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Candelaria in Mexico

1. February 2012

Every year around this time I start to notice people walking down the street cradling baby Jesus figures in their arms. It often takes me by surprise because at first I think it’s a baby they’re holding and then as I get closer I realize that it’s not actually a baby. In Oaxaca where I [...]

Oasis Sens Resort Offers Tranquility and Fun

31. January 2012

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Earlier this month I spent 48 hours in Cancun at the invitation of Oasis Hotels & Resorts. I stayed at the Grand Oasis Cancun, but I had the pleasure of visiting the other Oasis properties in the hotel zone: the Oasis Sens and the Oasis Palm/Grand Oasis Palm. The adult-oriented resort in the collection, the [...]

2012 Mexico Travel Readers’ Choice Awards: Nominations Open

20. January 2012

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I’m pleased to announce that nominations are now open in this year’s About.com Reader’s Choice Awards. There are eight categories for consideration within Mexico Travel. You can nominate your favorite destinations, hotels and resorts, and there’s also a category for your favorite Mexico blog. Nominations end on February 15. We’ll publish a list of finalists [...]

Mexican New Year’s Eve Traditions

31. December 2011

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Santa brought me a new suitcase, and I’ll be walking it around the block tonight to ensure that I’ll have plenty of opportunities to travel in the coming year. Along with eating twelve grapes at midnight and wearing underwear of a certain color, this is just another of the many customs and superstitions practiced [...]

Noche Buena – Christmas Eve in Mexico

25. December 2011

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In Mexico, Christmas Eve is called Noche Buena, literally “good night”. This is the night of the last posada, and families gather together with their family and friends to have a late-night feast, either before or after midnight mass. Some families exchange gifts for Christmas, but traditionally it is on January 6th, Kings Day, that the three wise [...]

Noche de Rábanos – “Radish Night” in Oaxaca

23. December 2011

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Photo © Suzanne Barbezat
There’s a special festival that takes place every December 23rd in the city of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. It is said to have originated in the market of the Vigilia de Navidad, (Vigil of Christmas) which took place on the night before Christmas eve. Vendors in the market would create attractive [...]

Las Posadas: Mexican Christmas Tradition

16. December 2011

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The Mexican Christmas season kicks off with the first posada on December 16. This is the first of nine consecutive nights of processions and parties leading up to Noche Buena, Christmas Eve. Las Posadas are a Mexican Christmas tradition that involves reenacting Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter in Bethlehem. A special song is sung [...]

Puerto Vallarta’s Revamped Malecon

14. December 2011

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© Mattock Photography
Puerto Vallarta’s malecón or seaside promenade, has long been one of this beach destination’s outstanding features. On a stroll along the malecón, you can enjoy street performers, admire the bronze sculptures that line the walkway, and people watch to your heart’s content. The malecón has recently undergone a renovation project which [...]

Indulge Your “Appetite for Luxury” at the Fairmont Mayakoba

8. December 2011

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On a recent trip to the Riviera Maya, I had the pleasure of spending two nights at the Fairmont Mayakoba. This upscale resort is located about five miles north of the hip town of Playa del Carmen on the luxurious and environmentally friendly Mayakoba complex. My traveling companions and I were delighted with our stay [...]

A Perfect Day at Xcaret

1. December 2011

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Xcaret, an eco-archaeological theme park on the Riviera Maya near Playa del Carmen, is a great place to spend a day. The park stretches over 250 acres and offers a wide variety of activities and attractions. The park is well-executed: it’s attractive and interesting, and offers educational and entertaining things to do. On a visit [...]

Mariachi Recognized by UNESCO

28. November 2011

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Mariachi music was recognized by the United Nations’ cultural organization as part of the intangible culture of humanity this week. At the meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage being held in Bali from November 22 to 29, 2011, the Mexican musical tradition was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural [...]

Yucatan Bird Festival

15. November 2011

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The 10th annual Yucatan Bird Festival is taking place this month, from November 25 to 27. This festival aims to promote the rich diversity of bird species found in the Yucatan and develop a conservationist culture among tourists and tour providers. Activities will include field trips, conferences, photographic exhibits and a “bird-a-thon.” Events will be [...]

Mexico’s Best Beaches

11. November 2011

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© Suzanne Barbezat
If the weather’s getting chilly where you are, it may be just the right time to plan a getaway with sand, sun and sea on the menu. With nearly 6000 miles of coastline and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Mexico is an excellent choice for a beach vacation. [...]

Understanding Day of the Dead

1. November 2011

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Photo by Suzanne Barbezat
If you didn’t grow up with the tradition of Day of the Dead, it may be difficult to understand this Mexican holiday. Images of skulls, skeletons and coffins strike many as morbid, and the fact that they are portrayed in a playful way may be even more baffling. Some people don’t [...]

Cancun Prepares for Hurricane Rina

27. October 2011

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Residents and visitors in the Yucatan Peninsula are preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Rina, which is likely to hit Cancun and the Riviera Maya on Thursday. Original reports forecast Rina hitting Mexico’s coast as a category 3 or 4 storm, but along its route the hurricane has weakened, and on Wednesday afternoon was downgraded [...]

Festival of Life and Death Traditions at Xcaret

26. October 2011

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2011 marks the sixth year that Xcaret park in the Riviera Maya will celebrate Day of the Dead, or Hanal Pixan, as it’s known in the Maya area, with its Festival of Life and Death Traditions. This grand festival takes place from October 30th to November 2nd, and includes a wide varienty of cultural representations [...]

Adventure Travel Summit in Chiapas

19. October 2011

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The Adventure Travel Trade Association’s eighth annual Adventure Travel World Summit is being held this week in Chiapas. This gathering of adventure travel professionals is held in a different destination every year. According to adventuretravelnews.com:
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Guadalajara Hosts the Panamerican Games

13. October 2011

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The Mexican state of Jalisco is ready to welcome athletes and visitors from all over the Americas for the sixteenth edition of the Juegos Panamericanos, the Panamerican Games. Guadalajara will play host from October 14 to October 30th to over 5000 athletes who will compete in 36 different sports and nearly 400 events. The Panamerican [...]

Vegetarian Dining in Mexico

1. October 2011

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If you’re vegetarian and heading to Mexico, you may be worried about what you’re going to eat and how you’ll order your meals in restaurants. Not to worry – you need not go hungry! There are plenty of options available to vegetarians traveling in Mexico. Read our guide to vegetarian dining in Mexico for some [...]

Taking the Turibus

29. September 2011

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© Suzanne Barbezat
I had been to Mexico City several times before I took the Turibus. Previously I had always gotten around the city by metro and found it a convenient and practical way to get from one place to another. Also I must admit that whenever I saw those red double decker buses I [...]

International Tourism Fair of the Americas (FITA)

22. September 2011

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I’m in Mexico City attending the International Tourism Fair of the Americas, known as FITA for its acronym in Spanish. This is the second edition of the tourism fair which is being held at the Expo Bancomer Santa Fe in Mexico City from September 22 to 25.
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Celebrating Mexico’s Independence

18. September 2011

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Mexican Independence Day is September 16, but festivities get underway on the night of the 15th, when crowds gather in town squares across the country to shout “¡Viva Mexico!” Many people confuse Cinco de Mayo with Mexican Independence Day, but these are two distinct holidays, and in Mexico, Independence Day is celebrated far more lavishly. [...]

Hotels and Resorts in the Riviera Maya

11. September 2011

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El Dorado Royale Resort, photo © Suzanne Barbezat
Mexico’s Riviera Maya offers a wide range of accommodation options, from simple cabanas on the beach with no electricity to upscale luxury resorts with 24-hour butler service. There’s something for all budgets and interests.
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September in Mexico

5. September 2011

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You can always tell it’s September in Mexico when you begin to see stands selling Mexican flags (and an assortment of other items in red, white and green) popping up on street corners. Although Mexican Independence Day falls on September 16th, the whole month of September is referred to as el mes de la patria, [...]

Lady Gaga Surfs in Mexico

25. August 2011

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Lady Gaga was in Mexico last week, reportedly taking surfing lessons in Punta Mita, a resort area just north of Puerto Vallarta. The pop star was photographed body boarding, and then standing up on the surf board, wearing a tiny black bikini. On Thursday she tweeted a photo of herself surfing, with the caption: “yeah [...]