Panna e Cioccolato, Tulum, Yucatán, Mexico

My family and I fell in love with Mexico, or, more precisely, the Yucatán in summer 2011. This led us to return twice more, once to Tulum, and another time to the beautiful island of Holbox. 

Tulum is a gorgeous coastal city, which was one of the last built and inhabited by the Mayan civilisation. With the ruins of the city walls and part of this historic site still standing and available to visit, Tulum has kept its charm despite the tourists that come, often on their way to Chichen Itza or back to Cancún. The beaches of Tulum and surrounding it are magical, whether it be for a morning run or yoga session, or a stroll during sunset.

Kite-surfing, sun-tanning, guacamole- eating, our experience in this unique city would not have been the same if we had not discovered our soon-to-be favourite gelato shop(s). Panna e cioccolato, well known by locals, has two shops on the two ends of Tulum's main high street, in the midst of shops selling dancing skeletons and restaurants playing Mexican music and serving delicious food, whether it be Argentinian meat or traditional Mexican fajitas.

Panna e Cioccolato soon became our favourite and routine "desert-stop", and when returning to Tulum, we were unbelievably excited to go back! With alternating gelatos, Panna e Cioccolato has a rich selection of tastes, our favourite being Ferrero Rocher. Indeed, if one of the shops did not have Ferrero Rocher, we would walk to the other extremity of the high street in the hope that the other would!! After a day in the heat and sun, to stroll around in the evening darkness, lit up by all of the shops, and live Mexican music heard at every corner, with a cone in hand filled with refreshing ice cream is the loveliest feeling.

Of course, my top recommendation- in term of tastes- is Ferrero Rocher. But, if this is not your type of choice the sorbets (especially lemon) are also fantastic.

Panna e Cioccolato was where my mum first suggested we begin a blog of the best of the world's gelato, because it seemed to prove that wherever you go, you will always discover that one special selection of gelato. This little shop, with monkeys at the top, truly made our stay in Tulum even greater and undoubtedly contributed to us returning 2 years later.

If you ever have the chance to go to Tulum, go to Panna e Cioccolato quickly, so you share our love for it, and return every day thereafter!

http://www.pannaecioccolato.com.mx/