An adventure through Paradise to Punta Allen

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I would like to share an experience of friend who traveled through the Jungle to the small little fishing village of Punta Allen.  The way she described it to me was somewhat humorous as they did not travel the traditional way through the jungle to arrive there.  Punta Allen is a very cute and small fishing village past Tulum and Sian Ka’an.  In order to get there you must travel through a rocky dirt road through the jungle.

 

There are many beautiful things to see as you travel through before arriving to the quaint little town.  My friend’s journey began in Playa del Carmen where she and her husband rented a scooter to take a spontaneous weekend getaway.

 

In Tulum

Although very close to home they stayed one night in a tiny but sweet and clean hotel room in the center of Tulum.  When they awoke in the morning they decided to head off to Punta Allen as they had heard about this destination yet knew nothing about it.  Still they wanted to find out.  They asked a few locals in town how to get there and received some directions but were advised to rent a jeep or a 4×4 if at all possible.

 

Adventurous Mishaps …
Being adventurous and spontaneous as they are they decided to ignore the advice and swing it on the scooter! Well about a quarter of the way through the long dirt road of Sian Ka’an, they finally realized the importance of the 4×4 as the ride was very slow and very bumpy.  None the less, they took frequent stops to take a look and snap photos of all the beauty that surrounded them.

 

There are beautiful jungles, pristine bays of water, and sheer quiet and relaxation!  In some points of the route you will even see camping areas where people come to enjoy a place where the jungle truly meets the sea.  They realized half way that they hadn’t even arrived to their destination yet and they were already taking in quite a beautiful experience.  Alas, they arrived and there was the sign “Welcome to Punta Allen”!  It probably should have taken them half the time in a jeep but they didn’t mind because it was an experience.

 

Definitely Not a Resort!
Punta Allen is a tiny fishing village that attracts some attention for a quiet weekend or night away however fully maintains its charm.  There is only one restaurant there and they have some options for cabanas.This is not a place for resort goers!

 

The cabanas are small, simple, clean and nice!  You are surrounded by beauty and nature.  There is a light house if you stroll down the path and in the little town you will see what some may think of as typical Mexico as this is not a tourist destination in general. The main activity there is fishing and as a tour option you can head out on a boat with a guided tour out into the ocean.  Other than that it’s all about the relaxation.  My friend thought it to be quite cute and funny that the restaurant owned a turkey for a pet, which had been tied to a tree in the restaurant, you know, just in case it ran away!

 

The Journey Home

The duration of the stay was not too long; only one night but enough to have a beautiful experience.  Then they headed home back on the scooter back towards Tulum and back to Playa.  It is truly wonderful that when you live here you have the option to just pick up and go somewhere and explore in such a beautiful place!

 

We should remember that some people save up for a year to take a vacation out to the Riviera Maya to explore and experience as much as they can because for many it is only a once in a lifetime event or at least every once in a while.  Take advantage of what you have surrounding you and go!

 

-by Bea Lozano

 
Mexico Real Estate e-book

Where Is It Safe to Travel in Mexico? … to Live in Mexico?

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Expats living in Mexico will almost invariably feel confident in the safety of the place where they live; being here in person allows people to experience first hand that life here is safe.

Yet many expats also want the experience of traveling to other parts of the country.  Those who aren’t expats yet (but are planning on it) will want to know which areas are statistically safe.

For these purposes, the US Department of State’s “Clear for Travel” list is useful.  I approve of this list, because it let’s people know that many parts of Mexico are safe for travel, and serves as a beginning of a balance to the negative travel advisories lists that have gained so much attention. (I also approve of the travel advisories list – people need to know where they shouldn’t go, too!)

As far as I know, this list isn’t exhaustive; if a place isn’t listed here, that doesn’t mean it’s not safe.  These are just the most frequently visited places that have been given a definite “clear.” So if the place you’re thinking of visiting is not listed here, do some extra research  before stroking it of your list.

CITIES CLEAR FOR TRAVEL

The follow tourist cities and places continue to have no warning or advisories in effect:

Baja California Sur: No advisory is in effect.

Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, La Paz, Todos Santos, Isla Espiritu Santo, Loreto, Laguna San Ignacio, Magdelena Bay

 

Campeche: No advisory is in effect.

Campeche City, Calakmul, Edzna

 

Chiapas: No advisory is in effect.

San Cristobal de las Casas, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Comitán, Tapachula, Palenque, Yaxchilán, Bonampak, Toniná, Sumidero Canyon, San Juan Chamula, Zinacantan

 

Guanajuato: No advisory is in effect.

Guanajuato City, Leon, San Miguel de Allende

 

Guerrero*:

Acapulco, Taxco, Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa

 

Jalisco:

Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Tequila

 

Distrito Federal: No advisory is in effect.

Mexico City (Polanco, Santa Fe, San Angel, Coyoacan, La Condesa, Chapultepec Park, Bascilica de Guadalupe, Historic Center, Zócalo, Xochimilco, Teotihuacan, Templo Mayor, Bellas Artes)

 

Michoacan*:

Morelia*

 

Nayarit:

Riviera Nayarit, Nuevo Vallarta, Punta de Mita, Sayulita, Bucerias

 


Oaxaca: No advisory is in effect.

Oaxaca City, Sierra Norte, Monte Alban, Mitla,  Teotitlán del Valle, San Bartolo de Coyotepec, San Martin Tilcajete,  Cuilápam de Guerrero, Tlacolula,  Huatulco, Puerto Escondido

Puebla: No advisory is in effect.

Puebla City, San Andres Cholula, San Pedro Cholula

 

Queretaro: No advisory is in effect.

Queretaro City, Bernal

 

Quintana Roo: No advisory is in effect.

Cancun, Riviera Maya, Tulum,  Playa del Carmen, Mayakoba, Akumal, Isla Mujeres, Puerto Aventuras, Cozumel, Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve,  Xpu-Ha

 

Sinaloa*:

Mazatlan*

 

Tabasco: No advisory is in effect.

Villahermosa

 

Yucatan: No advisory is in effect.

Merida, Chichen Itza, Isla Holbox,  Ek Balam, Valladolid,  Izmal, Uxmal

 

*There are advisories in effect for the state. The listed cities are okay for travel but you should exercise caution and stay within tourist areas.

(From the US Department of State, as listed in Journey Mexico.)

There are many safe places to live in Mexico, and even more great (and safe) places to travel to.

 

-by Thomas Lloyd
Mexico Real Estate Testimonials

New Pyramids Discovered in Veracruz, Mexico

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Once again, Mexico shows that it is capable of discovering, analyzing and preserving ancient pyramid sites for the sake of science and enjoyment of visitors.  All of this comes in complete contrast to the destruction of Mayan pyramids reported from Central America.  Here’s an excerpt from a news report:

 

An ancient settlement, including 30 skeletons and the ruins of a pyramid, believed to be up to 2,000 years old, has been unearthed in Mexico.

 

The discovery was made during construction work in eastern Mexico. Clay figurines, jade beads, mirrors and animal remains have also been found in the site of the graves in the town of Jaltipan, southeast of Veracruz, according to the National Anthropology and History Institute (INAH).

 

Researchers believe the settlement was occupied from around the first century AD until AD 600 or 700. However, little is known about the people who lived there, ‘LiveScience’ reported. (source: Business Standard)

 

Mexico offers contact with and information on a rich variety of ancient civilizations that lived throughout the country for anyone who wishes to travel and see these sites.  Yet another reason to choose Mexico.

-by Thomas Lloyd
Mexico Real Estate Investment Kit

A Fair is More Than a Fair, It’s a Whole Affair! Playa del Carmen Fair 2013

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The Playa del Carmen Fair is a summer event that many locals and expats look forward to all year!  The Fair will usually take place at some point in July and runs for a little over a week!  During that time the streets around Wal-Mart are closed down and packed up with rides, food vendors, craft and merchandise vendors, and entertainment areas.  This is normal for any fair that you will find in your own home town but anywhere you go each place will bring its own Flare!  Mexico certainly brings its own and I want to show you some of the ways we do it.

 


The Rides

Let’s start with the rides.  There is a nice selection of easy going or thrilling rides both for adults and kits.  Of course you will find the ever so famous BIG WHEEL; most know it as the Ferris Wheel!  This is a common ride among fairs everywhere and is sort of the landmark of the whole event!  Another favorite in the Playa Fair is the sky ride where many people wait in line for hours to take a ski slope type trip through a couple blocks of the town center.  Other rides include some fast adult thrillers whipping you around and upside down and some fun picks for the kids!

 


Games & Shows

If rides are not your thing there are plenty of other things to keep you busy!  There are many games to play that will offer prizes for the winners. Also there is a special entertainment tent where you can see many different kinds of shows put on locals in the community including dance and music which in most cases is rich in culture!

 

Shopping

There are plenty of shopping opportunities for local products and handcrafts. This is a good place to find a cheap colorful pair of shades, some nice decorative Mexican handcraft, plenty of jewelry, even shoes!  And that is just to name a few!

 

Mmmm … Food!

Now everyone’s favorite Fair subject!  The FOOD!  A fair would not be a fair without traditional fair food.  Depending on where you come from the food may change but the craze and eagerness to eat delicious things will stay the same.
Some common and traditional foods include corn on the cob that is smothered with mayo, parmesan cheese, lime and chili!  Also, churros which in my opinion are another version of a fried dough covered in sugar; they are simply amazing.

How many ways can you cook a banana?  Well at the fair you can fry it either to a crisp like chips and eat them as such or until soft and sweet to smother it in a sweet vanilla crème sauce called Lechera! Either way you are in for a treat!

Now on to the marquesitas!  Marquesitas are made with a batter almost like a crepe but when cooked the dough gets crunch like a soft waffle cone filled with cheese or sweets like nutella or sweet caramel.

Don’t have a sweet tooth? Well that’s ok.  There are like three different ways to eat hot dogs.  Try them small and cut up with fries, traditional or make it a corn dog! Here in Mexico we like variety!  Other traditional whole foods include hamburgers and of course tacos and quesadillas!!!  It is likely you will arrive home nice and full!

But don’t worry, you don’t have to wait until next July for these delicious treats because it’s likely you will see them again in February when Playa holds its annual carnival event!

To see some great photos of this year’s event please visit our album on Facebook

 

-by Bea Lozano
Mexico Real Estate Testimonials Continue reading →

New, State-of-the-Art Planetarium to Open in Cancun

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I love museums with ancient animals, scientific discoveries and stuff like that.  I also love planetariums – they’re just so amazing to see!

 

The good news is that Cancun will be getting a planetarium VERY soon, which will be great for anyone living in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and Tulum – and even for those in Merida or Costa Maya.

 

Here are some details I found in a local Spanish news source:

  • –It will be opening on July 19 (tomorrow!)
  • –It will be called the Ka’Yok Scientific, Technological and Cultural Planetarium Complex of Cancun
  • –“Ka’Yok” means “window to the universe” in Maya
  • –The planetarium will be one of 10 most advanced in the world in terms of scientific and technological equipment
  • –It will feature cutting-edge technological tools, interactive and multimedia, as well as a more advanced projection system to show images of stars on a perforated aluminum screen 12 meters in diameter
  • –The observatory will be equipped with a 16-inch telescope, educational workshops, a museum on the Mayan science of space.
  • –The complex was built in a record time of seven months with an investment of about 40 million pesos (about $3.2 million USD.)
  • –The complex consists of the planetarium, the observatory, a water museum, an eco-technology park, an auditorium and botanical gardens.

 

This sounds like it will be quite the place to visit, with plenty to do both for families and for retired couples.  I can’t wait to make a trip out there.

 

– by Thomas Lloyd
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5 of Mexico’s Best Kept Secrets – Travel Tips for Expats and Vacationers

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Now, if you’ve been reading our blogs or otherwise making use of the Top Mexico website, 3 of the 5 of these will be no secret to you, but this is a nice overview of 5 mostly undiscovered locations in Mexico.  These locations are ideal for your own discovery road trips – which are a great way to spend retirement years or vacations in this beautiful country – or you can even choose them as your home away from home!

 

 

So, from Fodor’s, here are excerpts from “Undiscovered Mexico: 5 Places You Haven’t Been”:

 

Costalegre

 

Costalegre (from Costa Alegre, “Coast of Joy”), also known as the “Virgin Coast,” is a series of beaches, capes, and bays set like pearly brooches along the Pacific coast, just south of Puerto Vallarta. If travelers know Costalegre at all, it’s for the fabulous eco-centric jetsetting celebrity haunt, El Careyes, with its polo fields, golf courses, turtle recovery program, and spectacular multi-million-dollar cliff-side villas exploding with color. But you don’t have to be Heidi Klum (who owns), or Uma Thurman and Francis Ford Coppola (who rent), to enjoy its wonders. …

 

 

Morelia

 

The vision of cobblestone streets lined with craft markets and cafes, street vendors selling authentic foods, magnificent museums, and splendid colonial architecture lives in Morelia, tucked away in the central mountains. The capital of the state of Michoacan was founded in 1541 under the name Valladolid, and its original layout comprises a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 17th-century aqueduct, notable for 253 stately arches, still supplies water to the city. Most of the grandest structures date back to the 18th century, encompassing the various architectural styles that have been fashionable in Mexico, but most magnificent is the Cathedral, with its twin 200-foot bell towers. Nearly all are constructed of cantera (pink stone), really more ecru, which is particularly stunning at dusk. …

 

 


Valle de Guadalupe, Ensenada

 

Tequila, tacos and… Tempranillo? Not to mention Cabernet, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and more? Surprise: the Western Hemisphere’s first winery was established in 1597 in Coahuila. And the better-known Argentine and Chilean vineyards literally stemmed from Mexican grafts. Today, Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe, just northeast of Ensenada and 75 miles south of San Diego, is wine central, with cool Pacific breezes and morning fogs mimicking the climatic conditions of the Napa or Rhône Valleys. Despite medals at international competitions and raves from such influential industry icons as Robert Mondavi, it remains undiscovered—meaning lower prices and a warm welcome, often from the vintners themselves. …

 

 

Merida

 

If you believe all the Yucatan has to offer aside from Mayan ruins is pre-fab Cancun and Riviera Maya all-inclusives, think again. Two hundred miles west of Cancun, cosmopolitan Merida remains virtually unknown to American tourists despite its reputation as one of Mexico’s safest and most gracious cities. Merida is nicknamed “The White City:” some claim for the gleaming limestone of the buildings, others for the residents’ cleanliness bordering on fetish. The Sunday market here jams with live bands and locals selling traditional crafts. The Paseo de Montejo, often called Mexico’s Champs-Elysées, offers chic boutiques, art galleries, and sidewalk cafes. You can also tour Mérida’s boulevards and plazas by horse-drawn calesa. …

 

 

Mazunte/San Agustinillo

 

Dubbed both the Costa Chica (“Little Coast,” despite Pacific swells that lure surfers) and the Riviera Oaxaqueña (despite its poverty), the 75-mile stretch between Puerto Escondido and the failed Cancun-wannabe Huatalco features gorgeous, unspoiled beaches the color of champagne and just as apt to make you feel giddy. The Sierra Madre del Sur mountains, percolating with resurgent coffee plantations, practically tumble down to the Pacific, forming a glorious backdrop. …

 

 

You can read the entire article there.  Of course, there are many other well-kept secrets in Mexico, such as Campeche, but this list is good one.

 

 

-by Thomas Lloyd
Mexico Real Estate Investment Kit

5 Great Tips for Traveling … and Living in Mexico

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Browsing Google today, I found these 5 Things You Should Know When Travelling in Mexico.  Even for people living in Mexico or planning to live in Mexico, they are excellent little bits of info since expats always enjoy traveling around the country.  Here are excerpts of each of the 5 points:

 

1. Not every pyramid is the same

The mind-baffling pyramids, scattered all over Mexico among jungle and ancient settlements, are among Mexico’s top attractions. However, do not assume that once you’ve seen one Mexican pyramid you’ve seen them all! Each pyramid site in Mexico is not only unique in its size, design and structure – but also in its history and origins.  …

 

2. There is more to Mexican music than mariachis

Mariachi music is synonymous with all things Mexican, and rightly so as it is considered the national music of Mexico. However, it is important to realise that there are lots of other forms of important traditional Mexican music that form part of the colourful history and culture of this musical country. One form of Mexican music you are likely to come across when you travel around Mexico is ranchera music. The word “ranchera” is derived from the Spanish word for farm (rancho) as it was among rural farmers where these folk songs originated. …

 


3. The Roman Catholic religion is important

Catholicism is the dominant religion in Mexico. This is more than just an interesting fact – it is a must-know for anyone planning to travel to Mexico. … According to the 2010 census, more than 80% of the population of Mexico are of Catholic denomination. For this reason, it is important to show respect for Catholic tradition both inside and outside of churches while travelling in Mexico.

 

4. Festivals are a year-round occurrence

I don’t think it’s a sweeping statement to say that Mexican’s love a good celebration! At least this is what their impressive calendar of ancient traditional, spiritual and religious festivals would suggest. There are numerous festival celebrations all year round in Mexico both at a local and national level. These include celebrations which worship the patron saint of one’s neighbourhood; regional food, craft, music and folklore festivals; as well as country-wide events such as the Day of the Dead. …

 

5. The natural environment is highly respected

As the fourth country in the world for biodiversity, Mexico is an attractive place for natural scientists, geographers, marine biologists, nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. With a variety of diverse ecosystems differing from one end of the country to the next, there are all manner of landscapes to explore in Mexico. These highly protected geographical regions range from landscapes comprising volcanoes; rainforests and mountains; to deserts, reefs and sacred limestone wells. [“cenotes”] …

 

Read the rest of this very informative article over there.

 

-Bea Lozano
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MexFest in London, England – A Celebration of Mexican Culture

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For any readers in London or nearby, a friend sent me this about Mexfest:

 

London MexFest is an exciting programme of contemporary Mexican cinema, architecture, exhibitions, music and gastronomy.

 

Mexican and British exponents of all these creative disciplines will engage in talks and events to highlight the growing bilateral cultural collaboration between the two countries.

 

And the trailer video:

 

I think it’s going right now, but at least you’ll know for next time – and it’s always good to know that Mexican culture is gaining good exposure!

 

-by Bea Lozano

 

Mexico Condo Hotel Kit