I’m still in awe of all the natural wonders Mexico holds. When I was invited to visit La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur, and was told that we’d be visiting la Isla Espíritu Santos y was definitely excited, but had no idea the beauty that awaited me.

I, along with the group of travel writers I was traveling with, was taken aboard a motor boat run by Fun Baja to explore the Sea of Cortez. Our guide was Juan Beltrán and we were extremely lucky to have him. He embodies the happy and free spirit of the area and his pride for the place he calls home is palpable.

Instead of telling you about our magical day at Isla Espíritu Santos and swimming with the sea lions, I’ll let you watch this video that I took where you will see for yourself how breathtaking this place is and also get to meet Juan Beltrán, Fun Baja tour guide.

And now you know why I’m planning on going back during whale watching season with my daughter and my husband. I felt so guilty they didn’t experience this with me!

Special thanks to La Paz tourism board and Fun Baja Adventures for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I will take a wild guess that many of our readers are part of the 10.4 million tourists estimated to be visiting Mexico during the last two weeks of 2011, as recently announced by Mexico´s Secretary of Tourism Gloria Guevara Manzo.

According to a press release by Marca País-Imágen de México:

The Mexican newspaper Excelsior reported that 10.4 million national and international visitors will vacation in Mexican tourist destinations between December 16, 2011 and January 2, 2012. This statistic represents a 4 percent increase over the same time period last year. Approximately 60 percent of these tourists will vacation in Mexico during the final week of 2011.

Attracted by warm climates, exotic beaches, amazing deals to luxury spots, and the overall fiesta atmosphere of an Año Nuevo celebration in Mexico, these holidays are an ideal time to visit some of Mexico´s hottest spots.

In fact, Forbes magazine recently included Mexico as one of the “Best Last-Minute New Year’s Eve Destinations” claiming “My top pick is Mexico. There are festivities in the streets with firecrackers, fireworks, and sparklers. At midnight everyone shouts ‘Feliz año nuevo!’ It’s fun to participate in the local traditions and superstitions, such as eating twelve grapes as the clock strikes midnight on the 31st – and you get a dozen wishes for 2012 as you eat each grape.”

It might be too late for some of us to plan our New Year’s trip to Mexico, but we can definitely take this as a cue to start planning ahead for the many festivities which await the much-anticipated 2012 holiday season and its end-of-the-world predictions which are sure to motivate a flock of people to the epicenters of the Mayan worlds-the regions of Chiapas, Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Campeche. Many of the major Mayan cities are getting ready for the anticipated 52 million tourists expected to visit during 2o12, more than half of the amount of visitors to the whole of Mexico in a given year.

But for those of you that are there now, or for those of us who want to live through them vicariously, there is the hashtag #10milliontourists we can follow and share through.

If you are in México, please let us know!

The tradition of posadas have begun and Mexico honors this celebration a lo grande. So big, that they’ve even broke two World Guinness records this year for having the biggest nativity scene, as well as the most amount of figures in one scene.

This massive nativity scene, which is a recreation of what the city of Belén must have looked like two centuries ago, has been set up on the parking lot of the famous Estadio Azteca of Mexico City. The size of the whole scene covers the extent of four football fields!

The idea behind such a massive endeavor is to bring back the essence of what the holiday of Christmas is originally about–the birth of Jesus as told by the Bible. Living in the United States, it´s easy to forget that this holiday has a strong, religious base behind it. Many in Mexico want to make sure that this essence is not forgotten and have created this record-breaking nativity scene–with a two million dollar investment to make it possible–with 57 scenes which recount the passage of Mary and Joseph upon their entrance to Bethlehem.

A sort of biblical playground for children, the life-size figures, such as the three wise men, an angel, camels, burros and more, the kids can interact with were made by Mexican artisans, and some even have movement.

I´ve spent many Christmas holidays in México and always loved how rich in tradition these celebrations were. The food, the drinks, the piñatas, the posadas everywhere, the villancicos in the air. This Nativity scene is just one more mark of pride for the Mexico which loves its traditions so much it has to be the largest in the world.

To get a glimpse of the largest nativity scene in the world (at least for this year!) take a look at this video below (in Spanish):

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9RbknZsNBY&feature=player_embedded

The nativity will remain open until January 15th. If you happen to be in Mexico City and visit this, please share a picture with us on our Facebook wall!

This post is part of the Mexico Today Posadas blog hop. If you have any articles about posadas and holiday celebrations in Mexico, please link it here so we can give it the love!

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Community Manager for the México Today Program. All stories, opinions and passion for all things México shared here and everywhere are completely my own.

Photo by cesar.vita

Mexico once more made the UNESCO (United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, but this time with Mariachi, string music, song and trumpet.

According to the UNESCO, the list is “made up of those intangible heritage practices and expressions which help demonstrate the diversity of this heritage and raise awareness about its importance.”

We can all pretty much agree mariachi music fits the bill perfectly as it is one cultural expression born in Mexico which has transcended generations to become a symbol and cultural representation of this nation worldwide. Even so much so, the symbol of the mariachi can be easily overused to the point of it being cliché when trying to capture the spirit of México.

The UNESCO´s list defines strong criteria to be inscribed and they concluded that “Mariachi music transmits values of respect for the natural heritage of the regions of Mexico and local history in the Spanish language and the different Indian languages of Western Mexico.”

It’s fascinating that Mariachi music is normally handed down from generations to generations with no music sheets or formal training. Most musicians learn the trade from family members and by performing on stage. The genre of the songs span from variations of polka, corridos, jarabes tapatíos, waltzes and even romantic serenades.

The image of most mariachis is well-associated with the greats like Vicente Fernandez and Pedro Infante which convey the Mexican machista and oh-so-romantic male. The lyrics of a great Mariachi song are full with promises of love, pride for México “lindo y querido,” and individual regions and life in the country.

In honesty, this recognition by the UNESCO is a beautiful way to make it official that Mariachi music is yet one more of Mexico´s heritages to humanity (previous six ones include its food and the Day of the Dead celebration), but the reality is that mariachi music has long ago crossed borders and captured the souls and sensibilities of many across the world.

In fact, Mexico´s Cultural Ministry has announced it´s already planning a celebration to follow this recognition which will include a 24-hour mariachi marathon in the 150 countries where Mexico has embassies and consulates.

To get your fix on some of the most renown modern-day and traditional Mariachi bands and singers, check out:

• Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan
• José Alfredo Jiménez
• Vicente Fernandez
• Pepe Aguilar
• Pedro Fernández
• Pedro Infante
• Jorge Negrete

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Community Manager for the México Today Program. All stories, opinions and passion for all things México shared here and everywhere are completely my own.

Photo by gobierno.edomex

Every year during the Autum season, Mexico is host to one of the most impressive and mysterious wonders our natural world has to offer: the southern migration of millions of Monach butterflies (mariposas Monarcas) from Canada to the central regions of Mexico.

This migration is such a wonder and a spectacle that the UNESCO has designated Mexico’s Santuario de la Mariposa Monarca a World Heritage Site–one of the 31 sites in Mexico, which boasts the most World Heritage sites in the Americas. This designation is given to those cultural and natural properties which possess an “outstanding universal value.”

What is so outstanding about this migration is that it remains an enigma just how millions of these butterflies manage to travel over 2,500 miles just to spend a warmer winter in Mexico and then back north during the Spring, even though they have never done the journey before since every year it is a new generation of monarchs making the trek. How amazing is that?

Even though locals in the central mountain and volcanic regions of Mexico, where the sanctuary is located, have always known of the existence of the Monarchs–and thought of them as the visiting souls of their ancestors since their arrival usually coincides with Day of the Dead–it was just until the late 1970′s that their exact hibernating locations were discovered. The now protected area known as the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve covers 200 square miles ranging between the states of Michoacan and Mexico.

A visit to any of the public sanctuaries will awe you with the rare site of thousands of butterflies covering up tree branches to the point where there are so many that their combined weight is capable of breaking a thin branch.

My husband’s parents live in the beautiful lakeside colonial town of Valle de Bravo, just 2.5 hours from Mexico City. The drive up through the forests and mountains to Valle de Bravo is a spectacle in itself because it puts you right in the middle of the Monarchs’ path to the Piedra Herrada Sanctuary. Drivers must slow down to 20 miles per hour in order to protect the  blanket of butterflies crossing their path.

That’s exactly what happened to us last December during a drive up the road that leads to Valle de Bravo. We stopped the car just to show our girl and get a video to share the wonder we were witnessing. It’s just beautiful; check it out:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz0jt0LuHwo

I’m happy to see this awe-inspiring natural wonder is being protected to secure its longevity. President Felipe Calderón, pledged more than $4 million in 2007 to protect the efforts to curtail illegal logging in the biosphere reserve and thus preserve the trees and foliage the monarchs use during their stay in Mexico.

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Community Manager for the México Today Program. All stories, opinions and passion for all things México shared here and everywhere are completely my own.

Image from www.marthastewart.com

Mexico City got yet another moment to shine in the spotlight thanks to a visit from Martha Stewart and her show’s crew.  Their culinary, architectural and artisanal adventures were captured into a one-hour “The Martha Stewart Show” which aired yesterday, Wed. Nov. 2 on the Hallmark Channel. No worries if you missed it like I did, we can catch a repeat today at 1pm Eastern time on Hallmark.

From the press release:

Mexico City shines in the spotlight of Hallmark Channel’s Emmy- winning program, “The Martha Stewart Show,” when the domestic diva takes her prowess on the road to experience the food and design of North America’s largest city. The one hour special episode, premiering Wed., Nov. 2, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. ET/9:00 a.m. CT, showcases the contemporary culture of the ancient capital by going behind the curtain to unveil the traditions that inspire the city’s A-list chefs, architect and artisanal artists. From indulging in street food and visiting artist homes, to bike riding through one of the world’s most expansive urban parks with Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, Martha Stewart enjoys the hospitality of Mexico City and explores like a local.

Just from reading her blog post and scouring through the tons of candid pictures they uploaded from their July 2011 trip, I know they got to experience the heart of this ancient capital, the oldest city in the Americas. The heart that beats with an ancestral rhythm that still feels so alive and moves you to new levels of appreciation as we realize the sacredness of our being. It feels like everything in Mexico City has a history and is infused with cultural past.

Visit the Martha Stewart website for links and resources of Martha’s top picks of the places she toured, the restaurants she ate at and the people she met. They’ve also added a whole section of Mexican recipes here.

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Community Manager for the México Today Program. All stories, opinions and passion for all things México shared here and everywhere are completely my own.

Photo by Andy Castro

In our bicultural home we have a fondness for Día de los Muertos {Day of the Dead}, which is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, and is a traditional Mexican holiday dedicated to the memory of the loved ones we’ve lost.  The idea is that we celebrate and remember them with joy, cheerfulness and colors.

This tradition is so full of history and symbolism that it’s one I’m hanging on to tightly to instill some meaning into these over-hyped holidays.

Altars are made in honor of family and friends that have passed away and are decorated with their pictures, personal objects or mementos and candles.  Their favorite food and drinks are also placed on the altar, along with a trail of marigold flowers to create a path so their soul can find its way back and join the celebration for the day. The idea is that by placing these artifacts, flowers and foods the person will be remembered and celebrated for who they were in life and this will encourage them to pay a visit.  The concept might sound spooky, but it really is celebrated with so much positiveness towards the inevitability of death, and in such a festive environment, that the feeling of being scared will rarely creep upon you.

So much so, that even cemeteries and burial places take on a carnival-like atmosphere.  Aside from creating private altars in their homes, people also head out to cemeteries to visit their beloved and tend to their resting place.   The burial grounds are cleaned, decorated and adorned with ofrendas (offerings) such as pan de muerto, strings of flor de cempazuchitl (marigold), sugar skulls and toys.  In many parts of Mexico it’s also a custom that the families camp out all night in cemeteries to accompany the dead during their “visit.”

Day of the Dead is a holiday infused with so much tradition and history that Mexico as a whole embraces it.  You can see some very elaborate, to the point of being works of art, altars in public schools, government offices and most public spaces.  In fact, it’s one of the few ancient indigenous celebrations to remain after the Spanish conquest.

The most important icons associated with Día de los Muertos are the calaca, the Catrina, las calaveras and the pan de muerto.  These are all basically representations of death in a playful way.  The message is that passing away is just one more inevitable stage in life that should be met with joy because it just is what it is.  Talk about chilling out!

I’ll tell you a bit more about each so you can incorporate these in your own Día de los Muertos celebration.  It’s all about making it work for you.

Photo by JL.V

CALAVERAS

The name simply means “skull.”  However, in Day of the Dead terms it takes on several meanings.

1.   A sugar or chocolate skull which is fancifully decorated in many colors and which is typically personalized with the name of the person it will be given to as a treat.  This is a very fun tradition to start with your kids.  You can buy simple calaveras via Amazon and have fun decorating them with different color frostings.  These can be handed out as Día de los Muertos gifts to friends.

2.   A satirical and humorous short poem written to criticize a social situation or person, usually  aimed at politicians and celebrities.  You can imagine the fun cartoonists and print news outlets have with these ones!  Schools also bring out kids’ literary creativity during this season by having them make up their own calaveras literarias and even holding contests for the best ones.

Here’s a great example of one written for the great Colombian novelist Gabriel García Marquez. (Sorry…it’s in Spanish and the translation wouldn’t make sense):

Al escritor García Márquez

Quiso esconderse en Macondo,
La muerte fue tras él.
Ella se puso sus moños
y lo tiró a un hoyo hondo
¿ De qué se murió Gabriel ?
De amor y otros demonios.

3.  Artistic representations of skulls abound during this holiday.  These are also called calaveras.  We can thank artist José Guadalupe Posada for popularizing them and for dreaming up La Calavera de La Catrina as a satire to the upper classes. Little did he know it would become his most famous lithograph and one of the most obvious graphic representations of Día de los Muertos and Mexican culture at large.

Photo by sillysocks

PAN DE MUERTOS

It literally translates into “Bread of the Dead” and is what I look forward to the most.  It’s basically a soft and sweet, round-shaped bread that’s baked to place as an ofrenda on the altars and to be shared by families and friends with hot chocolate or coffee.  Traditionally, the top of the bread is decorated with pieces of dough thinly rolled out to resemble bones.  Take a look around  your local Latin market or bakery to see if they’ve baked some this week.  If not, and you’re feeling adventurous, try out this recipe I found here.

Photo by Sarah B in SD

CALACAS

These are basically skeletons having a blast in their afterlife!  Calacas are used as decoration and also to spoof on popular celebrities and politicians by creating calacas in their image.  The tradition is to dress them up in colorful clothes and have them appear to be dancing,  playing a musical instrument, eating and just plain having fun.  A great example is this video called Viva Calaca of animated skeletons dancing to a high-energy song.  Warning:  your kids will want to dance like a calaca!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek3p8F-es7c

Octavio Paz, Mexican poet and essayist honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature, perfectly defines in his book El Laberinto de la Soledad the special relationship Mexicans have with death:

“Para el habitante de New York, París o Londres, la muerte es la palabra que jamás se pronuncia porque quema los labios. El mexicano en cambio, la frecuenta, la burla, la acaricia, duerme con ella, la festeja, es uno de sus juguetes favoritos y su amor más permanente”.

Translation: “For a resident of New York, Paris or London death is a word that is never uttered because it burns the lips.  A Mexican, on the other hand, frequents it, defies it, caresses it, sleeps with it, celebrates it, it’s one of his favorite toys and his most permanent love.”

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Community Manager for the México Today Program. All stories, opinions and passion for all things México shared here and everywhere are completely my own.

I love being able to say I have so many memories of the best getaways in Tulum, Mexico, a gorgeous-beyond-words beach town which is now being considered one of the world’s 50 best beaches, according to CNNGO.com.

It’s great to see Tulum being showcased to the world, but I also get a little bit zealous of keeping it a bit of a secret because, in a way, you want it to keep being quiet, almost desolate and a an “insider’s” retreat. Doubt that will continue to be the case since over the last year a lot more development has been going on and Tulum has also been receiving lots of media attention. It’s well deserved.

My first trip to Tulum was in 2003 thanks to a girlfriend that dragged me out there to get me to refocus on life! She had gotten a small cabin at Tierras del Sol which was owned by two Argentinean ex-pats who had left their big bucks finance jobs back home, cashed out and were building no-frill eco-cabins on a piece of paradise. See, it’s easy to build a simple cabin when all you really need and care about is the white sand under your feet and the sound, feel and view of the most turquoise ocean with the most perfect waves to swim in.  I was definitely renewed and immediately vowed to return as many times as possible. I did.

I’ve been back over a dozen times since that. Some were romantic trips, other day trips (I lived in Playa del Carmen for a year, so Tulum was only 45 minutes away by car), work trips (I coordinated a photo shoot for Teen Vogue), and even a bachelorette trip.

The one trip I still haven’t done, but plan on doing sooner than later, is a family trip with Camila. Tulum is definitely a must for a couples-only trip, but I can’t bring myself to not bring Camila because the beach is perfect for swimming kids. Ideally, I would coordinate it to coincide with the release of the sea turtles which is celebrated during the Festival de la Tortuga Marina every year in Tulum in the month of October. I would also give her her first look at an ancient mayan ruin and the only one next to the Caribbean Ocean. We would also hit all these nearby family-friendly spots in the Riviera Maya.

Since my friends love coming to me for advice on where to stay in Tulum, I’m sharing links to some of the places I’ve stayed at before and would highly recommend:

Tierras del Sol

Amansala

Azulik

 Zarah

Ana y Jose

Nueva Vida de Ramiro 

Posada Margherita 

Share: Have you been to Tulum? What are your recommendations for someone planning a trip there? 

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Community Manager for the México Today Program. All stories, opinions and passion for all things México shared here and everywhere are completely my own.

This massive sporting event that unites North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean is an excellent opportunity to talk to your children about the different cultures, languages, and diverse people that make up this part of the globe.  Especially about the rich traditions and folklore to which the state of Jalisco is home to like Mariachi, tequila, the Mexican Hat Dance or “Jarabe Tapatío,” just to name a few.

Even the three Pan American Games official mascots represent an aspect of the state of Jalisco and the city of Guadalajara.

• Gavo — A blue agave plant that is representative of the region which is famous for its tequila production.
• Huichi — A deer which represents the southern region of the state and alludes to its Huichol traditions and the female identity.
• Leo — A lion, which represents the strength of the people of Guadalajara and is also part of the city’s coat of arms.

The official inaugural ceremony is this Thursday, October 14 and the closing ceremony is October 30th. Guadalajara has gone all out for these ceremonies and have confirmed two of its biggest celebrities to perform: Alejandro Fernandez and his father, the legendary Vicente Fernandez; as well as Colombian pop/rock start Juanes.  In fact, Alejandro signs El Mismo Sol, the official anthem for the 2011 Pan American Games.

Here´s the official video of El Mismo Sol. The lyrics are a message of unity, embracing diversity, achieving our goals and hope for the future of our children. You will love it, sing it and dance it. 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnsKKamu_Bc&feature=related

Another revered son from Guadalajara is Mexican and international futbol star Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez. He created this video to invite all of you to be a part of the magic of the Pan American Games Gudalajara 2011. As he says,

“When you come to this country and you experience the real Mexico, its places, its people, Mexico will take a hold of your heart.”

I couldn’t agree more!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKPskBWkMBo&feature=related

Where to watch the Pan American Games if you live in the U.S.? ESPN 2 will offer coverage in English, while ESPN Deportes and ESPNDeportes.com will have full coverage in Spanish.

For a full list of cities, national flag bearers, stadiums, images and more, visit the official Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011 site.

Which country will you be rooting for?

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Community Manager for the México Today Program.  All stories, opinions and passion for all things México shared here  and everywhere are completely my own.

Not only will you get to spread so much of the good news about Mexico, but your submission will also automatically make you eligible to win a $500 gift card! Just in time to start saving for holiday shopping and trips…to Mexico, maybe?

More about the Mexico Today Social Magazine:

The newly launched Mexico Today Social Magazine on Facebook profiles stories and submissions from leading Mexico bloggers and influencers, including the 24 Mexico Today Ambassadors.

This innovative tactic pushes the envelope of what is possible on Facebook, leveraging community participation from fans to produce a dynamic and evolving, socially-curated online publication. The intent is to create a grassroots movement by allowing submissions from those who are interested in Mexico’s culture, the Mexican economy, Mexico’s environment and more.

Help shape the conversation about today’s Mexico. The Magazine accepts not only short links, but also longer blog posts. Submit your content today to enter a chance to win a $500 gift card.

I invite you to head over there now and check out my latest post about Mexico’s National Bird, the Golden Eagle, and how it has gotten close to be saved from extinction!

 Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Community Manager for the México Today Program.  All stories, opinions and passion for all things México shared here  and everywhere are completely my own.