Archive for August, 2008

Getting Married in Xcaret by Grupo Mayan

Friday, August 15th, 2008

Located snuggly amidst the rainforest of the Caribbean and along the shores of a beautiful turquoise sea this Mexican city is like no other place you have been to before. Xcaret means small inlet in Maya. Xcaret presents a spectacular eco park located in the middle of the Riviera Maya. Here Grupo Mayan guests can discover an endless recreational adventure with the parks wide range of popular attractions. The preservation of its environment as well as many of the legends and cultures associated with the Maya people are of paramount importance to Xcaret. Much of the Eco Park’s concern is centered upon sensitizing its visitors to the need for saving the planet, which it tries to do through its interactive activities.

It doesn’t matter if the Grupo Mayan guest is relaxing or simply exploring the area they can enjoy all of the exciting wonders that Xcaret has to offer. There is a museum located at the Eco Park that has scale models created for the various ancient Maya cities, an aviary made for breeding of wild birds, a large butterfly Pavilion, the archaeological zone, several underground rivers, the complete Mayan village, an elaborate botanical garden which is home to an orchid, an Apiary and a mushroom farm.

The park also boasts of a Coral Reef Aquarium, a clear lagoon with several manatees, two enclosed dolphin areas, jaguars and pumas that have their own islands as well as a variety of smaller mammals, which provide a cross selection of the local fauna. Grupo Mayan visitors may choose from five restaurants within the park, which offer both native Mexican and Caribbean menus complete with live music. Additional attractions of the park include an assortment of rest areas, a rotating scenic tower, varied aquatic activities, and the Xcaret Spectacular Night. The park promises everyone a day full of unforgettable experiences.

Upon your arrival at the Park, the Grupo Mayan guest will quickly realize how large this park really is. With its 200-acres, only one third of it has been completed with activities. It is considered a living sample of the successful integration of humanity with Mother Nature. With the combination of the beautiful natural landscape and the modern technology subtly merged together the facility presents a protective and beautiful display of nature. It has the capacity for accommodating over 700,000 people that visit it annually and still they manage to protect the ecosystems.

Now that we have told you all these nice things about Xcaret, can you imagine a Grupo Mayan guest having their wedding take place here? Picture your Xcaret Wedding as you walking through one of their caves lighted with candles with cascading waterfalls in the background. Imagine this entire scenario-taking place around the water plus a talented violin player adding that extra bit of romance to the day.
The wedding counselors will sit down with the Grupo Mayan visitor and design a personalized ceremony that combines both the mystic and the natural elements of Xcaret to create that extra special romantic moment.

El Faro Lighthouse and Grupo Mayan visitors

Friday, August 15th, 2008

This famous 90-foot high lighthouse, which is commonly identified as El Faro is an actual working lighthouse. It is one of the major landmarks associated with the Rincon coast. It was once destroyed by a tidal wave but the lighthouse was so dearly embedded in the hearts of the local people that it was rebuilt. With this new construction of El Faro the Grupo Mayan guests can enjoy a quaint little park at its base, a modern fast food restaurant and a gift shop inside, a picnic area with benches spread around and a small maritime museum also. There are plenty of attractions to occupy both the young and the old.

The El Faro Park remains a popular gathering spot for the Grupo Mayan visitors to watch the enchanting sunsets with a loved one or during the cool winter season the Grupo Mayan guests can watch the playful dolphins frolicking in the ocean along with the many whales families.

Since El Faro in situated in the middle of Domes Beach with Rincon Beach on the one side and Maria’s Beach on the other is offers the Grupo Mayan visitor many fine opportunities for underwater fun ranging from snorkeling to scuba diving.
The El Faro lighthouse itself was initially constructed in 1892 when the area was first controlled by the Spanish, just prior to the Spanish-American War of 1898. It was one of two lighthouses in the area destroyed by a tsunami and an earthquake in 1918, the other being the Point Borinquen lighthouse located in nearby Aquadilla.

As mentioned, this 90-foot high lighthouse was rebuilt and its first light turn on in 1922. It was automated in the year 1933 and today it operates as an un-staffed 26,000 candlepower revolving beacon. Although it is still operational, since it is un-staffed it is closed to Grupo Mayan visitors and the public.

El Faro Park has a small entertainment area, which is well maintained and very delightful to view. While a lot of the coast is inhabited by, the visiting Grupo Mayan tourists this park is most likely equally divided between the local population and the tourist guests.

An abundance of Bougainvilleas tends to flourish all around the El Faro lighthouse but they are particularly beautiful when viewed along the edge of the sea. After a short walk on the beach, Grupo Mayan guests meet back at El Faro Park where they can enjoy sitting on one of the many seats provided and withdrawing into the shade sipping a refreshing bottle of water.