Kid Francescoli, Cercle Stories and the early days of Laguna Nopalitos
Long before NEEK became the lagoon destination visitors know today, Laguna Nopalitos was already attracting a different kind of audience.
Not through advertising.
Not through influencers.
But through people searching for places that still felt undiscovered.
That is exactly what brought Cercle Stories to the lagoon.
When Tulum was still discovering itself
In early 2021, Tulum was experiencing a unique moment.
Remote workers were arriving from around the world.
Creative entrepreneurs were building projects outside the traditional beach strip.
Artists were looking beyond hotels and beach clubs.
The lagoon at Nopalitos represented something different.
“Quiet. Raw. Unfinished. A landscape that didn't need a stage because nature already provided one.”
At the time, only one of the first wooden decks had been built. The project was still in its earliest phase, yet its atmosphere already hinted at what it would eventually become.
A performance designed for the landscape
For its Cercle Stories series, French electronic artist Kid Francescoli performed a live session directly above the crystal-clear waters of the lagoon.
Unlike Cercle's large productions, Cercle Stories focuses on intimacy.
“One artist. One song. One extraordinary location.”
The simplicity of the concept allowed the surrounding environment to become part of the performance itself.
The reflections on the water. The breeze moving through the mangroves. The silence surrounding the deck. Everything became part of the music.
More than a beautiful location
Places become memorable because of the communities that gather around them.
During those years, Laguna Nopalitos attracted a new generation of creatives, entrepreneurs, travelers and digital nomads looking for experiences away from the conventional tourist circuit.
That atmosphere helped define a different side of Tulum.
“Not luxury for the sake of luxury. But meaningful places where architecture, landscape and community naturally came together.”
Looking back, the performance feels like a document of that moment in time.
From hidden lagoon to NEEK
Today the lagoon has evolved into NEEK.
New gathering spaces have been added. More experiences take place throughout the year. Visitors arrive from around the world.
Yet the essence remains remarkably similar.
“Water. Community. Music. And the feeling that you've discovered somewhere you weren't expecting to find.”
Watch the performance
Kid Francescoli — Cercle Stories Live from Nopalitos
Visit the place where it happened
The same lagoon that hosted Cercle Stories is now open for day experiences, private events and creative productions.
Whether you come to swim, paddle, celebrate or simply spend the day, the landscape that inspired this performance is still here.