Cancun without Influenza virus
“Health State Services of Mexico confirmed that Cancun and all Quintana Roo region -Cozumel, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres, Riviera Maya- have been totally out of influenza virus during the last fours years, as a result of strategic measures taken by the sector”.
After the Influenza outbreak in some parts of Mexico, specially in Mexico City and Estado de México -about 1040 miles from Cancun- the different authorities are multiplying efforts to avoid an epidemic expansion. State authorities, integral hospital directors and Cancun General Hospital directors were gathered to unify surveillance criteria. A test will be applied to all the persons with the following symptoms: bone pain, runny nose and fever, To rule out all influenza possibilities.
The influenza is a highly contagious virus easily confused with the flu that mainly attacks children and elderly people. More than 24 thousand vaccines were applied to the vulnerable population of the aforementioned region last year.
My experience with Baby Dolphins
April 22, 2009 by Kelly McLaughlin
Filed under Reviews
by Martha R.
I just recently lived the amazing experience of swimming with baby dolphins. Wow what an incredible encounter with such tender and loving animals.
The only location of Dolphin Discovery that has this new activity is in the Riviera Maya in Puerto Aventuras. It has just been launched as the newest program and in just twenty days it has been a great success.
After watching a video of the dolphins and a brief description of the birth and what the mom does after the calf is born is really interesting and moving, in fact you feel overwhelmed by this incredible miracle of life. Besides being educational and interactive, is something so new and beyond our hectic lives that we have no or little knowledge of dolphins and their world.
Once in the water with the dolphin and its baby you will be able to pet this charming and cute baby which is almost a year and a half old, and be able to participate with all the new and different behaviors that the trainers are teaching them; which are throwing balls and hoops among others. These babies are so curious that they want to explore and observe everything around them.
This program last an hour and half, that when it ends, you just want to be more time in the water with them. Just observing them how they play, admire and love their mother is an experience that you will never forget. You can’t miss this activity. There are very few places in the world to interact with a dolphin mom and her baby dolphin at the same time, and just to observe these intelligent animals -that have a very close bond with humans- is indeed something that you should plan doing on your next vacation at the Mexican Caribbean, to have the experience of a lifetime!
Dolphin Nursing Swim | Swim with a dolphin and its mother
Reservation Center
1-866-393-5158 (Toll free US)
1-866-793-1905 (Toll Free Canada)
01-800-727-5391 (Toll Free Mexico)
0-800-442-252-2192(Toll Free Japan)
Local: +52 (998) 193-3360
Cancun is still at the top of traveler’s list
Despite economical crisis, Cancun is still Mexico’s top beach destination with a growing number of visitors per year. This holiday season, the occupancy rate was of more than 90% and experts are waiting a 85% for next winter.
The main reason for this constant-increasing tourism is that this Caribbean destination offers great deals specially for US citizens due to the decreasing peso, being of 10 in respect to the dollar last year and now 14 to the dollar; additionally the price of fuel are dropping, making airplane tickets a lot cheaper.
It is also the ideal place for everyone, specially springbreakers,, the beaches are awesome and money seems to go a long way. Orbitz Worldwide Inc., a leading global online travel company, has informed that there has never been a better time to travel to Mexico than right now.
Even the turtles love Cancun
By Johanna Kruse
One night, I was strolling around Cancun with my friends and after having dinner we decided to walk along the beach. It was a cool night and we went directly to Marlin Beach.
As soon as we get there we walked towards the sea, but a girl came to tell us that it was not allowed to get any closer to the sea as there were turtles laying their eggs. It was something we didn’t expected, but we went to a place from which we could see the turtles better.
It was an incredible spectacle to see the effort of the huge turtles getting from the sea to the shore, 4 meters from the water, and later trying for hours to dig a deep hole to leave their eggs protected from cold and water.
We stayed for about 4 hours, watching the astonishing and beautiful animals. That night 4 turtles got to the shore to leave their eggs. That was something I will never forget.
dTraveller The Tour Experts recommend
Xcaret Plus: Xcaret protects the two species of turtles that nest in Quintana Roo`s beaches.
What is REALLY Happening in Mexico?
April 8, 2009 by Kelly McLaughlin
Filed under News
Thursday, March 26, 2009
What is REALLY Happening in Mexico? The Mexico Tourism Board and itravel2000 have partnered to launch a consumer-to-consumer web blog to address confusion over recent media reports of one of Canadian’s most favorite tourist spots. Τhe Mexico Tourism Board and itravel2000 announced an innovative program to address the confusion created by recent media reports about Mexico.
People looking for trouble will find it, in Mexico as well as in any other country. Our advice for all visitors to Mexico is to use their commun sense, take into account the general recommendations of security and overall avoid to get in conflict with the law. Then Mexico is a safe destination to travel.
Read the original article
What is REALLY Happening in Mexico?
Río Secreto, a journey to the center of the Mayan Earth. PART 2
By Melissa Bañuelos
We descended a few meters up to a chamber that seem to be the door of the center of the earth. We carefully sited on some rocks, as if they were made of crystal to avoid any damage to that place so perfectly designed while million years went by. From time to time we felt some bats flapping over our heads and we smelled the mixture of dampness and purity, as we listed to the fine process of caves formation.
It was astonishing when we entered to the first of many galleries hidden by the underground. The floor has the color of marble and pearls due to the amount of calcium; it is covered with water so pristine that you couldnt tell where the dry area really began. Paths are not dangerous or deep, you become part of this crystal world, you get used to your own delicate swim and steps.
The floor and the endless roof of each chamber are filled with speleothems that are still alive and that slowly keep shaping through time. Minerals leakage through rain that runs in the subsoil and the huge roots of trees that penetrate the gaps of the cave fed by the underground water, make of this place, the reflection of the upper world. Seems like some formations were sprinkled by star dust and that the sinkholes’ water was really sacred. Rio Secreto explorer was accurate on his description about that place: “it is a shortcut to the moon, pure jewelry of silver and gold”.
There were all kinds of rocky formations of all sizes, colors and possible textures; suddenly we could visualize also chandeliers, curtains, steps, everything as if it was a perfect palace designed for the Mayan spirits. We were in a place above Earth, or inside of it. For moments we heard the planet breathing, the sound of the natural leaks, deep echoes that filled our mind with peace. We saw a ray of light, no very far from the last gallery; we knew we were returning to the surface.
At the end of this magical journey, when the sunlight started to warm us again, with all the oxygen in our lungs we started to identify the scent of every living being, we breath at the same compass of our beloved Earth and of all the life in it. Because of all the white and glossy shades, we could perceive the intensity of the thousand greens that surrounded us.
Río Secreto, a journey to the center of the Mayan Earth. PART 1
By Melissa Bañuelos
Close to Playa del Carmen and Cancun, is located one of the most amazing works of art of nature. Río Secreto (“Secret River” as in Spanish), is an underground cave that seems to have been built by the Mayan gods and that my team and I had the chance to explore a couple of weeks ago.
The day was perfect to begin a new adventure that until then, we didn’t imagine to be the path up to an underground palace of blue rivers, silver formations and a perfect silence. We depart from Cancun and in less than an hour we were at one of the accesses to the Mayan jungle, home of endemic species and where all trees are brothers.
We jumped in an Unimog, better known as all-terrain vehicle. It had to be a special car, as the path didn’t have trails of human work, no paving, no cobble, no asphalt, no nothing. In that same moment we knew that we would forget about our hectic lives to immerse ourselves in nature.
After a 20-minute ride through the jungle, we arrived to a leved area. We were welcomed by a guide and he gave us the necessary equipment to guarantee our safety and comfort. You don’t need much to get to Rio Secreto: helmet with head torch, neoprene suit and water socks. We walked while we curiously watched the strange vegetation and all kinds of insects. Very soon we realize that the jungle was greeting us as if we were part of its endless ecosystem.
We saw a small bottomless hole on the floor. Our guide told us the story of the casual discovery of this speleological treasure “Don Cleo, owner of this parcel, was tiding up his land when he saw an iguana and tried to catch it for that day dinner. He dug trying to find the reptile when he heard some rocks falling into the void. Something was strange in that place”, said with excitement our guide as if he was already part of that cave.
The experience of women swimming with dolphins!
By Blanca González
The first time that I had the GREAT opportunity to swim and interact with Dolphins, was WONDERFUL. I heard people saying that it was an unforgettable experience and that they didn’t believe that I had never lived it –as I live in a place cherished by all tourists: the paradise of Cancun, where some dolphinariums are located.
Last May I had the chance to swim with 2 dolphins in Isla Mujeres. Besides a great ferry trip sealed by Cancun and Isla Mujeres beautiful views and an awesome Sunset on my way back; I had the chance to swim with Jupiter and Nala and a very peculiar group of 8 women and 1 teenager. Yep! Imagine a group of 9 women and a boy!
Indeed, I confirm that it’s wonderful to receive kisses and hugs from dolphins, but I also realize how sensitive and corny women can be –I’m included- because from the moment we saw the dolphins on TV to the moment we were in the water, they never stop to say things like “Awwww, HOW CUTE, look! A dolphin!
Many of my group shed tears when they saw the dolphins jump. Imagine that experience with a group of 9 EXTREMELY sensitive women. I remember that when a dolphin kissed one of the women, she started to cry and the other laughed at –or with- her.
I don’t know if we were just too sensitive but it was definitely and indescribable experience… Ah, I think that the trainer was also crying from time to time. I think that the only one that didn’t enjoy the experience was that poor pal; he didn’t understand why we were crying. Or…do you even understand?
