Mexico Vacation Travels Pictures, Reviews, & Deals » Mexico Family Vacation: Mexican Family Fun & Activities.

Things to do in Mexico: Marvel at Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl

Rachel — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:12:01 +0000

Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl refers to two things in Mexico. The first is its beloved folklore, a legend that has been passed on from generation to generation. The second is in reference to the snow-capped mountains of which this legend is based from. It’s probably quite unthinkable to find this in a tropical paradise, but Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl really does become covered with snow at certain times of the year.

Popocatépetl is known as the second highest peak in the country and it’s actually an active volcano. Iztaccíhuatl is the third highest, that links to the other peak. Archeological evidence shows that this mountain has been explored by Aztecs early on.

Today though, these mountains are summit peaks trekkers, hikers and climbers visit. Ixta is especially more popular of the two, given that it is already extinct, with a unique topography at that.

Ixta is especially described like a sleeping lady. The north side of the mountain is considered its head while the summit, where climbers converge, is where her breasts are. The stomach part of the mountain is its most glaciated area and far south is the sub peak, or her feet.

Some level of skill or expertise is required to climb this, but even a 12 year old is allowed, given that the child knows how to handle himself during the course of the travel.

For first timers, the course to take is usually by ‘The Ridge of the Sun’, which starts off at her feet, to the stomach and to the breast (or the summit).

Surrounding the area is the National Park, which was preserved beginning 1937. Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl is filled with extraordinary species of animals as well, including the white-tailed deer, the lynx and the zacatuche.

The best conditions to climb Ixta though is between the months of December and March and you have to have a permit to do so.

Things to do in Mexico: Visit Their Version of Venice

Rachel — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:19:27 +0000

If there’s anything to closely describe what Xochimilco is, it’s that it can be compared to Venice, and perhaps even New Orleans. The site is literally filled with boats or trajineras, that brings tourists to different canals and lakes around Mexico City.

In the old days, this used to be a very popular tourist activity, but it has since downgraded as decay and ubanization has caught up with it. Still, there are still boats plying the river and visitors will love the colorfully painted rides. Depending on the length, the rides are actually very affordable to take and you can even have a picnic on the boat, or enjoy music played by mariachi bands and marimba players, as you float in and around the city.

One of the stops to travelling by boat includes a floating garden, which they say has been built during the Aztec era.

If a boat ride isn’t your thing, you can still walk around the city and enjoy its authentic culture. The streets of Xochimilco are lined with street food like corn, sweets, tacos, rice, chicken, tortillas, ice cream, whole meals, drinks and candies. The downtown area is also filled with restaurants and pizzerias. Food is surprisingly so affordable too.

If you want to shop for souvernirs head to the market near the Cathedral. You can buy an assortment of handicrafts, as well as embroidered clothing and footwear. The public market is roofed, however, during off season, some of these establishments may be closed earlier than usual.

Things to do in Mexico: Travel to the Silver Capital

Rachel — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:01:46 +0000

The silver capital of Mexico is Taxco de Alarcon, which is located in the mountains near Mexico City and Acapulco. Visitors come to this place to get good deals on silver, which includes jewelry, ware, tea sets, candle holders and other made to order pieces. There are literally a hundred places you can buy silver pieces and art in in Taxco.

And if this is you’re first visit, you will find the surrounding really impressive with its white walled house and red tile roofing, as well as its cobblestoned streets. The town looks every inch traditional, picturesque and historical.

Other than looking for silver, you can also see plenty of wonderful sights to take photos of or visit and learn from. Don’t miss going to these places when you’re in Taxco:

The Museo de la Plateria or the Silver Museum. The showcases are to marvel at, but also, you can learn about how silver is crafted and put together.
Santa Prisca Church. This is an iconic structure that was funded and built by Jose de la Borda, one of Mexico’s historical figures and boasts of an impressive Baroque architecture.
Bar Bertha. Enjoy a favorite drink made of lime and tequila at this bar, which is located at Plaza de Borda. The site also offers a lovely view of the city.

Day tours to this city are scheduled regularly for groups of four to six, or even up to 12, depending on the type of vehicle you hire. There are some walking involve in the tours, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes. Taxco has rather small streets, which is why it’s better appreciated when you walk, rather than ride all the way through your visit.

Don’t forget to put on sunblock and bring your cameras!

Things To Do In Mexico: Dive with Zihua Agua Divers

Rachel — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:35:59 +0000

Mexico’s marine life is abundant with different kinds of species, which is why it’s also a haven for divers and those who love to explore the waters through snorkeling.

There is wonderful site for this at the Playa Las Gatas or at Playa Manzanillio and there’s a diving school that can assists tourists and issue divers certification, as well.

Called the Zihua Agua Divers, you can enlist for a diving class or a diving tour here with friends and get to see the different aquatic treasures of Mexico with an expert crew who really teaches you the basic of diving, as well as what’s special in the area.

According to some tourists, there’s plenty to see in the diving site here than anywhere else (such as in the Cayman islands). The tour also offers a Light House night dive, which is really a fantastic thing to experience.

Gears are available at the site, which can be rented or bought, as there are also items for sale. There are also several souvenirs to bring home to friends or keep as a remembrance from your trip to this island.

Things To Do in Mexico: Go on an Eco-Ride

Rachel — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:51:31 +0000

The Eco-Ride is actually a biking and surfing company that services a lot of outdoor enthusiasts that visit Puerto Vallarta in Mexico. As most people usually come to the country for the beaches, there are those who visit to explore the other side of Mexico which includes lush jungles and a mountainous region. Eco-Ride organizes guided tours for adventurers and those who want a different kind of experience here. The guides of these tours are experts and knowledgeable about the Banderas Bay and its surrounding areas and the company has been in the business for nearly a decade.

There are guided tours for beginners and advanced bikers, which begins in a small town called the El Tuito and ends on the beach at Yelapa. The experience is thrilling, cathartic, and of course, it’s one physical activity that’s great for your health.

One of the things that is great about this Eco-Ride is that visitors can get to appreciate the beauty of nature even better.

You can either rent a bike for this or bring your own. There are also gears provided such as gloves, helmet and even your very own water bottle. Even children are provided with bikes and gears, so they too can enjoy in the experience. And regardless of what you do and how much of an expert you are, going on an eco ride can really be an unforgettable experience for you and the family. It’s also an educational trip for the kids.

Enjoy this side of Mexico and take loads of pictures and make wonderful memories and experience other than swimming or getting a tan at the beach!

Taco: Irresistible helpings

Azzi — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:24:10 +0000

As much as food is signatory of a country, as much as it is a paradigm of a country’s culture, it is a feast for the senses ofr which it was originally intended. The very aroma that good food provides is sometimes enough to singlehandedly attract a wannabe tourist to a nation, and yet, the method and objective of any food is very rudimentary and quite simple. Food is thus a dichotomy like no other, and speaking of Mexico, which has got its own storehouse of excellent cuisine and delectable menus, there’s no dearth of options for a foodie, and, among the many choice dishes that come out of Mexico, Taco is one of the most eye catching and certainly one of the most satisfying.

At the very outset, Taco is simply a filling(a yummy one) engulfed with a corn or wheat tortilla helping. The filling is a pretty exciting place to be. You can have a filling in the form of meat, beef, pork, chicken, seafood and what not. (in fact, anything that makes a Taco heartily satisfying) . Accompanying the taco is a garnish made up of any permutation of spicy helpings. You are looking at tomatoes, lettuce, cilantro, onions, guacamole, salsa, avocado etc. The bottom line in preparing the Taco is ultra nice taste and at the same time ensure that the belly satisfied to the hilt.

Tacos are traditional to Mexico, and appear in many forms. Popular versions of Tacos include Tacos de Asador, Tacos de pescado, Tacos de Cazo, Tacos sudados and many other notable versions that are each worth a try at least once. Our recommendation is to come to the restaurant with a growling stomach (you can achieve this by sightseeing in Mexico, no big deal) and let the creamy aroma fill your senses with joy. Rest assured, Tacos are irresistible helpings..

Chapultepec Park: Free Roam

Azzi — Fri, 20 May 2011 05:36:59 +0000

If a park can hold its own among the world’s great constructions, then surely it can have a lot going for it. The Chapultepec Park in Mexico City is one such example. Being the largest city park in the entire Latin America and attending to a surplus of 15 million visitors per annum, the Chapultepec park is truly one of it’s kind. The park serves as a valuable ecological ground for the megalopolis that is Mexico City, and, along with the Bois de Boulogne in Paris, Imperial Gardens of Tokyo and The Central Park in New York City, the Chapultepec park is considered one of the world’s greatest mega parks.

The Bosque de Chapultepec (“The forest of Chapultepec, as the park is known) spread over an eye widening 686 hectares, is a complete entertainment center, featuring shopping Malls, sculptures, lakes, fountains, amusement parks and as many as nine museums, interspersed with long, winding pathways. Besides being a source of entertainment, the park also replenishes in a large part, the oxygen requirements of the burgeoning proportions of Mexico city, providing a balance between clean air and cool weather. Sundays are usually action packed, as the museums are free and strong connectivity via the ubiquitous Metro make sure that the park is never far away. Watch out for Metro lines 1 and 7.

Another huge attraction to the Chapultepec park is the zoo, where you will find some of the most exotic species found on planet earth. The park is ably divide into 3 sections so that you are never lost into the hugeness of the entire concoction. Notable performances for the Aztec dancers and the famous Ballet Folklorico de Mexico keep happening from time to time, and it adds to the overall appeal of the park. After a long day’s tour, this park certainly helps in reinvigorating your senses and preparing you for the next day. Dont miss it.

A History Lesson: Ciudad de Mexico (Mexico City)

Azzi — Fri, 13 May 2011 14:19:17 +0000

Even roaming around may become a roller coaster of a ride. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, Mexico City….

Few cities in the world have this exuberant ability of mixing art with science, culture with work ethics and of course, style with substance, and Mexico City is one of the epitomes of such a paradigm. Enjoying a rich (and immensely vibrant) historical background, with technological progress achieving the stature of second nature, Mexico City is one place you’d definitely want to visit with a touring appetite the size of Atlantis and loads and loads of shopping bags if you happen to be one of them chic show stoppers. For a reason too; after all Mexico City, being the heart and soul of the country its the capital of, has paid attention to every little detail that goes into modern living, and has married that aspect with one of the greatest traditional idiosyncrasies of the world. Wannabe tourist? Serious globetrotter? Business trip? Relaxing weekend? You’ve come to the right place…

For those of you who cannot go to a place without having a jab at it’s history, here’s a small teaser for them. Founded by the famous Mexica(Aztecs) people in 1325 AD, Tenochtitlan (as the city was formerly known) grew in size and diversity, after the fall of the Aztec Empire. Hernán Cortés came and went, and later the Spaniards rebuilt the city, keeping intact the basic layout of Tenochtitlan and incorporating modern technologies as the population grew. Tenochtitlan was later renamed “Mexico” in favor of ease of pronunciation.

Needless to say, you’d find everything there is to like about New Mexico as a a traveler’s heart could possibly want. Whether it is the Centro Histórico (Historic Center) or the magnificent Angel of Independence, the Castle of Chapultepec or the National Museum of Anthropology, enjoy the view while bathed in typical Spanish itinerary. One recommendation though, dont miss the Mexicans’ love for football…

Connectivity: Communication in Mexico

Azzi — Sun, 08 May 2011 16:31:36 +0000

You’ll never be able to get around a country without a good and solid backing of an effective communication system network. You see, communication needs in the modern age have reached new heights and constant connectivity to the different parts of the world is a necessity few can refute. The Mexican government is well aware of this fact, and, even though it is a relatively small country, Mexican telecommunications is one of the largest network in Latin America. Teléfonos de México, also known as Telmex is the country’s major operator, and is responsible for welcoming you to Mexico.

Due to varying orography of the country, landline phones are much less popular than mobile phones, and the fact that there are as many as four times as much mobile phone users as compared to landline users proves this. Mobile telephony has the advantage of cheap infrastructure and deeper penetration in the remote mountainous areas. What this essentially means for you, as a traveler is that most likely, you are going to be connected to the world no matter what place you happen to be in. Whether you are camping in the Chiapas or enjoying the romantic lines of Mariachi in Jalisco, you are not cut off from the world.

Internet connectivity? No problemo. Mexicans rank 8 among the internet users in the world, which literally translates to anytime connectivity through broadband connectivity,wireless fidelity or mobile telephony. Telmex being the country’s dominant network operator, has left no stone unturned in giving out quality service to natives and tourists alike. Satélites Mexicanos, a private company takes care of all the satellite communication for Mexico, with the help of 120 earth stations and a microwave radio relay network that is extensive to say the least. Suffice to say, when you arrive to Mexico, whether it’s telling your loved ones about your co-ordinates or posting that valuable status update on facebook, you are never far away from connection.

Moving about: Transportation in Mexico

Azzi — Fri, 06 May 2011 21:18:09 +0000

You can trust your feet with stylish sandals to fulfill most of your transportation needs, mainly because Mexico is not that large a country(on the contrary, it believes in a more for less paradigm). The thing is, that even though Mexico’s geographic boundaries are constrained, there’s no dearth of exotic tourist destinations or flamboyant cities or sandy beaches, for that matter. Its because of this density of tourist attractions, do you, as a traveler, feel the need of faster modes of transport than your feet. Thats where Mexican transportation comes in.

Within the realms of the cities, buses are the most efficient way of transportation from point A to B. The Mexican road network is extensive, covering in excess of 350,000 km of roads (where you can ply your own vehicle for sheer enjoyment, if you have bought yours, that is). The autopistas de cuota (Toll roads) and the carreteras libres (Free Roads) are your best bet for moving between the cities and at the same time enjoying the beautiful countryside interspersed between the cities. If you are on personal transport, take a warning, as anything above 110 km/h (70 mph) can attract the attention of the men in uniform.

The railway network of Mexico is not one of its highlights and you’d probably not want to choose this medium of transport. Who wants to get stuck inside a railway coach anyway, when the surroundings outside deserve every bit of your attention?. If you really need to travel fast, or you have a tight schedule, you can bank on Mexical Airways’ efficient network across the country. Latin America’s largest airport is in, yes you guessed right, Mexico City. The air travel should take care of all your fast transportation needs. But, for pleasure travel and sightseeing, it is very, very heartily recommended that you take the open road and lose yourself on a highway. Guaranteed, you will choose to remain lost...