Riviera Nayarit is a Canadian Favorite

Picture of a fresh water cenote in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula

Recently, Readers Digest Canada praised three Mexican travel destinations as top vacation spots for Canadian tourists. The publication claims that Baja California, Riviera Nayarit, and the Yucatan Peninsula are amongst the world’s most beautiful and culturally enriching Mexican travel destinations today...more on MexicoToday.org.

Oaxaca Children's Band

I'm amazed at how well these kids play their instruments. Look at how they keep to the rhythm of the music. Does anyone know what type of music they're playing exactly?

Garrafón: The Isla Mujeres Reef Park

At the amazing reef park in Isla Mujeres, there are many things that you can do to enjoy the weather and the beautiful scenery of Mexico even more. A picturesque island that is located just 30 minutes by boat from Cancún, Garrafón Natural Reef Park is 'the perfect vacation destination for relaxation and adventure.' Click here for more information, full map, list of facilities and wonderful photo album on the Isla Mujeres Reef Park web site.

Hotels and Long-Term Lodging in Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Many American (USA) and Canadian visitors spend their winter in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, something that has brought many lodging options for short and long term stays.
As this web site states, "Zihuatanejo charms the visitor with atmosphere, a combination of Santa Fe, Key West, and New Orleans attitude. The relaxed atmosphere is sustained by several pedestrian only streets lined by open air restaurants and bars. Hotels and posadas are mixed in with the local eateries and shopping."

Basilica de Nuestra Señora Guadalupe: Top Travel Destination

Did you know that Mexico is "a top travel destination for members of the Catholic faith?" It just so happens that the Basilica de Nuestra Señora Guadalupe is the number one religious tourism destination of the world for Catholics and believers, the number of visitors exceeding that of the Vatican, Fatima in Portugal and Lourdes in France.

It turns out that Mexico has also been chosen as the latest host of the VII World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Tourism. The Mexican Ambassador to the Holy See, Hector Frederick Ling Altamirano, said, regarding the VII World Congress, “It is no doubt an important event, which recognizes the importance of Mexico in this field, particularly in the so-called religious tourism.”

Go to Mexicotoday.org for the full details on this exciting event for Mexico and the catholic faith.

"How and Why We Moved to Mexico"

If you're looking for an in-depth article with tons of great information on moving to Mexico, this is it. This article recounts the real-life experience of one couple that moved to Mexico and found happiness. But first, they did their homework. Take advantage of what they've learned and share with us, by reading this insightful, accurate blog post.

More Vacationers Choose Mexico

Reading the Financial Times on Friday, I found an interesting article on tourism in Mexico. It talks about the latest official figures on travel to Mexico and how the number of foreign visitors rose 8.1% in April of this year, compared to the same month in 2010. The level of visitors is back up to 2008 levels, when the amount of travelers reached an astonishing 22.4 million.

Moreover, Mexico continues to be the most important destination for US citizens traveling abroad, representing 14.7 per cent of the total.

As the article says: "And, even if you don’t believe it, the world’s big hotel and tourism companies appear to: private investment in Mexico’s tourism sector grew to more than US$900m in the first three months of this year – an increase of 127 per cent compared with the same period last year."

Impressive figures that clearly express the surge in tourism to Mexico and interest from investors in this wonderful country.

Events To Catch in Riviera Nayarit

This June 29th, 2011, there's a special annual celebration named "A battle of the Saints at Mexcaltitan". There will be a representation of a battle between San Pedro and San Pablo to see who will be the founding saint and the cornerstone of the Catholic Church.

This unique festival set in what is known as the 'Venice of Mexico' is very colorful. Shrimp-fishing characterizes this region, and the 'Saints' sail out very early, followed by a procession of parishioners from around the island to bless the waters so that the traps they’ve set get as close as possible to the three ton record per night that was set in the past.

Click on this link to get a better idea of what the festival is all about.

Mexcaltitan is located 21 miles northeast of Santiago Ixcuintla, approximately 1 hour from San Blas and 2 from Tepic.

The Art of the Huichol Community

If you want to get a sneak peek at the Huichol art available in the Riviera Nayarit region, take a look at this online gallery. It has beautiful images of Huichol artwork, accompanied by an in- depth introduction on the culture and additional resources for those that want to learn more about the Huichol, a people known for living in "Responsible ecstasy".

The Most Beautiful Destinations in North America

Would you like to see the most beautiful destinations in North America? High on the list of must-see destinations is Tulum, Mexico. Tulum is a Pre-Columbian Mayan city in the Yucatan Peninsula that offers a beautiful landscape and is becoming a new tourist destination with its mix of beach and culture. Lush natural vistas mixed with dramatic Mayan ruins create a one-of-a-kind location.

The best part is it's only a few hours away from Riviera Nayarit.Click here to see the rest of the pictures!

Huichol Community in Nayarit

Part of the ancestral traditions that Despierta America will come across are those of the Huichol Community in Nayarit.

Their are communities of Huichol spread across various regions of Mexico, but the homeland of the Huichols is in Nayarit- and is remote. It is found mostly between the states of Jalisco and Nayarit in hard to reach parts of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Thanks to a certain level of isolation, the Huichol community has been able to keep their culture intact. It's said that as a result, their art, which is based on their religion, has been preserved to perfection.

Read this article to find out more on the Huichol people and what you can learn from this culture.

Le Cordon Bleu is Back to Riviera Nayarit

So it turns out that while looking for a more upscale place to dine out, I found this blog that mentions Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit. The famous French culinary academy Le Cordon Bleu will be presenting the best of International Fusion Cuisine, this June 16th to 26th, with guest chefs Patrick Martin, Olivier Bué, Olivier Calvez y Miguel Quezada. The Riviera Nayarit is well known for it's delicious cuisine and its rich history of gastronomy.

During the 10 day festival, world reknown chefs will be creating a special menu at this restaurant called Piaf Restaurant, part of the Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit hotel, that will be open to the public. The best part is cooking classes will also be offered!

Check out the original blog post to find out more.

Visitors Get Sand, Surf, Adventure and Culture in Nayarit

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to stay in Nayarit on vacation?

As this article puts it, "new activities, culinary offerings and attractions are on tap for visitors headed for the Riviera Nayarit this summer", the resort area on the Pacific coast, close to Puerto Vallarta.

Eco-tours are offered in the forests and jungles of the Sierra Madre Mountains, 30 minutes northeast of the town of Nuevo Vallarta. Visitors scale a device called the Crazy Ladder, zoom on zip lines between suspended walkways and platforms high above the jungle floor and descend via rappels.

Beach lovers will find 192 miles of coastline and small towns from Nuevo Vallarta to Punta Mita, Sayulita and San Blas (will be posting a video in my next blog).

Riviera Nayarit offers a number of galleries, open-air markets and exhibits of traditional Huichol art. The Huichol, the native tribe of Nayarit and one of the few remaining tribes in Mexico that have retained much of their original culture, inhabits central western Mexico, mainly in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit.

If you're in Nayarit, or have been to Nayarit, what are a few activities or sights, you'd recommend to visitors there now?

I hope you'll share your experiences here!