How the Locals Talk: Spanish of the Riviera Maya

When traveling to Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum or the Riviera Maya, it's always nice to speak a little spanish -- and in particular, the kind of Spanish they speak around these parts. Below are some local references, names and other common phrases you may come across during your travels. If you want to fit in, try to use these words with your waiters, cab drivers and hotel employees. It's sure to earn you a smile.

Cenote: A rare geological feature of the Yucatán, acenote is a freshwater sinkhole formed when the limestone ground caves in and fills with water from underground rivers.

Colectivo: A sort of taxi-bus combination, a colectivo is a van or similar vehicle used for local transportation. It has semi-fixed routes and is cheaper than a taxi.

Costa Maya: The coastline south of the Riviera Maya (which officially ends at Tulum).

Federal: Used when referring to Highway 307, a federal highway.

Ha: Mayan for “water.” You’ll see it used everywhere.

Mole: A chocolate-based sauce made with dozens of herbs and spices, used in traditional Mexican cooking.

Muelle: Spanish for “dock,” it’s commonly used when referring to the ferry landing, which is also called the “embarcadero.”

Nopales: Sliced cactus from the nopal tree, it’s used locally in breakfast juice and can be served grilled or sautéed with any meal of the day.

Palapa: Thatched palm used to make roofing in the Riviera Maya. The tight weave keeps out rain and has to be replaced every couple of years. The word is also used generically to refer to any structure that has a thatched-palm roof.

Pan dulce: Literally “sweet bread,” it’s used to describe a variety of delicious locally made breakfast pastries. For a quick start to your day, order a café con pan dulce.

Parada: Spanish for “bus stop.”

Playa: Meaning “beach” in Spanish, this is the short name used locally when referring to Playa del Carmen.

Playacar: A name created in 1992 to refer to the tourist development located just south of First Street and the ferry dock.

Propina: Spanish for “tip.” Make sure you check your bill to see if tip has already been added: propina incluida.

Quinta: Spanish for “fifth,” it’s the name used for Fifth Avenue, the main tourist strip in Playa del Carmen.

Riviera Maya: The name used to refer to the area from just south of Cancún to Tulum. The actual boundaries tend to change a little bit, depending on whom you talk to. The phrase was coined in the early 1990s and is sometimes said in English, “Mayan Riviera.”

Tacos al pastor: Pork tacos cooked on a vertical spit, seared with licking flames and served with pineapple slices.

Tiempo compartido: Spanish for “time share.” If a deal is too good to be true, like a Jeep rental for $20 a day, chances are it’s part of a tiempo compartido offer.

For more information and tips about traveling to the Riviera Maya, check out the newly released guidebook by Joshua Hinsdale.

Mexican Navy Closes Gran Caribe Real's Beach

Tourists watched with amusement and a bit of frustration as armed sailors from the Mexico Navy portioned off the beach in front of the Gran Caribe Real hotel following claims that the hotel had illegally pumped sand from the ocean floor.

After exceedingly high tides and rough waves caused by Hurricane Wilma eroded the beach in 2005, Mexico spent some $19 million to pump sand back onto the shore, but the action of the waves has slowly been eroding it away again.

To disrupt the erosion process, some hotels have begun to build concrete or rock jetties at the waterline to help keep the sand in place, but this is the first time that a hotel has actually been accused of using underwater pumps to move the sand from deeper waters and onto the beach.

Officials with the Mexico environmental enforcement agency that five people were detained and the beach was considered a crime scene and would remain closed until the matter is settled.

Sunbathers moved to another beach and the hotel is arranging to accommodate guests as much as possible during the interim.

More:
Cancun Hotels
Airport Transportation
Tours & Activities
Riviera Maya Guidebook

Dancing on the Sand in the Riviera Maya

The editors of MayanHoliday.com pick the top spots to have sand between your toes and a drink in your hand:

Blue Parrot, 12th Street at the beach. Get there early to reserve a coveted waterfront table. If you fall out of your chair, you’ll land on powder-white sand. Dancers spill out from the wooden dance floor all the way to the water line. Fire dancers perform on the beach behind the club most nights at around 11pm-midnight.

El Pirata, between 12th and 14th Streets. This no-frills beach bar offers a laid-back alternative to the Blue Parrot next door. The music is loud, the bar stools swing, and the tables on the beach are just steps from the lapping waves of the Caribbean.

Mamita’s Beach Club, 28th Street at the beach. Who says you can’t go dancing during the day? The folks at Mamita’s prove that getting your groove on by sunlight can be just as fun as by moonlight. The party gets going in the early afternoon and peaks just before sundown, then quickly dwindles. Arrive early to claim a coveted beach bed.

Señor Frog’s, Plaza Marina, at the ferry dock. Built above the beach at the base of the ferry dock, this resort-town stalwart packs in a primarily American clientele in search of good Mexican food, pop music, and sometimes ... love. Dancing patrons can get their drinks to go and boogie on the beach below.

More:
Riviera Maya Hotels
Airport Transportation
Tours & Activities
Riviera Maya Guidebook