I am very excited about the premiere of Luzia, the show inspired by Mexico of Cirque Du Soleil, I have not yet had the chance to see it, but hope to do it son!!! That reminded me the Xcaret show about the culture of Mexico, is called “Xcaret Mexico Spectacular”, if you have the opportunity to travel to the Mayan Riviera, you should visit the Eco -Archaeological park Xcaret where besides to enjoy of all the cultural activities, sports and adventure, you can witness its nightly show, it is really one of the best pictures I’ve seen about Mexico.
The show takes place every day at 7:00 pm in the auditorium of the park, and is a journey through the history and culture of Mexico. With more than 300 actors on stage, costumes, lights, sound and live animals, you can meet and immerse yourself in all the splendor of Mexican traditions.
Xcaret Mexico Espectacular, Photograph from XcaretPhotograph from XcaretXcaret Mexico Espectacular, Photograph from Xcaret
For the lovers of extreme sports, Mexico offers many ecotourism and adventure activities. Here is a list of some of the most popular places to find activities that will give you adrenaline.
Jalcomulco, Veracruz
This is a destination that you must visit, is located in the center of the state of Veracruz, and in this place you can practice different sports like rappelling, hiking, walking, and surf trough rafting rivers. It is an unforgettable experience where you can camp or sleep in the comfort of a hotel, you will also find delicious food.
Jalcomulco, Personal Picture
Barrancas del Cobre, Chihuahua
Located in the heart of the Sierra Tarahumara, this canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon of Arizona, and you can do a lot of activities, as walk trough hanging bridges, rappel and hiking. You can also make the trip and enjoy the landscapes in the Chepe train, so you will have opportunity to know the culture of the indigenous groups in the area, where Im sure you will be surprised with its beautiful crafts and traditions.
Barrancas del Cobre, Phorograph from turismogt.com
Huasteca Potosina,
If you want to enjoy breathtaking natural landscapes, you have to go to the State of San Luis Potosi, there you can practice rappelling, rock climbing, walking, and swim in its impressive waterfalls and rivers of blue waters. The places you can not miss are the Tamul waterfall, the “Sotano de las golondrinas”, with a drop of 510 meters, the magical village of Xilitla with its wonderful surreal design, among many other places.
Castillo Edward James, Xilitla, Photograph from observa.mx
Selva Lacandona Chiapas
In this place you will find a great diversity of flora and fauna, as well as endangered species like the jaguar and howler monkeys. In addition you can make rafting on the rivers, hiking, rappelling, and admire the culture of the indigenous tribes in the region.
Selva de Chiapas, Photograph from dinamo.azteca.com
Selva Lacandona, Photograph from www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx
http://www.ecochiapas.com/es/tipos-de-tours.html
Cozumel, Quintana Roo
In this island in the Caribbean Sea, you can dive and snorkel in different ecosystems. You can enjoy a wealth of marine flora and fauna and also boat rides, kayak and sport fishing.
One of the things that identifies Mexico as a unique country, are its traditions. Over time Mexicans have always had a very particular way of seeing things, party, music, food, drink, life, death… We are a country of rites and ceremonies that have been permeating among his people and transcending the history, that is why this blog is dedicated to one of the most interesting celebrations we have.
Death for our ancestors was just one more stage in the process of the life of a person, of course that continues being a sad and painful event, but pre-Hispanic cultures managed this by giving it a ceremonial character, in which the living could keep contact with the soul of the persons who left and thus continue sharing with them after death.
Night of the Dead in Mexico is held on November 1st and 2nd of each year. Day 1 is devoted to children and the 2nd is for remembering adults.
Mujer indigena, Picture from Michoacan Tourism Board Press Kit.
Forms of celebration:
Altar de muertos:
Is dedicated to the deceased person, has several symbolic elements to invite the soul of the dead person to come to the world of the living.
The main elements are:
A picture of the person to whom is dedicated.
Candles to guide the path of the soul.
Flowers to attract the soul.
Salt to purify the enviroment.
Copal or incense.
Papel picado to decorate and symbolize air.
Fruit to simbolize earth.
Food, beverages, sugar skulls and bread, representing what they liked when they were alive.
Religious articles.
Items that were owned by the dead people in their life.
Calaveras de Azúcar, Blog Kiwilimon.
Visit to the cemeteries:
On November 2 family and friends gather together at the cemetary to pray for their deceased relatives, offering their favorite food and drink. The graves are customized with flowers and candles along with other vouchers of their favorite items when they were alive.
The family keeps an over night vigil for their loved ones, in hopes that they will return for just that night. The cemetary becomes an incredible site, lit by candle light.
Celebration at cometery, Picture from senderosmayakoba.mxCemetery, Picture from Michoacan Tourism Board Press Kit.
Mexican humor
Mexicans have a particular sense of humor, we like to laugh at ourselves as well as the complicated issues, finding laughter a way to carry on difficult times. This gave rise to the character of “La Catrina” which is a skeleton characterized as a lady of high society, as a reminder that death will reach everyone, besides the famous “Calaveritas” wich are short and funny verses dedicated to a person as if they were already dead.
Catrines de barro, picture from viajar.elperiodico.comCatrina de Barro, Concurso artesanal 2015
The best places to live the tradition are:
Michoacán, Lake of Patzcuaro.
Huaquechula, Puebla.
Huasteca Potosina.
Mexico City, Mixquic cemetary, Xochimilco.
Aguascalientes.
Skull Festival in San Miguel de Allente Guanajuato.
Note: Check out the new video on the Recommendation Section!
Purepecha Kid, Photograph of the Michoacan Tourism Office
Today I want to talk you about my home state Michoacán, this is something I want to share with you.
Michoacan has a priveledged location, in the center of the country, only a few hours from other main cities such as Mexico City, Guadalajara, Queretaro and Guanajuato.
The places you must see:
Morelia,
Is called the city of the pink cantera, a stone very typical of this region and used in most of its arquitecture, its name comes from the pinkish hue of the stone. In 1991 the UNESCO named Morelia a historical heritage due to the colonial buildings that have maintaned their unique style throughout the centuries. Is also known as Latin America’s city of lights, due to it’s magnificent illumination in the downtown area. On the outskirts of the city there are golf courses offering exclusive services and facilities, like Tres Marias, and Altozano. For anyone who loves shopping, Morelia offers shopping malls featuring prestigious stores, like Paseo Altozano, considered one of the largest in Mexico, this city hosts many cutlural, artistic and gastranomical festivals each year.
Fount of “Las Tarascas”, Photograph of the Michoacan Tourism Office
Monarch Butterfly
One of the most importan atractives is the Monarch Butterfly región, named Intangible Human Heritage in 2008, by the UNESCO. The rich forests of Michoacán host the monarch butterflies which migrate once every year from Canada and the US during the winter months. You can visit this places from november through march, there are only four sanctuaries open to the public, El Rosario sanctuary, and Sierra Chincua sanctuary are the best to visit.
Uruapan,
Is a city known for it’s beautiful landscapes and volcanos in the area, the National Park located in downtown Uruapan is a very good place to visit.
About 30 minutes from the city, you can find Angahuan, where the ruins from the Paricutin Volcano are located, you can visit and take a tour of this incredible site. It is the youngest volcano in the world and it erupted in 1943. it suddenly appeared in the middle of a corn field, the ground started smoking and the people of the town, quickly evacuated, fortunatley there was no loss of life.
Another important thing is that Uruapan is the the global capital of avocado fruit, it produces more than 6 billion avocados each year, wich means there is an avocado per each person in the world.
Tzararacua Waterfall, Photograph of the Michoacan Tourism Office
Pátzcuaro,
One of the more beautiful towns in the state is Patzcuaro, a quaint town, situated on the edge of the lake with the same name, its famous for its cuisine, hospitality and it’s beautiful surroundings and rich heritage. While in Patzcuaro, you can visit Janitzio Island, which is a short boat ride away. Janitzio is considered the most important island situated on the lake. it has a monument to Morelos, one of our founding fathers, which you can climb and enjoy spectacular views of the lake and it’s surrounding, and also enjoy the murals on the inside.
“El Sagrario” Church, Photograph of the Michoacan Tourism Office
Michoacan has another wonderful Magical Towns like:
Santa Clara del Cobre, where you can find copper hand crafted items.
Tacambaro, with religous and nature tourism.
Tlalpujahua, our “Christmas town” It takes the name due to it’s hand crafted items, christmas ornaments and blown glass.
Cuitzeo, known for religious tourism.
Angangueo, a mining town.
Jiquilpan, magic town known for being the birthplace of general Lazaro Cárdenas, one of Mexicos former presidents and home to lush forests.
Tzintzuntzan, site of important historical landmarks, Yakata Pyramids and Santa Ana ex-convent, currently a museum dedicated to the history of this region.
Besides of all of this you will find exquisite gastronomy, handcrafts, forrest, lakes, beaches, and much more traditions of wich I will be talking later.
Talk about a specific topic in Mexico is not easy, so many ideas come to my mind, I wouldnt know where to start.
Mexico is located in North America, populated with more than 120 million people, its a cultural mix and a diverse ethnic country.
Mexico is a mosaic of culture, gastronomy, history, art, spectacular landscapes, languages and people who make this place a wonderful place with a lot to tell!!!
That’s why Im leaving you some important information for you start to know what Mexico is:
¿How do I communicate?
Mexico’s official language is Spanish, although in different regions of the country still maintain some indigenous languages and dialects.
Because of the importance of tourism as a productive activity, in many places you will find people who speak other languages, mainly English, facilitating and improving customer service.
The truth about Mexican food…
The food in Mexico is considered intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO, and received this title thanks to a diferent features that makes traditional cuisine unique. Besides the traditional cuisine, we have the typical food of each region. On your next visit you can not miss some delicious enchiladas, or a pollo con mole, or maybe you should try a pozole or pambazos. You will find many diferent dishes depending on where you are.
If you are a food lover and you want to know more about, I recommend you to visit: mexicofoodie.wordpress.com
Mariachis and mexican big hats…
Mexico has a great artistic and cultural wealth, it is true that the ranchera music and mariachis are an iconic worldwide figure, in Mexico also you will find many more options and music genres, as well as important festivals of classical music, opera, jazz, blues, rock, among others.
And… ¿What about security?
I have been asked about security in Mexico… As in any other country in the world, you always have to get information about the place youre going to visit, and take precautions before making a trip. But in my own experience as a tourist in my country, I can tell you that Mexico has all the necessary services, infrastructure and facilities to ensure the safety of your tour. Mexico is a country of warm and friendly people that going to try to make your stay as pleasant and comfortable as possible. So if you plan to travel around the country, I highly recommend you to visit the website of the local tourism offices, where you will find interestign tips to make your trip more secure and more fun.
Mexican Curious!
Mexico has a very special sense of humor, we are very creative and sarcastic and enjoyed laugh at ourselves to improve the difficult times, maybe it’s a self defense mechanism that has been perfected over time. You have to be prepared to hear jokes about all sorts of topics such as economic and political situation of the country, diseases, and even death … The Mexican always find how to see the good side of things.
