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Mexico Travel / Volunteer Travel / Tourism / Voluntourism / Earthquakes / Tsunamis / → All Tags

Mexico Volunteer Travel Now Emphasizing Earthquakes and Tsunami-Preparedness

It goes without saying that Mexico travel has become a bit of a capital-t Thing in the tourism world. For fairly obvious reasons, many travelers have gotten the impression that the country is a Mad Mex dystopia awash with drug lords who fight wars using DIY scrap-metal tanks and submarines.

In response, Mexico's tourism board has waged an aggressive rebranding campaign by dispatching politicians and inventing slogans and leveraging social media and placing stories in media outlets.

Many casual travelers, nonetheless, have remained skeptical. Mexican tourism companies have therefore chosen—quite logically—to target the non-casual travelers. The country is even developing something of a reputation as a volunteer travel destination.

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Doomsday Tourism / Mayan Calendar / Guatemala Travel / Belize Travel / Honduras Travel / Mexico Travel / Guatemala / Belize / Honduras / Mexico / Tourism / Tourism Industry / → All Tags

Mayan Calendar Tours and Events Popping Up Just About Everywhere

End of the world predictions based on the Mayan calendar are, in a word, dumb (in two words: really dumb; in three words: really, really dumb; and so on). But because humanity is a magical pixie-dusted tapestry of diversity, the impending expiration of the Mayan calendar has become big business. And because humanity also likes to travel, what the NY Post once called the "Apocalypse Cash Cow"—books, DVDs, merchandise, smartphone apps, etc—has now reached the tourism industry.

Fox News Latina has a brief rundown of some of the Maya-themed tours, services, and events that have sprung up across Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Most of the programs thankfully don't have anything to do with the calendar itself. Tour guides, hoteliers, and entire countries are simply taking advantage of the heightened interest that tourists have taken in all things Mayan.

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Animals / Costa Rica Travel / Mexico Travel / → All Tags

New Cute Animal Obsession: the Coati

It's official; our favorite cute animal this season has got to be the Coati, a South American dweller of the raccoon family. To spot one, you've got to be hanging out in a lush environment from the southwestern US on down as far as the bottom of Brazil. Lucky you.

Already in the last few months, we've spotted them going about their adorable business of looking for little tarantula and lizards to gobble up, but in two very different places: the Riviera Maya and the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.

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New Routes / Interjet / LCCs / Airline News / Airlines / Mexico Travel / Frequent Flyer Miles / → All Tags

Mexico's Interjet Crosses the Border for New Flights to the US

There’s a new airline getting ready to land in the United States, and if all goes well it’ll save you a few bucks when trying to head south of the border. Interjet is a low-cost carrier based in Mexico, but they’re now planning to expand outside of the country into our backyard.

Their first flights will be a nonstop option between San Antonio and Mexico City, and the plan is to start flying back and forth beginning at the start of December. Flights will run each day of the week with a couple on weekdays, but there will only be single flights doing their thing over the weekend. Obviously the airline is excited about their expansion, so they’re even offering round-trip flights for around $250 to celebrate.

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Weather / Cancun Travel / Travel Alerts / Hurricanes / Mexico Travel / Riviera Maya Travel / → All Tags

Hurricane Rina Heads for Cancun, Cuba

Update 10/27: Good news! Hurricane Rina should be downgraded to a Tropical Storm and will likely only make it as far as Cuba. Nonetheless, the projected path continues to change. Follow updates here.

Just in case you don't instinctively flip to the Weather Channel during TV commercial breaks, we should tell you that this weekend is probably not the best time to be vacationing in Cancun, the rest of the Riviera Maya, and even in the Florida Keys as Hurricane Rina bears down on the vacation destinations.

As a result of the impending arrival of 80-40mph winds and potentially damaging Category 2 hurricane, cruise ships in the area have shifted their routes and airlines are offering rebooking for those traveling into the storm. An example is JetBlue, who have the alert clearly stated at the top of their website, and the full rebooking details here.

The worst of the storm is due to land on Cozumel and Cancun tomorrow, while it'll take until the weekend to dampen the Florida Keys* (see update above). Thankfully it's only a Category 2 (for now), so tourists already enjoying the sun and who don't mind weather disruptions, shouldn't be worried for their lives. The real threat is to those still planning on travel during the storm days, as they'll likely just end up sleeping on airport floors.

[Photo: Weather Channel]

Mexico Travel / Tourism / Tourists / Travel Ads / Tourism Boards / → All Tags

Mexico's Tourism Brainstorm: One Part 'Cash-Cab,' One Part Reality Show

If you don’t have a standing date with Brian Williams each evening then you might have missed that there’s some bad stuff going down south of the border. In a nutshell, there are some pockets of pretty violent drug-related crimes, and this alone is keeping away would-be tourists from checking out typical hot spots like Acapulco, Cancun, and beyond. Mexico is trying to clean up its image—at least with the tourists—and they’re doing so by throwing a lot of pesos at the problem.

In total the tourism board is looking to shell out around $30 million to create commercials and other advertisements to encourage plenty of travel—especially from Americans—to the fun in the sun that’s only a quick flight away. Some of the commercials are still a couple weeks away, but we do have an idea of what they’ll be all about. Of course they aren’t just going to show stunning beaches and crystal clear water, and that’s because it’s way better to create a mini reality show!

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Volunteer Travel / Beach Travel / Mexico Travel / Animals / Voluntourism / → All Tags

Help Native Sea Turtles While Working on Your Winter Tan in Mexico

For those of us hoping to soak up some sun while doing some good this winter, Baja Expeditions has put together a whale watching and turtle research excursion to Magdalena Bay in Baja, Mexico. This unique trip gives volunteers the opportunity to help local conservationists in their green sea turtle research and learn about gray whales as they migrate to Baja from Alaska.

The eight-day package includes six days camping on Magdalena Bay and two excursions each day, monitoring turtles and going whale watching. But it's not all work and no play, as there's also a daily happy hour with fellow campers at sunset and two days of shopping and exploring in nearby La Paz, which bookends the camping trip.

The Baja Turtle Research & Whale Watching Project is open to everyone and costs around $1500, which includes transportation to the camp site, accommodations and meals at camp. For more information, visit GoVoluntouring.

[Photo: govolunteering.com]

Riviera Maya Travel / Mexico Travel / Water Sports / Active Travel / Cancun Travel / → All Tags

Grab Your Headlights; It's Cave Swimming Time at Rio Secreto

One of our favorite things about staying on Mexico's Riviera Maya is that it's not just about dips in the Caribbean and margaritas by the pool. Clearly, those things rule, but what's even more awesome is that if you get a rainy day, there are plenty of activities to try.

We've found solace in a stroll down Playa del Carmen's Avenida 5 and in the Mayan ruins of Tulum and Cobá. But the best rainy day we've spent in the Yucatan took place underground—exploring the subterranean rivers of Rio Secreto.

Remember those geology lessons from way back? All that talk about calcium forming stalactites and stalagmites? Here, you get a bit of that education but it turns out, learning is way more fun when you're wearing a wetsuit and a helmet with a headlight. Also, we don't remember ever getting to swim in caves at school.

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Historical Travel / Riviera Maya Travel / Mexico Travel / Mayan Ruins / Landmarks / Cancun Travel / → All Tags

The Mayan Ruins Conundrum: Tulum or Cobá?

If you're a cruise-ship day-tripper or an eco-lovin' beach bum traveling in Mexico's Riviera Maya, you're no doubt familiar with Tulum.

The oceanfront site of the Mayan ruins make it one of the most visited historical sites in all of Mexico. But, there is a nearby alternative that's just as beautiful and a whole lot less crowded: the ruins at Cobá, about 30 miles inland from Tulum.

If you have a day to spare and can visit both cities like we did, go for it. You'll get to see a range of Mayan structures, including temples, ball courts, and pyramids, and experience two completely different settings. But if you have to choose between the two (each is a good half-day excursion if you're staying near Playa del Carmen, more if you're coming from Cancun), here are our pros and cons of each spot:

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Three New Airlines Will Touch Down at MIA in November

MIA welcomes three new airlines this fall, just in time for winter getaways. Of course, you can already fly to a gazillion places from Miami International but these new airlines bring cheaper fares to the mix for destinations in the Bahamas and Mexico.

Sun Air International Airlines will begin 18 weekly flights from MIA to five destinations in the Bahamas: Bimini, Marsh Harbour, Treasure Cay and new routes to Andros Town and Governors Harbour. Great news for anyone hoping to avoid the cruise crowds in Nassau and hit up some of the smaller, more remote and luxurious islands and private resorts.

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There's Something Fishy About This Pedicure

Happening upon a hungry Coati wasn't our only interesting animal sighting on our recent trip to Mexico's Riviera Maya. We also spotted a school of fish, only they weren't in the ocean—they were in aquariums inside the Spa at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya. These fishies aren't there for decoration, either; they're there to nibble the dead skin off your feet in what's become something of a spa trend borrowed from Asia.

Ahhh! That was our reaction, too, but you see the "fish pedicure" is quite common in other parts of the world.

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Videos / Mexico Travel / Animals / → All Tags

Meet the Cute Coati Looking For His All Inclusive Action in Mexico

Forget the frills and frocks and Fashion's Night Out for just one second. It's cute animal video o'clock! Yes, time to take five, hit play, and lay your eyes on the cutest little... wait, what is this thing, the cutest of whatever he is we ever did see?

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