How safe is travel in Mexico?

Cancun is Safe & Beautiful!

With the recent warnings issued by the U.S. State Department about the violence in Mexico, it is understandable that many tourists are wondering: “Is it safe to travel to Mexico?”, “Is Cancun safe?”, and similar questions regarding the safety of coming to Mexico. We’d like to help calm these concerns, and remind you that the recent waves of violence are all taking place in border towns such as Ciudad Juárez, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana, etc. NOT in the beautiful paradise that is Cancun!

An extract from an article by Carol Pucci of The Seattle Times:

“It all depends on where you’re going.

As a new travel warning by the U.S. State Department points out, the areas of concern are not the beach resorts or historical cities most Americans visit, but rather the border towns, specifically Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juárez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros.

Too often in the past, these types of government alerts have taken a broad-brush approach, simply advising against travel to a country as a whole. What’s different about this warning, issued Sunday following the shooting in Ciudad Juárez of three people with ties to the American consulate, is its level of detail, and the way it rightly targets only towns where drug-related violence has been rampant.

This could have something to do with the fact that Mexico’s tourism economy is fragile, and the U.S. government doesn’t want to do anything that might damage it, but let’s hope it also has something to do with a new, more responsible approach to travel warnings in general.

As the State Department points out, millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year, and this isn’t likely to change. Nearly a million Americans live in various parts of the country, enjoying the benefits of an inexpensive retirement and low-cost medical care.

I just returned from seven days in Mazatlan and Sayulita, a surfing and beach town near Puerto Vallarta popular with many from Seattle and Portland. I experienced nothing out of the ordinary, except perhaps, fewer tourists than usual. Restaurants were lively and filled with Americans and Canadians who were there seemed to be enjoying their vacations with no hassles or problems.

The Mexican people, of course, are concerned about what’s happening in their country. They’re worried that the violence could spread, and worried about its effects on their own sense of well-being, tourism and the general economy. It was interesting to observe a military “show of force,” one evening in Sayulita when a truck with armed soldiers did a once-around the town square while bystanders ate ice cream and typed on laptops.

The bottom line: If you’re planning a vacation soon to Mexico, by all means go, but heed the State Department’s advice and use common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where drug dealing might occur.”

You can read the full article HERE

You can also checkout this graph showing the total crimes per capita by country, which clearly shows Mexico way below other countries, including the USA. Mexico is ranked at #39. Graph courtesy of my dear friend Kelly! (Thanks Kel!)

And finally, you can also read our post about the safety of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and surrounding areas, complete with tourist testimonials!

Don’t take it from us, take it from other tourists that have come and enjoyed this beautiful country!

Come enjoy this paradise!

We hope to see you soon! Have a safe & fun vacation!

Don’t forget to follow us at Facebook & Twitter to stay updated about the safety in Cancun & Mexico in general!

Dear Friends,

Hola from Cancun!

Spring Break Cancun 2010!

Now that Spring Break Cancun 2010 is in full effect, I’d like to welcome all of our young visitors to this beautiful place that is Cancun! I’m sure you are ready to party, and thats exactly the reason you came here for, to have a great time! I do wish you have a blast during your stay, but I’d also like to give you some useful & practical tips you can use during your stay, to also make it a safe one!

So without further delay, here are the Cancun is Safe Spring Break 2010 Tips! May your stay be a fun & safe one!

Beach & Ocean

The beach of Cancun!

- Watch out, the sea of cancun does have undertow currents that can get strong and literally sweep you into the ocean. To avoid this danger and stay safe, please do not go very far into the ocean. Stay near the shore always, within the reach of lifeguards. Lifeguards are available at all public beaches, and are on duty approx from 9am to 6pm. There are no lifeguards at night, so be extremely careful when swimming at night, if possible, avoid it completely.

- DO NOT SWIM WHILE DRUNK OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. That is putting your life at risk foolishly; sadly, many people have lost their lives that way in Cancun and continue to do so. If you are drunk or high, you have a very strong risk of drowning, for many reasons. You simply are not in full control of your body, senses, & reactions. Please do not do this at all. Why risk your life just for “fun”?

- The beaches of Cancun are FEDERAL PROPERTY. Do not be tricked into being denied access to any part of the beachstrip of Cancun. Should this happen, report the person to the police. Everybody has access to the beaches in Cancun, its a federal right of the citizens & tourists.

- There are many street vendors roaming the beaches of Cancun. Beware, many of them will try to sell you “alpaca” (Silver imitation) as real silver. You’re better off not buying anything from any street vendor at the beach.

- Parasailing is a popular option for fun on the beach, but the truth is that it is not guaranteed to be 100% safe. If you are going to do it, double check the equipment, make sure everything is ok, etc. It is a high risk activity in which many fatal accidents have happened.

Parasailing in the beach of Cancun

Lagoon

- Be careful, there are alligators in the lagoon of Cancun. Avoid getting close to the lagoon as you walk by the Hotel Zone, specially at night. Again, being drunk/under the influence and near the lagoon is not a good idea.

Clubs, bars & discos

- Watch your drinks! Always be present when your drink is prepared. The sad truth is that slipping drugs into drinks is an ugly reality, and its better to be safe than sorry. You never know, so just be careful. Never leave your drink unattended. Its best to order bottled drinks and have them opened right in front of you.

- Drug use is illegal, and if you get caught doing it not only will you be expelled from the club, the police will be called and you’ll end up in Mexican jail. Not your idea of vacation huh? So, dont do it. Period.

Internet Access

- Most hotels have free WiFi for its guests now, so if you bring a laptop , iphone, or internet enabled device, you’ll be able to surf right at your hotel for free. If you don’t bring a device, you can still use the hotel’s business center, or theres also the option of going to a Cyber Cafe. There are many at different points of the Hotel Zone, you can just ask anybody and there should be one near you.

Bus & Taxi prices

Bus Stop in Cancun

There is a fixed price for buses going to and from the Hotel Zone. It’s 7.50 MXN Pesos for a roundtrip. This means you can hop into any bus going to the hotel zone or coming down from it towards Cancun downtown, and you only have to pay 7.50 MXN pesos for the whole trip. Bus Stops are signaled all over the Hotel Zone.

Taxis are different. They charge a rate depending on the zone, where are you going, etc. Its safer to just use a bus to travel around the Hotel Zone, or if you must use a Taxi or just prefer to do so, make sure to agree with the driver on a rate BEFORE you hop into the Taxi. This way you’ll avoid arguments afterwards.

Using your iPhone / Android / Smartphone in Cancun

Do you happen to own one of the above? Well, Cancun is slowly but steadily catching on. If you use apps such as Foursquare or Gowalla, turn them on and see whats already been added. Many malls, restaurants, bars, etc are already tagged and you can find nice info on them. Or you can also add new stuff that hasnt been tagged yet!

Money / Money Exchange

Its always best to exchange your dollars for pesos at the many Exchange Houses located all across Cancun. This way you’ll get a best rate and pay in pesos, not in dollars. Many times vendors charge in dollars because that way they earn a few more pesos, since they give you a much lower exchange rate than a exchange house. Its safer to exchange your dollars or cheques and carry around pesos.

Downtown Cancun

Downtown Cancun is different from the Hotel Zone. It is where the people that make Cancun go round live, and you can find all the services of any major city: Banks, Hospitals, Supermarkets, ATMs, etc. There are also many malls, restaurants, bars, and even some clubs that the locals enjoy going to. If you feel like knowing the different part of Cancun, just take any bus from the hotel zone going to Cancun “Centro” (Downtown), and hop off at Avenida Tulum (Tulum Avenue). From there, you can just walk to “Parque de Las Palapas” (Las Palapas Park), and Avenida Yaxchilan (Yaxchilan Avenue). Another good part of visiting Downtown Cancun is that prices are much lower than the Hotel Zone for everything: food, services, restaurants, etc. Some people go to the supermarkets in Downtown Cancun to stock on supplies and then go back to their hotels.

Prices for a taxi ride in Downtown Cancun are fixed: They should charge you 25 pesos for a short to medium distance. If the distance is longer, then the price can go up and again, its better to agree on a rate before you hop in.

Liked these tips? Follow us at Twitter, where we’ll be tweeting more tips like these for you! You can also join our Facebook Cancun fan page!

Have a fun & safe Spring Break Cancun 2010!

Spring Break Cancun 2010!

Camilo Olea

Hi dear friends!

Happy #TravelTuesday!

The Beautiful Beach of Cancun, Mexico!

Ramon Van Meer of Cheap International Flights wrote a very good informative post on “Tips When Traveling To Mexico”.

The WTO (World Tourism Organization) has rated Mexico as the 7th most popular tourist destination, so its natural that we are getting more and more tourists coming this way.

From the article:

“To enter Mexico, you will need:

a) A photo ID like passport or driving license,

b) A valid citizenship proof and

c) A tourist card or F.M.N.”

The article has some good precautionary tips, but like the author says:

“These are just precautionary safety measures and definitely do not mean you will fall into trouble when in Mexico.”

Read the full article at Articlesbase

Enjoy your Mexico vacation!

Soaking up the sun & relaxing at Cancun!

Don’t forget to follow us!

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Dear Friends:

This #MexMonday (Edit: Make that #TravelTuesday too!) we’d like to show you another beautiful part of Mexico that you may or not may know! El Cuyo, Yucatán!

The beaches of El Cuyo, Yucatán

Located on the northeast tip of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is a small and virgin fishermen village with beautiful white sand beaches called “El Cuyo”, that is unknown so far by most people.

Only two hours away from Cancun, El Cuyo is one of the “hidden treasures” of the Yucatecan emerald coast. It is a very small beach community (Population: 1,500 aprox) where you can enjoy the tranquil ambience! It is truly a place to disconnect from the hurried city life, and just enjoy the beauty of nature!

The village of El Cuyo, Yucatán!

This paradise is nestled inside another hidden treasure of Yucatan: The National Park of Ria Lagartos, internationally famous for the 20,000 pink flamingos that come to the area between January and September. Large groups of sea turtles also visit the beach shores between June and August, to lay their eggs in the sand. Are you into bird watching? This is a superb place for it, too!

Pink Flamingos flying over El Cuyo, Yucatán

You can find large groups of pink flamingos here too!

El Cuyo’s priviledged location will help you see incredible, breath-taking sunrises and sunsets over the beach. At night, you can enjoy a romantic campfire on the beach and gaze into an infinite sky filled with stars.

The breathtaking sunsets at El Cuyo, Yucatán

Sunset @ El Cuyo, Yucatán

How to get there

There are many ways to get there, but you have basically 2 options: Bus Ride or Drive Yourself! If you plan for a bus, just get to the Cancun Bus Station and ask for buses going to Tizimín, Yucatán. Once you get to Tizimín, you need to take one more bus to get to El Cuyo, and thats it!

If you are more adventurous and want to rent a car to drive to El Cuyo, we have prepared this Google Map specially for you!

View El Cuyo, Yucatán in a larger map

As you arrive to El Cuyo, you will cross the Ria Lagartos causeway over a red lagoon. The lighthouse, built on the remains of old Mayan ruins, welcomes you as you drive into town.

Here are some pics from a recent trip with friends to this hidden paradise!

El Cuyo, Yucatán

Look at this gorgeous place! El Cuyo, Yucatán

Looking into the horizon at El Cuyo, Yucatán

Relaxing on the endless beach of El Cuyo, Yucatán

Wanna see the full set of photos? Click HERE to watch our Flickr gallery!

Happy #MexMonday & #TravelTuesday too! Don’t forget to follow us at Twitter, and fan us at Facebook too!

Hola friends of Cancun!

My dear friend Keith Jenkins, from Velvet Escape Travel Blog gave me the opportunity to write a guest post for his section “My velvet escape travel tip”

“My velvet escape travel tip” is a guest series about what the name ‘Velvet Escape’ evokes and what that would be in the hometown of the guest writer. With this series, I hope to uncover travel tips from places around the world to help visitors have a truly local experience.

Velvet Escape is about what those words mean to you, and a place you associate them to. To me, velvet escape means a sweet escape to a sweet spot, and that place is Tulum, Costa Maya, Mexico.

Beautiful Tulum, Costa Maya, Mexico!

While this site is called CANCUN is safe, I also like to show the world other natural beauties such as Tulum! They are spots just as safe, beautiful, and worthwhile the visit!

Go check it out now!

Also don’t forget, Happy #MexMonday!

Happy Candlemas! ¡Feliz Día de la Candelaria!

Candlemas

The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple celebrates an early episode in the life of Jesus, and falls on or around 2 February. In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, the Presentation is the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, it is one of the twelve Great Feasts, and is sometimes called Hypapante (lit., ‘Meeting’ in Greek). Other traditional names include Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin, and the Meeting of the Lord. In many Western liturgical churches, Vespers (or Compline) on the Feast of the Presentation marks the end of the Epiphany season. In the Church of England, the Presentation of Christ in the Temple is a Principal Feast celebrated either on 2 February or on the Sunday between 28 January and 3 February.

In Mexico on the Candlemas (Spanish: Día de La Candelaria) the people who found the baby Jesus doll buried in their piece of a King Cake (Spanish: Rosca de Reyes) on January 5, the night before Three Kings Day, must throw a party on this day for everyone else who ate the same King Cake. Traditionally tamales and atole are served. Also, in certain regions of Mexico, the finder of the baby Jesus doll must present a baby Jesus representation in the local temple. This child must be dressed with fantasy luxury traditional Mexican clothes.

A tamale or more correctly, tamal (Spanish tamal, from Classical Nahuatl tamalli) is a Latin American dish consisting of a starchy dough, often corn-based, which is steamed or boiled in a leaf wrapper. The wrapping is discarded before eating. Tamales can be further filled with meats, cheese, vegetables, chilies or any preparation according to taste, and both the filling and the cooking liquid may be seasoned. Tamales are a traditional Latin American dish of Mesoamerican origin, namely from the Aztec empire. They were one of the staples found by the Spanish when they first arrived in Mexico and were soon widespread by Spanish conquistadores throughout their other colonies. Tamales are said to have been as ubiquitous and varied as the sandwich is today!

Tamales on a plate! Yum!

Mexican Tamales! Delicious!

Atole (Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl atolli) is a traditional masa-based Mexican and Central American (where it is known as atol) hot drink. Chocolate atole is known as champurrado. It is typically accompanied with tamales, and very popular during the Christmas holiday season (Las Posadas). The drink typically includes masa (corn hominy flour), water, piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar), cinnamon, vanilla and optional chocolate or fruit. The mixture is blended and heated before serving. Atole is made by toasting masa in a comal (griddle), then adding water which was boiled with cinnamon sticks. The resulting blends vary in texture, ranging from a porridge to a very thin liquid consistency. Atole can also be prepared with rice flour or oatmeal in place of masa. In northern Mexico, there is also a variation using pinole (sweetened toasted corn meal). Although atole is one of the traditional drinks of the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead, it is very common during breakfast and dinnertime at any time of year. It is usually sold as street food.

Delicious , fresh made Atole!

Masa is Spanish for dough, but in Mexico it sometimes refers to cornmeal dough (masa de maíz in Spanish). It is used for making tortillas, tamales, pupusas, arepas and many other Latin American dishes. The dried and powdered form is called masa de harina or maseca (which is actually a commercial brand); it is reconstituted with water.

So, there you go, now you know everything about how we celebrate Candlemas, or “Día de la Candelaria” in Mexico! Tamales were brought to the office this morning, and we all had a feast! Happy Candlemas! ¡Feliz Día de la Candelaria!

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Dear Friends,

I have been hearing lots of “Is Cancun Safe?” or “Is the Riviera Maya/Mexico safe?” questions lately,  and I’ve also noticed that some of the most popular keywords used to get to Cancun is Safe! are: “is cancun safe 2010″, “is cancun safe”, “is cancun safe right now 2010″, “how safe is riviera maya 2010″.

The message is loud and clear: you are worried about the safety of your possible next vacation destination. And I tell you, its completely understandable! Really, it is! With so much negative press Mexico has been getting recently (think drug wars, insecurity, swine flu, etc) it is a hard reality that our image has been damaged. We must show you how safe we are, as we have always been, now, more than ever.

And I can do just that! Please take some minutes to thoroughly read this post, where I’ve put together some of the best resources I’ve found over the web!

YES, Cancun , the Riviera Maya, and Costa Maya, are all SAFE & BEAUTIFUL places to visit!

Cancun is safe & beautiful! See for yourself!

Don’t take it from me, a local, born in Cancun and living here for 25 years; take it from other people, REAL people. Tourists, bloggers, expats, people that live & work here!

I’d like to take some excerpts from “Mexico: Safety, Health and Money”, a GREAT article by Tony & Cheri of Luna Blue Hotel, in Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Mexico.

“Crime

Mexico’s government is in a battle with drug dealers. That battle is sometimes very violent, and some innocent people have been hurt and killed. But the battle being fought (and won) by the Mexican government is NOT taking place anywhere near the tourist areas of Mexico’s Mayan Riviera, the Caribbean coast which stretches from Cancun to Tulum. The violence which erupts between drug dealers and the police is primarily centered on the border of Mexico and the southwest United States. It is over this border that guns are smuggled to Mexico and drugs are smuggled to the US. The competition over these smuggling routes between drug dealers and the disruption of those routes by law enforcement has caused much of the violence which is so sensationally reported by the media.

Health

The single most devastating blow to Mexico’s tourism in the Yucatan this year was undoubtedly the swine flu/H1N1 scare. We say “scare” because the flu itself was never a problem in this part of the world. The real problem was the hysterical reaction of the media and the internet community.” (You can checkout http://bit.ly/swineflufraud for more on this!)”

Full article can be read HERE

I’d also like to show you some testimonials; again, by tourists and people that live & work in the area:  locals, “ex-pats”, etc

Real Cancun & Riviera Maya Testimonials

“No, we are not afraid to live here. We continue to love our life here and enjoy running one of the area’s most popular small hotels. And we are not afraid to recommend this part of paradise as a travel destination whether with us or at one of the other fine resorts or hotels in Playa. And so we are going to end this year by once again talking about safety in Playa Del Carmen and the Mayan Riviera.”

-Tony & Cheri – Luna Blue Hotel, Riviera Maya

“I love Cancun, I think its a place that has a tourist an commercial area, an adventure side, a sophisticated face with the spas, super hotels. I really think that the best thing is to research a little before heading to Cancun to know the activities you are looking for. I love adventure and ecotourism and I know Cancun and Quintana Roo had plenty of things to do from under river swimming, jungle forest tours, swim with dolphins, manatees and the whale shark, cenotes, you name it. For sure my next vacation will be Cancun and the surroundings.”

-Fatima Garcia

“I would venture to say that Cancun and Riviera Maya represent the best vacation value currently available to US travelers. Great service, outstanding resorts, a great beach and climate – you can’t beat it, especially at the prices the hotels are offering. A great destination for a fun, safe, and memorable vacation.”

-Robert Cole

“The bottom line: The drug war violence is in the border regions (most especially Laredo and Tijuana, which I do not recommend visiting right now), and Cancun is well more than 1,000 miles away (that’s the distance between Los Angeles and Denver). Plus, police presence on the streets of Cancun is high, and the city seems as calm and safe as ever.”

-Pauline Frommer (from  world famous Frommer’s Travel Guides)

I’d also like to share with you a full article written by Pauline Frommer called “Four myths about traveling to cancun now”

See? We’re not lying – Cancun, the Riviera Maya, and Costa Maya (Tulum) are all SAFE & BEAUTIFUL places to visit!

Cancun is Safe & Beautiful as you can see!

Wanna hear more? You can always ask away and read other people’s opinions at our Facebook page, or follow us at Twitter!

We’ll be happy to help you be relaxed about your Cancun vacation!

All the best from Cancun! And of course, Happy #TravelTuesday!

Swine Flu (Influenza A1HN1) Fraud: Official Questioning Now Starts

A very strong & thought provoking article by Heidi Stevenson of Gaia Health regarding the whole 2009 Swine Flu (Influenza A1HN1) “pandemic”!

Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg, president of the Council of Europe’s Health Commission, was interviewed by L’Humanité about the links between Big Pharma, the World Health Organization (WHO), and governments.

Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg

“We have had a mild flu – and a false pandemic” says Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg, the chair of the Health Committee in The European Council. The German parliamentarian is also an epidemiologist and former health director in Flensburg. For that reason he has followed the H1N1-pandemic closely since June 11 and up to the present. He calls the pandemic “one of the greatest medical scandals of the century”, and for that reason he has decided to take the case to the European Council.

Dr. Wodarg discusses the fraud, the greed, and the risks placed on the populace in the travesty of the faked swine flu pandemic. The entire interview consists of one hard-hitting, to-the-point, and compelling quote after another.

These are VERY SERIOUS accusations made by a serious, official authority! I personally agree that there was a complete media scandal, that overinflated and drove to the point of absurd exaggeration this “Pandemic”. Governments, politics, and practically everyone that wanted to use the so called “Pandemic” to their personal advantage just basically did so. Sadly, politicians going on national TV “Praising” their government’s “swift reaction” to the “pandemic”, became a regular thing.

I do hope investigations are made, and when found guilty, legal actions are taken against ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED in this crime against humanity. Think “crime against humanity” is exaggerating? Well, how would you call the manipulation of information, the lying, the playing with people’s lives?

This needs to stop. WE need to stop being indifferent to the media/government manipulation! Let’s all work together and follow closely this event, and keep spreading the message to the world!

I’ll say it once again: CANCUN IS SAFE! Just as the rest of the world, it seems!

Link to the full interview

“THIS ‘PANDEMIC’ IS ONE OF THE GREATEST MEDICAL SCANDALS OF THE CENTURY” – Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg

Dia de los Tres Reyes – Three Kings Day – Epiphany in Cancun!

The "Tres Reyes Magos" (Three Magi Kings)

The twelve days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day, December 25th and end on the Twelfth Night, January 5th . In Mexico, on January 6th, traditionally the last day of the Christmas season, we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany or Three Kings Day (Día de Reyes, in spanish). Traditionally, families get together for a cup of hot chocolate and a piece of sweet “Rosca de Reyes”, or Three Kings Bread.

Mmm... delicious Rosca de Reyes!

In Mexico, Spain and other Latin countries it is when children receive the majority of their gifts from the Three Kings, or “Reyes Magos” rather than from Santa Claus at Christmas. Before going to bed the children place their old shoes or a box filled with grass or hay under their bed for the camels with a wish list on top for the Three Kings. In the morning the shoes or box is filled with toys & gifts from the Three Kings.

According to legend based on scripture (Matthew 2:1-12) this day commemorates the Three Wise Men, Melchior, Gaspar and Baltazar, who followed the star to Bethlehem, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They travel to Bethlehem, and along the way encountered King Herod, whom they tell of the birth of the new King. Herod orders them to find the baby and return to tell him where the Messiah could be found so that he may pay homage. After being warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod because he planned on killing the baby, they returned to their own countries another way.

People representing the Tres Reyes Magos in Mexico

The scripture does mention the three gifts but does not say how many came to visit. It was always assumed that if there were three gifts, then there were probably three people. Scholars estimate the number to be 2-12, possibly more. Are you wondering why they make such a big deal out of when the Kings came and not when the shepherds or others visited? It’s because the “Kings” (Wise Men or Magi) who brought gifts to the infant Jesus were the first Gentiles (non-Jews) to acknowledge Jesus as “King” and in doing so, the first to reveal that Jesus came for all people, from all nations and races.

Rosca de Reyes – Three Kings Bread

Rosca de Reyes or Three Kings Bread

The Rosca de Reyes is a ring-shaped bread with very small plastic dolls baked inside, which represent the baby Jesus. The figure symbolizes the hiding of the infant from King Herod’s troops. According to tradition whoever finds the figure in their slice of sweet bread must give a party on February 2nd, Candlemas Day or Dia de la Candelaria, offering tamales and atole (a hot, sweet drink thickened with corn flour) or Mexican hot chocolate to their guests. Candlemas is the day that Mary presented the infant Jesus to the temple and is traditionally the day that candles are blessed in the Catholic Church.

The little plastic dolls stuffed into the bread!

It is best to pre-order a Rosca de Reyes at a Mexican bakery or panaderia. When ordering at other bakeries ask for a King’s Cake, Louisiana-style which is basically the same thing. Or, if you like to cook, you can also take a look at this recipe for a Rosca de Reyes!

Happy Día de Reyes from Cancun!

Wikipedia entry for Three Kings Day

*Some info on this article is courtesy of CasaQ , please support them! Thanks!

Happy New Year 2010 from Cancun!

Happy NYE 2010 Cancun!

Dear friends,

I’d like to share with you a thought for this new year’s eve.

I feel I talked enough about this year we are leaving behind at my Xmas post, so this time I’ll try to keep it short.

Every crisis brings opportunities. Cancun is Safe! was born out of the opportunity that was created by the health crisis of influenza A1HN1; as the media coverage scared tourism away from Mexico, we saw the opportunity to create Cancun is Safe!, with the primary objective of fighting back the negative image created by the A1HN1 crisis. Had the crisis never occurred, Cancun is Safe! wouldn’t be here. At least not in the form it is now!

I also think that mistakes are nothing to be ashamed of, they also bring opportunities. Opportunities to learn and adjust our steps as we walk. I think these hard times brought us the opportunity to adjust our lives where necessary, to correct whatever mistakes we did that put us into rough times; to learn to live more with less, to need less things and more love to be happy, to enjoy more whatever we may have, to value more love, friends, & family over material possesions, to learn the importance of hope and how it keeps us going on, and much more.

What did YOU learned this year? What do you value more now? How have your priorites shifted?

To me, learning to live more with less has been a great lesson. I enjoy more my son, my loved ones, my family. I don’t own a T.V., so I use that time to read, communicate with my friends either electronically or physically, to help whenever and wherever I can. My apartment has barely the basics, and instead of feeling empty, I feel it is filled with peace & calmness.

Let’s take the opportunity this new year brings: to learn to live more with less, to need only the necessary, like friends, family, loved ones, love; the basic human conditions needed for true, authentic happiness. To learn that happiness has to be grown inside us, and work toward that goal instead of waiting for happiness to arrive. Material posessions are nice, and they can contribute to a better quality of life, BUT, let’s not be mistaken and suffer withouth them. Material posessions are temporary, in time, they vanish; Love, on the other hand, is timeless and eternal.

Please receive all my best and warmest wishes for you and your loved ones from Cancun!

Goodbye 2009! May we all have learned, from this tough year, to be happy with less!

Happy New Year 2010 from Cancun!

Sincerely,

Camilo Olea

Founder,CEO

Cancun is Safe!

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