Xplor Fuego! An Adventure not to be forgotten!

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Thomas Lloyd

The creators of Xcaret outdid themselves when they created Xplor Adventure Park but they have gone beyond what they already created and offered a new twist on one of the leading experiences in the Riviera Maya! This new hype is called Xplor Fuego! Xplor took and extra step and decided to open its doors at night lighting up the entire park with fire and excitement! A friend of mine recently went and shared this with me:

“You enter the park just before dusk into a cave like environment! Come equipped with your bathing suit or clothes if you don’t mind getting wet. Also, it is important to bring water shoes! You don’t need to change into dry clothes until the very end. Expect to get when during all activities! You can choose to start with any of 5 adventures. You can swim through the underground river, take a paddle boat ride through the river, soar through the zip line circuit, drive through the amphibious jungle or eat in spectacular buffet.

We decided to start with the swim through the underground river. And we were glad to do so because after swimming through a magical underground cenote, lit up of all different colors, you end swimming thorough an amazing waterfall. All of a sudden you realize you are in a cenote pool with the waterfalls all around you and when you look up the view and the feeling is absolutely incredible!

Now since we were already in the vicinity we wandered over to take a little stroll through the river in the paddle boat. The ride was fun and the paddles were very easy and user friendly. Again you experience more amazement in a different route of the underground river.

Say Cheese! Or shall I say, Tequila!!! And be ready! Because there are cameras throughout the entire area of the park and underground river!

By the time we were done with the underground river, the skies darkened! We took a break to eat and enjoy a fabulous buffet including a real BBQ offering beef and pork ribs, hot dogs, hamburgers and baked potatoes. Also an incredible salad bar with fresh and healthy veggie options with a variety of dressings and toppings. Also, you can enjoy some other international items such as chicken kebobs, pizza, mozzarella sticks, and much, much more! And if that isn’t enough how about ice cream, coffee, hot chocolate and natural fruit water! And it’s all unlimited!

After filling our bellies it was time to explore the amphibious jungle with an adventurous 4×4 jeep ride! What an experience! The path is set up through the jungle with hills, water, rocks, heavy terrain and bridges. The jeeps are very equipped and safe for this kind of activity so go ahead and press the gas a little and head out in the moon light! Keep those lights on! If you turn them off you will sit still in absolute darkness! We tested it for the thrill! Stopped of course! Don’t worry, you are not alone! There are check points along the way to be sure your car is working properly and can continue with the ride! You will not get lost in the dark! This activity was my husband’s absolute favorite! Before moving on we refueled in the snack area to rest for a few minutes and enjoy Mexican sweet bread and hot cocoa. We couldn’t resist!!!

Now onto the zip line circuit! We started this adventure by walking up a very safe spiral path to the top of a tower where we took flight on zip line number one! The zip lines are truly an incredible experience and even for me who is honestly afraid of heights this was my top pick for the entire park! I have been zip lining during the day and enjoyed it but it is truly a different and unique experience to soar through the sky at night underneath the moon and stars! It is a completely different feel and I highly recommend this experience! The circuit consists of nine zip lines; the last one with a fun splash water landing!

Although this was the last of the fun filled activities, it did not end our night! Didn’t I mention that the buffet is unlimited!? Yep! All this fun called for another refuel! So we sat and enjoyed another meal and talked about what an incredible time we had! This brought us up to right around 11 pm which was perfect timing to fit in all the activities, eat and relax! Before leaving we stopped to view all the awesome photos that had been snapped of us during the adventure! You are not obligated to purchase these photos however we did! They offer different packages for you to choose from. I must say that buying the photos are always worth it for me to be able to keep for memories! And this one in particular was certainly a memorable experience!

This experience was not a one-time stop for me; I enjoyed it so much that I plan to return! I hope that everyone out there will give this a shot; you will not be disappointed.”

So, I recommend Xplor – at night! I’ll have to go check it out myself some time soon.

-by Bea Lozano

Rio Lagartos is the Yucatan Peninsula’s Flamingo Paradise

Posted on August 8, 2013 by Thomas Lloyd

Of all the cool places to visit in the Yucatan Peninsula – and there are many! – this one is near the top of the list. Rio Lagartos is a biosphere reserve at the north end of the Peninsula, sort of between Cancun and Merida, but north of the highway that connects these two cities.

Like the other biosphere reserves on the Peninsula – especially the impressive Sian Kaan – Rio Lagartos offers a huge biodiversity, and many activities like bird-watching, fishing, boating, hiking and nature tours. There are also cenotes, the awe-inspiring pools created by the area’s sink holes.

But the most impressive part of Rio Lagartos is the flamingos.

The reserve is home to about 40,000 flamingos that have both their nesting grounds and year-round habitat here.

You can take a boat tour through various water water ways to arrive to the estuary where the flamingos are found. The sight is simply amazing:

Also, take a look at some of the nature:

Be sure to get the official tour with qualified guides; there are “unofficial” tours which are entirely safe, but you may not get to see the best places.

At the point where the biosphere reserve meets the beach there is also a traditional fisherman’s village. The village is relaxing and quaint, and a good place to have lunch or dinner.

Another amazing part about Rio Lagartos is that you can actually live here in a luxury eco home if you like! There are eco-lots with various options for home construction available just outside of the village.

Whether it’s a weekend getaway, a vacation, or for your new dream home, I suggest that you give Rio Lagartos a try!

-by Bea Lozano

Camping and the Outdoors around Playa del Carmen

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Thomas Lloyd

When most people think of Mexico, they think of resorts, beaches with bars and restaurants nearby, colonial cities, ancient pyramids, etc. While people know that there is beautiful nature in Mexico, when making their choice to make this their new home many soon-to-be expat is the actual “roughing it” outdoors lifestyle that can be enjoyed, alongside of the more comfortable ways of enjoying nature.

Camping

Like every other outdoor activity, camping in tents can be enjoyed year round; unlike other favorite camping locations, in this area, you’ll be camping on some of the nicest beaches in the world. You choose your location to be as near to or far from conveniences as you like; some good spots, like Xpu-Ha Beach are next to little rustic shops and restaurants to make the experience easier and give it a unique flavor; others, like Sian Kaan, would be miles away from the nearest building.

Rustic Cabins

In addition to camping, Tulum especially has some rustic beachfront cabins. When I say “rustic” I really mean rustic – no electricity, basic beds, simple wooden huts with thatched roofs. These are a beautiful experience, because, as with camping, you can see the bright stars in the sky over the Caribbean Sea in a place where lights from hotels and towns don’t overpower them.

There are many reasons to love Mexico, and nature lovers who really love to get away from civilization can easily do so here and in many other parts of the country!

-by Thomas Lloyd

Staying Aware of Our Friendly Sea Turtles

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Thomas Lloyd

Akumal Bay is one of the nicest destinations in the Riviera Maya. It has amazing stretch of beach, nice scenery and calm water for happy swimmers but it is also a unique place where you can enjoy making some new underwater friends. Akumal is mostly known for swimming and sharing the sea with the sea turtles. It is truly a very nice experience and many flock from all over to meet these cute creatures.

But in order to provide this experience for everyone we must be very conscious about preserving the life and the population of the turtles. There are many efforts taken daily to ensure that while we enjoy swimming and time on the beach that we do it respectfully and without disrupting then natural habitat of the sea turtles. Many are asked to vacate the beaches after a certain time in the evening so that the sea turtles have freedom in their environment.

Especially at this time of the year when it’s time to lay and protect the eggs. There are many volunteers heading out in the evening to carefully identify the nests and help our sea friends by marking off where the nests are so that beachgoers can be sure respect those protect those areas. After all Akumal is everyone’s beach including the turtles.

Now, according to this article a special group that is heading up sea turtle recovery in the pacific is making large efforts to try and include all states to raise awareness and protection. It is for sure that those in Akumal will be happy to participate in these efforts and preserve a wonderful community for these amazing creatures.

Remember that here in the Riviera Maya we have entered the territory of many wondrous creatures and for the most part they have been happy to share with us. So with that in mind we must always consider them as our neighbors and friends and treat them as such.

—

by Bea Lozano

Celebrate the Beginning of Summer in Mexico and around the World!

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Thomas Lloyd

Summer is here! Woo hoo! While that may not be such a big deal to those who are already settling in the Caribbean, and get to enjoy nice weather all year, it is still a day of celebration and happiness all throughout the northern hemisphere of the world! It is a day to celebrate the sun and enjoy extended light and warmth. So what will you be doing to welcome the summer?

Here are some ideas of how many people honor and celebrate this day throughout the world:

Chichen Itza and its Mayan mysteries

Probably one of the most important and interesting things to do is to watch the summer solstice at the very moment it happens at Chichen-Itza. We are talking about the exact point where the sun seems to pause and highlight the north and east sides of the temple of Kukulcan while creating complete shade on the south and west sides. If you are in the Riviera Maya during this time this is a great opportunity to be a part of such a historical tradition.

It is very popular to go to Chichen-Itza, not only for the summer solstice but also for the winter solstice and fall and spring equinox. The Mayans were very intelligent and without any kind of technology or advancement, that we use today, they had to construct a way to know what day, month and season it was. They were able to use the pattern of light to determine the seasons.

Also, for those who did not know this already the Temple of Kukulcan has 91 steps on each of the 4 sides plus one last step up to the top of the platform to equal 365. This represents one step per day. Another thing worth noting is that each season is exactly 91 days apart except for the summer solstice which is 92 all adding up to 365 days. The Mayans were able to determine everything just by paying attention with nature and the sun. Many will flock to Chichen-Itza to watch and partake in celebrations of this wonderful day!

How about a little bit of yoga?
If you can’t make it to Chichen-Itza how about a little bit of yoga? I know, this might sound a little surprising if you aren’t already familiar with the summer solstice traditions but it is true that many people across the world gather for special yoga sessions on the morning of the summer solstice. These special yoga sessions are intended to honor the sun. Check out the local yoga studios in Playa del Carmen, Tulum and across the Riviera Maya to see how you can get involved in one of these special sessions. Not in Mexico? Check out New York City where they put on a huge yoga event right in Times Square including free classes, music, performances and lots of celebration.

Perfect day for a wedding!

This very day is actually one of the most popular days for weddings. June is believed to be a good luck month for weddings anyways but June 21st, or the day of the summer solstice, is referred to as the “wedding of heaven and earth” and draws much attention to those when picking out their special day. In addition, if your wedding is outdoors you can get the most out of your day.

Bonfire

Another interesting tradition is to hold a bonfire. Make a big fire, invite your friends, cook, and celebrate the day!! I think this goes along with idea and is a good excuse to have a nice gathering with friends and family. Make the most out of the longest day of the year and the sunlight by being outdoors and taking in all the day has to offer. Other traditions include festivals, parades and special ceremonies. Make your own traditions, have a BBQ, go to the beach. Whatever it is you decide to do, enjoy! Happy Summer everyone!

-by Bea Lozano

This is the Place to Enjoy Nature Near Tulum!

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Thomas Lloyd

While many people have heard of the bigger theme parks near Playa del Carmen and Tulum, Xcaret, Xplor and Xel-Ha, fewer people know about some of the smaller gems nearby. Kantun-Chi is one of these places.

Kantun-Chi is a lower-key nature park, with focus on tours and diving in the underground caves, a small zoo, and a few cenotes to snorkel and dive in. I can tell you, the last time I spent a full day there, it was one of the most relaxing I can ever remember having – and here in Playa there are plenty of relaxing days.

A highlight of the park is that they have an a full underground tour where the caves are lit up with colored lights giving a very surreal effect:

Here are some more pictures of the park:

If one day you just want an active but quiet and relaxing day, where you don’t feel you have to hurry to finish all the activities, this park is the place to go.

-by Bea Lozano

Mexico’s Two Caribbean Islands are Among the Best in the World

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Thomas Lloyd

There are experiences which are created and planned – like Disney World. Some of these have their charm, but what you experience is exactly what a team of marketing experts in an office building somewhere (these days perhaps in Hong Kong, or maybe Beijing?) decided you will experience – nothing more, nothing less.

Other experiences are not planned or created – they simply happen. The place you are, the people your with and what you see and feel while you’re there is well beyond the control of any corporation or travel agency. Yes, planning is an important part of getting there and making the most of your visit, but the experience itself is defined by your own personal reaction and many random factors shaped by geography, nature and cultures that have developed over centuries.

Isla Mujeres and Cozumel – Top Islands in Mexico and the World

This is the case with two of the world’s favorite islands, Mexico’s two Caribbean islands, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. Recently, both have been ranked among the top islands in the world, for example, Isla Mujeres in TripAdvisor and Cozumel by Scuba Diving magazine. (Here is also a nice blog post of a traveler sharing their experience on Cozumel.)

They share the wide, soft white beaches and turquoise water of the Caribbean Sea – some of the most beautiful in the world. They share the heritage of the ancient Mayan people and the warm, welcoming culture of their descendants. They share warm, sunny weather all year round, and excellent diving access to the world’s second largest barrier coral reef.

Retire in Mexico - Islands

And, by geographical luck, they are located about an hour away from each other. Either can be accessed quickly from the Cancun International Airport

Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres is a tiny island just of the coast at Cancun. Coming directly from the bustling city of Cancun (where the ferry leaves) – which is quickly becoming the largest on the Yucatan Peninsula, and a cosmopolitan hub for travel and international events – the difference is like day and night.

You feel like you’re arriving to a different world. Yes, the climate and the beaches are the same, but suddenly you’re in a quiet place, a sleepy island where time hasn’t seemed to go anywhere in the past few decades.

Retire in Mexico - Islands Cozumel

Cozumel is has ferry access from Playa del Carmen. In addition to diving in the reef, there is deep-sea fishing, boating, sight-seeing, Mayan pyramids, golf and much more. One of the ideal ways to spend a day on Cozumel is to rent a scooter or a motorcycle (there are Harley rentals!) and just tour the island enjoying the warmth of the open air. The freedom to simply explore and discover the jungle, the ancient ruins and relaxing beaches at your own leisure is truly a unique experience.

Cozumel also has a small city (about 80,000 – a bit smaller than Playa del Carmen.) In this city you can enjoy the shops of knickknacks, artwork and handicrafts. There are also excellent restaurants, including many that sell the local catch of the day – fried fish is a local specialty.

Experience Life

Yes, on both Isla Mujeres and Cozumel you can buy tours, you can plan your day and decide what you want to see. But here, these are only tools to make it easier to find a unique experience that is shaped by the place and its culture that you will not find anywhere else.

-by Thomas Lloyd