The chilled way to do the Yucatan Peninsula (without an influencer in sight)

Cast your mind back a decade or so and you’ll remember a time when Tulum was being hailed as the next Goa or Bali, an off-the-beaten-track boho paradise that promised crystal clear turquoise waters, blissfully crowd-free beaches and authentic Mexican experiences. Fast-forward to today and Tulum is officially over, ruined by its own rabid popularity. Those azure waters and baby powder-soft sand beaches still remain, but now they’re overrun with influencers trying to get shots of their $15 acai bowls and Burning Man-style revellers looking for the hottest party to go to that night.

Those who knew it when it was still a sleepy coastal town lament its demise and the fact that it’s now filled with overpriced hipster hangouts, bougie hotels and jet-set millennials looking to find themselves – derisively referred to as the ‘Tuluminati’. Yet the fact remains that this stretch of Mexico’s east coast is still jaw-droppingly beautiful, home to pristine beaches, lush tropical jungles, world-class coral reefs and a whole host of natural wonders, from breath-taking cenotes to tranquil lagoons. But how to experience it away from the crowds