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The Rio Caliente Spa is the only true hot springs spa left in mexico.  The streams of Rio Caliente are fed from an underground volcanic lake and temperatures can reach as high as 157 degrees F.  The water has an extremely high alkaline content and is known to possess amazing healing powers.  It is a great getaway from all the everyday stressors of a modern life style at a very reasonable price.  A New Age atmosphere that embraces all aspects of naturalistic health methods is very healing and rejuvenating.  It is a spiritual journey that addresses the issues of the mind and the body, looking to put a new balance in a guest’s life.

Mayan Steam Room for Men

In the Mayan Steam Rooms, volcanic spring water is fed directly into the steamroom’s underground chamber.  There are steam rooms for both women and men.  An aroma of freshly cut eucalyptus branches is filtered into the rooms.  The effect created is one of total relaxation and serenity.

There are many very reasonable vacation packages available.  One program that is very popular is the 12 day “Quit Smoking Retreat”.  The Quantum Healing technique is used to first eradicate cravings by removing the nicotine frequencies from your cells and then a special type of image work uncovers and repairs the causes of your nicotine need.  The overall goal is to allow you to become healthier and more vibrant in a very supportive environment.  The vegetarian cuisine served is delicious and and very healthy.  Spa treatments, yoga, hikes, and daily swims are utilized to help detox the body and then begin boosting your now smoke free life.

Accommodations are lovely.  All rooms have a working fireplace and a private tiled bathroom.  Pool side rooms are of course a little more than the patio rooms but every room delightful.  A trip to the Rio Caliente Spa whether it be a weekend getaway, or a two week sabatical, it is definitely a well deserved retreat when the pressures of every day life are getting you down.  Enjoy, Relax, Rejuvenate in the beautiful  Bosque la Primavera, an extensive forest, just 20 miles west of Guadalajara, Mexico.

One of the main rivers of the mexican state Puebla is the Rio Nexaca. Originating from the south of Huauchinango, and there being named Totolapa, it flows between through mountains and canyons eventually forming the waterfalls named Salto Chico y Salto Grande.

As it extends from Puebla to Veracruz, with  El Tejocotal, Los Reyes, Patla, and Tenango, Necaxa produces 172 million cubic liters of water generating electrical power for Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Estado de México and the Federal District. The Necaxa feeds the Tepexi River, which runs through a tunnel to the Río de Patla into the various municipalities of the Northern Mountain Range, such as Patla y Chicontla. It then enters the state of Veracruz, traversing the municipalities of Cuahuitlán, Coyutla, Espinal, Papantla, Gutiérrez Zamora and Tecolutla, and its volume increases as it unites with other forks. It finally forms the Río Tecolutla, which flows out to the Gulf of mexico in the municipality of the same name.

Virgen de Guadalupe at Las Pozas (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

It’s amazing what money can be used for. Las Pozas is an enchanting creation from the mind of Surrealist collector, Edward James, and highlights the intriguing beauty of mexico’s jungles in the most playful and fantastic ways. James inherited a fortune and used the money to create Las Pozas with the help hard-working locals.

The fantasy architecture and exhibits span 20-acres of emerald green tropical forests connected through a series of stone-covered pathways. Cascading pools offer a gorgeous spot where locals enjoyed swimming and wading in the fairyland-like world. It also provided the name “Las Pozas” for the park.

Enchanting structures (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

While most of the beauty of Mexico has the ability to transport you away from the mundane, the work of Edward James offers transportation to another world. The plants of Mexico, so truly exotic, offer the perfect back drop for the surreal structures that seem to mesh perfectly into their surroundings. They seem to have always been a part of the land instead of a recent addition worked on until Eward James died in 1984. Until that time, he had added over 36 concrete structures to the exquisite mexican Xanadu.

Beautiful greenery (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

The living museum was originally an inheritance of plantation to Edward James, a man bred into wealth,  that he used to plant orchids. After an unrelenting frost took the orchids, he began constructing his surreal wonderland instead. He kept working until his death, and many of the buildings stand unfinished. Many enjoy the possibilities of what may have been added and how the creation would have looked completed. I’m sure this pleased the artist more than having finished his works.

Las Pozas (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

In 2007, Fondo Xilitla, one of Mexico’s most renowned charitable organizations, acquired Las Pozas with the idea of conserving the structures and land for future generations to enjoy. The experience is a must when in San Luis Potosi and sure to make the very most of your Mexican travels.

The park is open from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00p.m. and tours cost $200 pesos. The price increases to $250 for English or French presentations. Three major hotels, El Castillo, hotel Dolores and Hotel Mission Conca, offer luxurious settings close to Las Pozas for the most amazing stay in the area.

Cascada de El Meco (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

The Huasteca Potosina is a region of the Sierra Madre that is named after the indigenous Huasteca culture and is found east of the capital of San Luis Potosi. The gorgeous area offers an amazing collection of both rapid, wild waters, as well as, calm a serene lagoons. Both ends of the spectrum are equaling facilitating with the stunning backdrop of rich jungle vegetation surrounding you.

Cascada el Salto (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

The Cascada el Meco is just one of the many waterfalls you will find through out the area. Smaller waterfalls, like the one above offer a more subdued experience. The falls, like many, lie at the mercy of rains and the Cascada el Salto, above, has dwindled to one of the smallest streams ever.

Gorgeous water (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

The colors of clear blue water are absolutely breathtaking and many enjoy snorkeling around the waterfalls and lagoons. The surrounding forests are home to  over 2,000 species of plants including orchids and lianas. The area is also home to the endangered Spider monkey, Jaguar and Kinkajou (also known as the Honey Bear). For these creatures, it is hoped that visitors will enjoy the grandeur in the most respectful ways possible.

Tranquil waters (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

There is a bounty of recreation available in Huasteca Potosina. Rafting, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, hiking and camping are just a handful of fun the region holds. The area is a true treasure and photographs of the area are some of the most stunning you will take in mexico. Huasteca Potosina is a must visit during your stay in Sal Luis Potosi.

The Cosmovitral Botanic Gardens(photo by Lucy Nieto)

The Cosmovitral was one Toluca’s marketplace, the 5,000 square meters offers an enchanting collection of 400 plant species that come from Central and South America, as well as, Asia and Africa. Most remarkable, of the art noveau building, are the stained glass windows that cover an amazing 3,000 square meters.

Stained glass (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

The stunning display of stained glass, the largest collection in the world, was completed in 1990 by the talented artist, Leopoldo Flores Valdes. The Toluca  native created the masterpieces utilizing 28 different colors of glass creating a stunning play of colors as sunlight filters through them into the gardens. Flores relates, from a cosmogenic perception, time, movement and the contradictory phenomena occurring in matter. Besides offering fluid art show that changes with the sun’s movements, the glass creates the perfect greenhouse environment for tropical species of plants.

Astounding beauty (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

While the colors of the glass are enriched by the natural beauty of the flora, the garden is a true sensory experience. Trickling waterfalls provide a soothing backdrop while classical music, piped through the museum’s sound system, delights visitors during the leisurely walk. Surrounded by beautiful sights, sounds and the comfortable embrace of the greenhouse environment, visitors find themselves slowing their journey to truly indulge themselves in the magic of the gardens.

Filtering sunlight (photo by Lucy Nieto courtesy of Flickr)

The Cosmovitral Botanic Gardens are located on Juarez and Lerdo de Tejada in downtown Toluca. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00p.m. Admission is 10 pesos for adults and 5 pesos for children. Guided tours are a great idea to learn all there is to know about the center and its amazing art.

Cliffs of Piedra Volada (photo by Izennen courtesy of Flickr)

Piedra Volada translates to “flying rock”. The reason for the name is not really know, although some creative ideas have floated around.  What is known, however, is that the area is absolutely breath taking with stunning landscape and beautiful weather.

The valley (photo by Izennen courtesy of Flickr)

During the wet season, the gorgeous area offers a bonus with one of the world’s largest waterfalls. The falls can only be seen from a moderate distance, but are the largest in mexico and the eleventh largest in the world. When they run, it is off Candamena Canyon in the Copper Canyon area of Chihuahua, Mexico.

The rock seems to hover or be thrown (photo by Izennen courtesy of Flickr)

The great thing about Volada is that it has landscape to  meet all hiking levels. There are trails for beginners, as well as, more advanced treks for more expereinced visitors. The area offers a supurb collection of flora and fauna with enough plain space to make camp if an overnight suits your visit.

Gorgeous country (photo by Izennen courtesy of Flickr)

The area around Piedra Volanda is strickingly beautiful and travel-friendly. The falls were only recently discovered in 1996 although there are ruins of mining camps and other proof of man enjoying this spectacular area. There are several tours that venture into the area or many choose to make their own way, however, it is usually better to travel with locals who know the area. Piedra Volada is definately worth a camp out in order to fully appreciate the beauty of its night skies and early morning daybreaks.

The Ik Kil Cenote is located a little under two miles from the famed Chichen Itza ruins. Like the 6,000 other cenotes across the Yucatan peninsula, Ik Kil has majestic charectieristics where the sunlight from 85 feet above filters through holes in the ground and vegetation. Known as “the Sacred Blue Cenote”, the fresh water is an intriguing clear  turquoise blue and hovers at a comfortable 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cenote Ik Kil (photo by Kyle Simourd courtesy of Flickr)

Ik Kil offers a dizzying array of scenry in addition to the gorgeous watering hole. Emerald green vines and plants decorate the area as well as picturesque waterfalls to explore. The stalactites and stalagmites that have formed over the past million years are breath taking and great care should be taken during your visit.

View from above (photo by R Mceoin courtesy of Flickr)

The cenote costs only 35 pesos and is open to the public from 8:00 in the morning until 6:00 at night. The 120 foot deep swimming area is accessible by a staircase that meanders down into the amazing area. The Ik Kil cenote boasts a restaurant with buffet-style eating, as well as, rental bungalows to enjoy an overnight stay.  A five star resort is in the works and will offer future visitors a luxurious experience when completed. Ik Kil is a wonderful example of the transformations of land and water that can occur over millions of years and superb are to revel in Mayan grandeur.

Swimming hole (photo by Kyle Simourd courtesy of Flickr)