Category Archives: Events

Christmas Dinner: Catering Options in the Riviera Maya

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For many, Christmas dinner means a long day of slaving away in the kitchen in order to share a beautiful dinner with friends and family. However, if you are not a big fan of cooking or would rather enjoy the festivities in other ways, there are plenty of catering services willing to do the hard work for you.

Catering companies throughout the Riviera Maya are willing to help you organize the Christmas dinner of your dreams. Think of how you would rather spend your day and what you would like to offer your guests without doing it all yourself: Christmas breakfast, brunch, traditional dinner, Mexican Dinner, cocktails, or whatever you may want.

Whether you have a small family affair or a big party, there are many options available to fit your needs.

Catering Options in the Riviera Maya: Advantages of Hiring a Caterer

Having a caterer can take a lot of the stress off your back. You can plan your Christmas dinner to perfection and know that the professionals will offer:

  1. Menu options: They can adapt to any social event: breakfast, lunch or dinner. The caterer will have a variety of menus that you can taste and choose from, to fit your specific needs.
  2. Flexibility: A caterer will work with you to offer special options for vegetarian or vegan guests as well as options to suit people with diabetes, celiac disease, gluten free, lactose intolerant, etc.
  3. Personalized pricing: You can set a budget and the caterer will work to make your dinner within that budget. No surprises!
  4. Stress- free dinner: Catering professionals will take care of everything allowing you to enjoy the food, the festivities and your guests.

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Catering Options in the Riviera Maya:  Christmas Dinner Menus

It is still early for planning, so there are not many options out there yet, but if you are spending Christmas in the Riviera Maya, you need to know that prices increase in many restaurants. Good places get booked quite early and you could end up with expensive dinners that are not as tasty.

Exploring options ahead of time will help you pick and order your dinner with plenty of time, and having a dinner at home will allow you to share with friends and family while relaxing and enjoying far from the crowds on 5th Avenue.

Some of the available catering services are:

Turtle Bay Cafe: Akumal

Located in the Center of Akumal

Plaza Ukana 1

Mx Telephone: 984-875-9138

US Telephone: 270-854-5392

Email: turtlebaycafe@gmail.com

Email: turtlebaycafe@me.com

Turtle Bay Cafe is one of our favorites; locals and visitors alike go to the Bakery to enjoy their delicious food, pastries and coffee. There are long lines early in the morning to get their traditional scones, and the place is always packed.

Located in Akumal, Turtle Bay has prepared a traditional menu for Christmas. They have the option to buy a breakfast or dinner menu and to pick it up on Christmas Eve between 4:00 and 6:00 pm.

You can see their menu below:

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City Club: Playa del Carmen & Cancun

Playa del Carmen Cancun
Carretera Federal Chetumal-Cancún Km. 2.3 #2100, Ejidal, 77712 Playa del Carmen, QROO01 984 803 9901 Ave. Andrés Quintana Roo S/N Km 39 Manzana 10 Lote 1, 77500 Cancún, QROO01 998 849 2604

This wholesale store is offering an attractive traditional menu, with sides and dessert for a reasonable price.

Choose a main course:

  • Roasted Turkey – $900 pesos @ $62 USD
  • Stuffed pork tenderloin – $570 pesos @ $ 39USD
  • Baked ham – $820 pesos @ $56 USD

Included side dishes:

  • 2 pounds of spaghetti with a choice of Bolognese, vegetarian or Alfredo sauce.
  • 2 pounds of mashed potatoes with mushrooms, 4 cheeses or plain.
  • 2 pounds of gravy: available flavorings of apricot, mushrooms or herbs.
  • One dessert: Tiramisu, strawberry dessert or apple pie
  • The turkey dinner also includes 2 pounds of mince stuffing

If you decide to have an extra dessert, they are offering a Christmas cake for only $115 pesos – that’s less than 10 USD.

In order to have your dinner ready from City Club, you need to order way ahead of time. So get on your phone and start dialing!

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These are just two of the many options for catering your Christmas dinner. As more local businesses keep publishing their Christmas menus, we will be posting them here for you to know.

Top Mexico Real Estate, your site for everything in the Riviera Maya!

Remember, here at Top Mexico Real Estate…

We make it happen!

12th Annual Riviera Maya Jazz Festival

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The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival graced Playa del Carmen once again. Providing three great nights of FREE jazz music, the massive stage and impressive lighting that lit up the Caribbean sky and rivaled any concert that I have ever been to. It was setup on world famous Mamitas Beach, right on the beach. You heard me right, this beautiful jazz concert was held right on the beach under the stars.

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We met up with some friends, laid out our beach towels and got ready for the concert to start. Oh, and did I mention the picnic basket that we brought filled with beer, wine and snacks for the evening? But if you forgot to bring snacks there were venders selling hotdogs, hamburgers, tacos and BBQ, and, of course, there was a bar setup.

The stage was graced by jazz musicians such as Take Six, Chick Corea & The Vigil, Pat Metheny Unity Group, Kenny Garrett and Colin Hunter to name a few.

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I have never seen anything like it before.  The music was enjoyed by the little ones and old ones alike, everyone was having a great time and as the night went on the crowd kept growing and growing.

There is nothing like laying on the beach with the sand between your toes, looking at the stars and listening to the live jazz music fill the Caribbean air. What a beautiful night! Great jazz music on the beach with about 5,000 of my closest friends.

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Now, if you missed the Riviera Maya Jazz festival, be sure to add it to your calendar for next year!  It is such a wonderful time of year to come to the Riviera Maya, due to the beautiful weather and the variety of events happening during November such as the Jazz Festival, OHL Golf Classic, The Cancun Challenge and of course celebrating Thanksgiving beachfront!

This is certainly an exciting time of year in Playa del Carmen. The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival is the start of snowbird season here in the Riviera Maya and many expats will remain here in paradise until the end of winter, escaping those cold winter months. So mark your calendar and join us next year in paradise.

Swimming with the Turtles in Akumal

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Swimming with the turtles in Akumal is a once in a lifetime experience you cannot miss. For centuries or even millennia, turtles have nested in the rocky shores of Akumal where the eggs are left to hatch and re-start the cycle of life.

The presence of this magnificent creatures probably impressed the ancient Mayans, who called this area in the coast, Akumal; “The Place of the Turtle.”

There are seven known species of turtles in the world, and all of them are endangered species; three of them can be seen at the Akumal beaches and two of them nest on the beaches of Akumal.

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Swimming with the Turtles in Akumal: Species found in the area

LOGGERHEAD TURTLES (Caretta caretta):

Adults weigh from 100–200 kg and grow to 1.15 m in length; this species feed primarily on shellfish such as crabs and snails. Nesting season is between April and July, and females nest 3–7 times every season, with approximately 120 round, white eggs in each nest.

GREEN TURTLES (Chelonia mydas):

Adults weigh between 100–250 kg and grow to 1.2 m in length, this species feeds primarily on sea grass. Nesting season is between June and September, and female nests from 3–7 times a year and each nest contains 120–150 round, white eggs.

HAWKSBILL TURTLE (Eretmochelys imbricata):

Adult hawksbill sea turtles weigh around 80 kg and have been known to grow up to 1 m in length, and this turtle’s favorite treat is toxic jellyfish. Please note that this species doesn’t breed in this area, but some specimens can be seen swimming in Akumal.

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Swimming with the Turtles in Akumal: Participate in the conservation effort!

Since its foundation in 1993, Centro Ecológico Akumal (CEA) has had one mission:  protect nesting sea turtles. CEA runs several programs and preserve the natural environment on the Akumal coast.

Their program is operated through a government-authorized management plan for the protection, conservation, research and management of sea turtles on four local beaches. CEA staff and volunteers patrol the beaches nightly to identify and protect nesting females, their nests and hatchlings.

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VOLUNTEERING:

Volunteers are always welcome, keep in mind this is a physical job that might take a toll on your body. Also the nesting and hatching of the turtles happen mostly during after dusk, so prepare yourself for some sleepless nights.

Volunteers must be willing to cover other educational and promotional positions, and speaking at least two languages is a requirement. Prior knowledge is not required, the volunteers have to have an enthusiastic and adventurous personality and be willing to adjust to a different environment and culture.

General Requirements for Volunteers:

  • Must be 21 years of age or older.
  • There is a selection process, not all applicants are accepted.
  • There is a 2 months minimal commitment to the program.
  • There is a monthly fee that helps cover for the program expenses. The cost is $200 USD (foreigners) or $100 USD (Mexicans). The payment is due one month before the start of the program.
  • A valid passport and visa or FM3 for the length of your stay is required.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all the recommended vaccinations.
  • You should have valid insurance for medical services.

Swimming with turtles in Akumal is a dream for many, but helping preserving the species and the environment is a life changing experience.

Here at Top Mexico Real Estate we pride ourselves on promoting local organizations working to preserve the beauty of the Mayan Riviera. Visit the Centro Ecologico Akumal (CEA) website at ceakumal.org to learn more about their programs or to make a donation.

We would like to thank Quetzal for sponsoring this blog. Quetzal is a new development in Bahia Principe. To learn more about Quetzal, please click here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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The Mayan Riviera is an extension of paradise…and we give thanks for being here.
Our winters are mild, free of ice and cold…and we give thanks for living in a warm place…with warm people…surrounded by nature and smiles.
We give thanks for the beauty that surrounds us, and for the wanders we see every day.
We love the ocean and we love the jungle…and we give thanks for the place that we live in.
We give thanks for the opportunity to work together, because it is YOUR trust that allows us to be here.
Happy Thanksgiving from Top Mexico Real Estate

November, Things To Do In the Riviera Maya

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Finally the fall is here, we notice a drop in the temperature, the cool breeze; this is our favorite time of the year!  It also marks the return of tourists and snowbirds escaping the cold weather, so we have prepared a list of things to do during your stay in the Riviera Maya during November, 2014.

November, things to do in the Riviera Maya: OHL Classic at Mayakoba

The OHL Classic at Mayakoba made ​​history in the world of golf by becoming the first PGA TOUR event to be played outside the United States and Canada. Today, the OHL Classic remains the only PGA TOUR event in Mexico and Latin America, with a total purse of $ 6.1 million dollars. The participants can also get 500 points for the FedEx Cup and an invitation to the Masters, it is the most important golf tournament in Latin America.

The tournament is held annually in November and will feature 132 professional golfers. The tournament is held in El Camaleon Golf Club at Mayakoba, designed by Greg Norman. The rising star, Harris English, is the current defending champion of Mayakoba. Past champions include: John Huh (2012), Johnson Wagner (2011), Cameron Beckman (2010), Mark Wilson (2009), Brian Gay (2008) and Fred Funk (2007).

The best golfer in the country, Carlos Ortiz, three times winner of the Web.com Tour, and defending champion, Harris English, head the list of players who are planning to compete in the only PGA TOUR event in Mexico. There will be also five “Major” winners amongst the 132 participants: Ángel Cabrera, Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen, Justin Leonard and Mike Weir, as well as the Spanish player Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño.

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When:

November 13th-16th

Where:

El Camaleon Golf Club

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo

https://www.ohlclassic.com

Schedule:

Thursday 13th at 6:20a.m.-First Round of Professional Competition

Friday 14th at 6:20a.m.-Second Round of Professional Competition

Saturday 15th at 9:00a.m.-Third Round of Professional Competition

Sunday 16th at 9:00a.m.-Final Round of Professional Competition

November, things to do in the Riviera Maya: The Cancun Challenge

Live the Cancun Challenge, an exciting event with NCAA college basketball. Every year, thousands of fans gather in the Convention Center at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya to enjoy some of the best college basketball teams fight it out for the championship.

Support your favorite basketball team during the game while enjoying the Riviera Maya.

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When:

November 25th-26th: Men’s tournament

November 27th-29th: Women’s tournament

Where:

Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya

Km 72, Carretera Cancun-Chetumal

Puerto Aventuras, Mexico, 77710

Reservations: +52-984-875-1130

Schedule:

Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014Riviera Tournament

Hartford (A) vs. Furman (H)

Noon CT

Florida State (A) vs. Washington(H)

2:30 p.m. CT

Mayan Tournament

Charlotte (A) vs. Montana (H)

5 p.m. CT

Princeton (A) vs. Wake Forest (H)

7:30 p.m. CT

A (Away)

H (Home)

 Friday, Nov. 28, 2014Riviera Tournament

Furman (A) vs. Florida State(H)

Noon CT

Washington (A) vs. Hartford (H)

2:30 p.m. CT

Mayan Tournament

Montana (A) vs. Princeton (H)

5 p.m. CT

Wake Forest (A)vs. Charlotte(H)

7:30 p.m. CT

 Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014Riviera Tournament

Washington (A) vs. Furman (H)

Noon CT

 

Florida State (A) vs. Hartford (H)

2:30 p.m. CT

Mayan Tournament

Montana (A) vs. Wake Forest (H)

5 p.m. CT

Charlotte (A) vs. Princeton (H)

7:30 p.m. CT

November, things to do in the Riviera Maya: Riviera Maya Jazz Festival

Have you ever dreamed of listening to great jazz music under the stars on the beach, well now you can. Mark your calendar, the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival is almost here! Remember this is a free event, but you need to arrive early to get a good spot on the beach and you may want to bring chairs, blankets, snacks and some beer or wine to enjoy during the event.

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When:

November 27th-29th

Where:

Mamita’s Beach Club

Playa del Carmen

+52 (984) 803 2868

Schedule:

Thursday 27th

Colin Hunter

Pato Machete

TAKE 6

Jorge Vercillo

Friday 28th

Hiram Gomez

Pat Metheny Unity Group (Chris Potter, Antonio Sanchez, Ben Williams)

Saturday 29th

Kenny Garrett

Virgil Donati

Chick Corea & The Vigil

Celebrate Independence Day, Throw a Noche Mexicana!

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One of the most exciting national holidays in Mexico is expected on midnight on September 15, to celebrate Mexico’s Independence. On the night of the September 15th, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo a catholic priest rang the bells of his church; calling the population to rise against the Spanish government and fight for independence.

Miguel Hidalgo

This was the beginning of a long and bloody fight that would last over 10 years, as the Independence was finally gained on September 27th, 1821 and wasn’t recognized by the Spanish Kingdom until 1836.

In Mexico this is one of the most important celebrations, every city in the country decorates the streets with flags, lights and other decor to commemorate the heroes that fought for freedom and equality.

Every 15th of September, in every downtown area in every city, town or village in Mexico; people gather in front of the Government Palace. There, the President, governor or mayor repeats the famous words that Miguel Hidalgo used to start the uprising, while waving the flag of Mexico.

After this ceremony, called “El Grito” traditionally there is a popular festival, if there is enough budget there is a firework show afterwards and then a musical show to enliven the fiesta.

Around the Plaza, there is vendors offering Mexican dishes such as quesadillas, gorditas, shredded chicken tacos, mole, tostadas, pozole, chalupas, bunuelos, and many others. There is also the traditional “aguas frescas” or fresh fruit juices, if you attend a private party there might be drinks like tequila, mezcal and pulque.

You might be familiar with the Cinco de Mayo celebrations, and be surprised to see that this is not such a big celebration in Mexico. Actually it is considered a bank holiday, but the fiesta will never reach the height of Independence Day or Revolution Day.

If you want to celebrate Independence Day you can prepare a Fiesta at home. In Mexico this celebrations are called “Noche Mexicana” or “Mexican Night”.

With our expert tips you too can host a Noche Mexicana!

Invite your friends and family: You can use a creative invitation to ask friends and families to join the party. Traditionally people is asked to wear Mexican costumes, there is plenty of ideas on the internet.

Get the right decor: Look for traditional decorations such as palm or charro hats, paper decor and the traditional ponchos.

Do not forget the tequila, pulque and mezcal: To avoid overdoing it, use this spirits in light cocktails, prepare them in big pitchers with ice beforehand and have them ready for your guests. If you want to go for non-alcoholic drinks the traditional aguas frescas in tamarind, jamaica or horchata flavor, for convenience you can find the extracts already made in the supermarket, just add water and ice.

Mexican food: There is plenty of catering services that will provide food like sopes, quesadillas, tacos or tamales. If you want you can also ask your guests to bring a dish to share.

Set the ambiance: The corridos, rancheras, and even the northern bands should be playing in the background. Remember we are celebrating the Independence of Mexico, look for already made playlists on Spotify or other similar online music services. If budget allows it, you can bring a mariachi, trio or banda to play.

If you love Mexican Culture, you must probably will love Hacienda del Rio, a beautiful residential complex located just outside Playa del Carmen. Hacienda del Rio has a traditional Mexican style, with vibrant colors, handmade tiles and many other elements to feel and experience the real Mexico. Here at Top Mexico Real Estate we have plenty of options for those looking for a touch of Mexico in their residences.

Now if you have any question about this or any of the TOP MEXICO REAL ESTATE properties we have listed in Playa Del Carmen, The Riviera Maya or anywhere throughout Mexico, please feel free to contact any of our TOP MEXICO EXPERT SALES TEAM and we will be glad to help you find your very own piece of paradise.

And remember, here at TOP MEXICO REAL ESTATE…

We make it happen!

NFL in Playa del Carmen

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The football season is finally here! We are looking forwards the games and the excitement of watching our favorite sports team.

Many expats living in Mexico often wonder where they can go to watch the games?? We have listed some of popular places to enjoy all the NFL games as well as a frosty cold beverage and delicious food.

Here we go!

Legends sports bar
16th Street, between 10th and 15th Avenues
(984) 8030662
https://www.legendsplaya.com

This is one of the best sports bars in Playa del Carmen, with 8 huge HD Screens and a giant projector to enjoy every second of your favorite sport team. Legends Sports Bar update their programs daily, check out if they are showing your team here!

Legends has a very sports bar vibe, an expansive menu and air conditioning. Legends is ideal for enjoying some hot wing and an ice cold beer with friends and family, while cheering for your sports team.

legends sport bar

Wah Wah
2nd Street North and the beach
(984) 143 6009
https://www.wahwahbeach.com

Wah Wah is the only sports bar on the beach, and is favorite spot for their cold drinks and delicious food. We recommend the BBQ food and their crispy tacos are to die for, but everything on their menu is top quality.

Wah Wah offers 4 huge flat screen televisions throughout the bar and the largest HD screen in Playa del Carmen all showing sporting and other live events including NFL Football, Hockey, Boxing, Baseball, Soccer and much more. With daily food and drink specials there is no better place to in town to meet up with friends and fellow fans to cheer on your favorite team!

End Zone or EZ Sports Bar
5th Avenue, between 12th and 14th streets.
(984) 803 1872

This popular Sports Bar is located on 5th Avenue, you will always see a crowd watching the game. EZ has access to all important sport events: NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, Soccer, Rugby, Baseball, NASCAR, F1 & boxing. Do not miss a moment of your team, EZ has large screens throughout the bar as well as a projector and the staff is always willing to accommodate their client’s requests.

EZ Bar serves a variety of national and foreign beers, as well as cocktails and soft drinks, they also have restaurant service with tasty snacks and entrees to satisfy anyone’s taste.

One exciting sporting event and three wonderful options to enjoy every minute. If you are more of a homebody, and you would rather host your own NFL Party, many of our properties have huge club houses, palapas and terraces ideal for hosting the gathering of a lifetime. So grill up so steak, crack open a cold one and kick back with your friend and family as your team fight for the championship.

Now if you have any question of this or any of the TOP MEXICO REAL ESTATE properties we have listed in Playa Del Carmen, The Riviera Maya or anywhere throughout Mexico, please feel free to contact any of our TOP MEXICO EXPERT SALES TEAM and we will be glad to help you find your very own piece of paradise.

And remember, here at TOP MEXICO REAL ESTATE…

We make it happen!

Living the Gourmet life in the Riviera Maya – A visit to the Wine and Food Festival!

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When Cancun was founded a little more than 40 years ago, the intention of it was to create a new place that could have all the accommodations for tourists all over the globe and share the beauty and exotic nature of this part of Mexico.

Over the years, as Cancun and Riviera Maya have boomed with 5 star hotels, and its once fishing villages flourished into exciting travel destinations, it’s not rare to find wonderful events where you can experience all the luxury and leisure, the finest cuisine and drinks that can be found here! That’s what the Cancun-Riviera Maya Wine and Food Festival is all about.

Last Sunday I got the chance to take part is some of the great festivities of this amazing festival, in one of the most exquisite hotels near Cancun. Being such a food and wine lover as I am, spending an afternoon at the Gourmet Tasting Village was a delicious experience to say the least.

Just at the entrance you could see all the colors, you could smell so many flavors and feel your mouth watering instantly. You just have to grab a glass of wine take a leisurely stroll to find food samples of well-established restaurants, 5 star hotel restaurants, new edgy cafes, pastry shops, wine cellars and artisanal breweries from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya as well as other regions of Mexico and all over the world.

I particularly enjoyed the selection of wines that I found at Wines from Argentina and an artisanal beer from Monterrey, as well as a stand with smoothies of typical fruits of the Yucatan Peninsula.

My jaw dropped at one stand that had Crocodile Stew! Yes, crocodile stew; and you know what, even if at first I felt strange trying; it actually turned out to be pretty delicious. I am generally open minded and enjoy trying new things when I have the opportunity.  This was the perfect venue to do so!

Other delicacies that I could try belonged to Nikkei Cuisine (recently introduced to the area), chocolate bullets spiced with chipotle chili, shrimp and mango ceviche, stuffed mushrooms with different kinds of cheese, oreo cookies made out of olives, smoked salmon (this was one of my favorites as the salmon perfectly smoked just how I like, yumm) and the other dessert that caught my attention was one called Damiana Sour.

This last one is based on Damiana Liquor cream transformed into ice cream by introducing it into liquid nitrogen on site, which was actually something pretty amazing to watch! It tasted like a mix of fresh and delicious herbs, like a minty sweet explosion inside my mouth. To neutralize the effect, you had to try a Guanabana fruit mollusk; which was a much softer flavor but equally delicious.

By the end of the day I was full with an over the top culinary experience and my heart was also full with love and happiness. Since I moved here 10 years ago I have never stopped being grateful to the Universe, Mother Nature and the human beings that, just like me, decided to take a chance on this area and made it our home.

If you too want to live here and be grateful for these experiences, you are more than welcome to take a look at our blog Let´s Retire in Mexico for more insights on events, places to go and life in paradise.

-By Bea Lozano

Playa del Carmen Carnival Spectacular!

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Playa is for sure a place that you should never underestimate the word fun!  As the entire town has evolved, more and more incredible events and celebrations are brought to this amazing town. Carnival is one of many of those exciting events that arrive to Playa del Carmen each and every year.

Last week we celebrated a fantastic Carnival celebration in Playa, ending on Fat Tuesday (the day to indulge before Ash Wednesday). Parades filled the streets of Playa each night with dancing, exciting Caribbean music, and outstanding colorful costumes.

The parade runs through the main streets of Playa del Carmen giving everyone a chance to be a part of the action. The spectacular parade arrives to the Municipal Palace square in Playa del Carmen where you will be submerged into the very heart of the Carnival action, with more live performances from entertainers of the community and Caribbean Carnival show extravaganzas.

As the town square turns in a huge entertainment venue it is a perfect place to join with friends and family for a night out and to eat traditional Mexican Foods and snacks!  As the carnival does purposely coincide with Fat Tuesday you have a perfect excuse to indulge!

Some of the best Carnival favorites which are typical to these kinds of events are those delicious churros, marquesitas, shrimp on a stick and of course corn on the cob with chili and mayo!  Other more familiar favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs and tacos are also a hit at Carnival time in Playa!

As an even bigger treat, those who are staying or living in Playa del Carmen have very close access to the ferry dock which brings you right into the most amazing Carnival on the Riviera Maya, in Cozumel.  While each town or city holds its own version of Carnival, the most talked about and popular Carnival can be found on the beautiful Island of Cozumel.

Since both events run for the entire week you have plenty of time to experience both!  Fat Tuesday in Cozumel is particularly an event that shouldn’t be missed.

Be sure to visit our Let’s Retire in Mexico lifestyle blog for more exciting Playa del Carmen news and events!

-By Bea Lozano

Playa del Carmen’s Coloreate 5K Road Race – A Colorful Way to Have Fun and Stay Healthy

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Living in Playa del Carmen is becoming more and more fun every day!  Aside from the fact that you get to wake up to gorgeous weather and scenery every day there are always so many options of things to do!  When you are living in Playa del Carmen there is almost no reason to stay indoors and watch TV!

This past Sunday was an event in Playa del Carmen like I have never seen before.  The Coloreate 5k Race was not just an everyday road race but a party full of fun and lots and lots of color!

I would like to highlight something incredibly special about this Playa del Carmen running event.  This occasion was not just for runners, it was an event that brought the entire community together to interact with each other!  It didn’t matter the age or athletic abilities, everyone could join in!

If you don’t like to run, its ok, perhaps you walked or you were there to be a cheerleader for a friend.  But in the end of the race everyone came together to the Municipal Palace in Playa for a huge party with music, and dancing, and COLOR!!!

Race contestants were greeted by some very energetic and crowd pleasing hosts from Pirata Radio, in Playa del Carmen, who started everyone off with a great pre-race party including upbeat music, and even a warm up routine.

Then it was time to go!  The route starting from the Municipal Plaza down 20th Avenue, down Constituyentes, through to 10th and then looped around to CTM to 5th Ave and then up 8th Street to finish back at the Plaza.

Throughout the entire route, volunteers were throwing handfuls and buckets of non-toxic, sweet flavored powdered color which in the end left each runner with a massive tie dye effect.

Once crossing the finish line everyone was greeted by a spirited party, and given packets of the same color powder, which would be used later to throw in to the air creating a massive storm of color in the Municipal Plaza!

But before that our fantastic hosts from Pirata Radio got the whole crowd excited with music, dance contests and even a show given by an amazing 11 year old girl who put on an exceptional performance showing us the brilliant art of belly dance.

At the end, the crowd got pumped with upbeat music, and all at once everyone threw packets of powdered color creating a sweeping color cloud all through the Municipal Plaza!  It was invigorating, exciting and something that I’ve never seen before.  What an imaginative and cultivate way to bring a community together!

This idea of a radiant storm of color started off a as a tradition in India and has been picked up all over the world, and it’s no wonder why!

If you missed this fun colorful event you are in luck!  The race will be repeated on March 3rd at 3 pm in Cozumel, to coincide with the famous Cozumel Carnival!

To learn more about what’s going on around town stay up to date on our Let’s retire in Mexico blog and don’t forget to follow Mexico real estate on facebook!

There are so many great reasons to love living in Playa del Carmen! What’s your favorite?

-By Bea Lozano