Escape to Mexico Part 5: Paradise and Diamante K Resort

That following morning of the third day was spent lazing about cleaning up the mess from the night before and struggling to pack away the remnants of the last two days once again. Despite the only new addition to my luggage being the shot glass from Papasito, I still had to treat packing like a game of Tetris and sit on the suitcase to get it closed. At last, we waved goodbye to our little Cancun hideaway and headed to the next spot on L’s list, "La Green House". This was meant to be a well rated and renowned spot for a traditional breakfast.

We got an uber there. As we approached the streets appeared a bit more run down, and as the uber driver unloaded our luggage, he left us with an encouraging farewell.

“Be careful ladies, this area is dangerous.”

Fabulous. We took in our surroundings nervously. There was a small, stuffy café crowded with people sat on red plastic chairs. Suspicious eyes turned to observe us, glassy in the dim light, surveying the outsiders. This couldn’t be the place we were looking for. Hastily we turned and walked a little further down the road. With a sigh of relief we found what we were looking for. There stood “La Green House”.

This café was also simple, but far more welcoming. White walls, bright and open to the sky. We passed an older lady selling various bits and bobs at the entrance and were led to a table in the sunlight. I ordered a traditional Mexican breakfast, Chilaquiles Rojos con pollo (the red with chicken) at only 60 pesos. Chilaquiles are fried pieces of tortilla cooked in salsa and topped with cheese, cream and onions. L went for the 50 pesos Quesadillas Jamon y Queso (ham with cheese). The better known quesadilla being toasted tortilla with a melted cheese filling. The chilaquiles I have to say was a hearty and very satisfying breakfast, though I probably should have heeded the warning from the waiter more when he said the sauce on the side was incredibly spicy. Nothing better to wake you up on a hangover.

A cute cat with stunning blue eyes greeted us as we ate as well as a sweet little dog. Adorable until our new feline friend took it upon herself to claim my luggage as her fancy new scratching post. A gentle shoo sent her fleeing skittishly up the wall and away. We sat back, full and satisfied, feeling like ourselves again. It was early yet, but with no bathroom at the café, there wasn’t much to hang around for. It made sense we head straight to Tulum.

Originally, we’d thought to book a transfer or coach. If you find yourself last minute with neither, uber will in fact drive you those two hours, at about £45 each. It works out more expensive, but cheap for such a long taxi ride. It was worth the money to have a more comfortable journey and being taken directly to our hotel, though our luggage didn’t quite fit in the boot and had to ride passenger. We were finally off to the Diamante K resort in Tulum National Park where we would remain for the rest of our stay. Anticipation and excitement built as Cancun drifted further behind us.

We dozed during the journey and I jerked awake as we approached a large queue to a set of imposing gates. We had reached Tulum National Park. As we neared the front, I gasped. There were a bunch of armed guards in army uniform stopping each car one by one. Guns, I’m proud to say, are not something we see in the UK, the sight of them here did put one’s nerves on edge. We had been informed via email that there would be an entrance fee to the park, if coming in prior to 5pm, of 60 pesos to maintain it. This is just over £2 or $3 so far from extortionate when going to a conservation cause. We paid the fee and drove on through.

A long, dirt road led to Diamante K. Situated deep in the park and right on the beach. The track was lined either side by jungle and numerous construction workers. As the taxi ground to a halt, I was completely blown away. If I could have used my imagination to conjure up a tropical paradise, this would have been it. Rustic wooden bungalows, that seemed to be made of the very trunks of the palm trees that swayed above us. Everything was set on the beach, paths winding through the sand, past Mexican themed statues. The friendly staff assisted us with our luggage and lead us past the bar and restaurant matching the theme. And there it was. The ocean. More wild and rocky here than what we’d seen so far, but equally as majestic, set on the most picturesque little, private beach.

There were plenty of loungers, four poster day beds and black macrame hammocks tied between the towering palms. Our bungalow was on a raised platform right next to the beach and paying extra for that location was worth it. The whole place had a feeling of simplistic luxury and calm so unlike the urban buzz of Cancun. The bungalow was far smaller than the place we’d first stayed, a bit of a squeeze, but comfortable.

The double bed took up most of the room, it was shrouded in mosquito nets with a fan hanging over it. No aircon then. There was a safe on one side, on the other, a ceramic container filled with water, a few shelves, fresh towels in baskets on the floor and a single wooden chair by the door that had a mirror on it. We would soon discover that having the space and light to get ready would require opening said door and using the mirror whilst perched on the stone steps leading up.

There was no door to the bathroom but a curtain of hanging wooden beads. This didn’t bother L and I as we’d grown very accustomed to each other, in all modes, privacy had gone out the window as it does with best friends travelling. There was a toilet and sink with an abundance of toiletries and an open roofed shower. Our luck had been great with the weather so far, we hoped that rain wouldn’t feature as additional plumbing.

Now heading into the afternoon, it seemed best to just relax and catch some sun. It already felt like a long day, what with all the travelling. We sat on the loungers with our books, breathing it all in. It felt like a dream world realised as the sea air brushed over us and everything seemed to sway hypnotisingly in rhythmn with the waves. Feeling the urge to explore, I left L a moment to watch our things. There was a path and steps leading up to a higher level. Climbing up there were more stunning views of the coastline and intriguing, spiritually themed monuments. There were also encouraging quotes leading the way like “live the present” and "I am light, I am love". A bit gimmicky, but it perfectly fit the theme of the place and wasn’t overt.

At the top of the climb, there was an outside pool, more loungers and some covered decking where I found out the free yoga classes would be held. There was also another container of water. Following the bend of the one other path up there, I made my way through some bushes to a daybed up high on this mini cliff face. I was not alone. I locked eyes with a small, black, beadier set, eerily still. An iguana! I’d not seen one so close and in real life before. It was so still that I wondered if I’d just come across another statue, but as I ventured back down to the beach and looked up, it was gone.

Though we knew it might be a bit more expensive, we decided to try the resort restaurant, a Mexican grill. A more stunning view for our meals, I couldn't have imagined. The tables at the front, fanned by the breeze and a seemingly endless view of a perfect, turquoise ocean, feet dipping into the sand. As we settled down with our menus, we were pleasantly surprised to find that there was a great range of dishes available, both more traditional and mainstream, and that many were affordable. We started with nachos and quesadillas. I then went for fajitas whilst L went for the prawn linguine. It was delicious. Both satisfied and happily exhausted, we went to spend our first night in the Tulum bungalow. Tomorrow morning would start with a yoga class (one of the activities included as complimentary for anyone staying), then who knew where the rest of the day would take us.

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Stay tuned and follow along to see what Tulum had in store as we dive into Part 6! Any hearts appreciated if you're enjoying my journey so far. Don't hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments as well as anything else you might like to see written about!

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Parts 1-4 if you missed them:

• Escape to Mexico: Part 1- The Curse to be Lifted
• Escape to Mexico: Part 2- Casa Nomis and Isla Mujeres
• Escape to Mexico Part 3: Papacito, Playa Norte and the Mariachi Band
• Escape to Mexico Part 4: Coco Bongo