Festival of Life and Death at Xcaret

Walking along a  jungle path, the soft beat of drums and the heady aroma of incense and flowers drive you forward.  The sound of the music gets louder, until the beat of your heart matches the beat of the drum and you can hear voices softly singing, though you can’t make out the words.  As you reach the end of the path, you find yourself in the midst of a throng of people, some in brightly coloured clothes bearing wreaths and crosses of the tzempazuchitl flower, others with faces painted like grinning skulls.  A woman dressed as a beautiful skeleton presses a warm cup of atole in your hand and dances away.  You sip the milky nectar, let the exotic sights and sounds and scents wash over you and know that you are part of a very special moment.

This is the “Festival of Life and Death“, an annual celebration honouring the dearly departed.  October 30 to November 2, families throughout Mexico pay homage to their ancestors with altars, prayer, songs and offerings in an ancient tradition that combines Aztec and Roman Catholic teachings.  “The Day of the Dead” has been recognized by UNESCO as “A Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” since 2008, a true honour and a symbol of the event’s importance. The Mayan culture celebrates “Hanal Pixan”, their own regional version of the “Day of the Dead”.  Xcaret Park in the Riviera Maya brings “Hanal Pixan” to life each year, with dance, music, theater, rituals, and educational presentations.  Families from the Yucatan Peninsula gather together at Xcaret with friends and strangers, Mexicans and foreigners, to share their culture and to celebrate life and death.

2010 marks the fifth annual celebration of the “Festival of Life and Death” at Xcaret, in additon to marking the bicentennial of the independence of Mexico and the centennial of the Mexican Revolution.  The event will be extraordinary, an opportunity to discover the rich culture of the Mexican people and to take part in the vibrant festivities.  While rituals and customs vary from region to region, here’s  a quick look at some of the most common elements of “The Day of the Dead”.

Altars-  Traditional altars are built in homes, churches, schools, businesses and cemetaries.  The altars may include photographs of departed loved ones and their favourite treats, candy, special bread called “Pan de Muerto” (”bread of the dead”), candles, flowers, incense, tequila, coffee and tobacco.  The altars are often elaborate, taking up entire rooms and acting as a place of reflection and prayer.

Alfeñique-  The sugary concoction used to create elaborate candy skulls, coffins and skeletons.  The Spanish brought alfeñique to Mexico where the Aztecs embraced it and used it to create offerings on their altars.  Candy skulls are one of the most common elements of the Day of the Dead, you’ll find vendors throughout small villages and in modern times you’ll even find them in Walmart.

Atole- A hot drink made with corn meal and cane sugar, the recipes vary but may include the addition of chocolate or fruit.  It is a traditional drink of the Day of the Dead but it is consumed year round, often as a breakfast drink or something to warm one up on a cool day.

Calacas- Skeleton figures that represent death, though they are usually joyous images rather than somber, wearing brightly coloured clothes and bedecked with flowers.

Calavera- A skull, an iconic symbol of the festival.  “Calaveras” are the songs and poems dedicted to the dead.

Copal- A resin derived from plant or tree sap, used to create the richly scented incense used in Mayan rituals.

Ofrenda-  The offerings made to the dead, usually on the altar or on the graves.

Papel picado- A Mexican folk art using brightly coloured paper with “cut outs” depicting various shapes and icons, usually skeletons for the Day of the Dead.

Tzempazuchitl/cempazuchitl/zempazuchitl- No matter how you spell it, the tzempazuchitl is the golden orange marigold flowers that are an Aztec symbol of death.  The flowers are used to decorate altars and graves, often in the form of a cross.

We invite you to join us in this celebration, a feast for the senses and the soul.  Enjoy the cultural aspects of the festival in addition to the regular activities and attractions at Xcaret like the underground rivers, the aquarium, marine life and snorkeling, a full day and night of adventure awaits.  Visit Xcaret between October 30th and November 2nd  for a life changing experience with the “Festival of Life and Death 2010″.

Xplor Adventure Park Riviera Maya

Xplor adventure park is located in the heart of the Riviera Maya, land of lush jungle, hidden underground rivers and ancient mysteries.  Since opening in 2009, Xplor has thrilled thousands of guests with its adrenaline-fueled activities and all inclusive freedom, and I just couldn’t wait to experience it for myself.

I hardly slept the night before our trip, I was like a kid before Christmas morning!  I sprang out of bed at 6 am, made my way to the Xcaret terminal in the hotel zone of Cancun and boarded the jungle bus to make the 45 minute journey to Xplor just south of Playa del Carmen.  The bus dropped us off and we saw the signs pointing towards the entrance, down a ramp and into a cave!  Hanging vines and plants caressed the walls and ceiling as excited travellers checked in, got set up with their helmets and prepared for a day of adventure.

We weaved our way through a maze of caverns and found ourselves in the heart of Xplor.  Quite literally! There was a giant red heart and the beat of  “bom bom…..bom bom….bom bom” echoing through the cave, the center of all the action in the park.   The heart makes navigating the park easy, it’s the beginning and end of each activity.  We stashed our gear in the lockers, got ourselves an energizing smoothie and made our way to our first activity, the zip lines!

I must admit, I am an adrenaline junkie and this was not my first zip line experience but it was certainly one of the best.  With two circuits, 14 zip lines (including the tallest and longest lines in the region!), hanging bridges, a super water slide and several water landings, Xplor does not disappoint.  The gear and equipment is world-class, internationally recognized for safety standards and the automatic brakes were a dream!  I paused for a moment at the top of each tower to take in the incredible views and breathe in the fresh clean air before flying over the jungle again.

The zip lines tired us out, there was a LOT of climbing, but we were ready for the next part of our adventure.  The Riviera Maya is known for its subterranean rivers and cenotes and Xplor is a great way to discover these natural wonders full of stalactites and stalagmites formed millions of years ago.  We got set up with our life jackets (mandatory!), settled on to our rafts and paddled our way through this underground wonderland.  I shared a two person raft with a friend and we laughed and giggled our way through one of the two routes, steering looked easier than it actually was!

By this time we were running low on energy reserves so we headed to the restaurant.  The food was fantastic, far better than your usual buffet fare.  I refueled with a huge salad, the “zarzamora” (blackberry) dressing was delicious, then went back for some delicious pasta primavera, fish and other healthy offerings.  (There was pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs for those who prefer something not quite so healthy, but trust me, you’ll need the energy of good food!)  We refreshed, chatted excitedly about our morning and were ready to get back to the thrills.

The amphibious vehicles were something I had never done before and I was really looking forward to it.  We drove through thick jungle, over hanging bridges, in and out of caves and through rivers, getting dusty and bounced around and squealing at all the twists and turns.  A total riot!

Hot and sweaty, we were ready for a swim in the underground rivers.  The water is “fresh” (COLD) and absolutely crystal clear and a welcome treat on a hot day.  We splashed our way through the stalactites and stalagmites, emerging through a waterfall before finding ourselves at the flying hammocks.  Flying hammocks you say?  Why yes, flying hammocks, zip lines in comfort, and Xplor is the only place with this special treat!  You’ll just have to try it for yourselves, I can’t give away all the secrets!

Exhausted at the end of the day, we packed up our things and said goodbye to Xplor.  It was a completely satisfying day, adrenaline, nature, the warmth of the sun and the refreshing coolness of the waters, delicious food and drinks among great company.  All the anticipation was worth it, I was not disappointed and I cannot wait to return.   After a little rest of course.

For more pictures of our day , check out our Xplor gallery on Flickr!