Safety of Oaxaca, Mexico

Posted by & filed under Health and Safety, Oaxaca.

Alvin Starkman wrote a great article illustrating the safety of Oaxaca, Mexico, which is currently posted on Suite101.com.  The article does a great job of reminding travelers concerned by intimidating news reports to always check the dates of the events being reported (as many of the condemning reports date back to 2006) and to always check the credibility of the source.

For those looking to travel to Oaxaca, the article also gives tips on how to find unbiased information about the safety of the region.

Hola Mexico Film Festival

Posted by & filed under News.

Having much success in 2009, the Hola Mexico Film Festival is back in the US for a second year. Beginning in April, the festival has already taken place in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami this year, and remaining events are scheduled for Chicago (May 20-25), Washington, DC (May 27-June 1), and NYC (June 2-6).

The Hola Mexico Film Festival is the world’s largest tribute to Mexican film, showcasing the country’s creativity, ingenuity, and charm. General Admission tickets for the event range from $8 – $14, and more information about the festival can be found at its website. If you’ll be in Chicago, DC, or New York within the next month, definitely go catch some of the festivals films. Journey Mexico strongly recommends El Estudiante (The Student); it’s great!

10 Reasons to Visit Mexico This Summer

Posted by & filed under Holidays, Fairs & Festivals, Oaxaca.

According to an Orbitz report, Mexico has two of the top three spots on Top 10 Summer Travel Destinations 2010. If that’s not enough of a reason to book a trip, here are ten more:

1. It’s the value season – Because most people travel to Mexico to avoid the cold winter, summertime is considered the low season. During low season (May – October), you can take advantage of real value offerings in many luxury properties and avoid crowds in some of Mexico’s spectacular sites.

2. Water, water everywhere. While many travelers flock to the world class beaches of Mexico, we have quite a few sources of cool refreshing water that are perfect destinations for summer travel!  Natural pools called cenotes –secluded and revitalizing – are scattered around the Yucatan Peninsula and provide a delicious respite from the heat in between visits to mystical Mayan ruins.  Rushing rivers cruise through Mexico’s canyons (the Copper Canyon, Sumidero Canyon) and to the coasts offering rafting, canoeing, kayaking and swimming.   Mexico’s mountain lakes stay cool throughout the hottest months of summer and their energizing waters invite a dip whether on a hike, a day trip or even a shopping trip!  The Sea of Cortez has been named “the World’s Aquarium” and has marine wildlife beyond your wildest dreams.

3. Travel the highlands – A country of much geographic diversity, Mexico has highland regions that stay cooler in the summer and are unique cultural destinations.  Towns such as San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Patzcuaro, San Cristobal de las Casas, and Oaxaca dot the Mexican countryside and are fabulous spots for watching local artisans make original crafts.

4. Natural wonders of summer– Whale sharks season in the Yucatan Peninsula is in the summer and swimming with these majestic beasts is the experience of a lifetime!  If you are looking for an experience with a smaller sort of marine life, assisting with sea turtle nesting along the Pacific Coast is a great adventure for the whole family this summer.  These little hatchlings fit in the palm of your hand and find their way into your heart!

5. White water rafting in Veracruz – The River Antigua, River Filobobos, and River Actopan in Verzcruz offer world class rafting levels II, III, IV and V.  These exciting rapids run through lush mountains and along valleys sprinkled with small haciendas.  You can also explore recently uncovered archeological ruins in the area, or, when you need to dry off a bit, try your hand at fishing, birding or mountain biking.

6. Surfing along the Pacific Coast  – Any of the numerous south-facing beaches along the Pacific Coast pick up summer swells and surfers worldwide flock to the shores seeking the wave of the season!  The beauty of this stretch of coast is that while there are quite a few well known breaks, there are just as many desolate surf spots where you and your friends will be the only ones in the water!  Nothing like the crowds of Southern California.

7. Guelaguetza in Oaxaca – The festival of sharing, Guelaguetza, is celebrated in the city of Oaxaca as well as the surrounding pueblos on the last two Mondays of July.  Local dances to honor Centeotl, the goddess of corn, combined with other traditional folk dances make this celebration a foot stomping and heart warming holiday!

8. Our Green Season – While it rains during the summer months for much of May, June, and July, this is relegated to afternoon showers.  The amazing off-shoot of this is that Mexico’s countryside breaks out into a myriad of Greens from the tropical low-lands to the patchwork and fertile agricultural highlands.  A far cry from the cactus and desert imagery that Mexico is known for, our green season is a refreshing splash of lush color.

9. Eat, drink, and make merry- People from all over the world visit Mexico to enjoy its delicious cuisine – from the taco stands in the streets to unforgettably fresh seafoodserved in open air, beachside restaurants. Oaxacan cuisine is like nothing you’ve tasted, and the wine from Baja’s valleys rivals those of California and Australia and is sure to elevate your dining experiences from incredible to divine.

10. After your meal, how about some fine spirits to raise your spirit!! – It’s not real if it wasn’t distilled and bottled here in Mexico. The state of Jalisco, in the colonial heartland of Mexico, is the Tequila capital of the world. The actual town of Tequila is just outside one of Mexico’s most charming cities, Guadalajara, where you are sure to find the smoothest Tequila you’ve ever tasted at prices you’ve never seen.

The Mexico Report on Avocados from Michoacan, Mexico

Posted by & filed under Culture, Nature, News.

Our good friend Susie Albin-Najera at The Mexico Report posted a great article last week in which she interviews Mario Bosquez, host of the Martha Stewart Living Radio Show, about the avocados grown in Michoacan, Mexico, which account for the majority of the avocados shipped around the world.

Bosquez had many wonderful things to say about the culture, the nature, and the people of Michoacan. He also said he’s definitely planning to return to Mexico soon with a trip to Morelia, which, as he mentioned, has been deemed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Great article Susie!

Journey Mexico Partner Location Receives Earth Check Certificate

Posted by & filed under Ecotourism, Luxury, News.

Journey Mexico partner location, The Haciendas, was recently awarded the Benchmark Bronze Certificate from the Earth Check Program, which is something to be very proud of. Muchas felicidades Haciendas!

“This prestigious certificate by Earth Check has recognized the Starwood Hotels & Resorts managed Haciendas for continuously realizing major improvements in mastering an eco-friendly environment thus insuring their own sustainability for the future along with the surrounding communities in the state of Campeche and Yucatan.”

Earth Check is an organization dedicated to promoting sustainability and responsible living. Over the past ten years, there clients have, on average, reduced their energy consumption by 30% and their water consumption by 20% thus saving money and reducing the global consumption of its resources.

Mexicana Airlines Offering Special Rates

Posted by & filed under News.

Mexicana Airlines are advertising promotional rates to the beach towns and the major cities of Mexico. The beach destinations include: Cancun, San Jose del Cabo, and Mazatlan. City destinations include: Zacatecas, Guadalajara, and Leon/El Bajio. Rates are advertised to be as low as $184. To visit the ad, click here.

Consumer Interest in Mexico Rebounding

Posted by & filed under News.

Travel Weekly reports that consumer interest in traveling to Mexico is on the rise. Their data from Compete.com shows that US consumer interest in Mexico rose 7% from February to March and is up 5% from last year. They report that, in March, 1.6 million consumers researched travel to Mexico online, which was an increase of 100,000 searches in February. Let’s keep it rising!

From Travel Weekly and Compete.com

Journey Mexico Partner Promoting Special Wedding Date

Posted by & filed under Luxury, News.

Hacienda Xcanatun in Yucatan, a Journey Mexico partner location, is offering a special wedding promotional package on October 10th for one lucky couple this year. As the tenth of October, 2010 is one of those “special” dates where numbers align (10/10/10), this day is undoubtably one of the most sought after wedding dates of the decade.

Aside from just being three repeating numbers, the tenth of October, 2010 is considered extra special because of the numbers themselves. Many cultures hold the number 1 in high regard, symbolizing “the beginning of all” and eternity. Zero is another “magic” number, often representing nothingness or “the Void,” so the combination of one and zero represents the unity of emptiness and the eternal.

Hacienda Xcanatun has created a “magical” package to match the significance of the date, which is available for one lucky couple for $18,000. The 10.10.10 package runs from Oct. 9th to the 12th and includes:

  • Three nights’ accommodations & breakfast for the bridal couple, plus 34 friends/family 
  • All taxes and hotel service charges (restaurant gratuities not included)
  • Floral decorations for the wedding ceremony
  • Use of the dining terrace, the 40-seat private dining room, or the 80-seat main dining room for the bridal feast
  • Personalized table settings, candles and centerpieces reflecting the theme of the wedding
  • A three-course wedding banquet featuring continental, fusion Yucatecan or Caribbean delicacies
  • A multi-tiered wedding cake in the couple’s favorite flavor
  • 10 bottles of French sparkling wine for the wedding toast.
  • A bouquet of 10 roses and a box of 10 dark Maya chocolates (considered an aphrodisiac) for the bridal suite
  • Additional nights can be added  for early arrival or late departure at a reduced rate.

For more about Hacienda Xcanatun, visit their website

Pablo Weisz-Carrington Art Exhibit in Mexico City

Posted by & filed under Culture, News.

Pablo Weisz-Carrington and Rebecca Scotti (Right)

While in Mexico City prior to the 2010 Symposium conference last month, some of the Journey Mexico staff were able to visit famous Mexican artist Pablo Weisz-Carrington’s most recent exhibit at José Luis Cuevas’s museum in the Capital City. Mexico is home legendary artists such as Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, and the country’s many world-class exhibits and museums solidify Mexico as a leader in the global community of fine arts.

Pablo Weisz-Carrington is not only the son of the famous Hungarian photographer Emeric Weisz and world-renowned British surrealist painter Leonora Carrington but also a cousin of Journey Mexico Director of Administration, Rebecca Scotti! Rebecca and her sister were excited to be able to visit their cousin at his exhibit and view many of his surrealist works. Below is a video from the exhibit

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Michoacan Artisans at Work

Posted by & filed under Culture, Journey Mexico TV, Media.

Michoacan Artisans at Work

Michoacan Artisans at Work

On a recent trip to Michoacán in Mexico’s Colonial Heartland, several members of the Journey Mexico team got to watch local craftsmen at work pounding heated metal into things likes plates, bowls, platters, pots, pans, etc.

In the video below, you can see how these skilled workers operate in rhythm in order to work efficiently and safely.  Several Journey Mexico trips to Michoacán, such as our Colonial Mexico: Exploring the Heartland trip, take travelers to see craftsmen of all sorts at work.

Journey Mexico – Zach and Chase Test the New GoPro Camera

Posted by & filed under Adventure, Journey Mexico TV, Media.

Zach and I were up early last week for a dawn patrol session to test out the new GoPro camera in Punta Mita. The waves were tiny, but the camera works great!

Zach will be guiding an upcoming surf trip, which should be amazing, so look for more vids from the GoPro in the near future.

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Interesting Interview about Volun-tourism

Posted by & filed under Culture, News.

I just came across this video from Ron Mader in which he interviews Michael Kaye of Costa Rica Expeditions about what is seeming to become a buzz word, “volun-toursim.” Michael makes some really interesting points about the true nature of volun-tourism and how it often, unfortunately, works against the local communities that volun-tourists are trying to help.

Journey Mexico at Mexico Pyramid Chichen Itza

Posted by & filed under Chichen Itza, Culture, Journey Mexico TV, Media.

Journey Mexico at Uxmal

Pyramid at Uxmal

Journey Mexico President, Zach Rabinor; Director of Operations, Matteo Luthi; and Manager of Travel Planning, Gerardo Tovar recently returned from a FAM trip in Yucatan and brought back with them lots of great video. Here is a little clip from one of the most important archeological sites of Mayan culture, Chichen-Itzal, which is one of the highlights of our Archeological Mayan Journey trip.

In the beginning of the clip, Zach is speaking with Teresa Perez of TeresaPerezTours, (Brasil), Maita Barrenechea of Mai10 (Argentina), and Adamarie King of Connoiseur’s Travel (Mexico) about the incredible sites of archeological and cultural importance that Mexico has to offer. Throughout the clip, you’ll see expert guide Alejandro “Alex” Ricalde illuminating the tour with his expansive knowledge of the site.

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International Community Foundation Releases Report on Health Care and Americans Retiring in Mexico

Posted by & filed under News.

Rising healthcare costs and economic pressure caused from the global recession is causing more and more Americans to retire in Mexico, where they are finding affordable access to sufficient health care and where the cost of living is much more affordable. The International Community Foundation has released an extensive report that offers some interesting facts about retirement in Mexico and Mexican health care.

The report indicates that Mexican health care costs approximately 70-75% less than equivalent care in the US. A trip to the doctor’s in Mexico costs approximately $35 and a house call, which is still a prevalent practice in many regions of Mexico, costs as little as $25. Many retirees take advantage of the health care offered by the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS). For $600 a year, the IMSS will cover medicine, x-rays, dental work, and even hospital care.

As Mexico continues to pump money into training bi-lingual doctors and nurses, Mexico should continue to attract more and more retirees looking to live more comfortably than they are able to in the US.

Video About Safety in Mexico and Living in Mexico

Posted by & filed under Health and Safety, Media.

I just came across a nice video about Safety in Mexico and living in Mexico made by Mitch Keenan, the founder of Yucatan’s oldest real estate agencies, on The Truth About Mexico blog.

The video does a great job of illustrating the feeling of safety we have in Mexico as well as the abundance of activities and experiences the country offers on a daily basis.

If the video has peaked your interested in Mexico, we suggest you take Mitch’s advice and come visit the Yucatan Peninsula to experience what he’s talking about first hand. Archeological trips to see Mayan ruins and adventure trips will illuminate the rich cultural, natural, adventure, and luxury experiences the region has to offer.

Mexico to Start Focusing on Cultural Tourism

Posted by & filed under News.

We are always happy to see more articles, like Laura Del Rosso’s at Travel Weekly, about promoting Mexico’s opportunities for cultural tourism in conjunction with, and with the same effort as, its beach tourism. We all know that for years, Mexico has been publicized for it’s white sands, turquoise water, and pristine resorts, but it’s exciting to see more emphasis being placed on the myriad of cultural experiences Mexico has to offer.

In a previous article, we mentioned that Mexico has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other Latin American country, but we didn’t actually look at the numbers in comparison with the world leaders. In terms of cultural sites, Mexico has 25 sites, Italy has 42, Spain has 36, the UK has 23, France has 30, and the US has 8. In terms of natural sites, Mexico has 4, Italy has 2, Spain has 3, the UK has 4, France has 2, and the US has 12. With Mexico stacking up so strongly to these leaders of tourism in terms of cultural and natural sites, it obvious that we need to start advertising these sites the travelers of the world.

The reason I came to Mexico (from the US) in the first place was because I felt like “everyone’s done Europe.” From the moment I got here, I knew I made the right choice. Since I’ve lived here, I’ve had a few dozen people visit me, and I can honestly say that I am confident every one of them will be back to Mexico at some point in their lives. The country is just that beautiful.

We need to join together with Gloria Guevara, Mexico’s new Minister of Tourism, to combat the biased and misleading news agencies that are depriving the world of the unforgettable experiences that Mexico has to offer. Through cultural trips, wildlife experiences, and adventure travel, we can put Mexico at the top of the global tourism map, where it should rightfully be.