Articles with the theme Riviera Maya

Travel Bloggers and Writers: A Weekend In the Riviera Maya.

Last weekend our luxurious Riviera Maya resort, Hacienda Tres Ríos, invited a group of travel bloggers, writers and experts from across the US, to visit the resort, enjoy the activities, relax in the suites and meet with local bloggers.

Kay Walten (LocoGringo) , Cheri Lucas (Trazzler), Craig Zabransky (Stay Adventurous), Chris Gray (Chris Around the World), Rachelle Lucas (Inn the Kitchen), Matt Long (Land Lopers) and Janice Waugh (Solo Traveler) were the travel bloggers invited by the Riviera Maya resort for an unforgettable weekend.

Dinner at the Chef’s Table, Green Globe Certification ceremony, tour along the plant nursery and the exclusive Nature Park, the SenseAdventure tour, the temazcal (a challenging experience!), Mexican dinner and a visit to Playa del Carmen were just some of the activities that the distinguished guests enjoyed during their visit.

This is the first bloggers trip we had and we hope to have more in the future. Are you a blogger or a travel writer? Would you like to be invited to Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort? Why should we pick you? Let us know in the comments below!

In the kitchen with Chef Oscar.

During the Green Globe Certification Ceremony.

A whole new experience, the SenseAdventure Tour.

The Tequila Tasting was one of the best experiences.

Take a look at the Travel Bloggers in the Riviera Maya photo album in Flickr!

 

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About the author

I’m Jorge the community manager and destination marketing strategist of Yucatan Holidays. Always on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and YouTube among many other social network sites trying to share with the world the amazing natural beauties and rich history of this land of wonders.

The Whale Shark Adventure | Cancun – Isla Mujeres

If you visit Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Holbox or Isla Mujeres take one day off the beach and wake up early to enjoy one of the most exciting adventures. Join our expert tour guides for the unique experience of swimming with WHALE SHARKS; season is coming to an end next month!
Do you have an underwater camera? Don’t forget to bring it or get one for less than $20 USD! If you want to see all the photos, click in our Whale Shark Adventure Photo Album.

Have you ever image to swim with the biggest fish on earth? Will you do it? Share your thoughts in the comments below! We want to know!

Summer Photo Contest | The Winners

It’s been a long road since the beginning of the contest (well not too long, but at least a couple of weeks). We gladly received numerous photographs from people around the world. Some sunsets,  families, friends, animals, archaeological sites, beaches, cenotes and more!

Thank you very much for joining us! It’s been a lot of fun and some hard times picking the 10 finalists.  As you must already know, we only received 1 photo of a creative friend (Thank you Matthew Wolff!); but many others from great amateur and expert photographers that have had the chance of visiting Mexico before.
The 3 winners did an amazing job! A lot of friends and family members LIKEd their photos and that’s why they will now have the hard time deciding who is coming to paradise with them (did you think is was going to be easy?).

A photo is worth a thousand words so, here are the winners of our contest and the lucky guys that will receive a 5-day stay in Cancun!

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I LOVE MEXICO

Cynthia Modesto (188 LIKES)

Sylvia Campa  (153 LIKES)

Nikki Snyder (128 LIKES)

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I WANT TO LOVE MEXICO

Matthew Wolff

Congratulations again and keep an eye on our Facebook page and our Twitter account because we’ll have more contests soon!

Cenotes: The Yucatan’s Natural Attraction

Just saying the word cenote conjures immediate excitement, right? Well, maybe for some but for the majority, it is literally and figuratively a foreign word. Cenote, pronounced, /sɛˈnoʊteɪ/, is a collapsed caved filled with stalagmites, stalactites and an array of natural life. Well, that doesn’t sound special, does it? Wrong! Cenotes are distinctive and here is why:

Divers and Snorkelers, Welcome to paradise.

Cenotes, found primarily in the Yucatan Peninsula and surrounding Caribbean islands, are filled with crystal clear ground water with a tinge of blue and stunning marine life. One could spend hours swimming with the fish or simply staring at the uniquely formed underwater rock formations.

They are as rich in history as they are in color.

Cenote, is a word derived from the Mayan word D’zonot and it is widely believe that the ancient Maya used cenotoes for ritualistic purposes. Nobody seems to agree on exactly how the cenotes were utilized by the Maya. Regardless, when the sacred cenote at the archeological site Chichen Itza was dredged, over 100 human skulls were found. But, don’t let this deter you from swimming in one. The discovery was over 100 years ago and the skulls were found in only one cenote out of many. The connection between the Mayas and the cenotes is not the only link to ancient history. Cenotes are thought to be formed during a meteorite impact on earth, the same meteorite that led to the distinction of dinosaurs.

They are simply captivating.

With their uniqueness alone, they are enchanting. Used by locals and tourists alike to cool off, think of them as the old fashion swim hole but 100 times better. No muddy water, they are clear, crisp and unbelievably refreshing. After a long day touring the Yucatan Peninsula, cenotes are the perfect place to cool off while enjoying natural beauty.

The Yucatan Peninsula’s Most Popular Cenotes:

· Dos Ojos Cenote, located in the Riviera Maya is well known amongst divers.

· The Sacred Cenote of Chichen Itza, made famous by the archeological findings in 1904.

· Dzitnup Cenote, located near Valladolid, Yucatan is known mostly for its unique blue color and cylindrical shape, is one of my most photographed cenotes in the world.

 

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.

A Spa of the Senses: The SenseAdventure Tour

It is an adventure like no other, an adventure of the five senses. Mr. Gerardo Carrera Saucedo and the sense adventure staff at Hacienda Tres Ríos Nature Park and Spa Resort in the Riviera Maya have carefully crafted a tour to engage all five senses either in harmony or one by one: The SenseAdventure Tour™.

It reunites the soul with nature and rekindles the inner-child. Taste, touch, smell, see and hear the uniqueness of the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The distinctive and matchlessness flavors, flora and wildlife of the region make this luxury all-inclusive resort’s nature park the perfect place to experience a tour of the senses.

The adventure team guide sense adventure seekers through a small portion of the three hundred twenty-six acres of natural untouched beauty that is nestled next to the pristine waters of the Caribbean Sea. Upon completion of the tour, adventure goers experience a type of feeling, warmth, relaxation and happiness that no in-spa massage could accomplish.

About the Author

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.

Sea Turtle Preservation in the Yucatan Peninsula

In a region like Mexico where vast areas of pristine nature still exist, the effects of pollution, poaching, and human encroachment are hard to ignore. A recent example of environmental contamination is the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, resulting in the devastation of local sea turtles and marine life near the Gulf Coast states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, USA.

Fortunately, this threat has not extended to the Caribbean Sea or to sea turtles and other marine life in the Yucatan Peninsula, and is not expected to do so. (Concerns about oil reaching the Yucatan Peninsula, where Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and the Riviera Maya are located, are being investigated by local authorities, and proactive measures are being considered for future implementation if necessary.)

Sea Turtle Preservation

Recent environmental crises have heightened public awareness of nature conservation, but endangered sea turtles have been protected by federal law in Mexico since 1990. Sea turtle preservation in this part of the world is supported by various government and private organizations, individuals, and volunteers with a passion for preserving nature’s ecosystems.

Three endangered species of sea turtles commonly found in the Yucatan Peninsula are the loggerhead, hawksbill, and green sea turtles (less commonly, the Kemp’s Ridley and leatherback sea turtles). Hard to imagine, but these timid, massive creatures float effortlessly in water, yet are slow and awkward on land, where they must spawn their young and are most vulnerable to poachers who hunt for their meat, shells, and eggs.

Importance of Nature Reserves

Nature conservation is essential for maintaining the ecosystems that provide mankind with food, clean water, and fuel. Look at one example of the negative chain reaction that environmental climate change can have on nature:

Sea turtles need beaches and dunes to nest and lay their eggs. Since sand does not absorb nutrients well, the unhatched eggs and hatched egg shells provide nutrients to dune vegetation for improved plant growth. Stronger plants have larger roots, which hold the sand in place and prevent erosion (especially important for Cancun’s newly restored beaches — an $80 million government investment).

Sea Turtle Sanctuaries

There are several sea turtle preserves and protected nesting sites throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, three of which are near Cancun and accessible to tourists. Sea turtle sanctuaries allow travelers to learn about sea turtles while simultaneously protecting them.

May through September is sea turtle nesting season, where they can be observed safely at:

Isla Mujeres

The Tortugranja (turtle farm) on the island of Isla Mujeres is just a 30-minute ferry ride offshore from Cancun’s port. The turtle farm not only shelters nesting turtles but also captures them at sea, temporarily protecting them while mating. It has rescued up to six species of sea turtles, turtle eggs, and hatchlings, and has invited travelers to watch their release into the sea at maturation. Want more information? Send an email.

Open daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the Isla Mujeres Turtle Farm offers a one-hour tour about sea turtle behavior. Located at the southernmost end of the island at Carretera Sac Bajo #5, it is best reached by taxi.

Akumal Bay

Akumal Bay is a small but delightful, oceanfront town with a Sea Turtle Sanctuary and is only about 30 minutes south of Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The sanctuary offers a 50-minute sea turtle snorkeling tour along the coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea where tourists can swim with the loggerhead turtles in their natural habitat. The Centro Ecológico Akumal offers the opportunity to adopt a sea turtle.

After the snorkeling tour, a buffet lunch and open bar are provided on Akumal’s long, white sand beaches for a two-hour break. The tour begins with either a ferry ride from Cozumel at 9:30 a.m. or a meetup at Señor Frog’s in Playa del Carmen at 10:30 a.m.

Xcaret

Xcaret eco park sets up sea turtle shelters during nesting season while representatives search large stretches of coastline for turtle eggs and hatchlings, bringing them to the shelter. When the eggs hatch, they become part of the park’s Aquarium Conservation Program where they can mature safely.

After a year, the young turtles became part of Xcaret’s Environmental Education Program where tourists can observe them and learn about sea turtle behavior and preservation. Travelers are then invited to witness their release into the sea. Seasonal eco tours are offered at Xcaret’s turtle shelters.

Sea turtles are an important part of the ecosystem that mankind relies on for survival. When nature suffers, all aspects of life do. Sea turtles have existed for about 150 million years and can teach us what is needed for a healthy environment by learning about their extended survival. When traveling to the Yucatan Peninsula, consider discovering how these incredible creatures are being saved from extinction.

 

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Christina Famiglietti is a professional writer and editor with experience in various industries. Her most recent passion is the Mexican Caribbean, where she lives and is inspired to write about her beloved Mexico — its nature, culture, travel, and tourism.

Comment your way to Cancun | Yucatan Holidays

Mexico just won the football match against France in the World Cup and to celebrate we’ll give away 2 Cancun vacations! So, what do you have to do? Easy!

A) LIKE this post and (if you are a Twitter user) RETWEET this post!

B) Get inspired and write in a small paragraph (less than 60 words, please!) a story where you MUST include the phrase “YUCATAN HOLIDAYS” and at least 2 of the following words:

• World Cup
• Goal
• France
• Mexico
• Winner

C) Go to the bottom of this post and paste your story as a comment. Name and email are obligatory. You have until TUESDAY, JUNE 22nd to post your comments! 

D) Congratulations! You are now in the raffle to win 5 days and 4 nights in CANCUN*. The raffle for the 2 prizes will take place AFTER the match of MEXICO – URUGUAY on Tuesday, June 22nd.

So, let loose your imagination and come to visit us in paradise this summer!

 

*Taxes may apply.

 

Pros & Cons of the New Riviera Maya Airport

Cancun and the Riviera Maya are two of the most popular travel destinations in Mexico and the world, so it makes sense traveler access is sufficient, especially with the Riviera Maya becoming a favorite vacation spot in the Yucatan Peninsula. After years of deliberation by government officials, local businesses, and environmental groups, the development of a new international airport west of Tulum, south of the Riviera Maya, has been approved. On May 11, 2010, proposals for the construction and operation of the new airport started coming in from private companies and will continue through November 2010. The estimated completion date of the new Riviera Maya airport is 2012.

So what’s all the fuss about?

The Riviera Maya region is filled with natural wonders, such as protected tropical rainforests, jungles, mangroves, rivers, cenotes (cavernous sinkholes with natural springs), wildlife, white sand beaches and the blue Caribbean Sea, containing coral reefs along the great Mesoamerican Barrier Reef that harbor thousands of fish and rare marine life. Environmental protection efforts are booming in this region, so environmentalists are concerned that the development of the airport will contribute to the rapid extinction of various plant and animal species and their natural habitats. Maintaining these ecosystems is essential for providing the world with food, clean water, and fuel (per the United Nations Environment Programme).

The benefits of a new airport?

It’s no secret that tourism in Mexico took a dive in 2009, losing one million tourists after the swine flu (H1N1) scare, then again in 2010 after fears of drug gang violence in the northern Mexican states spread. Despite these setbacks and a growing public awareness of safe travel in Mexico, tourism officials in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, where Cancun and the Riviera Maya are located, say that local tourism is returning to normal levels. The growth of the Riviera Maya as one of Mexico’s favorite travel places has contributed to the demand for additional flights and hotels. For these reasons and the resulting increase in tourism and construction jobs, building the new Riviera Maya airport is important for both traveler accommodation and economic survival in the region.

Man & Nature in Harmony

Our hope is that the government, along with private investors and contractors, will consider developing and operating the airport using responsible tourism practices.  By following models of sustainable tourism, such as Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort, and by employing environmentally sound construction and operations wherever possible, the new Riviera Maya airport could provide many advantages.  With tourism as Mexico’s third largest source of income, the new airport would also assist in reducing poverty in the region by creating more jobs.

Some might consider sacrificing the welfare of humanity for the good of nature, but we could learn to coexist in harmony by instituting safe environmental practices that allow for the mutual benefit of both man and nature.

What do you think? Do you agree with the construction of a new airport? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

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About the Author

Christina Famiglietti is a professional writer and editor with experience in various industries. Her most recent passion is the Mexican Caribbean, where she lives and is inspired to write about her beloved Mexico — its nature, culture, travel, and tourism.

BP Oil Spill: Contribute by Doing Everyday Things

Eight times bigger than the Valdez spill in 1989, the BP Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has yet to be controlled and is spreading day by day. Predictions of the future flow of the oil are not one hundred percent agreed upon but for the most part, it appears that the spill will be swept up by the Gulf Stream and carried up the Atlantic coast of the United States. Regardless of which path the oil spill takes, it is important for everyone to take action in some form or another.

Here are three everyday things you can do to help:

A) CUT YOUR HAIR.

No, you did not misread. Go, get your hair cut and take your pet to the groomer. When you are finished, save all hair and fur. Yes, it sounds bizarre but Matter of Trust has started a nation-wide collection of hair and fur to put into booms. Shampooed hair absorbs oil and it works very well at soaking up oil from oil spills. So, if your salon or your pet’s groomer haven’t already joined in the effort, encourage them to do so and get a new hairdo for you and your four-legged friend.

B) SEND A TEXT MESSAGE.

The National Wildlife Federation,  an organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of all wildlife, has set up a simple way to receive donations. By texting ¨Wildlife¨to 20222, you can donate 10 dollars just by hitting send. This money will go to the restoration and cleaning of wildlife affected by the oil spill. Anyone living outside of the United States can donate online. Just visit the website.

C) TWEET ON TWITTER.

Twitter is a good way to quickly and simply pass information. Follow reputable organizations that supply general information regarding the spill, and retweet messages to your followers. Knowledge is power. Imagine how powerful that knowledge is once it reaches a million people. In addition to the National Wildlife Federation, a good organization to follow in twitter is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

About the Author

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.

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Avoids Mexico

The British Petroleum oil spill that struck the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010 and continues to spill from the Deepwater Horizon oil rig may raise concerns about traveling to Mexico, but the greatest impact has been on the U.S. states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. The Mexican Caribbean, Cancun, and the Riviera Maya, Mexico, have not been affected. In fact, travelers who want to vacation in these areas can reap the benefits of some great travel deals.

Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is primarily surrounded by the U.S. states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas (known as the Gulf Coast), and the island of Cuba to the southeast. It also borders Mexico’s Bay of Campeche, the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan, and the southerly Caribbean Sea. Cancun and the Riviera Maya, located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, border the Caribbean Sea southeast of the Gulf of Mexico.

Threatened Areas

Although the oil continues to spill into the Gulf of Mexico, active measures are being taken to stop the oil leak and contain the oil flow. Already having devastated the Gulf Coast’s shorelines, oceans, and natural ecosystems, impacting its wetlands, wildlife, birds, fish, dolphins, whale sharks, and other marine life, additional methods of containment — including thousands of feet of booms to confine the oil — are being employed to prevent further environmental damage.

Mexico Spared!

Since Cancun and the Riviera Maya border the Caribbean Sea further to the southeast, the ecosystems of this region have not been affected by the oil spill. Given the increased containment measures, along with the wind flow patterns and water currents surrounding the Gulf of Mexico, the oil slick is being carried north towards the southeast coastline of the U.S. by the Florida Keys, and will most likely not impact Mexico.

There’s no speculation that the BP oil spill will affect the beaches and oceans near  Cancun and the Riviera Maya in the future — and they’re certainly not being affected now. The clear, turquoise-blue Caribbean Sea and its white sand beaches are still as beautiful as ever, making this the perfect time of year to swim with the whale sharks on a whale shark tour or swim with the dolphins on a dolphin swim tour where the ocean is tranquil and clean.

 

About the Author

Christina Famiglietti is a professional writer and editor with experience in various industries. Her most recent passion is the Mexican Caribbean, where she lives and is inspired to write about her beloved Mexico — its nature, culture, travel, and tourism.