“Oooh, Mexico, it sounds so sweet with the sun sinkin’ low, the moon’s so bright likes to light up the night, make everything alright.”  Jimmy Buffet’s “Mexico”

If you have read any of my past blogs, you don’t have to venture a guess whether I have a special affection for Mexico (in particular the Riviera Maya)! It seems I’m not the only one who loves Mexico.

Frommer’s Travel Guide is one of the best-selling travel guides in America, has released their list of Top 10 Destinations for 2012, and Mexico’s gorgeous Yucatán Peninsula made it onto their Top 10 List!

Click here to read what they had to say! http://www.frommers.com/micro/2011/top-destinations-2012/yucatan-peninsula-mexico.html#ixzz1cpn4VHl5

Making this list is a real boost for Mexico’s tourism as it continues getting a bad rap in the news about ongoing drug wars and violence along the US border. But what most of the headlines don’t say is that this violence is very localized (occupying 5% of the total municipalities that make up Mexico) and mainly involving individuals that are involved with drug cartels. Many tourists though are checking crime statistics and maps and putting things into perspective. Statistically speaking, the Riviera Maya region in the Yucatán Peninsula is safer than any major city in the U.S. Did you know that Washington D.C.’s murder rate is nearly quadruple that of Mexico City? According to USA Today, Washington’s murder rate was 31.4 per 100,000 people in 2008; Mexico City’s rate in 2009 was 8 per 100,000.

So now we’ve got the statistics out of the way, the Riviera Maya has got it all, whether you’re an adventure junkie or a hammock hound. It could also be considered the poster child for eco-tourism. The magical place of unspoiled, white sand beaches, calm lagoons, cenotes, Mayan sites, lush jungles, embracing turquoise waters and glorious sunsets to name a few of her eco-charms! Add in the fact that the Yucatán is also earning a reputation as the place to go to learn about chocolate.

In July 2011 the first ecological park opened that tells the history of chocolate from the evolution of the cacao tree to the discovery of chocolate by  the indigenous peoples of Mexico. And thanks to the birth of the next cycle on the ancient Mayan calendar, more than 50 million visitors are expected this year in the five Mexican states that comprised the dynasty (Campeche, Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatan and Quintana Roo).

With special events and celebrations including festivals, fairs and arts and crafts planned, Mexico is telling visitors, “What’s Mayan is yours”. (Now isn’t that cute?)Growth in tourism in this area over the past few years has been so robust that a new airport, Riviera Maya International Airport is slated to open in 2014 near Tulum to accommodate the overflow from Cancun’s airport.

All in all good news for this beautiful tropical paradise.(side pic of “holy hole” a lagoon in the Yucatan) Once you are under the spell of the Riviera Maya and her endless wonder, you’ll have to resist the urge to stay forever!

“PLAYA Gal” (a very satisfied client working to promote Playa Beach Getaways!) 

 salgal@playabeachcondo.com ~~~ PS Catch us on Facebook & Pinterest