Photo: Courtesy of Lupita Nyong'o1/11“I visited the incredible beaches of Tulum, a half-hour away from Hotel Esencia’s Xpu-Ha. The waters were impressively clear and blue here.”
Photo: Courtesy of Lupita Nyong'o2/11“A view to behold at Hotel Esencia over breakfast every day—where the blues of the ocean, the pool, and the sky paint the perfect picture! The hotel is on a beach known as Xpu-Ha, which means ‘morning dew’ in Mayan—a perfect name for the refreshing feeling you get at all hours of the day there!”
Photo: Courtesy of Lupita Nyong'o3/11“My Xpu-Ha beach essentials. I noticed that the hotel’s notebook was actually a sketchbook, which inspired me to keep a visual journal of my discoveries during my stay in this beautiful hideaway.”
Photo: Courtesy of Lupita Nyong'o4/11“Relaxation at its finest for the Saturday night dinner experience at Hotel Esencia.”
Photo: Courtesy of Lupita Nyong'o5/11“I tried paddleboarding for the first time! The ocean was kind to me.”
Photo: Courtesy of Lupita Nyong'o6/11“Nothing better than tacos delivered on the beach!”
Photo: Courtesy of Lupita Nyong'o7/11“The spa at Hotel Esencia was a mini oasis.”
Photo: Courtesy of Lupita Nyong'o8/11“I had lunch at Coqui Coqui near Coba with my friends from Hotel Esencia. Along with a delicious meal of fresh salad, seafood, and fruits, they had a lovely selection of artisan chocolates for dessert, and perfumes and scented candles made in-house to take away as the perfect gift and remembrance of a vacation well spent.”
Photo: Courtesy of Lupita Nyong'o9/11“A pit stop on the road for some refreshing fruit. The colors were so vibrant! Fresh coconut water and dragon fruit (pitaya) with lemon and chili hit the spot.”
Photo: Courtesy of Lupita Nyong'o10/11“My new friends and I went on a boat ride down the canal of the Chunyaxche Lagoon in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Chunyaxche is Mayan for ‘trunk of the green tree.’ You get to float through the canal that gently pulls you through its breathtakingly clear waters over a two-kilometer distance. Unreal!”
Photo: Courtesy of Lupita Nyong'o11/11“The waters of Quintana Roo are like none I have ever seen. This gorgeous backdrop is of Kaan Luum Lagoon, which means ‘yellow earth’ in Mayan. I suppose the name comes from the light yellow clay-like sand found at the bottom of the lagoon. I could have stared for hours! Instead, I dipped into it and went for a luxurious swim in the shallow waters.”
