Unique Experiences in Mexico

From Cancún in the north to the archaeological site of Tulúm in the south stretches a magnificent coastline, peppered with tropical parks, snorkeling and diving havens, small rustic hotels and luxurious resorts: The Riviera Maya.

The Riviera Maya stretches for 80 miles south of Cancun and boasts miles of pristine powder soft white sand beaches. The Great Mayan Reef is the largest coral reef in the Western Hemishere and compares to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

The Riviera Maya is all about having fun in the sun and offers something for almost everyone, all-inclusive beach holidays, spa retreats, ultra-luxury resorts, golf holidays, cultural tours and fine dining.

Discover ancient Mayan temple ruins and sites at places like Chichen Itza and Tulum, all within easy reach of our hotels on the Riviera Maya.

Each of the hotels we have selected offer an excellent range of international restaurants offering cuisines from all around the globe, from French to Asian, from Italian to Sushi and Teppanyaki and of course local Mexican specialties.

Sampling Mexican cuisine is a pleasure that shouldn´t be missed! Its textures, flavours and colours are unique. If you have a taste for adventure, jump right into it. Or stick to a few simple and traditional dishes that are always excellent and not too spicy.

Try frijoles (beans), chiles rellenos (poblano chilies stuffed with cheese or meat), quesadillas (tortillas stuffed with cheese, chicken, beef, mushrooms, etc. folded and grilled), mole (thick sauce made with the unlikely combination of chocolate, chilies, peanut, spices, etc.), tamales (cornmeal paste stuffed with vegetables, chicken or pork, steamed), tostadas (crisp tortillas served loaded with refried beans, chicken, guacamole, chopped lettuce and sour cream), and the traditional breakfast of huevos rancheros .

Mexico produces excellent beer and of course very good tequila. Imported wines and spirits are readily available. Try the delicious aguas , juices made with hibiscus flowers, tamarind or rice. We recommend to always stick to bottled water

MUSEUMS, GALLERIES, SHOPPING AND SPORTS

La Casa del Arte Popular Mexicano - An exquisite collection of over 3,400 of folk art including The Tianguis, a replica of a colourful market village. The museum is located in Cancun's hotel zone.

Shopping - Cancun is one of the world's premier tourist destinations so the shopping is as impressive as you would imagine. You will find anything from the ultra-chic designer stores and famous brand names in Kukulcan Plaza and Luxury Avenue, over 150 shops in the ultra trendy shoppers paradise of La Isla Shopping Village to Mexican handicraft markets such as Mercado 28, a huge flea market seling souvenirs and local arts and crafts in central Cancun.

Golf - Cancun golf courses are every golfers dream! Aside from the fact that they are in the most beautiful settings imaginable, the golf courses in Cancun and Riviera Maya meet the highest standards set by professional golf tournaments and expert golfers.Courses include Greg Norman's El Camaleon Mayakoba, Robert Trent Jones Jr. Cancun Golf Club at Pok Ta Pok and Greg Norman's Playa Mujeres Golf Club which is certain to be recognised not only as one of the top courses in Mexico, but one of the finest in the world.


IN, ON AND UNDER THE WATER

Bordered by the magnificent Caribbean Sea and with an intricate network or mangroves, lagoons, cenotes and underground rivers and cave networks it's not surprising that many of the activities available on the Riviera Maya are centred around water. Whether you wish to inter-act with dolphins and whale sharks, snorkel or dive on the largest coral reef in the western hemipshere, take a pirate ship or dinner cruise or float through breathtaking cave networks, the Riviera Maya can offer you all this plus more.

Interactive Aquarium - Come face to face with sharks, swim with dolphins and touch manta rays and turtles. Located in the heart of the hotel zone in the La Isla Shopping Center where you can enjoy a breathtaking, hands-on encounter with the marine world.

Delphinus - Most people have only dreamed of swimming with dolphins, at Delphinus your dreams can come true. This socially responsible organisation allows you to learn about their lifestyle and to hug, stroke and kiss these incredible creatures. Located in Cancun, Xcaret and Xelha.

Cozumel Reef National Park - This outstanding coral reef and marine park was declared a national park in 1996 and is the Caribbean's premier dive spots with 85% of the regions dive sites.

Swim With Whale Sharks - Whale sharks are the gentle giants of the ocean. Measuring up to 12 metres in length and weighing uo to 15 tons they are the largest fish in the world. Fortunately for those of us that want to swim with the whale shark they are totally harmless and peaceful. During your Cancun holiday you have the once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close to one of these amazing creatures. Whale sharks are usually found around the islands of Holbox and Contoy from May until September, although mostly during the months of July and August.

Xcaret - Located 4 miles south of Playa del Carmen, Xcaret is a majestic park featuring unique activities that include swimming with nurse sharks, snuba diving where you descend seven metres underwater in the Mexican Caribbean whilst your air tank remains in the raft. Shimmering freshwater lagoons, paradise river journeys, snorkelling and underground rivers are all features of Xcaret.

Xplor - Xplor is a unique underground world, with 7 amazing circuits that invite you to rediscover your emotions and senses within nature. There are 13 zip lines through the treetops and canyons, enjoy refreshing water landings and amazing suspension bridges; take a trip through the jungle on unstoppable amphibious vehicles, explore an underground paradise where you can swim surrounded by amazing stalactites and stalagmites, float by raft across stunning subterranean caverns while paddling with your own hands.Located in Xcaret.

Chinchorro Bank Biosphere Reserve - The country’s best-preserved reef system covers 144,360 square hectares. A platform reef, it has the largest commercial population of pink conch and Caribbean lobster and is important for the fishing industry. It is also a sea turtle nesting ground and at least 93 bird species live in the area’s mangroves.

MAYAN CULTURE

The Mayan civilization was among the original cultures of the New World and spanned more than 3,000 years. M Mayan culture is known for its spectacular art, impressive architecture, and sophisticated mathematical and astronomical systems which were all way ahead of their time. Examples of ancient Mayan ruins can be found in the following places.

Tulum - Tulum is located 82 miles south of Cancun and sits on the edge of a cliff facing looking out over the vast turquoise ocean. Tulum is one of the most-visited Mayan ruins in Mexico -it truly is one of the most magical places on Earth. Tulum, the walled city was protectd on one side by steep sea cliffs and the other by a wall. El Castillo sits on a cliff edge and overlooks a beautiful cove.

Ek Balam - The most recent great find, it is barely starting to reveal its secrets. Its principal buildings, temples and palaces are located inside a walled area and takes a minimum of one hour to cover by foot.Located 90 miles from Cancun Ek Balam takes its place as the most recent archaeological zone in the region to be opened to the public. Its architectural style is unique in the zone.

Chichen Itza - The famous Mayan pyramids of Chichén Itzá are over 1500 years old. The name Chichén Itzá is a Mayan word: CHI (mouth) CHEN (well) and ITZA (of the witch water).  Some say this is because people were often thrown into the nearby cenote as sacrifices, and those who survived were believed to be seers. Chichen Itza was named in 2009 as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Points of interest at Chichen Itza include The Temple of Kukulcan, The Great Ball Court, Temple of Warriors and El Cenote Sagrado.

Whether you want to dance the night away in one of Cancun’s nightclubs or spend a relaxing evening in one of the many bars, the nightlife in Cancun will never disappoint you. An eclectic selection of music fills the evening air and the Cancun nightlife takes to the streets until the sun comes up.

Puerto Morales, 22 miles south of Cancun is a laid back fishing village offering a varied range of restaurants and bars for a more tranquil and relaxing form of evening entertainment.

Playa del Carmen offers a laid back bohemian atmosphere with some unique restaurants such as Alux Lounge, and a good selection of bars. The 5th Avenue strip is alive with clubs and bars to suit almost every taste, from jazz to lounge music, from house music to Cuban live bands, from Latin tunes to Reggae music on the beach.

Most hotels and resorts will offer some form of entertainment throughout the week, whether this be a live show, a local band or movies on a big screen on the beach.

Electricity is 110 volts, 60 cycles AC. Flat two-pin plugs are used. You will require a travel plug adaptor to be able to use UK electrical appliances in Mexico.

Despite often alarming media reports Mexico, especially areas highly populated with tourists, is generally a safe place to travel, and with just a few precautions you can minimize the risk of encountering problems.

A little common sense goes along way to ensure your holiday is enjoyable and trouble free. A few hints are that you do not flash expensive cameras or iphones around in busy areas, keep your cash, credit and bank cards in a safe place such as a money belt under your trousers or shorts. Always ensure valuables, travel documents and passports are locked safely away in your hotel room safety deposit box when you are not using them.

When travelling around be sure to only use registered taxi's and do not purchase sight-seeing excursions from street vendors, always use a registered tour company recommended by the local tourist office, your hotel or book these through our agents CondorVerde.

Cancun and The Riviera Maya boasts on average 253 days of sunshine each year. The best time to go is between December and April when the weather is almost perfect; temperatures hover at around 29°C/84°F during the day and 18°C/64°F at night. The months of May to September are much hotter and more humid; temperatures can reach upwards of 36°C/97°F.

The rainy season usually starts mid September and lasts until mid November which is usually an afternoon downpours that can last anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. It is during these months where the area can be subject to the occasional tropical storm or hurricane, with high winds and rain that may last for days.

British Airways operates a direct flight from London Gatwick to Cancun on a Wednesday and Saturday. The flight time between London and Cancun is approximately 11 hours. The return journey between Cancun to London Gatwick is approximately 9 hours.

W&O Travel can also offer multi-centre holidays that will include Havana, Cuba and Cancun. The flight between Havana and Cancun is operated by Cubana Airlines and is approximately 1.5 hours.

Spanish is the language spoken by the vast majority of Mexcians. English is widely spoken in Cancun and on the Riviera Maya as well in more touriast populated areas such as Chichen Itza.

Mexico has about six million citizens who speak indigenous languages, that is the second largest group in the Americas after Peru. Nanuati is one of the native American languages spoken by a large population of native speakers as well as Quechua and Guarani.

The official currency is the Mexican Peso, new laws have restricted payments made in US$, we recommend you only take the Mexican Peso for purchases and settling hotel and restaurant bills.

The local time corresponds to Mexico City which is GMT - 6 hours.

Our Mexico agents CondorVerde are located in both Cancun and Mexico City

Cancun Office
Address: Jardines del Sol, Cassa 33, Frac. Jardines de Bonampak, Cancun
Telephone: +52 998 880 4035

Mexico City Office
Address: Av. Universidad 989, 2 Piso, Col. Del Valle, C.P. 03100
Telephone: +52 55 5524 7317,  5524 7323, 5524 7700

In case of an emergency you can contact the British Consulate in Cancun or Mexico City

Cancun
Address: Hotel Royal Sands , Blvd. Kukulcan Km. 13.5
Telephone: +52 998 881 0100

Mexico City
Address: British Embassy, Rio Lerma 71, Col Cuauhtemoc, 06500
Telephone: +52 55 1670 3200
 

Public Holidays in Mexico

January 1st - New Year's Day

February 5th - Constitution Day

February 24th - Mexico's National Flag Day

Late February/Early March - Carnaval takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday. Parades, dancing, music, processions, food and fireworks makes this a lively event.

March - Holy Week, from Ash Wednesday (beginning of Lent) through to the week after Easter Sunday is a busy time! Everywhere you go there will be processions, festivals, parties, fireworks and more!

May 1st - Labor Day

May 5th - Victory over France in Puebla

May - Cancun Jazz Festival

June - Corpus Christi, celebrated nationally, this event honours the body of Christ, and is marked with processions, celebrations, music, food and dancing.

September 16th - Celebrating Independence (from Spain) Day

October 12th - Columbus discovers the new world

November 1st & 2nd - Day Of The Dead, The country's most characteristic fiesta is the wonderfully macabre Dia de los Muertos. This event encompasses two days: All Saint's Day, and All Souls day. The former honours all saints and people who died as children, and the latter is for souls who died in adulthood. Expect to see sugar-candy skulls, skeletons and Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead) advertised at shops and supermarkets. Relatives of those who died gather at cemeteries throughout Mexico, bringing candles, pictures and music, along with bread, fruit, tequila, beer and favourite dishes of the people they are remembering. The mood is far from morbid: it is lively and upbeat!

November 20th - Anniversary of the 1910 Mexican Revolution

December 25th - Christmas Day (Christmas dinner / presents traditionally happen on the evening of the 24th - Christmas Eve)

Local Transportation

Local taxis are available to transport you around the surrounding areas however these can be expensive. There is a frequent bus service along the Mexico 307 that stretches the length of the Riviera Maya coastline. Several companies operate a shuttle-type service between cancun and Tulum with stops at several spots along the way. This service can be somewhat irregular.

Scheduled Excursions

W&O Travel can pre-book a number of sight-seeing excursions around the Yucatan Peninsula and extended tours of Mexico, please ask for more details. If you prefer to book your tours locally please contact our Mexico agents CondorVerde.