Discoverymundo Blog

Category: Mexico

Get to Know Manzanillo – The Capital of Sail Fishing

Escrito por Damaris Chavez. Junio 2018. De Manzanillo, Mexico.

Manzanillo is one of the most important commercial ports in Mexico, known as the world capital of sail fishing, and known for sunny climate throughout the year, the charm of Manzanillo undoubtedly revolves around its beautiful beaches.

This is the ideal destination for those looking to relax and enjoy on the seashore.

When it comes to traveling with children to Manzanillo, keep in mind that the beaches are very varied among themselves and not all are recommended for young children. La Boquita, Santiago, and Playa Azul, located in the Bay of Santiago, are the most frequented by families with children due to the calm waters.

On the other hand, there is Las Hadas, which is the quietest beach in the Bay of Manzanillo, since it is in a well-protected cove that allows it to have gentle waves. The access is restricted only allowed to guests of Hotel Las Hadas.

Another entertaining activity when we ask ourselves what to do with children involved in Manzanillo is to visit the “Iguana Refuge Archundia”. Ramón Archundia began rescuing a pair of iguanas and settled in a marshy area where he planted two guamúchil trees, establishing the perfect conditions for them to live and reproduce.

Currently, it takes care of the 550 specimens of iguanas that live in this place. There is no cost at the entrance there is only a voluntary donation as a collaboration to help with maintenance and food for the different species refuged there.

If your family trip to Manzanillo includes people of your same age, the options vary. We recommend visiting several of its beaches since each one has a particular style and a different tourist projection, able to satisfy any need for rest and relaxation.

In the first instance, you can visit La Audiencia, located in the Peninsula de Santiago subdivision. It is a small cove, surrounded by palm trees and with a moderate swell. It is excellent for developing the most popular water sports such as skiing, kayaking, windsurfing and renting jet skis.

Las Brisas is another of the best beaches in Manzanillo. Due to its unique characteristics, especially in the southern area where the slope is less pronounced and more subtle, the waves favor swimming, diving, snorkeling and enjoying the landscape.

Olas Altas, located in the Bay of Santiago, is of moderate waves. It is an ideal beach to sunbathe and enjoy the scenery. Due to the sea becoming deep close to the beach, it is dangerous to swim without taking the proper precautions.

Miramar is the most popular beach for tourists, its waves are soft and the slope is moderate, favorable conditions to enjoy the sun and swimming.

Here, you will find hotels, restaurants, handicrafts market, and you can carry out activities such as horseback riding or water sports of your choice. In addition, the place has its own boardwalk for you to take long walks while watching the sunset.

Finally, San Pedrito is the closest beach to downtown. It is interesting to observe the presence of pelicans that are almost always found at the north end of the beach, where fishermen also arrive in the mornings after their work. On this beach, you can find the facilities to do Sports Fishing of Manzanillo.

And since we talk about fishing, being the capital of sail-fishing, Manzanillo is among the favorite places in the world to practice it. Every year, in November, the International Pez Vela Tournament is held where the best national and foreign competitors come to these waters to give their best.

If you are interested in practicing this sport, we suggest you do it in the “capture and release” mode that consists of releasing the fish after capture to give you the opportunity to continue living and enjoying the coasts of Colima.

The coastal cuisine of Manzanillo depends a lot on fishing in the region. The basis of it is fish and seafood. Ceviche Colimense, prepared with ground beef from sailfish, is one of the most popular dishes in the city.

After a good dinner with typical food of the region, it is best to go for a walk on the Boulevard Miguel de la Madrid, the center of the nightlife of Manzanillo, and where you can listen to live music and dance until dawn.

Throughout your family vacation in Manzanillo, you will undoubtedly visit the Malecón several times, where you can see sculptures by local artists, fishing boats, and the beautiful bay.

Within the beach activity, in addition to choosing between the above, you can visit Ventanas, a viewpoint to the Pacific, perfect to enjoy a sunset and take pictures, or also the Valley of Las Garzas, where you will find pelicans and herons and you can even take a boat ride.

If you are fond of golf, you can’t miss the Manzanillo golf course, where tournaments such as the Las Hadas Cup and the Mexican Aviation Cup are often held.

Some places of interest that we recommend visiting in the framework of a vacation in Manzanillo are the Cathedral of Colima, the Government Palace, the Temple of San Francisco de Almoloyan, the House of Culture and the Museum of Western Cultures.

And as you will undoubtedly want to bring back a memory of your passage through this city, on Mexico Avenue you will find many artisans, from those who work with marine snails to high and low-temperature potters.

Finally, we have some recommendations for you to consider when choosing between family hotels in Manzanillo, especially when it comes to child care:

1). Barceló Karmina Palace Deluxe: the most recommended in recent months among tourists and one of the most luxurious. It has a swimming pool, restaurant, spa, gym, bar and ocean view.

2). Las Hadas: the most famous hotel in Manzanillo, it is located on the beach of the same name, exclusively for hotel guests. It is a very exclusive resort, it has a swimming pool, golf course, ocean view, gym, spa, restaurant and a marina for yachts and boats.

3). City Express is a very modern hotel with a pool and gym.

4). Hotel Dolphin Cove Inn has a pool, restaurant, and ocean view.

We hope this guide will help you leave nothing out of your itineraries for Manzanillo. Our beaches are waiting for you to spend an unforgettable moment. Bon Voyage and please tell us your adventures!

June 2, 2018
What to do when you arrive to Cancun

Arriving to Cancun can be very fun and exciting since the moment you set foot in the Caribbean. But as in any destination, It is best to come prepared and avoid any inconvenience to your arrival.

What is the best? I made a list of things you should do when you arrive to Cancun.

1. Know how to transport yourself from the airport

At Cancun Airport, you will find on each corner all kind of vendors who want to take you to your hotel. But if you want to SAVE MONEY AND TIME waiting to make your reservation there, I suggest you book your transportation ONLINE before traveling.
If you are traveling with family or friends, the best way is to book a private shuttle to take all of you to your hotel or stay without delays. Some of these shuttles make a quick stop at a convenience store in case you want something to drink along the way.

2. Reserve your room hotel

Cancun counts with more than 1200 hotels where you can stay in case you don’t know where to go. Some are cheaper than others. It is always better to come prepared. As I mentioned earlier, online booking will always be cheaper than if you book directly at the hotel, don’t forget this!

3. Enjoy a tour in Cancun

If you are looking What to do when you arrive to Cancun, you can not miss one of the hundreds of tours that are in Cancun! Including the Riviera Maya, Tulum & Yucatán. In my experience, these are the best 5 tours recommended:

-Xelha: A water park for all ages in which you can perform hundreds of activities: Snorkeling, swimming with sharks, buffets, pools, cenotes, caverns, biking, ziplines and more.

-Chichen Itza: Do not miss one of the 7 World Wonders. Chichen Itza is part of this and include good tours to know all the archaeological site. There is a very cool tour called “Chichen Itza Light & Sound” in which you can enjoy a day and the night show.

-Isla Mujeres: A beautiful paradise island located 30 minutes from Cancun, you must take a ferry to get there. What you can do at Isla Mujeres is a day at the beach, travel around the island on a golf cart and spend the night in one of the many bars or clubs. Isla Mujeres sunsets are unforgettable.

-Tulum: In my opinion, Tulum is one of the best beaches and destinations of Cancun I visited. This is an ecological destination where in the evening, darkness let you see the starry sky. I recommend you book a hotel at the sea shore and close to the restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious dinner with music and shows.

-Scuba Diving: If you want to feel what is to live in the World of Nemo, you must dive in Cancun. It has coral reefs of all colors and exotic fish. It is a unique opportunity that you will never forget. Cancun Diving offers several tours during the day and at night. Click here for more information.

4. Go eat Mexican Food

One of the main desires of the foreigners is to try Mexican food, because it is unique and can not be imitated in any other country. I suppose that you want to taste the best tacos in Cancun. I recommend you to go to Cancun Downtown (CENTRO DE CANCUN). There are places that are open until dawn in case you have no time. My recommendation is to go to La Resabrosa or Los Tarascos, they are located in AVE. TULUM. You can take a bus from your hotel to Cancun Downtown and then a taxi to the restaurant.

Thank you for taking the time to read What to do when you arrive to Cancun, hope you enjoyed it. Please share the link with your friends on the Social Network!

November 9, 2015
Visit the World Wonder of Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza, Yucatán Mexico

Chichen Itza is one of the 7 wonders of the world, it is an archaeological site that you can not miss. It has hundreds of amazing & interesting structures like temples and pyramids the Mayans created thousand years ago. If you visit the World Wonder of Chichen Itza, keep reading this important article!

Where is located Chichen Itza?

This World Wonder is located in the State of Yucatán, Mexico 121 kilometers east of the city of Merida. From Cancun, Chichen Itza is 268 km away, about a 3 hour trip. I would recommend that if you want to travel in comfort and without stops in other cities, book a Shuttle, it will pick you up in your hotel and take you directly to Chichen Itza with some good benefits: air conditioning, music and a quick stop for snacks and beverages. (Some Tours to Chichen Itza have transportation included, click here to see more)

What’s inside Chichen Itza?

Here are several amazing structures built by the Mayas that you are going to see in your trip to Chichen Itza:

Kukulkan Pyramid

Certainly, Kukulkan is the most recognized structure in Chichen Itza, you have surely see it. Something incredible about Kukulkan is the phenomenon that occurs each summer and autumn equinox where a snake can be seen descending from the pyramid.

Cenote Sagrado

This cenote, located inside Chichen Itza, where given offerings to God Chaac (the Lord of Rains) and also where high-ranking prisioners were held sacrifice.

Currently valuable pieces are found in this cenote as jades, obsidian knives, gems, precious stones, treasures and skeletons but it’s said this cenote has not been fully explored.

El Caracol (Observatory)

It is also called the Temple of Venus, because observing and studying this planet was one of the most important objects of study for the Mayans. The observations made from the Mayan Caracol were intuitive in many cases only using the eye. That was how the Mayans predicted 29 eclipses, equinoxes, solstices, etc. These predictions can be seen through the sculptures located in the Caracol.

The Great Ball Game (Juego de Pelota)

The Great Ball Game is a huge field oriented north / south direction. The point of this game for the Mayans was a rematch between the team captains to show who was going to be beheaded. The whole scene is done in each game displayed on a disc in the center of each slope that borders the area of the game.

Jaguar Temple

This temple, part of the ball game, it’s called Jaguar Temple because of the amount of jaguars carved that has its structure in the main part.

The Temple of the Warriors

In the eastern part of the square of Chichen Itza, you will find the Temple of the Warriors. Here is where you will see the incredible castle surrounded by “A Thousand Columns”.
The Thousand Columns are one of my favorite structures and performances. Each column represents something very interesting: within the human being even though each one has a negative part we all also carry our part of being warriors, which help us fight this negativity and evil that we carry inside.

November 4, 2015
Things to do in Cancun

Cancun is a city located on the northeast coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It is an important renowned tourist destination in Mexico. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, and is one of the easternmost points in Mexico. Cancun is located just north of Mexico’s Caribbean coast resort band known as the Riviera Maya.

Apart from the island tourist zone (actually part of the world’s second-longest coral reef), the Mexican residential section of the city, the downtown part of which is known as “El Centro,” follows a master plan that consists of “supermanzanas” or superblocks, giant trapezoids with a central, open, non-residential area cut in by u-shaped residential streets.

Tulum is the main north-south artery, connecting downtown to the airport, which is some 30 km (19 mi) south of downtown.

There are some small Mayan vestiges of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in Cancun. El Rey is located in the Hotel Zone.

Close by in the Riviera Maya and the Grand Costa Maya, there are sites such as Cobá and Muyil the small Polé, and Kohunlich, Kinichná, Dzibanché, Oxtankah, Tulum, and Chacchoben, in the south of the state. Chichen Itzá is in the neighboring state of Yucatán.

In Cancun you will find a variety of activities that you can enjoy with your family and friends, because this city have everything for you, You can go to the beach, visit archeological ruins, Party at the Coco Bongo or having an adventure tour.

You can also take the ferry to visit Isla Mujeres where you have many activities like Swimming with dolphins and making this experience much better. From May to September you can swim with whalesharks too I really think that if you visit Cancun you will totally love this city.

In Discovery Mundo we offer many tours for everyone like, Chichen Itza Light and Sound where you can enjoy a 3D mapping projection, dramatic lighting and amazing images! I think this is one of my favorite tours but I would really love swimming in the Cenote that would be fantastic for me because I really enjoy the nature, but I recommend this tour for sure! Or an extreme tour like Jungle Tour where you can enjoy the most popular and exciting tour, driving your own two-person speed boat through the green mangrove channels along the nichupté lagoon.

October 24, 2015
How to survive to Hurricane PATRICIA

Patricia Hurricane is listed as the most powerful (strongest) and violent that ever existed on the planet, according to the Federal Government authorities of Mexico.
Its transformation has been historic in a day, from being a monstrous Category 5 hurricane to the top ranked in the Saffir-Simpson.
”This is an extraordinary feat”, states the National Hurricane Center of the United States.” In the age of Satelites, Only Linda, in 1997, intensified this ranking.

This hurricane, the strongest in history, is being registered on the Pacific and Atlantic, with winds up to 325 km per hour.
Patricia moved to the Mexican Coast to 17 km per hour. Today, Otober 23, it extended to Jalisco. They reported that all flights were already suspended from Puerto Vallarta airport.

The water levels, will be equivalent to a year of rain in this country. The entities that would be affected are: Jalisco, Nayarit, Zacatecas and Coahuila. (October 23). However, it is also say that it will go through the north-central area: San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas and Tamaulipas. Also, is recorded that the force of this hurricane is so shocking that’s likely to cross into the Gulf of Mexico and the United States.

What to do before the hurricane?

– Suspend any activity in these areas. (anyway there will be a temporary suspension to prevent electrical short circuits).
– Write down emergency numbers and keep on hand.
Colima: (312) 313 March 11
Nayarit: 01-133 30 81
Jalisco: 01 315 355 6375 and 013 22 225 0764
– Stay in your home or at your place of hurricane protection.

Which are the Store emergency supplies?

– Food that does not need refrigeration, water and a first aid kit.
– Keep cash on hand and credit cards.
– Clean roofs, canals and drains.
– Find out where the nearest shelter is and how to get to the QE if you have to evacuate your home.
– Close doors and windows, gas and electricity supplies.
– Stay away from windows to prevent injury if they are broken.
– If the wind opens a door or window, no advances toward her head on
– Use lamps or battery-operated lanterns.
– If you live near a river, watching the water level.
– If you must evacuate your home, it only takes the essential.
– Do not seek shelter where there is a tin roof that the wind can take you,.
– If you are on the road, drive with extreme caution.
– Avoid driving in areas where there may be falling rocks or landslides.
– Stay away from utility poles and billboards and trees that may fall.

Hurricane Patricia Live Coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP5Y4lISF0s

October 23, 2015
Day of the Dead in Mexico

The Day of the Dead in Mexico is a holiday celebrated in every corner of this beautiful country. It is celebrated from the evening of November first, this day, Mexico is decorated with orange flowers, marigold flower is one of the main symbols of this famous festival.
According to the belief, on November 2, the dead return to the underworld, to live with their families and enjoy everything they enjoyed in life: food, beverages, personal belongings, among other things. This celebration, blending elements of traditional, indigenous and Catholic religion.

On Day of the Dead in Mexico people join and celebrate with their loved ones of the dead who have left the earth physically and guide them in their spiritual journey, bringing his favorite food, flowers, ornaments, incense, the famous skulls made of sugar and chocolate, decorated with different colors and stamps golden glow.

People also dress up as skeletons with mexican hats, decorated with colored ribbons, paint their faces or masks made of corn cane paste, wood or clay are also made; which it is carved with gestures smiling toothless elderly, rosy, rosy skin.

The famous wooden horses that will “ride” on the offerings and the altars of the houses, which are known as “ketzitakua”, dedicated to those who died in that year.

The parades are made by the same people and disguise carts altar with colorful flowers, candles, skulls made of sugar and many ornaments of this particular date.

The dances are performed by people dressed in masks of old men, known as “The Dance of the Elderly” (T’arche Uarakua) their movements in an explosion of force and agility, footwork and jumps performed thunderous contrast with coughing and tremors that cause falls and humorous attempts to revive his colleagues affected.

Viejitos, costumed dancers in Patzcuaro, Michoacan

Traditional food for the Day of the Dead in Mexico offering is used, which is placed on the sides of the altar as fruit punch, tamales, pan de muerto, gruel, fresh water, tequila, bread of hojaldras toasted with sesame, mole and sweets made with pumpkin.

The favorite foods of our loved ones, or any recipe that reminds us of them are also prepared.

Day of the Dead in Mexico is not a sad day, it is a celebration of the lives of our loved ones. Meals are left at the altar, the candles are lit and music is played until midnight, when it is said that the souls of loved ones return. It is a tradition that is passed from generation to generation, and is full of pride and honor.

If you are in Cancun, México and you are looking for things to do in Cancun on this holidays, don´t forget to buy your tickets to Xcaret and celebrate the traditional Day of the Dead in Mexico like never before!

June 27, 2015