Articles in the category Travel Ideas

Chichen Itza International Airport

Few people know it, but besides the Cancun and Merida international airports, there is another “doorway” to the Mayan world.  This one is much more closer, actually.  Just 17 kilometers from the renowned archaeological site by the same name, Chichen Itza International Airport is located in the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula.  With a 2.8-kilometer long and 45-meter wide runway, it has a control tower, plus a rescue and fire-control center.  Besides this, the airport is equipped with up-to-date facilities and is able to receive any type of aircraft.

Although it was closed in 2000 due to inactivity, the airport was opened again providing all services and new installations for the superb concert of the tenor, Placido Domingo, on 2008.  Some political, economical, and medical (the H1N1 hysteria) issues have unfortunately affected this hidden, yet well-located airfield.  Presently, it’s only receiving some local charter flights from Cancun, Cozumel, and Merida, but it is expected to start functioning on an international basis soon.  Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and the USA are some of the countries that may have direct flight connections to this region with one of the most visited tourist attractions in Mexico.

Airport Photos: Diana Eugenia

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Cancun Film Festival 2009 travel deal & more details!

During the second week of November, Cancun and the Riviera Maya will host one of the most important film festivals in Latin America. This gala pays special attention to emergent filmmakers from Mexico and all over the world. Celebrities from the industry will be promoting their masterpieces a whole week in different locations around Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The eco-friendly & endless luxury Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort is a proud partner of the Cancun Riviera Maya International Film Festival and will host the VIP Opening cocktail with all the celebrities on November 11. If you want to be part of this special moment as a Cancun Film Fest VIP guest, keep reading!

The Official Contest will give away awards for three sections: International, Iberoamerica & Mexico. In those sections the following categories: Fiction, Opera Prima (First Work), Documentary & Short Film.

Permanent Films will include mainly Ecology & Human Development Cinema (Ecological Conscience & Sustainable development), Experimental Cinema, Cinema on TV and Cinema on Internet, among others. This year the Guest Country for the Film Fest is Japan, that will be presenting retrospective masterpieces of Takeshi Kitano, Yoji Yamada and classical ones of Jasujiro Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi and Mikio Naruse.

Some of the most discussed films that are going to be presented for the first time are: “Nothing like the holidays” from Alfredo de Villa, “The Harimaya Bridge” from Aaron Wolfolk and the British documentary “Turtle: The Incredible Journey” from Nick Stringer.

Besides the films screening, the Festival will include also artistic, cultural & ecological workshops and conferences as well as special events, for the lucky attendees.

If you want to become part of the 3rd Cancun Riviera Maya International Film Festival as a VIP guest, discover the package we’ve created for you and meet us in paradise:

FILM FEST VIP PACKAGE

$299 USD / $3,894 pesos per night, double room: Ceiba Junior Suite

-All Inclusive
-Private transportation airport-resort-airport
-All the tours & activities in the Tres Ríos nature park : Bicycles, snorkel, kayaks, cenotes and       the greenhouse.
-Cooking & cocktails workshops; wine & tequila tastings.
-VIP access to the Opening Cocktail of the Cancun Film Festival on November 11th with all the celebrities.
-Direct access to all the activities & events of the Film Fest.
-Between the 12th and the 14th of Nov. there will be exclusive screening nights for the Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort guests.

* If you are flying from inside Mexico, between the 5th and 19th November we offer you a 15%off in your airfare with Interjet Airlines in all the routes to Cancun.

To make a reservation, send an email to: reservations@haciendatresrios.com and mention the Film Fest Package or visit the website.

Top 5 Eco Friendly Destinations in the Yucatan Peninsula

With the increasing trend towards protecting the environment, many people and businesses are taking measures to be “green” and eco friendly. In the tourism industry, the Riviera Maya has made a commitment to implement sustainable tourism in its efforts to protect the environment.

The Riviera Maya is one of the most desired travel places in the world. Stretching across miles of virgin, white sand Caribbean beaches, it is truly a paradise on earth. This area is one of the most appealing vacation spots, more than any other tropical place in the world.

Here are some of our favorite eco friendly places to visit in the Riviera Maya:

Cenotes near Puerto Morelos

Of the most impressive natural wonders in the Yucatan Peninsula are the cenotes, cave-like sinkholes with natural wells fed by underground rivers.  You simply must try swimming in the crystal-clear blue water of one of these renowned cenotes. Some of the most popular ones in the area are Verde Lucero, Boca del Puma, 7 Bocas, and Las Mojarras.

On your trip to visit the cenotes, you will also find a nature park worth seeing called the Selvatica.

Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

Just south of Cancun is the Sian Ka’an nature reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose mission is to safeguard endangered species of animals and to make sustainable use of natural resources. Home to crystal-clear lagoons, mangroves, and lush jungles, Sian Ka’an has many native animals, such as pumas, spider monkeys, ocelots, jaguars, and others. With only a handful of fishing lodges on site, you’ll be enchanted by the quiet serenity nature offers here.

Akumal (Home of the Turtles)

Akumal is a fairly unknown area, home to pristine lagoons with water in nearly every shade of blue and one of the most beautiful Caribbean beaches.  With its many colorful fish, sea turtles, and marine life, Akumal is one of the best places for scuba diving and snorkeling. The coastal caves and caverns also provide a fantastic cave diving experience for skilled divers seeking underwater adventures.

Tulum

Tulum is the perfect blend of Caribbean beach, small town, and Mayan ruins. You can spend anywhere from a few hours to the whole day there. Tour the Mayan ruins’ archaeology site or relax at some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. You can go sunbathing at the beach near the ruins, or swim north to the Boca Paila peninsula near the Sian Ka’an nature reserve.  No matter how long you visit Tulum, try to see it at night.  You’ll be inspired by how nothing but the moon lights up the town.

Hacienda Tres Rios Resort, Spa & Nature Park

If you want a vacation that doesn’t include the hassles of driving from place to place, your vacation spot is Hacienda Tres Rios, the first Endless Luxury, all inclusive, eco friendly resort in the heart of the Riviera Maya. Everything you may want or need is at the hotel or on the hotel grounds of Tres Rios Nature Park, including many things to do.

Originally a nature park alone, the vision behind building a hotel in the nature park was to create a travel place where people could not only spend the day but also spend the night.  Hacienda Tres Rios is the only hotel in the Yucatan Peninsula where three rivers merge into one and connect to the Caribbean Sea – a beautiful sight.

Tres Rios Nature Park covers 326 acres of tropical forests with over a hundred native plant and animal species.  It will undoubtedly keep adventure-savvy travelers busy, offering a wide range of vacation activities, including snorkeling in one of the ten cenotes, scuba diving along the second largest coral reef in the world (the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef), kayaking on the three rivers, “zip-lining” over mangroves, bird watching, bicycling, and much more.