Discoverymundo Blog

Category: Lifestyle

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Another Side of Playa del Carmen

Once a small fishing village, Playa del Carmen has grown exponentially in recent years. Today, it’s one of the hippest spots in the Yucatán Peninsula and the third-largest city in Quintana Roo. It’s also conveniently situated for vacationers near enough for Cancun airport transfers to and from the hotel and an easy day trip away from other popular tourist destinations like Tulum, Cozumel, and Cobá. While visitors likely want to experience the attractions geared toward tourists, such as various guided tours, they may also enjoy seeing a more relaxed side of the Playa del Carmen area.

This is where bike rentals come into play. With rentals averaging around $10 a day and widely available throughout the city, cycling is not just a means to stay fit while vacationing. It’s an economical way to tour Playa del Carmen that gives you the freedom to explore venues that lie off the well-worn tourist path. Feel free to just wing your route, and you’re sure to find some cool spots and maybe a lesser-known establishment to sample local fare. There are a few tried-and-true routes, however, you may want to follow.

If you want a shorter ride that reveals how the locals really live, just head west past Highway 307. This takes you into a residential area with colorful homes and landscaping. There are also several ice cream shops to satisfy your sweet tooth and help cool you off if the heat becomes too much. Once you build up a more substantial appetite, you may even want to check out La Floresta on the corner of Highway 307 and Calle 14 Norte, which offers lunchtime seafood tacos the locals recommend highly.

Another easy, approximately 2 km ride east of Highway 307 Punta Venado turnoff takes you to Punta Venado Caribbean Eco-Park, which lies at nearly a halfway mark between Playa del Carmen and Cristalino. The park is full of jungle wildlife, and scores of fun activities are available. There, you can lock up your bike and go snorkeling, take a guided horseback ride, or take a dip in a cenote. If you arrive early enough, you’ll likely beat the tourist crowds and have plenty of time for a leisurely pedal back to your hotel in Playa del Carmen.

For those really wanting a secluded spot and a more vigorous ride, go about 25 km south along Highway 307. This takes you to the cenotes in El Jardin del Eden, Cenote Azul and Cristalino. As with other places, the early bird gets the worm, and it’s not unlikely to be the only ones swimming before the heat sets in. Make sure to take a little cash with you for the ride because the cenotes generally charge a modest admission fee, and you’ll surely want to stop for refreshments on the ride back to Playa del Carmen. When touring the Playa del Carmen region by bicycle, however, you should always consider your safety. Many of the roads, including Highway 307, are fairly narrow with a high volume of traffic. So, be aware of your surroundings as you pedal and pull off to the side where necessary. Of course, always wear your helmet when cycling; one should be included with your bike rental. If it isn’t, request one or go to another shop that offers such protection. Your rental establishment should also provide you with a bike lock for when you want to stop and explore.

Most of the bike rental shops in Playa del Carmen are located just north of Constituyentes Avenue on 30^th Avenue. Depending on the type of cycling you prefer and chosen route, you can opt for beach cruisers, mountain bikes or road bikes. Be warned, however, that most of the bike shops are closed on Sundays, and you should check that your tires are properly inflated and make any adjustments to the seat or handlebars before you take off.

July 6, 2015
How to Spend a rainy day in Cancun

When you book a vacation in a tropical paradise like Cancun, you likely envision lazy days enjoying the surf and sand with a few tourist activities sprinkled here and there. Most of the year, that plan would go off without a hitch. Even Cancun isn’t immune to occasional rainy days, especially in the “hurricane season” that lasts from June to November. Don’t let a few raindrops spoil your fun, however; Cancun has plenty to keep you entertained until you can feel the sun’s rays across your face again. Here are some great ideas of things to do in Cancun on a rainy day:

Museo de Antropologia e Historia (Museum of Archeology and History):

While visiting a museum on vacation may not sound like the most exciting thing to do, the Museo de Antropologia y Historia is worth a trip rain or shine. Located south of the Convention Center in the Hotel Zone of the city, the museum houses over 800 historically significant items, chiefly from Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula. When the sun begins to shine again, you could then armed with the background and knowledge you gained at the museum to enhance the overall experience.

Try Your Luck at the Casino:

There are several casinos in Cancun where you can place a few wagers in the hopes of winning big. Within the Hotel Zone, the Playboy Club is a popular choice. If you’re closer to downtown, however, the Dubai or Play City may be better bets. Play the slots or try a hand or two at the tables, and you stand a chance of winning enough to buy a cocktail, dinner or even more with higher stakes. If you happen to have a little too much fun, you can always call a taxi to take you safely back to your hotel.

“Sightsee” by Submarine:

You don’t have to avoid the water entirely when rain begins to fall. You can still see ocean wonders while staying dry when you take a submarine tour. The SubSee submarine in Cancun provides daily two-hour tours of the Punta Nizuc reef, where you can gain a rare glimpse of the ocean floor and get up-close-and-personal (from behind the safety of glass) with a variety of sea creatures. If you’re traveling with children, this is an especially good choice because the submarine permits all ages to board.

Hands-On Learning About Mexican Cuisine:

One of the best things about vacationing is sampling the local fare, but it gets even better when you learn how to duplicate your favorite dishes once the trip ends and you’re back at home. The Ritz-Carlton Cancun Culinary Center regularly offers classes with accomplished chefs, teaching a wide range of skills from how to craft the perfect margarita to the preparation of a four-course Mexican meal. It’s an unforgettable activity that’s ideal for couples, small groups, or even solo travelers.

Shop Till You Drop:

Let’s face it. The family and friends you left behind at home expect souvenirs so they can live vicariously through your adventures, so use the rain as an excuse to stock up on trinkets to show you care. Cancun is full of unique shopping experiences from specialty shops full of handcrafted items to upscale boutiques, so you’re sure to find just the right items for everyone on your list – including you. While the open air markets like Coral Negro Flea Market may be off limits, Kukulcan Plaza can keep you dry as you explore the myriad of shops inside.

As you can see, a little rain on your Cancun vacation isn’t the end of the world. Chances are, the showers will blow off in a matter of hours or in a day or two at most, so you can work on your tan or feel the waves gently lap at your ankles on a leisurely walk. Use the weather as an excuse to see a different side of the city, and you can play the proper seaside tourist when the sun returns, perhaps even booking a tour of Chichen Itza or Tulum.

Andres Lee

June 30, 2015
How to travel in New York for 24 hours

Twenty for hours in New York will never be enough like any other city; but if that’s all the time you’ve got like I did once, I’ve a designed a trip for you to make every minute count at this amazing city.

I was with my family. It was funny cause we lived in Washington DC and we didn’t knew what to do on that saturday morning, so we decided to take the car straight to New York City!

It was a 4 hour trip, we arrived aproximately at 11 am. After crossing NY Bridge we found a place to park the car all day and walked directly somewhere to take breakfast!

We found this cute coffee shop called ”Hi-Collar” located at 214 East 10th St between 1rst&2nd Avenue.

This was a cool experience. It reminded me of an old fashion ice cream/coffee counter owned and operated by actual Japanese people. I remember ordering a Japanese Ice Coffee (the cost was about 3 dolars) with Fordenza Brazilian Coffee Bean (with 1 extra dolar). The waiter personally measured and ground the beans. Then she did a pour over, put the coffee in a copper mug with cold draft ice and tasted strong and enjoyable!

After that, we took the closet subway and catch a train to Grand Central Terminal. No one will blame you for staring like a tourist at the glorious constellations painted on the ceiling of the marbled main hall. Head downstairs to the excellent European-style food hall, feast on seafood at the Grand Central Oyster Bar or escape the crowds at the elegant Campbell Apartment.

A long walk took us to 5th avenue. Experienced and amateur shoppers alike will no doubt be thrilled by the amount of choice offered in New York’s shopping places. The city contains branches of almost all of the big chain stores! We bought some NY sweaters for everyone and took some pictures along the way!

Visiting Empire State Building is an must see tourist attraction that cannot be missed.. This building has a lot of history, you should really buy way all the way to the top. If you like taking photos there’s literally millions of “perfect shots!” The journey to the top is part of the fun, do it with a loved one or two and you have plenty of time to catch up, the air is pure and clean at the top.

After the sunset, I was excited to finally take a walk by the Crossroads of the World, the most visited place on the face of the Earth, people calle it the electric heart of New York City. Running from the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue between West 42nd and West 47th Streets in Midtown, it’s a big thing of noise and light, and crowded with people 24 hours a day. When they say the city never sleeps, they mean Times Square.

We walk for hours amazed by all the big shows in the street, lights, people singing, selling all kind of stuff and limousines everywhere taking artists to their destinations! I looved that.

It’s a risk between you and traffic to get a shot of yourself standing right in the middle of the road, light and buildings all around, so here are some pictures that I reached to took that night!

June 18, 2015