Riviera Maya turtle Trip, July 25 – August 1, 2010

From a trip announcement from Maya Riviera Vacation:

This trip is designed for families with all ages. It is during the height of Turtle Season when you will see juveniles swimming and feeding in the bay, mothers nesting and babies hatching. In addition to a great vacation it will also be an eco-trip that will benefit Centro Ecologico Akumal.

What’s included:
Accommodations at either Hotel Akumal Caribe or at Casa Romero’s Complex.
Turtle Talk by Centro Ecologico Akumal
Turtle Walk by CEA
Eco-Beach Walk by CEA
Snorkeling Tour of Akumal Bay by CEA
Entrance into Yal Ku Lagoon
Sunset Sail
Admission to Xcaret
Entrance to Xel Ha
Picnic at Xcacel
Welcome Dinner at Lolha
Ground Transportation
Spa Credit for Adults

Hope for Haiti fundraiser, Akumal, January 24

On Sunday January 24th, fund-raising events will be executed simultaneously in Playa del Carmen, Akumal and Puerto Morelos to raise much needed funds for Doctors Without Borders who is helping the victims of the earthquake that wracked the small island nation last week. “Hope for Haiti” is a local, grassroots campaign whose mission is to raise badly needed funds to support the relief efforts.

“Hope for Haiti – Akumal” will be held on Sunday, January 24th 2010 from 2:00pm to 9:00pm on the stage in the center of Akumal. Live music, DJ, food and beer, a raffle for great prizes.

Proceeds from the event will be sent to Doctors Without Borders.

I hope you will all join us on Sunday to enjoy the live music, good friends, food. and help us help our Caribbean neighbors.

WHO: Akumal community and visitors
WHAT: Live music festival Akumal Main Stage
WHERE: Centro Akumal Plaza Ukana
WHEN Sunday January 24, 2010
TIME: 2 pm – 9 pm

2:00 – DJ
3:00 – Caribbean Soul Band
4:15 – DJ
5:00 – Video presentation on Haiti
6:00 – Mayan ceremony by Charlie and Maria for good prayers to Haiti
7:00 – Bandikoro

Raffle prizes include:
- 4 tickets to Xel Ha
- 4 tickets to Rio Secreto
- 4 day passes to the Day spa at Hacienda Vista Real
- Spa Services from Bahia Principe

THANKS to these businesses for help and support:
- Club Akumal Caribe, staff and some security
- Buena Vida
- LocoGringo
- Yoga Akumal
- Akumal Beach Resort
- Turtle Bay
-other contributors to be announced.

Campeche, the spirit of Mexico

From an article by Sophie Cook in The Guaradian (UK):

While Mexico’s tourist resorts are still reeling post swine flu, the beguiling city of Campeche and its surrounds is as enchanting as ever.

Mangroves and lagoons stretch along the northern half of Mexico’s Campeche coast, home to countless flamingoes, while to the south the narrow bands of white sand beaches have always been cordoned off for turtles, not tourists. In the aftermath of the swine flu outbreak, Cancún, on the opposite side of the Yucatan peninsula, has been missing its usual planeloads of holidaymakers. But Campeche has never courted vast numbers of visitors and, while welcoming the few that come, can get by just fine without them. Lacking the Yucatan east coast’s turquoise seas and sweeping beaches, this ruggedly beautiful western coast epitomises independent spirit. It’s certainly safe again to bring your body here for healing winter sun; but more to the point, this area has always provided a unique medicine for the soul. Its inhabitants are justifiably proud of their abundant wildlife and rich cultural inheritance, while Campeche city itself is one of the most beguiling places in Latin America.

Beat-up cars rattle through the narrow cobbled streets, a rusting Dodge parked up outside the pastel blue manicured splendour of a colonial house. The whole city centre is listed as a Unesco world heritage site: a perfectly preserved 16th-century Spanish colonial streetscape, where the fierce tropical sun tears shadows through curving wrought-iron balconies and window grilles, across the painted walls. Despite its overwhelming beauty, historical importance, and extreme safety, Campeche city is no stuffy museum piece. The vigorous thrum of Mexican daily life beats everywhere just beneath its stuccoed skin. The streets are filled with independently-owned shops selling pens, or tinsel, or radios. Women and old men pray beneath the chandeliers inside the finely-kept churches, or come to read their newspapers in the pews, finding sanctuary for the flesh as well as the soul in the cool limestone walls. Pelicans dive into the navy waters of the Gulf of Mexico beyond the city’s sea walls, splashing down between small fishing boats, while Mayan women from the countryside sell mangoes on street corners and lanky boys shoot pool at battered green tables in antique colonnades.

Lots happening

Women In Wellness group has been keeping extremely busy doing some wonderful side trips and workshops.

Halloween was great at La Buena Vida.

Day of the Dead celebrations going on all around us.

And of course the weather is perfect and paradise is wonderful…come visit soon. And if you live here take that moment to soak it all in and appreciate where you are!

Festival de la Tortuga Marina, Oct. 16-18, Akumal & Tulum

Friday, Oct. 16, 16:00–19:00, Casa de la Cultura de Tulúm: Opening – Murals – Drawing Contest – Sea Turtle Season Information – Cultural Performances – Quelonios Ak, Visual Art Exposition

Saturday, Oct. 17, 07:00–14:00, Playa Pescadores, Tulúm and Akumal Bay: Beach Clean Up – Sand Sculpture and Kite Contest. 18:00, Xcacel: Live Music – Performance – Fire Dance – Symbolic Hatchlings Release. Parking at Xel-Ha.

Sunday, Oct. 18, 10:00–20:00, Akumal: PET Contest – Drums – Mayan Ceremony. 19:00, Symbolic Hatchlings Release.

For further information please contact:
Alma D. Boada S. Comunication Coordinator.

Extreme Kite School in Tulum has Paddle Boards

A recent revival of the classic stand up paddleboards (SUPs) of Hawaii is spreading across the world and we are very happy to offer this great sport to the people of Tulum. The sport started as a way for surfing instructors to manage groups. By standing on their longboards they had better visibility of the incoming swells. Now we can use their innovation to have a new perspective in touring the coast here in Tulum. Surfers also use paddleboards to catch smaller waves which means conditions are perfect here for SUPs. It is a great all around core workout and a lot of fun so get out and try it!

We are offering basic lessons and rentals with different kinds of boards depending on your style. We have boards for cruising and for surfing waves in order to enjoy the various conditions we have in Tulum. Stand Up and learn this popular sport today and get a 10% off of your rental!
Group Classes $20 usd/hour (min. 4 people) plus 1 hour free rent included for the group.
Private Lessons for $50 usd/hour plus 1 hour free rent time.
Rental is $20 usd/hour

Women In Wellness October 24 – November 4 2009

For Immediate Release – Locals are welcome to join in the workshops and classes

Who: Women In Wellness Retreat
What: A whole mind and body fitness trip to the Mayan Riviera, Mexico
When: October 24 – November 4, 2009
Where: Akumal, Mexico
Cost: Varies on Accommodations and Workshops you attend. Prices for rooms start as low as $45 a night double occupancy.

Just Imagine Vacations, Inc., of Mt. Pleasant, SC, and Hotel Akumal Caribe, of Akumal, Mexico, are hosting a “Women in Wellness Retreat” in Akumal, Mexico on October 24 – November 4, 2009. The purpose of the trip is to provide opportunities for women to experience whole mind and body fitness in one of the most beautiful vacation villages on Mexico’s Caribbean Coast.

Wellness activities and programs will include: Water Fitness certification and continuing education classes, offered by WaterARTS International of Canada, Yoga classes offered by top international yoga instructors at Yoga Akumal, Blanca Sanchez-Navarro, LPC, LCDC of Texas will be leading workshops on De-stress for Success and Salsa Lessons.

In addition to these programs, there will be fashion shows, cooking demonstrations, snorkeling, scuba-diving, kayaking and much more available. Trip goers will also celebrate Halloween and the Day of Dead – Mexican style! Side tours are also available to eco-parks and Mayan ruins.

Akumal, Mexico is located on the Mayan Riviera about an hour and a half south of Cancun and just north of Tulum. We will be staying at a lovely family-owned boutique resort, Hotel Akumal Caribe. Other accommodations, villas and condos are available for large groups and families.

Just Imagine Vacations arranges custom tours for schools, infinity groups and special events to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

To learn more please visit our website www.rivieramayavacation.net OR contact Lydia L. Pontius at lydia@justimagine.net

Lol Ha Wine Tasting July 24th is Free

Lol Ha Beach Bar – July 24th

You are cordially invited to participate in a Wine Tasting this Friday, July 24, at the Lol-Ha Beach Bar between 6:30 and 7:30. The main objectives are:

*

· Have a good time
*

· Learn about a variety of wines from different countries and regions
*

· Help Lol-Ha establish an updated by-the-glass wine list for High Season, based on what you like.

Andres Somellera Ramirez, Gerente Alimentos y Bebidas, Hotel Akumal Caribe “LOL-HA” is co-coordinating this “Event”, and he has invited four wine companies/distributors to be there with their wines and informative discussions. The four are:

*

· World of Wines
*

· Aconcagua del Caribe
*

· Grupo Estilmar
*

· Vinos Cabasol

While the details on the exact wines are not available at this time, there will be red and white wines from Argentina, Chile, France, and Mexico.

The varietals to taste, include:

*

White Varietals: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, etc.
*

Red Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot,

Andres will also provide an ample supply of cheese and fruit to compliment the various wines. And, the Blues & Jazz Band should be providing some soft, light jazz as background music.

And, please be advised that there is NO COST to be a part of this “Event”.

Help Friends and Family in Akumal and along the Riviera Maya

I have called Akumal my home away from home, and the Riviera Maya has been my playground since I first laid eyes on it. And to many I am still a relative “newcomer”. My first trip to the area was 1998 and I walked under the arch in 1999. I knew the moment I saw it, like so many others, that this was a special place. It only took returning once to make me realize not only was the place unique but the people were unusually friendly. You are a stranger but once in Akumal. That is what makes it so totally different from many other places. That is what I have heard oh so many say over the years.

My question is this. If we so love to call Akumal home, and the people we visit there friends and in many cases even family, then isn’t it times like this that we should be asking ourselves what we can do to help? We in the States have been hit hard with this new economy and money is tight. There is no denying that. But there is a definite trickle down effect and it has touched our beloved Akumal and the Mayan Riviera.

On top of tighter budgets and less people traveling the Riviera Maya has had to defend themselves against a media that has painted all of Mexico with the same brush scaring those of us who should know better about crime wars and flues.

I think now more than ever we need to help our friends and family. Airfares are great. And your visit has never been more needed. This past spring many businesses felt the impact of 80% of their reservations canceled, that includes hotels, transportation, tours, restaurants and stores.

If you can’t afford to book your next trip, then help us out by sharing your stories, photos and memories. Help us to rebuild the reputation our beloved home and home away from home had in easier times. And by doing so maybe we can in some small way reach out and help those who have brightened our life. Whether you call it pay back or pay it forward. It is a simple and fun way we can all help. Now is not the time to be grumbling about a time that has past, and how it use to be; nor is it a time to be trying to negotiate the best deals. Now, in this writers opinion, is the time to show our loyalty and support.

Won’t you please help?

Slide shows and music – Akumal

Akumal’s 50th was an incredibly wonderful 3 days of a multitude of events. We now have a report with slide shows for those who want to relive it or unfortunately missed it. AND hear the new song by Caribbean Soul, Akumal!