Articles with the theme Hacienda Tres Rios Resort

One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, Floor!

Chef Oscar explains how to drink tequila.
With tequila in hand we raised our glasses up, down and to the center. But before placing it in our mouths we were instructed to do a little dance the infamous Chef Oscar called the “cuchi cuchi”. This is just one of the many fun antics that occurred at the Travel Bloggers’ Tweet Up at Hacienda Tres Rios Spa and Nature Park. Nevertheless, putting the fun and dancing aside, we did learn a lot from the tequila tasting seminar.

What tequila facts did we absorb into our bellies and our minds?

There is a proper way to drink tequila. It is neither with salt nor lime, instead to truly enjoy the flavor, you must breathe in, hold it, sip and enjoy. If anything must accompany tequila it is cinnamon and orange. Both accompaniments enhance tequila’s flavor whereas lime and salt merely eliminate it.

Blue Agave: Tequilana Weber plant Authentic tequila can be made from one plant and one plant only. Also, it can come from only one region in the world. Sounds a lot like France’s champagne right? The Blue Agave Tequilana Webber Plant is the only agave plant in which tequila can originate and it comes from very specific regions located in western Mexico.

Tequila production dates back to pre-Hispanic times. Long before the Spanish arrived, pre-Hispanic tribes discovered the sweet liquor derived from the hearts of agave plants. The Europeans were the ones to perfect the distillation process via the use of Arabic procedures and American and French oak barrels.

Knowing how to read a tequila bottle label is vital in finding valid tequila. If it is not ‘100% de agave ‘or it is not made in Mexico, it is NOT tequila at all.

Tequila tasting at Hacienda Tres Rios in the Riviera Maya Chef Oscar also opened up our palates to all five various types of tequila: blanco, joven, reposado, añejo and extra añejo. We even got to try the very expensive, very tasty Herradura Extra Añejo, a tequila brand that sells for at least 500 USD in the United States. Needless to say, after all of the tequila tasting and a brief instruction on how to make sangrita, all writers stumbled away happy, ready to write and do the “cuchi cuchi” in the streets of near by Playa del Carmen.

 

Ready to answer a few questions in the comments below?

YH QUICK TEST

1. What is the name of Chef’s Oscar dance?
2. List the 4 steps you must follow to properly drink tequila.
3. What is the name of the only plant from which tequila can be made of?
4. Who perfected the distillation process of the tequila?
5. Which one is your favorite tequila brand?

Good luck and Salud!

__________________________

About the Author

kristin Kristin McCollum is a travel writer that has spent the past year traveling and working throughout Europe and Mexico. Now settled on the Yucatan Peninsula, she finds inspiration in every person she meets and in the natural beauty which surrounds her. Follow Kristin on Twitter.

Some Ideas to Travel Green | Earth Day 2010

Earth Day 2010

From turquoise blue oceans to exuberant vegetation, Mother Earth has given us striking, beautiful places to visit, one being Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Unfortunately, as travelers our visits tend to strike the environment in a negative way.

Green Travel in Mexico Responsible, sustainable tourism is necessary if we wish to preserve the sustainability of the environment and the beauty of the colorful coral reefs of the Caribbean, the white sand beaches of the Riviera Maya, and the luscious, tropical jungles of the Yucatan Peninsula. There are certain actions we can take as responsible visitors to compensate for the damage we have caused and prevent further deterioration of our ecosystems.

Making these small gestures will help decrease the impact we have on natural habitats, while still ensuring an exceptional vacation as we enjoy the natural wonders of the Riviera Maya.

Before you leave for your Riviera Maya or Cancun vacation, make your home eco-friendly to help save the environment and help you save money.

*Turn your water heater to the lowest setting.

*Adjust air-conditioner or heater thermostat to the lowest level.

*Turn water off from the outside connection.

*Unplug appliances and switch off surge protectors.

*Discontinue your newspaper delivery during your vacation.

Environmentally conscious hotels and resorts with “green” policies such as Hacienda Tres Ríos in the Riviera Maya are contributing to a more responsible, sustainable tourism industry. When arriving to your resort, make these small gestures and you’ll l help decrease the impact we have on natural habitats:

*Request your room towels and sheets not to be changed everyday.

*Turn off AC, heater, lights, and TV when you are not in the room.

*Take shorter showers and shut-off the water while you apply soap and shampoo.

*Open shades for natural light, but shut them when you’re out to maintain the room temperature.

*Use biodegradable sunscreen and mosquito repellent.

*Do not feed or disturb fish, animals, plants, and other living creatures.

*Do not buy souvenirs made out of animal or plant parts.

*Do not litter and use recycle bins when available.

*Reduce your carbon footprint by supporting projects that reduce carbon dioxide emissions to counterbalance the emission from your vacation, otherwise known as carbon offsetting.

Yucatan Holidays & Green Travel

Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort, one of Yucatan Holidays world-class resorts, developed a set of Best Environmental Guidelines as a foundation for its planning, construction, and operation. The Green Team—composed of engineers, architects, and scientists—is in charge of following the Tres Ríos’ mission for sustainable luxury tourism in Mexico; this means ensuring the conservation of the area’s jungles, mangroves, and dunes without sacrificing luxury and comfort.

Visit the Yucatan Holidays website and discover how the Hacienda Tres Rios Resort offers you a real green travel experience for this Earth Day 2010

Yucatan Holidays and the Earth Hour 2010

Yucatan Holidays joins the Earth Hour Yucatan Holidays,  looking to support local and international green initiatives,  joined on Saturday, March 27th the Earth Hour pledge. We attended to the one of the better known all inclusive resorts on the Rivera Maya, the Hacienda Tres Rios, to take part in Earth Hour. With the collaboration of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the people of Sydney Australia, Earth Hour began in 2007. Since its conception, the last Saturday of every March has united cities and citizens around the globe in earth awareness. At exactly 8:30 pm, business, households and landmarks sink into darkness, shutting off all non-essential lights and appliances. Regardless of race, religion or political views, Earth Hour has become a way to unite the planet in this very important cause.

During this year’s annual Earth Hour, Yucatan Holidays and Hacienda Tres Rios invited all guests outside for a torch and fire lit Mayan show. The walkways were beautifully illuminated with candles as all lights of the resort were turned off and a host explained the ever increasing importance of this hour’s observation. Guests and other spectators sat in a semi-circle to watch a well performed Mayan drum and dance show depicting life of the ancient natives. The guests not only appeared to enjoy the show but expressed a deep appreciation of Hacienda Tres Rios’ participation in such an important cause. One may think that turning off the lights for an entire hour at such a grand resort would be an impossible task but, with poise, Hacienda Tres Rios and Yucatan Holidays accomplished their earth conscious mission.

The Hacienda Tres Rios Resort before and during the Earth Hour

Take a look at what happened!

 

All Inclusive Vacation in Cancun & the Riviera Maya

The_CaribbeanWhether you’re with family, friends, or your partner, planning your vacation is an important thing to do and is something that must be done thoughtfully. If you’re looking for a great travel deal or an indulging experience regardless of the price, Cancun and the Riviera Maya have a large number of options for everyone. What usually motivates travelers (especially when it’s a family or a honeymoon trip) is convenience, like getting a special price that includes meals, drinks, entertainment, transportation, and other great activities in a quality, all inclusive package.

“Once favored by budget-minded couples and swinging singles, all-inclusives are now going upscale,” says Christian L. Wright from Condé Nast Traveler, and he’s right. The all inclusive concept that once referred to cheap buffet meals, low-class alcohol, and poor accommodations has now changed completely – and for the better.

Some of the most amazing, luxurious, and renowned hotel groups have discovered a perfect place for their mega resorts in the Riviera Maya, all of them offering tourists the all inclusive experience.

We know you want it.

The northern hemisphere is starting to welcome chilly weather, rain, and snow. Most travelers from the U.S., Canada, and Europe are looking for warmer temperatures, sunny days, and pristine beaches. The Riviera Maya and Cancun have all that and much more. The Mexico Caribbean is known worldwide for its endless summer atmosphere, and if you add the opportunity to have a complete, carefree experience at a nice resort, what else can you ask for?

Yes, we are All Inclusive!

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Today, talking about all inclusive vacations means that you pay one price, a one-time only fee, and (depending on the resort) you won’t have to worry about transportation, meals, drinks, tips, outdoor activities, and if you’re lucky, about the nightlife. (Some resorts have their own bars and/or nightclubs!)

And we’re talking about worldclass meals at fine restaurants with the best chefs; for instance, El Alebrije (fine Mexican food) or  Kotori (Asian fusion) at Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort. This is a whole new concept in all inclusive vacations.

all_inclusive_food_drinksIf you’re traveling with kids, you don’t have to worry either. At this premium resort, a wide range of activities for children are available. If you prefer to have a romantic evening, you’ll be able to request a qualified babysitter so you won’t have to worry about a thing.

If this isn’t enough, in addition to the all Inclusive services – and for a very reasonable price – the resort can coordinate some great tours to visit all the must-see places in the area (like the  Mayan ruins) or maybe just spend a whole day relaxing at a unique spa. It’s up to you.

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Cancun and the Riviera Maya are perfect yearlong destinations, so the only thing you have to do is start looking for the best deals (yes, these upscale resorts have really great options for different budgets, depending in the season). Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort, in the heart of the Riviera Maya, is one the best options available. This luxurious resort offers not only premium, all inclusive services, but it includes a bonus: access to a private nature park with 10 cenotes and three rivers for swimming, snorkeling, diving, or kayaking, and hundreds of acres for hiking, bird watching or bicycling. Now, THAT’S all inclusive.

Enjoy  360° views of your next all inclusive resort, Hacienda Tres Rios.

Cancun Celebrity Golf Invitational Tournament 2009

celebrity_golf_invitational_cancun

Once again, Yucatan Holidays is the proud sponsor of one of the most important events in Cancun, the Riviera Maya and Mexico. Two golf tournaments and related events will take place between December 3rd – 6th, 2009, in the greater Cancun and Isla Mujeres areas of Quintana Roo, Mexico.

The Celebrity Golf Invitational Tournament 2009 is going to be held for the first time outside of US territory and the main attraction is the presence of great American entertainers and sports celebrities known for their love of the game and altruistic activities. celebrity_golf_cancun

Gustavo Stieglitz, Celebrity Golf Invitational Director, states, “Our main objective is to expose to the eyes of the world that Cancun and its surroundings are among the most important travel destinations in Mexico. These high-end events contribute, undoubtedly, to the worldwide promotion of Cancun and the Riviera Maya.”

The first golf tournament on December 4th will be a Skins game, played only by celebrities who accepted the invitation. The featured golf tournament on December 5th will be a Pro-Am game, where each celebrity will lead a group of three amateurs. Both tournaments will be held at the Playa Mujeres Golf Club, designed by the famous Australian player and architect, Greg Norman.

Related events, such as a special memorabilia silent auction and a celebrity charity poker tournament, Texas Hold’em style, will be held at the official hotel – Hacienda Tres Rios Resort, Spa & Nature Park – our endless luxury, all-inclusive resort in the Riviera Maya.

 

Cancun Riviera Maya International Film Fest has begun!

film_fest_tres_riosSince Monday afternoon, the International Film Festival started with some movie screenings in different venues among Cancún and the Riviera Maya. Pedro Valiente, director of the event has done a great job in the organization of  the third edition of the film festival, which brings together the most promising directors and some of the best actors in the film industry. The main venue is the Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort, where the distinguished guests have been accommodated.

danny_gloverToday, Wednesday 11th, the luxury resort will host the Opening Cocktail for the film festival. A list of Mexican and International celebrities is confirmed for such a special night. Danny Glover, the renowned actor from movies like: Lethal Weapon, Top Gun, Maverick, Saw and 2012 (soon to be premiered in the US) is the special guest of the festival; he’ll be presenting his latest film The Harimaya Bridge, from American director Aaron Woolfolk.

Other international directors, producers and actors along with Mexican celebrities  Ana Claudia Talancón, Mario Zaragoza, Pedro Damián, Salvador Aguirre,  Ana Roth and Mario Mandujano will be joining us tonight at the Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort.

During this week, special movie screenings with an ecological perspective will be offered for the guests of the resort : About the Water, The Planet, Flow, The Firm Land, Rez Bomb, The Human Experience, Cages y Burma VJ.

Do you want to join the celebrities? We have a special deal for the Film Fest!

Mexican Temazcal: A Pleasure at Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort

Temazcal_bath_rivieramaya Linda Barnard, The Star’s online newspaper movie editor, had the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable purification experience. This “lover of saunas” with nine other people from different countries were indulged at Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort with the temazcal, a steam bath “combining the relaxing heat with an Aztec-Mayan ritual.” Being guided by a local shaman ─ “a healer, mystic and guide and a respected position among cultures around the world” ─ Linda and her companions spent a purifying evening with the “chance to become one with the universe inside.” After the temazcal session, they dipped into the chilly water of a cenote to finish with some tea and platters of fresh fruit. Don’t you wish to pamper yourself this way? Read the complete story of Linda Barnard in The Toronto Star’s website.

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The shaman ouside of the temazcal at the eco friendly, endless luxury Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort