected jungle gets few visitors, despite its beauty and the presence of large populations of howler and spider monkeys.
After pulling into the park entrance, we arranged a tour with the guys in charge. Easy enough, and in no time we had agreed to a reasonably-priced, two-hour walk through the woods, the primary focus of which would...
The Ruins of Tulum
Memorably set on a bluff overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, the ruins of Tulum are perhaps the most picturesque on the peninsula. The site itself is small and compact, and none of the surviving buildings are particularly large, but this doesn’t make the place any less impressive.
Particularly on a sunny day, the archaeological zone can be extremely crowded. To view certain buildings, or take a picture from the designated vista panorámica, we were even forced to queue up. But th...
February 7, 2014
A Trip to Tulum
We had saved Tulum as the final big road trip of our stay on the Yucatán Peninsula. Everything we’d heard, everything we’d read, suggested that this city perched on the edge of the Caribbean was going to blow our minds. Everything we’d heard, everything we’d read, was exactly right. Tulum is paradise.
You know who Tulum is going to appeal to? Rich, retired hippies. Paradise doesn’t come cheap, and to get the most out of it, you’re going to need both time and money. And you’re going to need the...
February 4, 2014
More Diving in Puerto Morelos
We’d had such a great time learning how to dive in Puerto Morelos, that we couldn’t resist making a return trip to see our friends at WetSet and to get back into the water.
It’s hard to imagine a better spot for a novice diver than Puerto Morelos. The reefs are at a perfect depth, around fifteen meters. Not too shallow, and not too deep. The water is generally calm, with good visibility. The amount of underwater life is stunning, and you don’t have to venture all that far off-shore. My only wo...
