In this Matteo’s Moments, Matteo Luthi takes you to the shores of the gorgeous Lake Arareco near Creel and the Copper Canyon.
Mexican Hotels Making News for Excellence
Continuing its longstanding tradition of offering outstanding resorts and hotels, several properties in Mexico have recently been awarded by major international media publications for their excellence.
AAA Five Diamond award – Two Mexican properties were recently awarded the prestigious AAA Five Diamond award. With this addition of The La Blanc Spa Resort in Cancún and Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort Riviera Maya, Mexico now has a total of fourteen AAA Five Diamond locations – more than the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Canada combined.
About the Award – “Representing the upper echelon of the hospitality industry, AAA Five Diamond Award winners make up just 0.27 percent of the 60,000 Diamond Rated and restaurants throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. As demonstrated by so few properties attaining this level of quality and service, the guidelines for AAA Five Diamond status are stringent, ensuring consumers a truly memorable experience at a AAA Five Diamond establishment.”
Travel + Leisure’s Word’s Top Hotels – The Four Seasons of Mexico City was recently awarded as one of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Top 25 Hotels for 2011.
About the award – “Travel + Leisure’s annual compendium of the best hotels around the globe features winning properties from New York to New Zealand. Honing in on these captivating places is no easy task. That’s why T+L looks to the ultimate critics—our readers—to rank their favorite hotels in our annual survey. The results are always surprising.”
Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2011 – Several of Mexico’s resorts and hotels made Condé Nast Traveler’s 2011 Gold List in the categories of “Best Rooms” and “Best Design.”
About the list – “The 17th annual Gold List is the ultimate annotated guide to the word’s finest properties and cruise lines, as elected by more than 25,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers.”
President Calderón on the Safety of Mexico
Mexico's President Felipe Calderón on the Safety of Mexico
While on the “Royal Tour” of Mexico with Peter Greenberg, Arnie Weissmann of Travel Weekly was able to interview Mexico’s President, Felipe Calderón, about the safety of Mexico. Below are some of President Calderón’s stand-out quotes from the interview:
- “Most of the troubles we have are with gangs fighting other gangs. They are not attacking or disturbing tourists.”
- “Mexico has more than 2,500 municipalities, and 80% of the problems are focused in 80 municipalities. Consider the rate of homicides per 100,000 people. Mexico has about 15 homicides per 100,000 people. Jamaica has about 60. Guatemala and El Salvador are closer to 70.”
- “Some cities in United States, like Washington, D.C., Baltimore and New Orleans, have more homicides per 100,000 people than Mexico; Atlanta is about the same. And there are states in Mexico — Yucatan, Campeche, Tlaxcala, Queretaro and even Quintana Roo — that are as safe as many regions in Europe.”
- “In addition to our policy fighting criminals, we are improving the institutional conditions of the police and attorney general offices in the whole country, and we are paying special attention to those areas that people visit the most.”
- “Ciudad Juarez has a problem, and we are dealing with that.”
- “In general, tourist arrivals from other countries grew more than America, on average, with the exception of some European countries, though that is probably more related to their economic situation than anything else. Canadians increased about 25% from 2009 to 2010, and Brazil grew about 94%. But even tourism from America grew about 15%.”
- “I’m trying to bring my kids to all those places unique to Mexico. For me, that includes the amazing phenomenon of migration of animals: the monarch butterflies in Michoacan and Estado de Mexico or the whales in Baja California Sur.”
- “The government’s effort is not exactly a war on drugs in the old sense, like the American war on drugs coming from President Reagan. We are fighting any kind of expression of organized crime in Mexico, not only those related to drugs.”
- “Our purpose is to restore the authority and to re-establish in Mexico strong institutional frameworks in order to enforce the laws. Our main goal is to make Mexico a rule-of-law state, where the law is enforced and anyone — visitors or citizens — will live in order, following the law, with a strong government supporting and defending the rights for everyone.”
The full interview can be found at Travel Weekly
Ask JM: 11 Days in Yucatan
Todays Ask Journey Mexico question comes from Sara who will be flying into Cancun but will have 11 free days to explore the Yucatan Peninsula. She is interested in visiting Uxmal, the flamingoes at Celestun, Merida Carnival, Campeche, and the campsite in Calakmul. She is also interested in Ek Balaam, the Rio Lagartos, and Bacalar but is not sure if she will have time to include them all.
In this webisode of Ask Journey Mexico, Director of Operations Matteo Luthi gives his opinion about what Sara will have time to see and what she can’t miss!
To submit questions of your own, please email ask@journeymexico.com
Mexicana Airlines Returning to the Skies
After shutting down its services last August and filing bankruptcy, Mexicana Airlines is believed to be returning to the skies this summer. According to a press release on the airline’s website: “Operations will begin with seven aircraft and eleven routes [and will increase to] forty aircraft and more than forty routes in the second half of the year.” The sooner Mexicana can begin services, the quicker they can again plug the holes in service currently being filled by other companies such as Continental, American, Aeromexico, and VivaAerobus.
According to Travel Weekly, the new Mexicana routes are likely to include “San Antonio, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and Havana as well as the Mexican cities of Guadalajara, Monterrey, Cancun, Oaxaca, Tuxtla Gutierrez and Veracruz.”
PC Capital is the investment firm that has bailed Mexicana Airlines out of bankruptcy and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), whose booking services are used by most travel agencies to book airline tickets, has said that so long as Mexicana is able to pay the required deposit, they will be welcomed back into the IATA system.
New Archeological Zone Opened in Colonial Mexico
After nearly ten years of research and restoration to the site, Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History has opened a new archeological zone in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. The site was originally created by the Otomi culture who thrived in the region from around 540 to 1050 AD.
The Otomi site is of great archeological importance containing several structures of religious and astronomical importance. One area is called the “House of the Thirteen Heavens,” which was constructed according to certain astrological paths so that on the 17th April and the 25th of August, the sun passes directly over the “gateway” of the building. Also included in the House of Thirteen Heavens is a pyramid, 15 meters in height, atop which sits the “Red Temple,” containing mural paintings of still visible today.
Another area of this new archeological site contains a circular structure, 22 meters in diameter and 2.5 meters high, called la Casa del Viento or the “House of Wind,” containing what is believed to be a shrine to Ehécatl, the god of wind.
Photo via www.unonoticias.com
Journey Mexico, a leader in cultural and archeological tours in Mexico, is excited to add an additional day to their Colonial Heartland trips to share this new site with their travelers. Journey Mexico commented that because of its proximity to cultural gem San Miguel de Allende, this new archeological site makes a perfect day excursion for travelers interested in learning about Meso-American culture first-hand.
During the inauguration of the site, the governor of Guanajuato, Juan Manuel Oliva, remarked that this new zone is the sixth archeological site opened in Mexico during the current administration, illustrating how Mexico continues to offer travelers cultural experiences previously unknown and unseen by current civilization.
Matteo’s Moments: The Valley of the Monks in the Copper Canyon
In this Matteo’s Moments, Matteo takes you to the Valley of the Monks at Creel in the Copper Canyon. Coveted by hikers and mountain bikers worldwide, the Valley of the Monks takes its name from the large, vertical rock formations created millions of years ago through volcanic eruption and erosion.
President Calderón Walking the Walk
President Calderón gives Peter Greenberg a Royal Tour of Mexico
Mexico’s President, Felipe Calderón, rung in the New Year by declaring 2011 to be the year of Mexican Tourism. Just a few weeks later, he embarked on a tour of his country with CBS Travel Correspondent, Peter Greenberg, to showcase the safety and rich travel opportunities in Mexico.
Greenberg, one of the most influential figures in international travel, has traveled several countries with their heads of state and has dubbed the trips a “Royal Tour.” Previous Royal Tours have taken Greenberg through Jordan, New Zealand, Peru and Jamaica – each resulting in a significant increase in tourism to the country.
Details and reports from the tour have yet to be released, however, along for much of the tour was Arnie Weissmann of Travel Weekly who has reported in his article titled President Felip Calderón, Tour Guide that he was impressed by “how fortunate the U.S. is to have a country as interesting, as rich in unique attractions and with such warm people so nearby to us [in the US].” Weissmann went on to say, “I was struck by how all that I saw was so completely disassociated from the media reports of sporadic violence that keeps some Americans from going there,” illustrating the importance of fact checking and contextualizing the sensationalized reports that have been flooding out of the US Media over the past few years.
Between the obvious commitment of President Calderón, the dedicated work of Minister of Tourism, Gloria Guevara, and the encouragement of trusted figures in travel like Peter Greenberg, Mexico seems ready to live up to Calderón’s declaration and take its seat atop the list of international travel destinations for 2011.
Accepted Membership to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council
Journey Mexico has been actively working with a number conservation and development organizations to ensure our pledge of low impact, environmentally responsible travel. Adding to our Commitment to Sustainable Travel, Journey Mexico is proud to be the newest member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is an initiative dedicated to the promotion of sustainable practices around the world through knowledge and understanding. The core of their efforts is to provide tourism businesses with access to tools, resources, and opportunities to strengthen their operations, policies, and practices towards offering a more sustainable product.
In order to uphold standards, the GSTC set universal principles that define sustainable tourism to which we adhere:
• Demonstrate effective sustainability through ways such as; implementing long term sustainability management system, being in compliance with legislation, and periodic training.
• Maximize social and economic benefits to the local community and minimize negative impacts.
• Maximize benefits to cultural heritage and minimize negative impacts through efforts such as; established guidelines to minimize visitor impact, contributing to the protection of local sites, and using elements of local heritage in operations
• Maximize benefits to the environment and minimize negative impacts through conserving resources, reducing pollution, and conserving biodiversity, ecosystems, and landscapes
A Dedication to meeting these criteria has always been a core value in the Journey Mexico philosophy. We strive to maintain this criteria in each aspect of Journey Mexico’s operations and services. It is our promise to actively uphold our commitment by continuing our efforts. To learn more about other ways we are contributing, please reference our Commitment to Sustainable Travel.
Boots on the Ground in Mexico
This article was written by Chuck Holten and has been re-posted from the CBN News Blog
I came to Mexico in mid-December thinking I’d report on the drug violence taking place across the country. Since then, the only violence I’ve had to report was in Tucson, Ariz., two weeks ago when a lone gunman killed six and gravely wounded more than a dozen more of his fellow Arizonans.
Here in Sonora state, Mexico, there has been some drug-related news – Mexican marines apprehended two smugglers a few miles from where I’m staying, along with over a ton of marijuana. There have been a few deaths attributed to the wars between the drug cartels, but in this Mexican state the size of North Dakota, there has not been a violent crime involving a “Gringo” since 2006. The coastal region around Guaymas and San Carlos is home to thousands of American retirees, and feels a little like Scottsdale, Arizona with an ocean view.
The point here is that when you hear the news of violence in Mexico, or anywhere else for that matter, you must ask yourself what context you have for that location. For example, I lived in Washington, D.C. for ten years. If I hear of a one-hour delay on the freeway due to an accident, I think it must have been a good day. On the other hand, a one-hour delay getting through my current hometown of Beckley, W. Va., means there must have been a serious tragedy involving a farm tractor and a cattle truck. I come to these separate conclusions because I have lived in both places and understand the news in the context of what is ordinary for them.
But if you haven’t been outside the U.S., and especially to Mexico lately, you have no context in which to place the recent violence. So in the absence of “ordinary,” whatever news you read from Mexico seems to you like it must be ordinary, which is clearly wrong.
People continue to live their lives south of the border, working and going to school, going to church, falling in love. All the normal things that happen where you live. The people here think Tucson is a death trap after last week.
I’ve spent nearly two of the last three years outside the U.S., traveling around the world to more than 25 countries. And I can tell you, it’s not as bad as it seems out here. So if you were thinking about renewing your passport for spring break, go ahead. As long as you don’t plan on getting into the business of drug smuggling, you’ll find Mexico to be a safe, friendly place full of fun and adventure.
And since most people will listen to fear over reason, you can be sure the beaches here won’t be crowded for some time to come.
*For more on the Safety in Mexico, visit the Safety of Mexico section of our blog.
Ask JM: Three Week Itinerary from Puebla to the Beach
Today’s Ask Journey Mexico questions comes via the Virtual Tourist Mexico Forum. The question asks for suggestions in creating a three week itinerary beginning in Puebla (The Colonial Heartland) and ending at a beach. As the office closed up on Friday, we snagged Zach to film a quick, impromptu response.
If you have any questions related to Travel in Mexico, please email them to ask@journeymexico.com and we’ll be happy to reply!
Interview With Alfonso Sumano of Mexico Tourism Board in NYC
Via Travel Weekly
Alfonso Sumano, Regional Director for the Americas at the Mexico Tourism Board in NYC, discusses Mexico’s partnership with agents, its range of luxury resorts, issues of safety and security, and what makes the country a one-of-a-kind destination.
Ask JM: Are There Cenotes in Baja?
Today’s question comes from KC at Virtuoso who asked: Are there any cenotes to see in Cabo, or just in other areas of Mexico? See the video below for the answer and please submit any questions about Mexico you have to ask@journeymexico.com.
Magic Neighborhoods of Mexico City to Receive 330 Million Pesos
On the heels of President Calderon’s declaration of 2011 as the Year of Mexican Tourism, the Government of the Federal District and Federal Tourism Ministry have committed to injecting 330 million pesos into the Barriós Magicos (Magical Neighborhoods) program in Mexico City. The Magical Neighborhoods of Mexico City project will showcase a proposed 19 of the most culturally rich regions of the Federal District.
This new Magical Neighborhoods program is being modeled after the Magic Towns (Pueblos Mágico de México) program that currently showcases more than 35 of Mexico’s most charming towns. The Magic Towns of Mexico must meet and maintain eight sections of criteria before they are deemed a Magic Town and are able to receive federal funding.
Certain Magical Neighborhoods such as San Angel, Coyoacan, and Tlalpan are ready to meet similar standards, as is; however, other neighborhoods including the Villa de Guadalupe, Garibaldi, and Roma-Condesa need portions of the 330 million peso fund to prepare for evaluation.
The Zona Rosa has been working towards renovation for some time. It seems that portions of this Magical Neighborhoods fund will be used to improve pedestrian areas of Zona Rosa; however, other improvements such as renovating the visitor center will come from a separate fund.
As interest in travel to Mexico continues to rise (Mexico was recently voted number five of the 2011 Top Ten International Travel Destinations in Virtuoso’s Lux Report), the Barriós Magicos project is aimed to give those traveling to Mexico even more reasons to leave the beach for a few days and venture into the heart of the country for a more culturally rich experience.
Photo via Wikipedia
Journey Mexico January Newsletter
The Journey Mexico January Newsletter is out featuring some great articles about Mexico’s recent achievements in safety, luxury, and Travelers’ Choice as well as some romantic Valentine’s Day promotions in Mexico. You can view the newsletter in its entirety here.
Joining Together to Move Mexico Towards Sustainability
Earlier this week, we posted an article about the wonderful documentary series that the Green Living Project and the Mexican Tourism Board have created, showcasing several eco-projects happening right now in Mexico. In addition to the great projects showcased in their series, Journey Mexico would like to acknowledge two additional projects that doing excellent work and pushing Mexico forward towards a sustainable future:
Dr. Wallace “J.” Nichols and his Blue Angels – JM president, Zach Rabinor, and Dr. Wallace J. Nichols have a long standing history/friendship dating back to 2002 when J hired Zach as the private lands coordinator at Wild Coast, a start-up, non-profit working to protect coastal environments and endangered species along the Baja Peninsula.
J has determined that the most efficient way for him to continue his innovative approach to conservation is to raise private funding through 100 Blue Angels, an organization of patrons who financially contribute monthly to J and his work. Journey Mexico and the other Blue Angels allow J “To remain an independent scientist, advocate, and communicator in a time when new ideas and the freedom to express them are sorely needed.”
For more information on how you can contribute to the work of Dr. Nichols, visit the Blue Angels Page.
The Groupo Tortuguero – Founded in 1999, the Groupo Tortuguero is a network of like-minded individuals communities, organizations, and institutions from around the world, dedicated to the conservation of Sea Turtles. Through educating and empowering indigenous communities, Groupo Tortuguero has inspired a revolution of change, curbing the once rapid pace at which Sea Turtles of Mexico were heading towards extinction.
Twice a year, the Groupo Tortuguero holds meetings where participating members meet to discuss progress, findings, and new plans of actions. The group also comes together to host Sea Turtle festivals to run seminars, workshops and trainings. Journey Mexico is proud to sponsor local fishermen so that they may attend these meetings to learn about the current state of affairs, contribute findings and local knowledge, and take home and spread new tactics and ideas to improve the Sea Turtle population of their homelands.
For more information on how you can contribute to the incredible work of the Group Tortuguero, visit The Ocean Foundation.
Deepening the Culinary Experience in Oaxaca
JM president, Zachary Rabinor, recently returned from another culinary trip to Oaxaca where he was guiding a film crew who were filming for a new Food and Travel TV show. When the team wasn’t shooting, Zach was able to continue researching the markets, restaurants, and cocinas of Oaxaca to add even more to the culinary experiences offered on our trips to Oaxaca.
Some of the new highlights available on Journey Mexico culinary trips to Oaxaca are:
- Guided market tours and chef’s tables with Alejandro Ruiz – renowned chef from Casa Oaxaca
- Home visits to indigenous families to learn about the origins of Chocolate, Corn, and Chile and their modern day uses in traditional Mexican Cuisine
- Visits to coastal villages to see the complete process, from fishing to preparation, of creating the best ceviches, sea food cocktails, and fish recipes in the region
If you ever have any questions or would like more information about the cuisine in Oaxaca or about culinary trips to specific regions of Mexico, shoot us an email at ask@journeymexico.com and we’ll be happy reply!
[RoyalSlider Error] No post attachments found.
Matteo’s Moments: Discada
Discada is one of the tastier highlights of our Copper Canyon hiking tours. In this webisode, Matteo explains the basics of a true mountain discada.
CHOOSE A DESTINATION
