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Mexico has been synonymous for sunshine and vacations for decades. As the cold days have definitely set in, this is the perfect time of the year to prepare a mid-winter trip to a Mexican beach resort.
On the Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico or the Gulf of California, Mexico boasts some of the most renowned and spectacular beachside resorts in the world.
This edition of Endless Discovery takes you along for a tour of the best beach destinations of Mexico. From the family-friendly and activity-filled resorts to the exclusive beachside boutique-hotels, Mexican destinations cater to literally every need and taste under the sun.
This month's featured destination is the state of Michoacán, which has a little something for nature lovers, cultural travellers and gourmets all alike. |
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Michoacán: where nature, cuisine and culture come together
The coast of Michoacán is quite unlike the rest of the Pacific shore of Mexico. In its neighbouring states, you will find the very popular beach destinations of Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco and Riviera Nayarit, which boast some of the most extensive range of tourism facilities in the country. Michoacán, on the other hand has a quiet and mostly undeveloped coastline. From the town of Lázaro Cárdenas up, a series of beaches are bound to please the sun-seeking nature lovers.
Those looking for a very relaxing stay in a small-scale hotel right on an unspoiled beach will be at home in Playa Azul, Caleta de Campos and Faro de Bucerías.
Maruata, Ixtapilla, Colola, Zapote de Tizupan, and Pichilinguillo are yet another series of beach, quieter than average on the Pacific shore, ideal for swimming and snorkelling. They welcome you with rustic style palapas, where the palm tree roofing and wooden walls will take you back to the essential: the sun, the beach and the communion with nature.
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Los Cabos (Baja California Sur)
Los Cabos designs the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula. It is comprised of a series of resorts and small towns where visitors come to relax and enjoy the finest things in life. The two main hubs are Cabo San Lucas and the old town of San José del Cabo, founded in 1730. They offer two distinct faces of Mexico: one is luxurious and modern, while the other has a refined old-days charm. Along the 30km stretch linking both towns, you will find a series of beautiful beaches like Miraflores, Santiago, Buena Vista, Los Barriles, La Rivera and San Bartolo, which are also gaining in popularity.
Los Cabos is asserting its place as a prime golfing destination, and visitors will find some of the best golf courses in North America at exclusive locations such as Querencia, San Jose, Cabo Real and El Dorado. Great golf designers like Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Tom Weiskopf and Robert Trent II have all left their mark here, taking advantage of the spectacular natural landscapes of the peninsula.
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Mazatlán (Sinaloa)
Mazatlán, nicknamed "The Pearl of the Pacific", is now a municipality of 408,000 people and an important centre for beach resorts. It is linked by a car ferry to La Paz, in the Baja California Sur peninsula, and has always profited from its unique location to show its openness to the Ocean and the world beyond.
Things to do in the surroundings include the full range of beach and water sports, such as scuba diving, snorkelling, water skiing and windsailing. You can also find in Mazatlán some designer golf courses, especially the one at El Cid Country Club. The 10 mile Pacific beachfront is dotted with a whole array of hotels and resorts for all tastes and all purses, but with a unique commitment to hospitality.
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Acapulco (Guerrero)
As the most popular tourism destination in Mexico, Acapulco has both the high quality installations and the experience to make your visit memorable. From the incredible water-sports to the world-famous nightlife, and from the family resorts to the luxury condominiums, Acapulco has everything it needs to remain the leading resort destination on the Pacific coast.
The state of Guerrero also offers plenty of destinations for daytrips or weekend excursions. Taxco, about 4 hours inland, is the renowned silverwork capital of Mexico, and the definitive destination for silver-shopping. Other attractions include the underground labyrinth grotto known as Grutas de Cacahuamilpa, as well as Chilpancingo. If travelling with the kids, you will not want to miss on the excitement of Magic World Aquatic Park or Delfiniti, an open dolphin aquarium where visitors can observe and learn all about this fascinating sea mammal.
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Mexican gastronomy
Every month, discover in this section a timeless classic of Mexican gastronomy, and learn how to recreate at home the thousand flavours of Mexico.
Cotija-style red enchiladas
A classic meal from the state of Michoacán, widely recognized for its culinary creativeness. Heart-warming and tasty, it is perfect if you are having friends over.
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Peralta and Tehuacalco: two new archaeological sites open to public
December 17, 2008
The archaeological sites of Peralta, Guanajuato, and Tehuacalco, Guerrero, are the first two of a series of ten new sites that will be opening their doors to the public.
Peralta is one of the most ancient in the tradition of the Bajío, which developed between 300 and 700 AD, around the climax period of the Teotihuacán and Tula civilizations. Now part of the municipality of Abasolo, Peralta is said to have encompassed in its days of yore about 20 sq. km in size, and to have hosted some 120,000 to 200,000 inhabitants.
Tehuacalco is located about 50 min from Chilpancingo, Guerrero. It name comes from a Nahuatl tehuacalli word that means "artificial ritual caves". It offers 4 different visits: Prehispanic Monuments, Petroglyphs, Sacred Landscapes and Regional Flora and the Fauna.
The inauguration of these two important new sites will soon be followed by the opening of Cañada de la Virgen, Guanajuato planned for 2009.
http://dti.inah.gob.mx/index.php |
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Mexican Environment authorities launch a special beach monitoring program
Mexico City, Dec. 4th 2008
The Mexican Secretary of Environment has announced a new beach monitoring program, proving a real commitment to the improvement of quality of the beaches and waters of the main tourist areas of the country. Said monitoring will be completed according to a set of criteria stricter than the ones in place since 2003. Teams from certified laboratories will be in charge of implementing the new criteria, and to recommend a course of action to improve the current conditions. The program currently set to apply to 12 beaches in the state of Guerrero, 30 in the state of Jalisco, 9 in the state of Veracruz and 2 in the state of Chiapas.
To consult results and updates on the conditions of the beaches included in the special monitoring program, visit the Mexican Secretariat of Environment website at:
www.semarnat.gob.mx |
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The coolest places in town? Ice bar and giant skating rink open in Mexico City
Mexico City, December 9, 2008
What is possibly the coolest club in Mexico City has just opened. Entirely made of ice, from the walls to the furniture -and even the glasses- El Bar de Hielo, or Ice Bar, gives a whole new meaning to the word refreshment. For a public unused to such cold conditions, winter jackets and mittens are provided at the entrance.
For those missing the Canadian winter fun, the great skating rink on the Zócalo in Mexico City is back this year again. Mexicans and visitors alike are thrilled to enjoy the free skating and skate rental on the impressive central place of Mexico City, bordered by the National Palace and the Metropolitan Cathedral.
From Dec. 10 to 17, the city also offered one fine Christmas gift to the citizens, as the Mexico Philarmonic Orchestra was offering to the music-lovers the classic of all classics: Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, with the inestimable presence of the Saint-Petersburg State Ballet on Ice and host conductor Marco Parisotto. |
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Increased flights to from Canada to Acapulco
The Acapulco Conventions & Visitors Bureau is proud to announce that new air service to this favourite destination on the Pacific have been added for the winter season.
The new direct flights, operated by Sunwing airlines will join Montreal and Toronto.
"Acapulco is a favourite holiday vacation destination for many reasons. We offer guests many attractions and historic sites, beautiful beaches and a spectacular Annual Fireworks Gala for those visiting us during the New Years celebration," says Mary Bertha Medina, President of the Acapulco Convention & Visitors Bureau. "The addition of these direct flights will allow visitors to conveniently travel to Acapulco from even more major US and Canadian cities."
Consult the airline's website for more details about the flights, at www.sunwing.ca
For more information about Acapulco, visit: www.visitacapulco.com.mx |
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