Our first time travel to Mexico was the Yucatan...and from our very first visit we fell in love with Mexico. These were the early days of Isle de Mujeres and Cozumel diving. We were so lucky to experience all this before the tourist explosion. Exploring Mayan ruins in Uxmal, Chichen Itza, shopping for silver in Taxco, bullfights in Mexico City. All the special places in the Yucatan and Mexico that make for unique Mexico vacation spots. We had a wonderful first vacation in Mexico. Olé we hope you enjoy our info on Mexico!

Our trip started in New York, flying to Tampa via Pan Am and then onto Merida. From Merida to the exotic ruins at Chichen Itza and Uxmal. Isle Mujeres was our destination. We were among the first New Yorkers to visit this area, and info on Mexico was very limited. The trip literally took two days! (not conducive to a lot of tourists then). We broke it up by staying at the Hacienda Uxmal and exploring the unbelievable ruins in Chichen Itza and Uxmal. If you have never visited these two areas, they are absolute musts on anyone's list. These ruins are second only to the Pyramids in Egypt and are awe inspiring. The legends surrounding them are even more so. After the ruins we took a first class bus to Puerto Juarez and then the ferry to Isle Mujeres. Is it any wonder it was such a wild wonderful place for a vacation in those days. Check our Cancun Travel Packages for Cancun vacation deals you won't want to miss!

The Zazil Ha hotel, today, the Avalon Reef Club had just been built by the Lima family on Isle de Mujeres. The Lima family was and maybe is still a very influential family in Mexico. Esteban Lima was on the island the whole time we were there and there was a lot of adventure, as it was around the time of the "Bay of Pigs", boatloads of Cubans would take off and head for Isle Mujueres, to escape from Castro. Cuban fishing boats trolled the waters and had three soldiers aboard, armed and fierce looking to prevent the fishermen from jumping ship. We came face to face with one of these one day, when my husband's hat flew off, we turned the boat around to get it and found three soldiers with guns pointing at us, we forgot the hat and got out of there quick. Hurricane Carla was the first hurricane that we experienced in the area. (October was always one of the times we could get away for vacation, also hurricane season! so we experienced 2 more as well) Lucky for us, sad for the Cubans, that it turned back towards Cuba where it was responsible for about 5,000 deaths. We were staying in a thatched roof hut on the beach, but were evacuated to the church along with all the residents of the island. That thatched roof hut was actually a part of Zazil Ha. But we wanted to rough it on the beach and rough it we did. Poncho and Coy, Pancho the driver and Coy the mule would drive us in a cart up to the dining room in the main part of the hotel. There were a few smaller "hotels", like El Zorro, and our newly made friends from Argentina stayed there year after year. Pictured at right the giant "tortuga" that were found in the waters. These tortugas are very old and very large. The Mexicans would catch them and put them into holding pens, after which they would be sold off for their tortoise shell. Not done today of course. If you were brave you could hold onto those giant flippers and take a ride! 

After our stay at Isla Mujeres, we took a ferry over to Cozumel...Cozumel was just being discovered by divers at that point. Mexican beaches reach their zenith in Cozumel. The sand is the finest, all ground up conch shells! There was a lot of archaeological exploration going on at various sites on the Yucatan mainland. Pablo Bush Romero and Cendant were diving in the cenotes (underground rivers - shaped like a sock) These cenotes were believed to be where the Mayan sacrifices took place and many beads, sacrificial bowls, etc  were found in these cenotes. They cover the mainland of Yucatan.  

We fell in love with Cozumel, "Cozumel, Cozumel,Que bonito Cozumel", as a song from those days stated. My husband and his friend Ralph were divers, the Mayans and the Mexicans nicknamed them "Secoup and Chinook" after 2 comic book characters of the time, as you would see them strolling down main street with spear guns over their shoulder on their way to "Aqua Safari" the only dive shop in town. We dived over Palancar Reef (considered at that time to be second only to the Grand Barrier Reef in Australia for it's fish and coral, etc.) .

We sailed over to Akumal to find and dive on El Mantanceros, a Spanish wreck that went down in 1741. The wreck was considered very dangerous because of currents, etc. The barrier reef that protects Akumal the entire length of the Yucatan is probably the reason The Mantenceros foundered. See a medallion found on the wreck below. We went on fishing and diving expeditions to Contoy (isle of birds) and Cancun. We got to know many of the local Mayan people. (pictured at left - yours truly with two of our Mayan friends). Cozumel was rustic and quaint, and was touted as a great Mexico vacation spot for divers, by all the sports writers. 

We were some of the very first tourists from the United States, the native Mayan people embraced us with love and caring. We were invited to weddings, christenings and funerals, as our friendships developed over 10 years travel to and from the island. Pepe Leca, the manager at Cozumel Caribe, where we always stayed, became a great friend. (his son now runs one of the finest diving shops in Cozumel). Pepe, Sr. managed El Presidente Hotel, now Presidente Inter-Continental a famous Mexican beach resort, and then went onto open Pepe's Restaurant. But in those days he would meet us at the airport with musicians and margueritas. Four of us always came together, Mamacita and Papacita from Boston, Juanita (me) and Guillermo from New York. We were accepted as "Familia". We always stayed at Cozumel Caribe, owned by the Barbachano family out of Merida. Today it is the Utell Cozumel Caribe Club, located on the most beautiful stretch of beach imaginable, San Juan Beach. 

These were quiet times on Cozumel, no newspapers, barely telephone service, certainly no TV, so it was a great place to relax and unwind. At night we would walk to Cabanas del Caribe (rustic then, rustic now, divers love this place!) to feed the sharks that would swim towards the lights shining into the lagoon from the bar...and talk about Mexico beaches. This beach is broad and beautiful, but the last time I was there, also crowded. Thrills were the name of the game in the water, diving in the caves, hunting shark with power heads on spear guns, fishing for barracuda, diving over the reefs. The only cars to rent were old jeeps (and I believe German!), Joaquin and Trini were the rental agents. Juan and Arturo from the before mentioned Aqua Safari, led divers to the all best spots. Along with Guitano (the gypsy who disappeared one night after going out in high seas). For many years there was a cross in his memory by the Cabanas del Caribe. Memories keep coming and some day soon, we'll sort through all those slides and put more photos up. Keep watching.

Cancun was still an island, not one of the top Mexico vacations spots as it has become today!. Cancun was not yet connected to the mainland. The first time we landed (by boat) on Cancun, there were only palm trees and some minor Mayan ruins. Today, Cancun vacations are hot and hotter! There are numerous things to do in Cancun, dive, play golf, the beaches are beautiful, boating, fishing or indulge yourself at a spa! Our spa provider offers an unbelievable 5 Night 'Spa the World' Package, you'll get accommodations, all meals, drinks, spa treatments, it doesn't get any better than the Adventura Spa Palace in Cancun! Akumal, could only be reached by sea before the road was built down the mainland, pretty tough to get to. From Cozumel it was a 12 mile trip across a very choppy Yucatan Channel that took about a half day, Acumal was not the target, the quest was the "Mantanceros" officially "Nuesto Senora Los Milagres" for treasure diving! Pictured at right is a medallion found on the wreck, there were many crosses, buttons, needles, and coins, as well as many of these medallions found. The medallions were thought to have been worn around the sailor's necks. This one could be St. Christopher. At Akumal, there was one lone house (an architect from Mexico City had a hunting lodge on the lagoon). The guys dropped the girls off at the house, deciding that the wreck would be too dangerous for us to dive on. No one was in residence at the time, so we occupied ourselves by fishing for Red Snapper in the lagoon and sun bathing. We had quite a shock when "Chicleros" (natives who cut the chicle) Chicle is also where "Chicklets gum got it's name, came out of the jungle with their machetes, they turned out to be totally harmless, but gave us such a fright as those machetes were so fierce  looking! The next day we decided it was safer to dive on the wreck. Take a glance at Club Oasis Akumal today.

After Cancun was connected to the mainland, and the road was built south, Akumal and Tulum became easy to get to, there are many grand hotels and resorts to choose from. In those days it was a far different story. Travel and time do change. Today you can even get great Mexican vacation packages, to all these places and more!

A another favorite town of ours is Cuernavaca! Charm, charm and more charm. Also they say it never rains in Cuernavaca - don't believe it. We were there for 5 straight days of rain once. We hardly left the hotel room! Hence our fond memories! Hosteria Las Quintas was our place.

Acapulco - crowded today, but still a delight and guaranteed beautiful weather. Always a balmy day! Pictured below, yours truly and spouse with admirer. We had brought a group to Mexico and the Land Operator thought it was great fun to meet us with chimp in tow. This chimp loved me and wouldn't let me out of his site. My husband thought it was the funniest thing he ever saw. I was not totally amused. This photo taken at the Paradise Restaurant on the beach, not sure if it's still there, but what fun! To search our hotels and resorts acapulco!

And last but not least the excitement of Mexico City. With 22 million people and traffic problems, Mexico City can still be a fascinating place. Ballet Folklorico has been performing for at least 40 years at the Bellas Artes, and if you don't find the costumes and the dances gorgeous enough, you won't believe the Tiffany Curtain. It's worth the price of admission alone. Mexico City has to rate as one of the most colorful Mexico vacation spots.

Ancient Mexico can be seen at the Aztec ruins at Teotihuacán. The feathered serpent Quetzlcoatl in all his glory. You can return to colonial Mexico in short order with a visit to Coyoacan in the southern part of Mexico City. Beautiful haciendas preserved, museums, cafes worth a visit...

Hotel Camino Real has always been a favorite, Presidente Intercontinental hotel also a good choice. For hotels, travel in Mexico, bookmark hotelsntravel.com. For the best Mexican vacation you ever had!

TIPS FOR TRAVEL TO MEXICO or How to avoid Montezuma's revenge!

Don't drink the water! Bottled water is still the safest way to avoid Montezuma's Revenge.
Don't eat any vegetable or fruit that cannot be peeled. Their fertilization is different from ours, anything different can affect your body... The same for the water. Many times even in the states when you travel from water system to water system there can be stomach upsets In Mexico this also hold true for the ICE. Drinks without ice is the way to go.

"en botella" (canned foods) another thing to avoid. Their canning procedures are different from ours.

Also don't be too quick to eat food from the rolling carts selling various foods and ice creams. Refrigeration is not always the best!

Keep you mouth closed in the swimming pools and the shower (water once again). Now that we have nearly scared you to death, let me reassure that after many dozen trips to Mexico, we have never gotten ill - simply applying the principles above. Our motto, better safe than sorry! And Pepto Bismal, still the best choice - just in case...and latest report is you'll soon need your US Passport to go to all of these Mexico vacation spots!

Be sure and check all resorts in Mexico to learn more about Mexico travel.

enjoy our info on mexico! si, como, no?

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