Mexico Travel Tips & Information

The Ministry of Health initiated a certification program for tourism destinations that are free of influenza A H1N1 by analyzing the most important touristic places and endorsing them as safe and healthy.

To this date there are five cities certified as “virus free”. These cities are: Cancun, Cozumel, Villahermosa, La Paz and Manzanillo. Nine more entities will be added to this list, including Mexico City.

The program involves the daily review of tourists and employees and is led by the Federal Commission for Protection Against Health Risks (COFEPRIS). This commission will maintain control of the spread of the virus and confirm that these places are safe and ready to receive tourists.

The program declares a destination as safe after 20 days of certification–the estimated incubation period ensuring the absence of the virus.

As you stroll into Grand Mayan Los Cabos  Los Cabos Wyndham Alliance Resort and you’ll think you’ve walked into either an untouched Mayan pyramid or the funkiest club south of Los Angeles.  After the glaring sun of Los Cabos, you might be momentarily dazed by the complete darkness that surrounds you, then pleasantly shocked by two gigantic Mayan gods welcoming you to your latest find – a reasonably priced resort that does not skimp on convenience or elegance, with top-of-the-line everything and an air of family friendliness that convinces you to put your feet up and stay a while.

Room to Grow

The guest rooms at The Grand Mayan Los Cabos are a bit more subdued but still warm, welcoming, colorful, and functional. There’s been no scrimping on room space, so clients will feel very comfortable even if they stay four to a room.  The family room suites have sofa beds that are as comfy to sleep in as they are to sit, and there are TVs in both this room and the bedroom.  The kitchens are fully equipped with modern appliances, table and silverware, utensils, and toaster…pretty much everything one would ever need, down to the blender for making one’s own fruity drinks.

The bedroom, as well as Grand Rooms, is large and lovely, with a sitting area (including another sofa bed) all its own with homey touches – multicolored cushions, a huge jacuzzi tub connecting the bathroom to the bedroom and vibrant colors on the wall that go well with a Mexican stay. Some suites have a flunge pool in their large balconies. New to the resort are You and Me suites, prefect for couples or newlyweds. Here, direct ocean views, Bvlgari amenities and candles help set the mood. 

The Grand Mayan Los Cabos has two restaurants for guests. There’s the Grand Café, which offers a generous buffet for breakfast (a la carte choices are available in the morning as well) and a vast menu for dinner. The other restaurant, Peri Q, is right by the pool and serves delicious frozen margaritas as well as seafood dishes, Mediterranean specialties and all the usual favorites of a beach vacation. The Grand Mayan has full room service around the clock for days when clients would rather enjoy your guestroom

The Grand Mayan Los Cabos is located right at the entrance of San Jose del Cabo, steps away from the Sea of Cortez. San Jose is still growing, with more restaurants and stores than we’ve ever seen, all within walking distance from  Grand Mayan .

One of the most popular dining options in town is La Panga Antigua, where Mexican dishes enjoy a contemporary spin and organic greens are a regular accompaniment to the freshest of seafood. The restaurant’s décor is also enticing, with Old World details and a romantic courtyard rife with ambiance.

Sarah Munoz Review of Grand Mayan Resort In Cabo

Crime Threats

The Yucatan Peninsula has not suffered the same level of escalating violence seen in other parts of Mexico. There is no evidence that indicates that criminals specifically target American citizens. Criminals select victims based on appearance, vulnerability, and inattentiveness.

Safety

In recent years, moped rentals have become widespread in Cancun and Cozumel, and the number of serious moped accidents has risen accordingly. Most operators carry no insurance and do not conduct safety checks. U.S. Embassy Mexico City recommends avoiding operators who do not provide a helmet with the rental. Some operators have been known to demand fees many times in excess of damages caused to the vehicles, even if renters have purchased insurance in advance. Vacationers at other beach resorts have encountered similar problems after accidents involving rented jet skis.

One of the better recommendations for avoiding being the victim of a crime at tourist destinations is employing the buddy system, traveling with a trusted individual. Be cognizant of your consumption of alcohol. Most vehicular accidents and incidents of crime affecting U.S. citizens involve the excess consumption of alcohol.

Traveling by Automobile

Road conditions in the Yucatan Peninsula are different than those encountered in the United States. Extra care should be exercised when passing a vehicle or being passed. Non-toll roads between major cities can be narrow and vary in conditions. Toll roads are generally wider and better maintained. Drivers should beware of unmarked speed bumps in populated areas. Driving at night outside of major cities is not advisable due to the lack of adequate street lighting.

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death of U.S. citizens in Mexico. Motorists should exercise special caution on the heavily traveled expressway south of Cancun, particularly between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, where the road reduces from four divided lanes to two-way traffic on a narrow and poorly maintained road.

U.S. citizens are advised to cooperate with official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways.

Prior to road travel ensure your vehicle is in good working condition and that fluids are at the correct level. When traveling long distances, it is best to travel in tandem with another vehicle. Ensure that there is enough fuel to reach larger cities or towns, as some smaller communities may not have service stations.

The following items are recommended for road trips:

• Cellular phone and charger
• Spare tire
• Portable gas can with funnel
• Potable water
• Non-perishable food items
• First-aid kit
• Jumper cables
• Flares / reflectors
• Tool kit
• Spare key

Protecting Your Vehicle

Do not leave valuables or items such as laptops, iPods, and expensive sunglasses in plain view and unattended in your vehicle. Avoid leaving your vehicle on the street. When possible park your vehicle inside residential compounds or parking areas with attendants.

OSAC – Overseas Security Advisory Council

Most U.S. residents gave up on once­-famed Acapulco Bay as a vacation destination a long time ago. They ceded it to the Mexico City millions, who helped make it a big city on the beach.

But now there is a new reason to come back.

It’s the “new” Acapulco conveniently located about 10 miles southeast of Acapulco Bay.  Also conveniently, the international airport borders it.  Called Acapulco Diamante, it began about 15 years ago as mostly luxury homes and $250,000-and­ up condos for Mexico’s ultra-rich.

Peasant farmers and fishermen were bought out from the lush area, which features the open Pa­cific Ocean with mild-to-surfable waves on one side and a massive lagoon on the other. Three golf courses were constructed just off the beach.

The mid-1990s economic crisis froze much of the development today, however, its wind-swept beaches and miles of lightly popu­lated oceanfront have enough ho­tels (eight) and enough services to offer variety and competitive rates.

Acapulco Diamante (“dia­mond”) is practically eco-tourism. You can run alone on the beach or take a truly romantic walk at sun­set. There is no fast food – yet ­and only a few mini-marts.

Diamante’s newest hotel, The Grand Mayan , offers a sprawling, open-air island of good taste and plenty to do. A pool that’s more like a river runs through the place,as does a lagoon. It joins its slightly, older sibling, the Mayan Palace, and the two hotels share many of the same services, which include two water parks.

Nearby, Mayan Palace Resorts also has a mostly time-share property, Sea Garden, that offers rooms just off the beach. The pool is across the street, practically on the sand. It’s a superb hangout.

It may be hard to turn your back on Banderas Bay, the liquid half-moon that flows into the horizon off the beaches of Puerto Vallarta. But PV, as this alluring Mexican resort on the Pacific coast is commonly known, has much more to offer than beaches and water sports. Unlike the master-planned resort towns of Cancun and Ixtapa, PV is Romantica. Whitewashed houses seem to tumble down the green hillsides along the Rio Cuale, and sinuous street are packed with incredible restaurants and galleries. Downtown is still a traditional city where families stroll the malecon (seaside promenade) and dance in the plaza on Sunday night. Shake the sand from your toes and join our journey into the heart of Puerto Vallarta-and beyond.

ARTFUL BROWSING

Amazing art captures the eye wherever you look in Puerto Vallarta, starting with the parade of sculptures along the malecon. Recent additions include the bulging-bellied Rock Eater and swirling Vallarta Dancers, whose artists are represented by galleries here in town. To avoid crowds, study the sculptures in the early morning, the set off to roam through our favorite haunts.

GALLERIA DANTE 269 Basilio Badillo

You don’t need to know much about fine art to be entranced by the works in this enormous gallery’s rambling rooms and courtyards. In the garden, look for sculptures by Alejandro Colunga, who created the sky-high abstract creatures at the Rotonda del Mar on the malecon. Prices range from $200 for a small painting up into the thousands.

GALERIE DES ARTISTES 248 Leona Vicario

You could browse for hours on gallery-packed Leona Vicario, starting at this airy space with Esau Andrade’s whimsical paintings and magical watercolors by Evelyne Boren. Continue on toward the water for more arts and crafts in upscale shops and galleries.

LEONA 226 JEWELRY 226 Leona Vicario

The gorgeous wearable art sold in this chic gallery would make anybody look great. The owners design stunning silver pendants and earrings, and comb through workshops in Taxco, San Miguel de Allende and PV for of-the-moment pieces. Prices start as low as $10, but quickly escalate.

A SHORT HOP TO THE MOUNTAINS

Our small plane glides over Banderas Bay then heads inland, leaving the tiled roofs and high-rise hotels of Puerto Vallarta far behind. After 15 minutes of flying over forests, waterfalls and milk green rivers, the pilot sets down by a brick shelter outside San Sebastian del Oeste, a 17^th-century silver and gold-mining town high in the Sierra Madre. The tour’s dozen passengers gather around guide Martin Aver while he runs through the town’s history, from the Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest, up to the mining boom of the 1800s when the population peaked at around 30,000. Today, only about 600 people live in the area.

San Sebastian, a UNESCO World Heritage site, seems trapped in the 1920s (It didn’t even have a generator until 1985.) Visitors were once rare but now tour companies are bringing groups in by van and by plane. Still, Aver says as we board the back of his pickup truck, it’s not like Disneyland here. People aren’t sitting around waiting for the tourists to come.”

But the Sanchez family is happy to welcome guests to their coffee plantation, where beans ripen on century-old trees. While Aver tells us about coffee growing, Rosa Sanchez bags cinnamon scented beans. Then, it’s a short bumpy ride on dirt roads past adobe houses and tiny shops to the center of town, which seems like something straight out of Romancing the Stone. After a tall shot of raicilla (the local moonshine) at the cantina, Aver leads us to the home of Dona Conchia, who opens her doors to lucky tour groups. Showing us around, she steers her wheelchair past cabinets crammed with china, crystal, mining documents and albums of photos that go back six generations.

For lunch at Lupita’s family members lay out fresh corn tortillas, beans, machaca (shredded beef), quesadillas and hibiscus tea. After lunch, we have an hour to wander the town’s steep rocky streets, where brilliant bougainvillea tumbles over adobe walls. Finally, the plane makes a quick taxi before soaring away from this slice of Mexico’s past, bound for Puerto Vallarta.

Maribeth Mellin