Our Latest Wedding News
Description of Playa - Posted: 25 Oct, 2006
We thought this was a great description of the town, so we snagged it off a website (shh, don't tell!)...
Playa del Carmen -or Playa as it is called by the locals- has acquired international fame in the unprecedented short span of just ten years. This fascinating town attracts visitors from all over the globe who want to see for themselves what it's all about: to immerse themselves in its atmosphere, feeling the soft white sand underfoot, enjoying the bohemian nightlife on sandy shores and listening to waves break on the beach as they sip a tropical drink.
Young people from all over the world have identified Playa as the place to go to get to know other cultures and ways of life. The resort lures painters, musicians, dancers and poets looking for ways to leap the boundaries of the every day and enter a fantastic universe, where ideas flow like rivers and creativity springs inspired by Nature. The streets of Playa are the favorite stage for anyone with a mission: folk dancers, concheros in pre-Hispanic costumes executing their mystic ritual dance, street performers, strolling minstrels who narrate local legends and artisans working at their craft to the fascination of passers-by.
All along its busy promenades lined with handcraft stores -a mere sampling of Mexican and international creativity- and on the city's famous Fifth Avenue, meeting place of extravagant characters, visitors can taste the delicious local dishes at any of numerous sidewalk cafés, where a marimba, trio from Veracruz or heavy rock band entice diners inside.
This once sleepy fishing village, ensconced in the very heart of the Riviera Maya, is now one of the fastest growing communities in the world. It has a first-class hotel infrastructure and all the services of a cosmopolitan tourism destination. On the horizon, the hazy outline of the legendary island of Cozumel beckons. Regularly scheduled ferries take visitors to Mexico's largest island and world renowned diving site, where turquoise blue waters entice divers to discover the coral wonders hidden beneath the surface.
Playa del Carmen, magic, eclectic and yet steeped in tradition is the doorway to those who want to enjoy the natural beauty and culture of the Mayan World, explore the region, mingle with its people and discover the parks of the Riviera Maya. Today, the new alternative to traditional tourism is eco-adventure travel that offers everything from walks through exuberant jungles to millenary cenotes (sinkholes) and Mayan villages, cave diving in the underground river systems that riddle the Yucatan Peninsula and visits to solitary lagoons, refuge of monkeys and other marvelous wildlife.
After an active day, there is nothing like a massage on the beach, an aromatic bath, therapies to sooth the spirit and mud treatments to eliminate toxins and relieve tension. Although a fascinating kaleidoscope of color created by nature and rich cultural diversity by day, this corner of the Riviera Maya is renowned for its nightlife. The streets, discotheques and bars are animated with live music of all genres: from ska, reggae and hip-hop to blues, Afro-Brazilian, techno and house. The energy traps everyone in this non-stop party that no one escapes from 'til dawn.
PASSPORT!!! - Posted: 25 Oct, 2006
As of January 1, 2007 all travelers flying into Mexico from the States are required to have a passport.
Be sure to give yourself a solid 8-12 weeks for your passport application or renewal to be processed to avoid the rush charge (I think the price doubles).
Here's a link to the necessary info and forms...
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
Hotel Accommodations - Posted: 18 Sep, 2006
We've blocked a group of rooms at a great hotel in Playa, Mosquito Blue. You can check it out at www.mosquitoblue.com!
Essential Info - Posted: 18 Sep, 2006
One flaw with this website is that it insists on saying our wedding is located in Cancun. You can fly into Cancun or Cozumel, but that's all the time you'll be spending in Spring Break Central. A 45 minute drive south of Cancun along the coast will get you to Playa del Carmen, a developing, but decidedly relaxed town where we'll all be playing together and having a wedding!
Trip Advisor has some great information on the town and how to get there: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g150812-Playa_del_Carmen_Yucatan_ Peninsula-Vacations.html
And Amazon has a great book if you enjoy planning your next vacation as much as we do: http://www.amazon.com/Playa-Carmen-Tulum-Riviera-Maya/dp/1581570325/sr=1-1/qid= 1158631531/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-2851153-1415254?ie=UTF8&s=books
Vacation Plans - Posted: 18 Sep, 2006
Come to Mexico prepared to have fun! There are a ton of things to do in Playa--snorkeling in an ecological preserve, diving in crystal clear cenotes, lounging by the pool with a good book, traversing the jungle 20 feet above ground, exploring Mayan ruins, golfing, shopping, eating...
