"Free" Hotel Stays at Esencia Estate

Playa Xpu-HA -- Esencia Estate in Mexico's Riviera Maya is offering guests daily account credit equal to the amount paid for their nightly room rate. The credit can be used at the hotel's organic healing spa, at the poolside restaurant or on other expenses, including airport transfers, room service, in-room nannies, or even Coronas and margaritas on the beach.

The promotion is part of the hotel's campaign to spur new business on the heels of a slumping spring and summer tourism season across Mexico, caused by negative media reports and unsubstantiated fears of the H1N1 virus.

The hotel is located on a 50-acre waterfront estate near the resort town of Playa del Carmen and is recognized as one of the area's most exclusive properties. The hotel was originally built as the private retreat for an Italian duchess and now welcomes guests with well-appointed guestrooms, a powdery white-sand beach, a Mayan-themed spa and chic dining.

Esencia Estate gives guests direct access to one of the world’s most popular travel destinations. Within a short distance from the estate, visitors can explore the Mayan ruins of Tulum and Coba, go snorkeling at Akumal's famous Yak-Ku Lagoon, ride horses along the beach, go fishing for blue marlin, play golf on the Mayakoba PGA championship course, or go canopying in the jungle.

Esencia's promotion offers guests a unique opportunity to experience high-end travel at a affordable cost. The promotion is valid for reservations made through October 15, 2009, subject to availability, for travel through October 15, 2009.

For more information or reservations, call the hotel's guest services at 1-877-528-3490. For a glimpse of the good life at Esencia, visit the hotel's website.

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Fine Spanish Cuisine in the Riviera Maya

The owners of the popular Ajua Maya Restaurant, a long-time favorite in Playa del Carmen, have opened the first traditional Spanish tapas restaurant in the Riviera Maya.

Restaurante Tierra España features the culinary creations of Chef Antoni Pellicer, originally from Barcelona. The kitchen serves up a menu of classic dishes from the Spanish Mediterranean, including hot and cold tapas, rich paella, chorizo, blood sausage, cured Serrano ham and fresh seafood. There's also an assortment of traditional desserts and coffees, plus an extensive menu of wines, brandy and sherry.

The ambiance is warm and welcoming, with traditional Spanish décor and a waitstaff that treats every customer like a regular. It's open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and diners can choose a table in the air-conditioned indoor dining room or on the covered patio.

Tierra España is quickly becoming a fun gathering spot for groups watching American football games, international soccer matches and major sporting events. The restaurant hosts regular wine tastings and other events.

Tierra España is located at the corner of Avenida Constituyentes and 20th Street in downtown Playa del Carmen.

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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.

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Play Golf in the Riviera Maya

Though the Mayans never used the wheel, they did have the ball, and it is believed that they took great pleasure in playing various games. Their most famous ball game was called pok-ta-pok, and it was serious business. The ball was about the size of a kickball, and the game was played on a large field about the size of a basketball court.

Similar to basketball, the game’s object was to shoot the ball through a hoop mounted above the playing surface. Considering that players weren’t allowed to use their hands, though, scoring was quite rare and was considered a tremendous feat. Large numbers of villagers turned out to watch the games, which had great religious and ceremonial importance. Fans sang songs, acted boisterously, and even bet on who would win. The winners of the game were given a hero’s welcome, and a celebration was held in their honor. As legend has it, the losers were put to death.

Today, the open fields, beachfronts, and carved-away jungles of the Riviera Maya make a perfect backdrop for the more “civilized” ball game of golf. There are a dozen places to play within a short distance of the Riviera Maya, including courses in Cancún, Cozumel, and the town of Bacalar (south of the Riviera Maya). Some of the courses are par 3, but others are par 72 championship courses designed by some of the best golf architects in the business, including Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones Jr., and Robert Von Hagge.

Most of the courses have beautiful views of the ocean and the tropical jungle. Iguanas, colorful birds, and other animals are commonly seen. Most have multiple water and sand features, and a couple even have actual Mayan ruins next to the fairways.

Most courses have clubs for rent, and unless you’re a real pro or planning on playing multiple rounds, the loaners are normally sufficient. Balls can be expensive (and the loss ratio can be high), so it’s usually best to bring some of your own since they’re cheap back home and fairly easy to pack. The larger courses have full-service pro shops with name-brand equipment and apparel, club repair, and instruction.

Some of the courses operate with an all-inclusive concept, where the greens fee includes a cart, range balls, and all the food and drink you care to consume during your round. To keep the costs down, consider playing in the afternoon to take advantage of discounted twilight rates. Just make sure to bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water.

The Riviera Maya is becoming more of a golf destination each year. More than 15 courses are currently under construction or are in the design/approval/development stages. For information on all area golf courses, check with the Mexican Caribbean Golf Association.

A full description of all area courses is available in the Playa del Carmen & Riviera Maya guide book available online.

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"Taste of Playa" Summer Food Festival

PLAYA DEL CARMEN -- The "Taste of Playa" summer food festival will take place in Playa del Carmen on September 5, 2009. The event, which organizers plan to begin hosting annually, will highlight the diverse global influences of Riviera Maya chefs and their cuisine.

Backed by the Riviera Maya Tourism Board and local officials, the event highlights the unique culinary perspectives of local chefs that have made Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya a world-class dining destination.

"The international collection of chefs, flavors and influences is what has made Playa Del Carmen one of the most popular destinations in the area," said Roman Quian, president of the Solidaridad municipality.

This gourmet sampling event will take place in the newly renovated city center plaza and is open to the public free of charge. More than 25 local restaurants have been selected to showcase their unique culinary visions and creativity.

Sponsors and participants include John Gray’s Place, The Glass Bar, Divina, Cocina 38, Buy Playa Real Estate Services, Bric International and Abyss Dive Center.

A portion of the proceeds from Taste of Playa 2009 will benefit Ak Lu’um International School, a non-profit private learning institution in Playa del Carmen that integrates young students with physically and developmentally challenged children in a safe and inclusive learning environment.

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"Amazing Race" Coming to the Riviera Maya?

Discovery Channel's popular travel adventure show, "The Amazing Race," will be filming an upcoming season in Latin America. To help pick the exact country, the show's producers are letting the public decide by casting their votes.

On the heels of the bad press caused by the Swine Flu and recent media reports of drug violence, tourism to Mexico is down sharply and the positive exposure of a show like this could do a lot of good for Playa del Carmen, the Riviera Maya and the entire country.

Right now, Mexico and Columbia are neck-and-neck in the voting, with Chile a distant third.

MayanHoliday.com urges all our readers to vote for Mexico and help bring "The Amazing Race" to the Riviera Maya!

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Drug Traffickers Arrested in Playa del Carmen

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, June 13, 2009 -- The heart of the Playa del Carmen tourist zone, Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida), was the scene of a major drug bust on Saturday as 40 soldiers from the Mexican Army swarmed a souvenir market and arrested five drug traffickers.

The heavily armed military gunmen wore black hoods to disguise their identity and were supported by more than a dozen local police, who blocked pedestrians from the area where the raid took place. Even with the large police presence, though, tourists were just yards from the scene as the soldiers made their way to the back of the market to apprehend the criminals.

The event occurred near the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Second Street, close to the main bus station and the dock for the ferry to Cozumel. The authorities seized three bags of illegal drugs and arrested five men, who were using their handicrafts stall in the market as a front for their drug-selling ring.

No shots were fired in the incident and authorities credited the police and soldiers for using overwhelming force and the element of surprise to their advantage.

The men were known to be dealing drugs, but many other sellers in the market were afraid to turn them in or say anything, for fear of retaliation. The market was reopened after the incident and after 15 minutes, the scene on the street returned to normal.
It is a reminder, though, that tourists should avoid any illegal drug use while visiting the Riviera Maya. The old adage is true that if you go looking for trouble, you're probably going to find it.

It's important to note, however, that the federal and local authorities are very conscious of the effects that drugs and illegal activity could have on the tourist trade, so they aggressively pursue arrests and work to keep the resort town safe for visitors. Even during this raid, the hundreds of tourists on the beach two blocks away were oblivious to the episode and were not affected by it.

Playa del Carmen is still a very safe place to visit and enjoy a great vacation, as long as travelers remain aware of their surroundings and don't take any more risks than they would back home.

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Forest Fire Burning Near Tulum

TULUM -- Civil defense personnel and local farmers are working together to fight a forest fire just miles from the famous Mayan ruins of Tulum. The fire has already consumed 20 hectares of forest land.

Since the location is fairly remote and fire-fighting resources are scarce, there are not yet enough personnel on the scene to completely contain the fire.

The fire is believed to have been started by man and authorities are looking to find the person or persons responsible. Since the fire is well off the tourist trail, police are focusing their investigation on local residents.

The forest is very dry in this region and it has been difficult to get enough water to the area to successfully fight the fire. Authorities have urged members of the community to be extra careful and not burn brush or trash with open fires, but the warnings have been largely ignored.

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Early Playa del Carmen Ferry Service Returns

PLAYA DEL CARMEN -- Officials in the Riviera Maya have reported the reinstatement of the 6am ferry run from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel. The service was suspended on May 4, with the decrease in demand caused by concerns over the flu outbreak.

Demand had dropped by approximately 70%, from an average of 6000 daily riders down to only 700. That number has increased back to nearly 4000, which makes it worthwhile to add the earliest service back to the schedule. In the interim, the first ferry from Playa to Cozumel had been 8am.

This early ferry run makes it possible for workers living on the mainland to get to jobs in Cozumel and also helps tourists get an early start for daytrips to Cozumel for scuba-diving, sportfishing, snorkeling and other activities. One-way and round-trip tickets can be purchased at the ferry dock at the center of town.

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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.

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Mexico to Host World Environment Day

PLAYA DEL CARMEN -- The Riviera Maya will host World Environment Day on June 5, 2009. The location had been in doubt following the recent swine flu outbreak in Mexico and elsewhere.

The event will take place at the Xcaret Eco Park, just a few minutes south of the resort town of Playa del Carmen. Attendees will include California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, World Wildlife Fund president Carter Roberts, renwoned entrepreneur Carlos Slim Helu and more than 400 environmental experts, business leaders, academics, governors and UN staff.

The event will be broadcast via satellite to more than 180 countries. The conference is important to Mexico because it gives a clear signal that the country is still open for business and was able to overcome the recent health emergency.

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300 People Reenact Canoe Trip to Cozumel

XCARET - Around 300 participants made a pilgrimage to Cozumel like their Mayan ancestors did hundreds of years ago. The group left in traditional canoes from Xcaret to the island of Cozumel, approximately 15 miles away. They later returned to Xaman Ha, just south of the town square in Playa del Carmen. A large crowd was on-hand to greet them when they returned.

The local mayor, Román Quiana Alcocer and the head of the Riviera Maya Tourism Promotion Fund, Javier Aranda Pedrero, were part of group at the beach. The mayor noted that this sacred journey served to reinforce the cultural identity of the region and serves to "preserve our traditions and share the history of our ancestors."

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Playa del Carmen at 50% Occupancy - No Swine Flu

Civil Defense personnel donning masks distributed information in several languages to sunbathers (primarily topless women) this week to publicize the measures taken to prevent any possible infection by the H1N1 "Swine Flu" influenza virus.

Despite the recommendation to stay at home and change travel plans, Playa del Carmen's main strip, Fifth Avenue, and the beaches of the Riviera Maya looked almost normal, except for the closure of some enclosed businesses, such as bars and clubs.

A local official was quoted as saying: "You can still enjoy and have a good time, provided you comply with health regulations." Meanwhile, hotel occupancy remains at 50%, about 25% lower than normal for this time of year. "The restaurants are operating and maintaining the economy on Fifth Avenue," the official said.

Mamita's Beach, one of the most popular daytime destinations that's a little north of town, indicated a quiet influx of people. The restaurants were open, people were swimming, sunbathing and ordering cold Coronas, just like normal.

The bus stations, taxis and public services are operating at or near full capacity.

There have been no confirmed cases of the Swine Flu in the region. The city's 10 clinics each received visits from 50 to 60 patients with concerns, but none of them ended up being anything worth worrying about.

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Playa del Carmen Orders Bars to Close

As a preventative measure against an outbreak of the Swine Flu, officials in Playa del Carmen and surrounding areas have ordered the temporary closure of bars and clubs. The Expo Tequila 2009 has also been cancelled, since many of the expected attendees are no longer coming to the area since they have had to cancel their trips.

The closure order applies to bars and clubs accommodating up to 80 people, including such popular locations as Reven, Coco Bongo, Dubai, Cielito Lindo and Mambo Cafe.

The bars and clubs are to be remain closed, "for the duration of the epidemiological emergency."

Riviera Maya Jazz Fest 2009 Artists Revealed

PLAYA DEL CARMEN -- The Seventh Annual Riviera Maya Jazz Festival will take place November 25-28 in Playa del Carmen and will feature such artists as The Royal Band, Colin Hunter, Pat Martino, Al Jarreau, Herbie Hancock, Fernando Toussaint and Aguamala.

The 2009 festival is the best cast ever assembled in the event's seven year history. Like other years, though, the concerts will be entirely free to the public.

According to officials, the festival has already lead to an 18% increase in hotel reservations compared to the same time period last year. Past artists have included George Benson, Tower of Power, Marcus Miller, Hector Infanzon, Iraida Noriega, Lucca Littera, Earl Klugh, David Sanborn and Fourplay.