There are two words that are synonymous with Reefs to Rockies: Travel and Trust. On my second trip with the eco-tourism company, this became abundantly apparent. Granted, it was the same destination: Isla Mujeres. But by no means did that make this venture routine. Instead, it redefined these everyday terms for me, an admitted adventure […]
Read PostBetween the months of May and September, whale sharks (Tiburon ballena) congregate off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The biggest fish on the planet, a whale shark can weigh several tons and can grow to more than 45 feet in length. Seeing masses of dorsal fins in the water can invoke an adrenaline rush […]
Read Post1. Explore the underwater world nearby. Isla Mujeres provides an ideal starting point for snorkeling and scuba diving. Manchones Reef is one of the best sites for snorkelers and divers of all levels. Sea turtles, brain coral, colorful tropical fish, and even nurse sharks are common sights in the area. Cruz de la Bahia (Cross […]
Read PostEver since first hearing about the play of light and shadow on El Castillo during the spring and fall equinoxes, I’ve wanted to see it first-hand. The Mayan site of Chichen Itza, located in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, is the most visited archaeological site in the region and even more so during the equinoxes. Equinox (“equal […]
Read PostIk-kil Cenote in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico is located only about 5 minutes from Chichen Itza Archaeological Site. Its proximity to Chichen Itza makes Ik-kil a popular stop on group tour itineraries in the region. Open to the sky, Ik-kil’s water level lies approximately 85 ft below ground level. A stairway leads down to […]
Read PostPuerto Morelos Reef National Park, part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, was designated a protected area in 1998. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is the second largest barrier reef in the world and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The reef’s proximity to Puerto Morelos’ shore and protected status provide for some of the most accessible […]
Read PostLast week, CNN.com published an article titled “3 undeniable reasons to explore Mexico” (http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/29/travel/mexico-three-reasons/index.html). The three reasons listed included gastronomy, pre-Hispanic sites, and swimming in cenotes. We wholeheartedly agree with these reasons. But after reading this article, it was easy to quadruple their number of reasons by emphasizing Mexico’s biodiversity and wow-inducing wildlife opportunities. #1: […]
Read PostIt didn’t take long to notice a wide variety of bird species in front of our condo in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico. Located along the Riviera Maya, Puerto Aventuras is a resort area south of Playa del Carmen. A few short walks along the beach provided an abundance of bird photo op’s. Watching the resident pair […]
Read PostAkumal, the first resort town in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, remains a far cry from the hustle and bustle of its northern neighbors Playa del Carmen and Cancun. Akumal means “place of turtles” in the local Mayan language. I’ve snorkeled the reefs in Akumal Bay on multiple occasions. This time around, we were in search of […]
Read PostIsla Mujeres, Mexico is one of our top destinations in the summer because of the large congregations of whale sharks that can be found from June through August. Numbers of whale sharks tend to peak between mid-July and mid-August. If swimming alongside the largest fish in the world isn’t reason enough to visit Isla Mujeres, […]
Read Post