Thursday, June 7, 2012

Take Family And Friends on a Tropical Mexican Vacation

By Frank D. Gardner


Ask yourself: what could be more relaxing than lying on a tropical beach, watching the sun set? Especially in the equatorial latitudes, sunsets are certainly a sight to behold the glowing orange disc descending on the horizon, seeming to melt into the glittering waves as they dance, alight with fiery colors. If you close your eyes, you can almost hear the tranquil calls of tropical birds singing their mates home to roost, and smell the salty, invigorating scent of the sea. This is the kind of evening that becomes typical after a few days vacationing in Mexico to be followed by a gorgeous, brilliant sunrise the next morning, provided you wake up early enough to catch it! Your entire family will be so awed at the pristine beaches, balmy weather, and sumptuous cuisine that it'll be hard to believe the vacation can get any better; rest assured, though, that all that is only the beginning.

Mexico: Land of Serenity

Whatever your family's preferred vacation activity, it's a safe bet you can find it within a stone's throw of your hotel in Mexico. For that matter, if every member of your family has a different preferred activity, you can be confident they'll all be equally pleased by the multitude of options this amazing land has to offer. Lovers of the good life will be hard pressed to find superior luxury resorts anywhere in the world the Mexican Riviera Maya hosts a full complement of five-star accommodations at unbelievable prices. If big cities are more your style than tropical beaches, look no further than Mexico City second only to Tokyo as the largest urban environment on the planet, a city as modern and twenty-first century as it is rich in history. And if history is what you came to experience, you'll need more than just a few weeks more than a few months, in fact, to take in all the magnificent Mayan ruins on the Yucatan peninsula.

The Majesty of Tulum

In fact, one of the most amazing Maya sites is right next door to the popular resorts of Cancun, Cozumel, and the Riviera Maya. The ancient port city of Tulum stands guard like a silent watchtower on the rocky coast; it was one of the longest-lived Maya cities, fully operational for almost fifty years beyond the Spanish conquest, until a plague finally ended its long reign and left it barren and abandoned. You'll walk in the shadow of the huge stone pyramid El Castillo (The Castle), and along the massive sea wall which stood as a protective barrier against invasion from the ocean. Tulum is also one of the world's oldest known lighthouses; there is a series of small windows in the barrier wall which act to focus the rays of the sun at certain times of day. These light beams shining out onto the water helped to guide trading ships around the dangerous shoals and coral reefs offshore. If you stay on the Riviera Maya, consider taking a walking or bicycle tour of this incredible historical treasure.

Central America: Land of Limitless Possibility

Southern Mexico is the gateway to Central America, a region similarly rich in historical treasures and unmatched natural beauty. Just a short trip south to Belize opens the door to a wide variety of adventures such as nature tours and bird-watching, activities best undertaken with an experienced guide who can lead the way and point out the multitude of rare and colorful birds and animals not to be found in any other biome on the planet. If animals are not your passion, you can simply meander amidst the thick foliage and marvel at the limitless variety of tropical flowers, trees, and ferns, walking under towering waterfalls, and taking in a sunset as it sinks beneath the jungle canopy. Or, you could climb down a cenote to experience the thrill of underground cave tubing. A particularly popular destination for this is the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave, where you can descend deep into the ancient Mayan underworld and view the glittering, calcified remains of the Crystal Maiden.

With all these amazing adventures waiting for you, what's holding you back? A trip to Mexico and Central America is sure to be the vacation of a lifetime for both you and your family. Whether your passion is nature or history, seeing or doing, maxing or relaxing, Mexico will make your next family trip the one that you'll all remember and revisit in your memories time and time again.




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