Explore Mexico Ancient Ruins, Swim With Sharks, Dive in Turquoise Silky Beaches and Cenotes, it is Your Dream Vacation
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| Terminal Playa Del Carmen Mexico |
Satisfy your appetite for luxury and adventure, take a deep breath and get your fill of the azure blue and turquoise waters, Swim with harmless nurse sharks, explore the cenotes,ancient Aztec ruins, visit the museum,
Learn more about places to visit in Mexico for a memorable, fantastic and money’s worth vacation experience!!!
Mexico is busting with life please allow me to show you the way in!
If you are reading this blog chances are you love traveling, you are planning to travel to Mexico or perhaps you are thinking of taking a few days off to unwind from a long long days of toiling and hustling.
Mexico is packed and bursting with life, yes; indeed you will enjoy endless sight-seeing, meet new people, interact and possibly make new friends, and even catch people taking selfies on just about anything and everywhere, you might even accidentally be in one too many pictures selfies, it’s ok, unless you are a CIA/FBI on a MISSION IMPOSSIBLE it should be fine. The best part of it all is in the fun you will be experiencing!
If you’re anything like me, then you will be bursting with energy and eagerness to explore Mexico! and please don’t make the same mistakes I made in the past of which I have so solemnly sworn to correct. I didn’t take pictures on most of my trips, all because I didn’t like taking pictures and felt it wasn’t necessary, today I wish I did. Many of us make that same mistake, without pictures you have almost little memory and history of your past! besides, it will pay to pass it down to the next generation. That said let’s get on with it.
Go see the caves, swim in one of the worlds most beautiful and rich coral reefs, home to varieties of marine life, thirst the mouthwatering sweet and savory local Mexican dishes, and listen to the sweet melody of the local’s songs, get up and dance under the spell of the moonlight, explore the caves and take a boat or join a cruise ship out to sea, massage your body and foot with your essential oil massage-best essential oils for travelers after a long day. Pick a day off to relax and pamper yourself with special Spa beauty & body massage. Learn more about the importance of Spa & wellness.
You can’t visit Mexico and not learn about the intriguing Mayan civilization. A visit to the ancient ruins dating back to the 2600 B.C.
Are You thinking what I am thinking? subscribed to be the first to read new articles. If you already have then you must know by now that it wouldn’t be complete without digging a little into the history of this amazing country full of history and culture of ancient people and current time!
But, let’s talk safety first,
So according to the Mexican government, Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta and the rest of the tourist spots are all ridiculously safe! They are safer than many cities back in our country, even in our neighboorhood, sighs*. In fact, millions of people visit Mexico every year and they go back home safe and sound. Most popular tourist destinations in Mexico, are safe for couples, families, children, babies and even safe if you’re traveling solo. The only caveat is, stay in the tourist zone and you should be home sweet home when you are done having the fun of your life!
Now Let’s Begin With The History
The Maya civilization developed within the Mesoamerican cultural area, which covers a region that spreads from northern Mexico southwards into Central America. Mesoamerica was one of six cradles of civilization. The Mesoamerican area gave rise to a series of cultural developments that included complex societies, agriculture, cities, monumental architecture, writing, and calendrical systems. The set of traits shared by Mesoamerican cultures also included astronomical knowledge, blood, and lots and lots of human sacrifices, oh yes and they will kill you for sports! thank God for the killing spree its over!. they also possess a cosmovision that viewed the world as divided into four divisions aligned with the cardinal directions, each with different attributes, and a three-way division of the world into the celestial realm, the earth, and the underworld. Learn more about the cradle of civilization
Jeez! These Folks Got History!
By 6000 BC, the early inhabitants of Mesoamerica were experimenting with the domestication of plants, a process that eventually led to the establishment of sedentary agricultural societies. The diverse climate allowed for wide variation in available crops, but all regions of Mesoamerica cultivated the base crops of maize, beans, and squashes. All Mesoamerican cultures used Stone Age technology; after c. 1000 AD copper, silver, and gold were worked. Mesoamerica lacked draft animals, did not use the wheel, and possessed few domesticated animals; the principal means of transport was on foot or by canoe but mostly on foot. You and I will shrivel under your foot if asked to do a stroll with these folks, amazing isn’t it?
These folks viewed the world as hostile and governed by unpredictable deities. The ritual Mesoamerican ballgame was widely played. Mesoamerica is linguistically diverse, with most languages falling within a small number of language families – the major families are Mayan, Mixe–Zoquean, Otomanguean, and Uto-Aztecan; there are also a number of smaller families and isolates. The Mesoamerican language area shares a number of important features, including widespread loanwords, and use of a vigesimal number system.
The term “cradle of civilization” refers to locations where, according to current archeological data, civilization is understood to have emerged. Current thinking is that there was no single “cradle”, but several civilizations that developed independently, with the Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt) understood to be the earliest. Other civilizations arose in Asia among cultures situated along large river valleys, such as the Indo-Gangetic Plain Ancient India and the Yellow River in Ancient China. The extent to which there was significant influence between the early civilizations of the Near East and those of East Asia is disputed. Scholars accept that the civilizations of Mesoamerica, mainly in modern Mexico, and Norte Chico in present-day Peru emerged independently from those in Eurasia.
And we are back to the present age and time welcome back!
If you like exploring and traveling and you’ve never heard or read about this history before, I bet you will definitely wish you could visit this historical sites? Oh, when I learned about the intriguing culture and ancient Egyptians and the atrocities in Southeast Asian known as the Pol Pot Genocide as well as the beautiful Casablanca of Morocco, I couldn’t help but jump into the plane, and off I traveled all the way to see for myself the mesmerizing and mind-blowing sights. It was indeed a blessing!
Cancun
Do you still want to confine yourself in your all-inclusive resort?
Cancun will spoil you! and oh it is located on the Yucatan Peninsula, and it is often busy with flights loaded with tourists. Cabo and Puerto Vallarta are on the western side of Mexico. Back in the days, Cancun used to be a modernized version of its counterparts and Cabo was a little behind Cancun in terms of development. Today, both cities enjoy the high influx of tourists and could boast of varieties of activities. Many hotels now compete with each other and slashing prices just to entice tourists-works in your favors as you will be spoiled for choice. Restaurants and shops are not lagging behind either. The city is teeming with places to relax and rest for the day. Cancun is blessed with turquoise water that so many associates it with a beach vacation. Cancun hotels are also situated on a very long strip of beach so you can basically walk for miles with the hotel on one side and the beach on the other side, amazing right? Whats more perfect than taking a cool evening walk as you watch the sun sink into the awaiting sea and the moon lights up the sea with its shimmers and beauty, while you walk along the beach you will feel the cool breeze-chill while gently lifting your hair, you find yourself walking for miles in a relaxed happy mood you never even knew you had.
Cenotes Around Cancun.
If you want to have a different experience during your Cancun vacation, I suggest you some thrilling activities you can have in the many Cenotes located in the Mayan Riviera; Snorkeling, diving, swim and hiking into Cenotes is a magical and unique experience, a great spectacle in the Mayan jungle These underwater caves and caverns are the main dive attraction in the Yucatan Peninsula. When you are scuba diving or snorkeling the Cenotes in Mexico you’ll see some stunning formations of stalagmites and stalactites. Whats more, there are over 6000 different cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico alone.
I also heard about the road along the Ruta De Los Cenotes (close to Puerto Morelos) – a road which leads through the jungle with cenotes on either side of the road. Along that route is Cenote Zapote (which came highly recommended by the locals) so if you get the chance to visit, let me know what it’s like!
What’s More?
Mexico is a tourist spot because of its rich diverse destination offering exotic excellent soft silky beach resorts, mind-blowing archeological sites, colorful cities with rich ancient history, sophisticated metropolises and stunning terrains, all to be enjoyed during your vacation. If you are wondering what’s cooking in Mexico (whats going on), well you have come to the right place. Although is not comprehensive it will give you a head start or should I say a basic idea of what’s cooking in Mexico!
What are the dos’ and don’t? Wait, have you packed your Essential Oils? and do you know you need your essential oil for massaging the foot and aches after a long day so as to enjoy a Worry & Pain-Free-Vacation?
Yes, you need your oils, now start packing if you don’t have any why not shop for some and don’t forget to also pack some carrier oil and/or some pre-made roller bottle.
Tour Package
The thing is, no tour package is worth your hard earned money and precious time if your holiday is not loaded with activities. Best to allow a professional/agent or you can even piece together your own trip to get that memorable vacation, that is if you have a little experience in tour packaging yourself then you have nothing to worry about as all necessary information as regards to what to eat, wear, to do or not to do, will be included in your package, if not, why not launch TripPlanner to help you plan your trip
So if you are a first-timer or you are repeating your trip, please allow me to at least give you a head start. As always, my wish is to give you the best tips for your preferred destination and not to scare you witless, Above all, I wish to the reason someone out there had the best time of their life!
As much as you read wonderful and interesting reviews about vacations in Mexico or some other place on this planet you will find that not everyone had the best time of their life, somewhere unfortunate to get their holiday totally ruined by bad service, horrible hotel management, and scam trip packages. Most people believe that a fun trip is letting things unfold (make room for surprises) and being open to opportunities that may come up. The bottom line it helps you to enjoy your trip!. As for me whatever you do your safety must be paramount to any travel decision you have to make. Now that we have established that let us begin.
Do You Drink Water Straight From The Tap Back Home?
Although water-is-life! sweetheart, I am afraid not this time, avoid the tap water when you get there unless you are pre-informed by the hotel attendant saying tap the water is purified, do not drink it!. Bottle water is generally inexpensive you should be able to get one on any store in the street. Usually, most hotels provide bottled water in the hotel. Remember as you hike or do any of the rigorous movement go along with your water and drink plenty of water as you dehydrate.
Why Flying Dehydrates You
If you step off of a plane and feel like crap, it’s not because you are sick, but probably because you are dehydrated. Not drinking and retaining enough water can make you feel fatigue, headaches, nausea, and more. Airplanes are the perfect environment for draining you of all moisture. After spending a long period of time confined in a reduced oxygen environment with low humidity seriously dehydrates you. Dehydration is a major issue when traveling by airplane. Robin Berzin, MD, functional medicine doctor tells us. The problem arises due to spending long periods of time in a climate-controlled environment where the relative humidity can be as low as 10-15%, which is three times drier than the Sahara desert!
In an average 10-hour flight, men can lose approximately two liters of water and women around 1.6 liters. This means that on a London to Sydney flight a passenger could lose up to 4 liters and 8% of their bodily water. Dry throat and itchy eye we’ve all felt the effects of flying. According to Dr. Clayton T. Cowl, of Preventive, Occupational, and Aerospace Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, an aircraft filtration system which takes in outside air and circulates it in the cabin is to blame. While this creates a clean environment, it also causes humidity to drop. Low humidity means that moisture evaporates from the body quickly, which can lead to dehydration. Plus, when the air is dry, the throat broomlike cilia become less effective at sweeping out viruses and bacteria so you may be more susceptible to illness.
How Much Water You Should Drink
How much water you need to drink depends on how long your flight is. According to the Aerospace Medical Association, you should drink about eight ounces of water for every hour you are in the air.
Sneezing With Mouth Wide Open Releases Millions Of Bacteria Into The Air
By the way, have any of you ever experienced being caught up with a sit mate who sneezed with mouth wide open till the plane touched down the tarmac? I am wary of being caught up with that or being the carrier myself- It scares me when I think of the millions of bacteria and tiny mucus being released out into the air we breath eww!. Some passenger just doesn’t have the common hygiene or courtesy to cover their mouth. Acheeew! oops sorry, and that’s all you get from someone sneezing right next to your face!- how fast does a sneeze travel anyway, please let me know in the comment below.
Good Manners and Respect For Other People Culture
Not this time, ever heard about timeshare sales-people? Well, these group of people’s way of life is to make your life miserable, because they offer practically free everything! even though nowadays there are no freebies and if there are, it is likely to be rare and most freebies aren’t without a catch! Avoid them like a plague, or bare your fangs without the boxing gloves on!
Timeshare Salespeople
These guys are trained to be persistent naturally they will wear down your resistance that is if you hang around for too long. Most of them are scammers, so beware!. When you are confronted by unpleasant people or people you are not comfortable with All you need to do is to temporarily drop Mr/Miss nice guy and simply bare your fangs without the boxing gloves though, they will flee from you, walk away without a word and never make eye contacts even when they leer are you. Expect to be called names, most common curse you might probably hear is “ese tipo está Lorenzo” if you are male or “ese tipo está lorenza” if you are female ” and it would mean “that dude/lady is crazy”.
Fact & Tips About Mexico
Mexico is the 14th largest country in area in the world, has 10,000 kilometres/6000 miles of coastline and ethnically made up of a mixture of Spanish and Indigenous peoples. Historically, it has grown from a melting pot of 300 years in many cultures including the Spanish Conquistadores and the advanced civilizations of the Mayan and Aztec Indians.
Mérida offers Free Fantastic Value For Your Visit.
In Merida, prices in restaurants, tour excursions, and hotels are a fraction of what is found on the other side of the Yucatan peninsula.
Mérida is located some 35 km (22 mi) from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and has a population of 970,000 people (2011 estimate). It is the 12th largest metropolitan area in Mexico. There are also cities in Spain, Venezuela, and the Philippines bearing the same name Mérida, but this is the largest of them.
Mérida experiences a tropical wet and dry climate. The temperature here is quite uniformly high. The warmest month is May when the high temperature of the day touches 36°C (97°F). The coldest month is January when the low temperature of the day drops to 18°C (64°F). The wet season in Mérida runs from June through October.
Being in the Yucatán, Mérida has its own unique culture and cuisine that is distinct from what would be considered Mexican food. This is due to the influence of Mayan culture as well as the infusion from the Caribbean and other cultures.
As you explore the Merida, drop in any of the cheap tacos joints and eat your delicious tacos 10-peso (~$0.50) tacos. Most of the top things to do in Mérida are actually free, amazing, right? I know, from walking tours to Merida’s many
awesome museums. When the sun goes down, you will still find some great inexpensive places hang out and even a handful of fantastic 3-star hotels for US$30-per-night. You will get daily rental car prices in Mérida usually hovering under US$15, you can certainly afford to explore the Yucatan on a budget. I hope this will help you decide and visit this fantastic travel destination, and oh; it is one-size-fit-all-budgets. So what are you waiting for?
Three Sightseeing You Should Not Miss!
1-Every morning there is a free walking tour of Merida that departs from the centrally located Plaza Grande. A friendly guide offers a great lesson in the Merida’s history while also providing you bearings to know your way around town.
2-El Gran Museo Del Mundo Maya
If you want to learn more about the Mayan people, culture, and history, this is most definitely the place to do it. There are over 1,000 different pieces of Mayan artifacts under the same roof, fascinating! right?. The Mayan World museum begins way back with natural history from the beginning of time and slowly walks you through to the life of the modern Maya today. It’s a great primer before visiting the many ancient Mayan sites throughout the Yucatan. Just be aware that this museum is the only thing to do outside Merida Centro. But don’t let that hinder you from venturing to Merida’s northern outskirts. This impressive museum is worth the trip to deeply explore the local Mayan culture and history. Plus it’s cheap and easy to take a cab to the museum. The 20-minute ride from Centro should cost you between $80-$100 pesos (taxis will cost you a bit more).
3-Palacio de Gobierno, Merida
Built-in 1800’s and decorated with 31 interesting murals painted by the Campeche artist Fernando Castro Pacheco between 1971-74, the building and its beautiful central courtyard is considered something of a masterpiece. In addition to its fine murals, the building also houses a rich collection of paintings by other leading Mexican artists. It’s one of the few buildings surrounding Plaza Grande that is open fairly late (9:30 pm). This open-air building makes for an enchanting evening stroll through its corridors as the Cathedral lights up at night.
Hours: Monday-Closed |Tue-Fri-8AM-5PM
Use the Google Map to find other interesting spots in the Area, such as restaurants, Hotels etc..
As you walk along the street you’ll see lots of beautiful buildings along Montejo Drive, your eyes can’t help but be drawn to a particularly beautiful white house, Canton Palace. This building houses the collection of the History of the City of Merida. It has a permanent exhibition of Mayan pieces from different regions, you can’t help but gaze into the art collections as you feed your imagination of what life may have been like inside the museum. There are what appear to be traveling exhibits inside – both we saw were excellent. (One on the cultural history of all of Mexico, one on the history of Women in Yucatan. The architecture of this building is very impressive. Although I would say the exhibit is small and, unfortunately, with very little English written explanations, I am sure much was lost in translation. The building had a second floor which would have offered another interesting facet to this venue had it been accessible. The well organized and maintained the museum. The pieces are well displayed with enough information so you understand, they offer to translate and guiding service. and it tells a lot about the country, history, and culture.
Have your camera ready! as you take a stretch down the Paseo de Montejo, your eyes will thank you. The most scenic stretch of Paseo de Montejo is from the Montejo Monument near Plaza. It goes up all the way down to 1.6 kilometers and can take about 30 minutes to walk if taking a leisurely stroll. To beat the heat, consider returning to Centro using one of the frequent public buses that travel up and down Paseo de Montejo.
Caution!!!
Be Careful What You Eat!
As always, don’t forget to remind yourself you ain’t home each time you decided to go on all-veggies, remember back home we carefully wash our uncooked veggies. So, wherever we’re staying when traveling, I’d like to assume that restaurants take the same precautions but that is often not the case. Many people will recommend not to eat raw veggies that can’t be peeled at restaurants in Mexico. I will definitely recommend the same here. It pays well to be safe than sorry. Although many have been less cautious when eating out and have been fine. Still, it’s probably best to take a more cautious approach to raw veggies, raw fish, eggs etc and particularly so at lower-end places and street vendor stands. Meanwhile, cooked veggies and veggies that are peeled should be no problem at all.
Playa del Carmen Will Surprise You
Almost all Mexican visitors have heard of Playa del Carmen, the most sophisticated of the Riviera Maya destinations. It doesn’t have the same party feel as Cancun, which is great for people who would rather just do some shopping, visit the beach, or try out some adventurous activities. Some of the best shopping in all of the Riviera Maya is found along the Quinta Avenida, don’t fail to visit it, you will be surprised of what items you will find for sale also do visit the amazing restaurants and bars for a relax-n-chill evening.
Tips:
- The only available type of transport is a taxi in the evenings is a taxi.
- Do note that drivers may try to cheat tourists unawareness, however, taxi rates are controlled by law, Thus; taxi drivers are prohibited to overcharge the prices when taking foreign guests aboard as stiff fines are imposed for such kind of violation of the law.
- Planning a visit to the Playa del Carmen resort one should be backed up with sun protecting creams and lotions as getting a sunburn, as well as sunstroke, is possible even during a common tr through the city.
- Those tourists looking for visiting of nature reservations should get insect protection as well. Mosquitoes are still the main problem of the area.
- The only available type of city transport is a bus running not only to every district of the resort but to the nearest suburbs as well. Prices for trips are fixed and can be specified in any tourist information center or hotel.
- Tips are somehow a must in local restaurants and cafes, be expected to give a tip of 10% of the bill added which will be quite enough to reward a waiter. Even if the service fee is already included in the bill, a waiter, taxi drivers, and hotel maids expect tips of 1 – 2USD.
- The utility supplied voltage is 110V, some appliances will need adapters and connectors. These can be bought in any of the specialized stores or can be asked for in a hotel.
- The Quinta Avenida being a most buzzing business street of the city offers original souvenirs and unique crafts for sale. You can get all your souvenirs and don’t get confused with the low prices offered for the goods as these goods are of high quality also, markets and private shops and stores of the resort welcome bargaining.
- Visiting marketplace tourists should be backed up with enough of change as this will simplify the payment. Large shopping centers and boutiques accept international credit cards.
The Los Cabos and has long been a popular vacation spot for sun-loving party seekers. The beaches here are beautiful, but most of Cabo’s beaches are off-limits to swimmers because of the Sea of Cortez strong waves and some powerful sea undercurrent which makes them too dangerous for swimming. Either way, rough waves shouldn’t stop you from enjoying Los Cabos’ gorgeous geography from a hotel right on the shore. Some beachfront hotels are located on no-swimming beaches, but compensate with exceptional amenities and excellent views from their rooms and common spaces; other beachfront hotels are located on the rare swimmable beach. There are 5 top rated accessible beaches those are the ones to explore! You might not be able to get in the water right in front of your favorite resort, but you can spend a day cavorting at one of these five swimmable beaches located just a quick drive away.
Let’s Head To The Beaches in Mexico
Medano Beach
Medano Beach is considered the main swimming beach in San Lucas. It is packed full with lots of beach restaurants, vendors, and beach lounger rentals, sometimes it even gets overcrowded with tourists flocking in from everywhere. However, if you don’t mind all the crowd, you’ll definitely enjoy your time in the water. For added perks, you can lay your hands on water sports equipment rentals, head to one of the area’s beach clubs and have fun!.
Chileno Beach
Chileno Beach along the hotel zone is the most favorite among locals. Affordable and still parks some fun, Although, it does not have all the luxuries of Medano, it sure offers some useful amenities such as palapas, portable restrooms, and a nearby restaurant. More importantly, it consists of a calm bay that is as good for snorkeling as well as swimming. It is easily accessible by bus or cab. Why not take a nice refreshing deep, explore coolest snorkeling spots If you are lucky, you can spot sea urchins or stingrays.
Palmilla Beach
If you are the quiet type and you are looking for a getaway spot to sunbath and roll on the sand with few vendors pestering you then, Palmilla Beach in San Jose del Cabo might just be your answer! Here is the catch it does not have as much amenities as other beaches have. and you will need to pack a picnic and some beach blankets as there are no restaurants nearby, and do remember to bring your snorkeling gear too. Also, Playa Palmilla is the tricky one to get to, you’ll need a car to get there. Get here if you are interested in snorkeling and swimming. There are a few beach palapas for shade too, but rental umbrellas are also on hand.
Cannery Beaches
Most expert-travelers claimed the Cannery Beaches, might just be the best in all of Los Cabos. And in many ways, they would be right. Like the Palmilla Beach beaches the Cannery Beach also boasts of fewer vendors and it has fewer crowded, set just outside the marina before you reach Land’s End. Best of all, it features massive boulders to sit on or take refuge from the sun, and the water is calm, crystal clear and fantastic for swimming. Although you can enjoy some snorkeling time here I will rather you save your energy, you can do better snorkeling in Chileno or Santa Maria. Also, it is quite a trek if you don’t mind, but you can take a cab. You can even see this beach from our ship, if you would like to explore out of ship then It is a short walk (about 5-10 min) from the tender drop off at the marina – Like other’s have said, you walk past the navy base and continue down the road until you see the old cannery. There is no shade or services or food or drinks available so plan accordingly. If you are laid back and prefer low key during your cruise stop or even land-based vacation this beach is the place to be. If you don’t want to pay for tours through the cruise ship, just grab your towel, sunscreen, pick up some snacks and water and head over to this amazing little piece of paradise.
Santa Maria Beach
Speaking of Santa Maria Beach, it is arguably Los Cabo’s most famed snorkeling spot, thanks to the abundance of rich coral reefs in its bay. Due to its popularity, consider going elsewhere if you’re interested in just swimming. Because of its reputation, this beach might be a little crowded with tour companies that dock their boats here for snorkeling excursions, so whats everyone deserves a slice of paradise don’t you agree?. Good, The good news is there aren’t a lot of vendors touting their wares, which means that the beach isn’t as busy. Onsite amenities include restrooms, showers and a parking lot. During whale-watching season (particularly in January and February), keep an eye out for occasional spouts and breaching.
Lover’s Beach
In exotic Mexico, you will never get tired of activities and it holds lost of beautiful and exotic beaches. Lover’s Beach is no exception. Situated on the calmer side and facing the Sea of Cortés, Lover’s Beach is the perfect place for snorkeling, swimming, and exploring. Not exactly a private beach, and the name is a bit misleading. Coming in early is better as the beach gets more crowded around late morning or mid-day. Also, the beach is guaranteed to impress and leave you will leave the beach with a parting gift of self- satisfied-feelings, isn’t that great?
For the curious ones I added a few info about the meaning of “Lands’s End” in Cabo San Lucas Lover’s & Divorce Beach, here we go-The arch of Cabo San Lucas, is a distinctive rock formation at the southern tip of Cabo San Lucas, which is itself the extreme southern end of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. The arch is locally known as El Arco. Arch of Cabo San Lucas is also a great place for taking a healthy drink and relaxing on the beach sands.
Divorce Beach
Los Cabos in Baja California Sur is famous for beaches, resorts, golf courses and diving. But the most famous sight in the whole peninsula and one of the top attractions in all of Mexico is the Arch of Cabo San Lucas or El Arco, and that is my take on Mexico!. This natural beauty is part of “land’s end”, with daring looking granite rock formations at sitting at the southern tip of the peninsula. It is the most beautiful and the most south after beaches in Mexico, yet underneath all that beautiful facade lies intriguing and treacherous water underneath. And this is where you’ll find two of the most exquisite beaches in Mexico-Lover’s Beach and Divorce Beach isn’t it something?.
How To Get There
Always Start early, find and pick up a nice looking water taxi (panga) from Médano Beach, a 25-minute drive from within Club Regina Los Cabos. Ask if the trip includes a tour of Land’s End and a sea lion colony before dropping you off at Lover’s Beach. Always negotiate first with the water taxi drivers to get the best price. The price usually goes from $10-15 USD per person and watch out for the extra fees they might try to add on! Many of the water taxis have glass bottoms, giving you an opportunity to see the beautiful marine life below. You can also arrange with your skipper to come to pick you up at a certain time, or just take any water taxi available back to Médano Beach when you’re ready. Also keep in mind, as you exit the boat, you’ll be stepping down into about 2 feet of water. Don’t worry, there is help around eagerly waiting for your arrival to assist you and gladly receive your tips. Also, other options for catching more fun includes private tours on charter boats, cruise ships, kayaks and wave runners,
I guess it was named “Divorce Beach”, because it’s on the Pacific side of the arch, and the water is very dangerous with riptide, undertows, big scary rouge waves etc. Playa del Amor (Lovers Beach), which is a small beach on the bay side of Land’s End. It’s only accessible by boat but still draws large crowds. Both beaches are beautifully framed within unique rock structures. Lover’s Beach is much calmer, where you can swim and snorkel, and Divorce beach is too dangerous to swim in, with its turbulent water and rip currents, I am afraid to even think about it, but I find it quite interesting how they named the two connected beaches after relationships, one side calm and the other side turbulent, more like a “having a nagging wife and a calmer husband sharing the same space each one unique in nature eh?”you know the rest, ha ha ha ha.
Say “I Do” amid the breathtaking beauty of Cabo San Lucas. With oceanfront wedding venues, exceptional cuisine and dedicated planners, your dreams come alive in dramatic fashion
Hostel Accommodation
- Hostels in Playa del Carmen -Book here
- Hostels in Puerto Vallarta-Book here
- Hostels in Cabo San Lucas-Book here
- Hostels in Cancun-Book here
- Hostels in Tulum-Book here
- Hostels in Merida-Book here
- Hostels In Cabo San Lucas-Book here
- Hostels In Mexico City-Book here
- Hostels In Tulum-Book here
- Hotels In Acapulco-Book here
- BOOK for or from any location
- Resorts
- B&B Hotels
- Airport Hotels in Mexico
Special Water Activity
After you’ve had your fill of shopping and dining. You should definitely think about going to visit one of the many cenotes around Playa del Carmen. These are wonderful underground caverns and pools that will surely captivate you with their aura of another time and place. You will feel so relaxed and thankful as you explore areas that few people are lucky enough to see. Your stress and worries will melt away as you swim through the water, seeing the beautiful rock caverns.
Another special water activity is at Rio Secreto an underground river through a cave system. Swim through the turquoise colored river and climb into caves full of rock formations. If you’re a scuba diving enthusiast, the island of Cozumel is a short ferry ride away where you can swim in one of the largest coral reefs in the world and see more than 100 species of sea creatures such as Hawksbill Turtles. Green Moray Eel, Lesser Electric Ray, Smooth Trunkfish, Grey Angelfish, Glassy Sweepers, Goliath Grouper, Cozumel toadfish and Queen Triggerfish
Like To See Dolphins?
After that, a visit to the park might be the perfect way to seal the feeling of relaxation and reconnection with nature. If you would like to see some happy Dolphins whilst staying connected to nature, why not take a visit to Dolphinaris in Riviera Maya Park to see some dolphins. Also, you can as well practice your golf skills if you’re a golf lover/fan, Playa del Carmen will surprise you with world-class golf courses. Do you know there are Several golf competitions taking place in the Riviera Maya? Which means if you are lucky to choose the right date, you might even attend one of them, how great is that!
Immerse yourself in modern luxury at Dolphinaris Riviera Maya Park, the only interactive dolphin park in the world where you’ll get to know these fun-loving mammals throughout and enrichment half day dolphin experience in a dramatic setting with towering palapas, swaying palm trees and warm tropical style. Choose also any hour-long dolphin swim program and enjoy the vibrant environment of this unbeatable dolphin park.
The National Symphony Orchestra (Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional, OSN) is the most important classical music and symphonic ensemble in Mexico. With its origins traced back as 1881, it is the second-oldest symphony orchestra in the American continent along with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra does not have a permanent venue but performs regularly in the Grand Hall of the Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) in Mexico City.
Not to be confused with the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México (OSEM) or Symphony Orchestra of the State of Mexico, founded in 1971, the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, as a branch of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, was created by presidential decree of Miguel Alemán on 18 July 1947, under the name of National Conservatory Symphony Orchestra.
Everyone goes to the Palacio de Bellas Artes to see the Folklorico but the National Symphony is world class at a great price. Enjoy your experience in a beautiful theater. Less than 200 persons for the best seats. Just in front of the Palacio de Bellas Artes is a coffee shop on the top of the building from where you can have an amazing view. Additionally is great if you can get it to the Palacio since the inside is even better.In fact, Mexico is a delight to explore on foot, with loads of historical treasures and an explosion of cutting-edge artistic, culinary and cultural venues.
Meet The Tulum Silky Soft & Exotic Beach
Tulum is a town on the Caribbean coastline of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. It’s known for its beaches and well-preserved ruins of an ancient Mayan port city. The main building is a large stone structure called El Castillo (castle), perched on a rocky cliff above the white sand beach and turquoise sea. Near the ruins is the Parque Nacional Tulum, a coastal area with mangroves and cenotes (natural limestone sinkholes).
Beach Playa del Carmen is a vibrant coastal city known for its rich variety and handful of palm-beach, coral reefs and packed with sea activities as well as a charming and completely walkable Quinta Avenida pedestrian thoroughfare which runs parallel to the beach, with blocks of shops, restaurants, and nightspots ranging from laid-back bars to dance clubs. Of course, Playa del Carmen has amazing beaches for your relaxation. You can either sunbathe and swim or do something a bit more exciting, like scuba diving or snorkeling. Whatever you choose to do on the beach, you should know that you made the right decision in terms of picking an area that won’t be overrun by young tourists who just want to party. You should be able to relax and interact and make friends with other tourists who came to appreciate the beauty of the area rather than party all day and all night, by the way this doesn’t mean you cannot party in Playa, far from it you just have to choose the right places and have the fun of your life!. There are several options to do so, however, Playa is a quiet city in general terms fit for big boys and big girls (older).
Enjoy The Irresistible Location The Fast Growing City Has On Offer.
Although Playa is renowned for its silky soft beaches, you’ll find yourself relaxing and getting sun-kissed in one of the most beautiful places in the world. What’s more, the downtown area is full of delicious and excellent food and delicatessens.
Land Tour In Playa del Carmen
The Xcaret Eco Theme Park is a major part of the spots for the tourist interested with nature and rich history. The scenic park was opened for visiting only in 1990. The idea of the creation of the park was promoted by famous architect Muguel Quintana. You will discover potholes they were formed as a result of long-lasting groundwater effect on the calcareous rocks. Apart from deep holes, tourists will also discover two majestic rivers on the territory of the park. One of them is a subterranean river. Besides, the park offers several enclosures being home to representatives of local fauna.
The unique eco-park will be an interesting place to visit even for those tourists interested in learning more about the intriguing Maya civilization. Playa del Carmen as always boasts of lots of attractions, recreation, and entertainment- best places to spend your day and night if you prefer a low-key setting. The area’s golf courses includeHard Rock Golf Club and the El Manglar Golf Club. As earlier described, beach recreation and hiking through scenic nature areas which is still very much the main leisure activities among travelers visiting Playa del Carmen. Some resorts offer rich and exciting breathtaking ground tours for tourists. The main showpieces of the museum expositions are of cultural and crafts traditions of the Maya peoples.
The huge Xcaret eco-archaeological park offers, snorkeling, cave exploration, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, traditional entertainment and interactions with wildlife. The adjacent Xplor park has a swimmable underground river, Jungle adventure park, zip-lining, amphibious vehicles, rafting & underground rivers. Swim with Sharks, yes indeed! The Interactive adventure in Xcaret is an incredible activity that awaits you in the natural paradise of Cancun and Riviera Maya. If you have ever wondered what it will be like swimming with sharks, then it’s time to put on the snorkel gear and swim with the sharks, you will enjoy the experience and be proud of yourself!
Live the unique experience of swimming with sharks, in the best place in Cancun and the Riviera Maya and it’s happening in X’caret! Apart from that, you will also be chanced to swim with stingray, scarret, swim with dolphins, swim with manatees, swim with and snuba. Find hotels near Xcaret Eco Theme Park and book visit Xcaret for an opportunity of a lifetime. It is absolutely safe and fun to swim with nurse sharks. Grab this opportunity to learn about these magnificent and timid creatures. Pet, feed and also learn about this interesting species with a unique experience of swimming with sharks in Cancun and Riviera Maya. Of all living creatures, none arouses more curiosity and interest in humans than sharks. Swimming with them is not only an interesting experience but an encounter that remains engraved in your heart for life.
You will get the following tutorials:
- Brief intro and explanation about sharks behavior
- You will interact with sharks at the platform
- And Snorkel with sharks, don’t worry it’s all under the supervision of the instructors
- Also can provide Snorkel equipment (exclusive use during activity)
- Your instrutor is a Certified trained instructor
- Also, Admission to the park is not included
Other Water Activities
All the water activities you can imagine are popular including snorkeling, windsurfing, swimming, fishing, sailing, banana boating, Surfing, tubing, jet skiing and scuba divings. The Great Maya Reef and natural limestone sinkholes are called cenotes. A marina at nearby Puerto Aventuras offers fishing and boating.
A cenote is basically a sinkhole that results from the collapse of a limestone cave that exposes the groundwater underneath. In Playa del Carmen there are over 2,400 registered cenotes. Here are some the best cenotes to check out for day trips from Playa del Carme
El Castillo-A genuinely unique construction is the El Castillo castle which is considered to be the highest building of the Maya epoch. The majestic building is 17m high.
El Castillo-A genuinely unique construction is the El Castillo castle which is considered to be the highest building of the Maya epoch. The majestic building is 17m high.
- Pink Palace-Also don’t fail to explore the remarkable architectural object known as the Pink Palace which has got its name due to its color and shade.
- Muyil– Muyil is an archeological destination which was according to the scientists and archeologists used to be a large trading town. Today the destination attracts many tourists to explore and enjoy its unique inestimable findings and ruins of ancient buildings.
All The Water Adventure In Playa and Beyond
- Dos Ojos Cenote- 40 minutes from Playa del Carmen
- Cenote Calavera- 55 minutes from Playa del Carmen
- Jardin El Eden- 25 minutes from Playa del Carmen
- Chaak Tun Cenote- 15 minutes from Playa del Ca
The Pink Lake
Before I begin there are two options for seeing the pink lake, either way, it is up to you to decide. We will identify it as Option-1 and Option-2
And yes, this is real, what you are seeing is absolutely true and a wonder right?.
Option-1: This amazing spot is just 3 hours away from Playa del Carmen. Las Coloradas is a pink lake, it’s natural pink lake gets its color from dye emitted by a crustacean called artemia salina, which is similar to a very tiny shrimp. Don’t try to go in you may not succeed because there are security guards everywhere and they will try to stop you immediately you make an attempt.
The pink water is not toxic but is very salty, so bear in mind if you do dip your toes in, any cuts or blisters will sting like hell!. You will notice the sand on the beach slightly sparkling from the salt.
You might have heard about the reason flamingos have pink feathers It’s because they feed on those red shrimps and plankton. So you’ll easily spot Flamingos without having to search for too long
How To Get There
Once you pass by the salt production, the road makes a slight turn to the left and on the right side you’ll spot the first pink lake
Best Time To Visit
If you happen to be traveling to Mexico in April, by all means, why not try and head to Las Coloradas and Río Lagartos which is right by the pink lake. The best time to see flamingoes in Rio Lagartos is the month of April. Thousands of flamingos nest in the Río Lagartos waters.
Also visit Las Coloradas around noon, because it’s the best time to see the pink color. The lower the sun gets, the less visible the pink color will be. I recommend a visit at noon is superb!
What You Need to know
What You Need to know
Take a bus from Valladolid to Tizimin, which is about halfway between Valladolid and Rio Lagartos. Second class Oriente buses leave every 45 minutes or so. There is only one connecting bus going from Tizimin to Las Colorados, so take the 8am Oriente bus from Valladolid, values about $30 pesos. There are no ADO bus routes to Las Coloradas.
There is only one bus per day that goes directly to Las Coloradas from Tizimin, and that leaves at 10.30am, from the bus terminal behind the terminal where you just arrived from Valladolid. Ask at the ticket desk if you need help finding it, or just go out the door, turn right & right again to get to the other terminal.
The bus to Las Coloradas takes around an hour and a half to get there from Tizimin and will drop you off in the same place it picks up from. The only return bus from Las Coloradas to Tizimin leaves at 3pm. Don’t miss it, as that is the only one! When you buy your ticket in Tizimin, double check that the bus times haven’t changed. You don’t want to get stuck in Las Coloradas!
To avoid this Hassles and Headache you can call for a Cab hire
A Tour of The Pink Lakes
If you would like to do a full tour from Rio Lagartos, to see the nature reserve and the flamingos, then it is worth seeing the pink lakes as part of the tour (make sure it is included in your tour package, as not all tours go there). Prices vary from around $15 per person to $100+ per boat of 6 people, plus a small fee to enter the Rio Lagartos reserve. Some tours apparently take you a different reddish-brown lake, not the pink lakes at Las Coloradas, so be sure to clarify exactly where you want to go. The lakes we went to can be clearly seen from Google Maps satellite view, right next to the town of Las Coloradas.
Don’t Get Stuck There Are No Hotels In Las Coloradas!
The only closest hotels to Las Coloradas are in Rio Lagartos most of them have free Wifi and free parking space.
Put this into consideration before you plan your visit to Las Coloradas. What you must know is that there are no hotels or restaurant in sight around this town, For your day trip pack something to eat and enough to drink! as you may wish to spend a couple of hours here. Your best bet is best to go on a rented car to Las Coloradas while staying in Valladolid or Mérida.
“I have searched for this info in travel blogs but found non- No one has thought of this adding this info, so here we go, do you know that being exposed to a salt mine or inhaling large amounts of salt can cause hypertension and risk of high blood pressure?”
It might not be relevant but it’s good to consider this as well while you travel to locations with dense salt water, who knows.
Option-2:
You can hire a taxi for the day to drive all the way up to Rio Lagartos to see Las Coloradas. And yes, you will have time if you start early. The big question is “why?” You will spend a good portion of the day in a car, four hours of the day at a minimum. Most of that will be to get to Las Coloradas, which is a series of big (albeit pink) lagoons. It will be hot and sticky, and you can’t swim in them. If you really want to see pink lagoons, I would recommend you make a trip to the ruins X’cambo an hour north of Merida, where there are pink lagoons and a restored Maya salt production facility. Less travel and you will probably see flamingos as well. Later you can go wade in the ocean to cool off. The location is just north of X’Cambo. which is between Uaymitun and Telchac Puerto, northeast of Merida on the coast. The name of the pink lagoon near Xcambo is also known as Laguna Rosada. If you want an easier road trip then skip the Rio Largatos and go to Xcambo and Laguna Rosada instead, it is an easier road trip.
There are usually a lot of flamingos by Xcambo. So go there first, drive (or have a driver take you) from Merida to Progreso, then east along the coast. In Uaymitun you will pass a flamingo viewing area on the right. That should satiate your flamingo jones, but if not, go to Celestun the next day. If you are traveling by July then I am afraid there are only very few flamingos at Celestun in July because it is where they spend the winter. During the summer, the flamingos can be found at Rio Lagartos. There may be some flamingos at X’Cambo – and it’s a great spot worth visiting, regardless – but if your interest is the flamingos then Rio Lagartos is your best bet.
Food & Hotels
Food & Hotels in Playa is awesome! most of the hotels and restaurants waiters are really sweet and pride themselves with services that is second to none, whether you are having your lunch or late lunch you will enjoy a nice view while enjoying a mouthwatering and savory dish. Expect innovative usage of ingredients, mouthwatering dishes, and more than affordable prices. You’ll discover new things you never tried before and be inspired to reinvent your own flavor.
Some dishes are home wooded oven-fired dishes and other favorites like a fresh nopal cactus salad, Soups and stews-Birria, caldo de pollo-chicken soup, caldo de res-beef soup. caldo de queso-cheese soup, carne en su jugo-meat and beans in a meat broth. caldo de mariscos-seafood soup, caldo de camaron-shrimp soup, typically made from dried shrimp, chochoyotes and tacos dorados with a generous list of options for vegetarians.
Listen to the local band, watch people and couples in the audience get up and sing along with the band. Also, don’t be surprised or offended if a stranger in the next table to yours ask you for a dance (politely decline if you are not up to it), a large group of people usually get up to dance, this is very normal as everyone is in a happy mood!. After your first experience in Playa, you will definitely be back for more.
Beaten Path Natives Dig
Every now and then during our most adventurous moment, we find ourselves bravely taking on Off the Beaten Path natives dig that is bursting at the seams with locals, the kind of place that makes you feel like an insider. Navigating can be challenging because you can easily to miss it. Taqueria El Arbolito is a short 15-minute drive south from La Quinta Avenida (convenient if you’re headed to Tulum). If you’re lucky enough to find it, it encompasses everything you could crave from a roadside taco joint: The staff only speak the native language, and it has an outdated ordering system. Whats more the menu price is so low you might even blink twice. Homemade tortillas and a plethora of salsa options with varying degrees of heat. Finding the place isn’t the biggest challenge you’ll face, your biggest challenge will be in deciding which of the dozen or so taco fillings to choose from, and at around 15 pesos per taco, you can get one of each and still manage to stay under $15. Pair your meal with a cup of traditional piping hot café de olla (which literally translates to coffee from the pot) that you can pour yourself from the clay pot.
Just 200km from Cancun lies the amazing Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza was one of the largest Maya cities of its time and today it is probably the most well known of all Mayan ruins.
L’amour Lamour Love Is In The Air!
How can we end this without talking about love?
Let’s talk about love the vows and tieing the knots! I couldn’t help but add this tip for my esteemed friends thinking of tieing the knot! I hereby declare this love free for all!. I need to see more weddings and fewer divorce people! The high rate of divorce is alarming and we need to go back to when love superseded all.
So, sweetheart are you planning on tying the Knotts in Cancun-Mexico? Then this tip might be helpful
The average cost of a classic or modern wedding at home is between $20,000 and $40,000. Most of our featured resorts offer free all-inclusive destination wedding packages! The average Caribbean wedding package, not including your stay, is around $1,000.00. The farther guests need to travel, the more expensive the less likely for the guests are to attend. The average travel cost for attendees is around $500-1000. Couples also enjoy the lower cost of destination weddings. The average cost is about $24,000 thousand compared to a close to home wedding averaging about $25-28,000.
The white silky sandy beaches and lush tropical vegetation are many couples’ idea of paradise. Thus piecing together your wedding list is undoubtedly one of the more stressful pre-wedding tasks. Once you’ve received lists from both sets of parents and added those names to your own guest list, the numbers often come in surprisingly higher than you’d hoped for.
Weeding Plan Dilemma
By the time you add in a few plus-ones soon, the wedding list will skyrocket to the roof in no time, and it’s easy to see how quickly a couple can end up with a final list that’s well over their goal guest count. Going over capacity, choosing venue and perfect location is a valid concern. You’ll need to think of everything minute details to the latter, that means you have to make sure your wedding is perfect and everyone is well-taking care of. Avoid going over overboard with your wedding plans, approach every detail like you would on a normal party that’s the secret. Remember to plan according to your budget or should I say pocket. Remember you also want to be sure that everyone who’s invited to your wedding is comfortable and able to enjoy the fun!
Weeding Packaging
There are many wedding packages on offer which organizes the whole event, from flights and hotel for the wedding couple and all their guests to the details of the ceremony itself. Alternatively, there are a plethora of companies only too willing to make all the arrangements in the resort on behalf of the couple. Individual wedding co-ordinators can be hired too if you have a particular out-of-the-world-weeding-location in mind. A wedding package will usually arrange details such as the venue, photographer, flowers, food, music, transport and a video, as well providing a judge and witnesses, if required and help with the legal requirements.
Weeding Legal Matters
For a marriage to be legal in Mexico there must be a civil ceremony performed by a judge otherwise your marriage would be considered illegal. Before getting married in Cancun, couples need to familiarise themselves with the legal requirements. A variety of documentation must be provided before the ceremony can take place including a valid passport; birth certificate; a Mexican entry visa or tourist card; documents confirming divorce or death of a previous spouse if applicable and results of blood tests. Don’t worry you won’t miss your wedding date if you planned early.
For a marriage to be legal in Mexico there must be a civil ceremony performed by a judge otherwise your marriage would be considered illegal. Before getting married in Cancun, couples need to familiarise themselves with the legal requirements. A variety of documentation must be provided before the ceremony can take place including a valid passport; birth certificate; a Mexican entry visa or tourist card; documents confirming divorce or death of a previous spouse if applicable and results of blood tests. Don’t worry you won’t miss your wedding date if you planned early.
Church Weeding
Some couples choose to also have a religious ceremony in a church or a non-denominational ceremony at another venue. If a Catholic wedding is desired, the couple must get married in a church. If a couple wants a religious ceremony and one or both of them are divorced, they may have to undergo counseling by the church officials beforehand.
Private Beaches
Many hotels have private beaches available for wedding ceremonies. Others include venue options for the ceremony, a boat, a scenic dock, oceanfront location, or just the registrar’s office.
Arrival
Many hotels have private beaches available for wedding ceremonies. Others include venue options for the ceremony, a boat, a scenic dock, oceanfront location, or just the registrar’s office.
Arrival
Wedding couples have to arrive in Cancun at least three working days before the wedding ceremony to submit all the documents and have the blood tests done and the bride and groom-to-be must each have two witnesses at the ceremony. These will usually be provided by the wedding planner if the couple have not brought their own witnesses
Basic Things You Will Be Needing For The Ceremony
Basic Decor
- Served drinks during cocktail hour and dinner
- Appetizers during cocktail hour
- A full dinner buffet including dessert and a simple wedding cake
- Flowers- bouquet, one Bridesmaid or Best Man bouquet, 3 bouts, centerpieces, ceremony flowers
- A guitarist or Musical Bands during the ceremony, a mariachi band during cocktail hour, and a DJ after dinner
- Bride’s hair & makeup
- Wedding coordinator services
- Basic chairs, linens, etc (did not choose any upgrades)
- Very basic photography and videography.
- Make provision for the cost of the trip for you & Fiance and any guests you may be helping with.
- Your trip may cost you about $1500 each, all inclusive.
- Hair/make-up/mani-pedis for the ladies (some resort may charge up to $200 for hairstyle and makeup may be well over $260, your wedding planner should also help )
- Your & his wedding clothes
- Ring-Depends on your choice of rings
- Photography/videography-Request for the best this is your happy day and you are making history never settle for less. Don’t get stuck with whats on offer have more varieties. Remember you will have to part with almost the same as you would pay for in states/Canada.
- Favors expect to spend about $500-3000 on gift items you would give your guests
- Paper goods (invitations, welcome packages, place cards, table numbers, etc)
- You will also receive Gifts-
- Keep Extra tips you may want to pay to vendors
Let me know if I missed anything.
I wish you all the best and a happy blessed and married life. Amen!
Essential Oil-While-On-The-Go For Travelers
Mexico Awaits You…
I look forward to reading from you. Share your thoughts and questions if any in the comment box below.
Thank for stopping by.
I remain yours
Iva.Sylva
My9incTravelBlog
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