Mayan Riviera, Mexico

January 2008

Viva Wyndham Azteca Hotel

By Helen Funk

Ben and I departed January 1, 2008 at 6:00 am with Sunquest on Sky Service from Winnipeg to Cancun for 2 weeks.

After 4 hours and 45 min of flying, we arrived as scheduled and hopped on the shuttle bus to the Mayan Riviera (Playa Car) and checked into the Viva Wyndham Azteca Hotel.

As we checked in we were surprised by being the first 2008 guest to check in.  We received a basket and a bottle of champagne in our room and also were acknowledged in the evening by their entertainment staff with gift, so that was kind of nice.

The day that we arrived was cloudy but warm and later in the day we had a heavy rain, which followed with 3 more days of cloudy, windy, and some what cool temperatures, but after that the weather became warm and was great.

Jan 4th  we joined the EK BALAM tour. Ek Balam is the latest rebuilt Mayan Ruins in Mexico, it opened in 2007 to the public. We climbed to the top of the main pyramid, which is very step and high, 112 steps to the top, where we were able to view the large campus.   We had a knowledgeable tour guide who had study the Mayan history. The Pok-ta Pok ball field was basically untouched in all these years. I suggest exploring the cities of ancient Mayan civilization.  Shrouded in mystery are archeological sites inhabited by the Mayan people thousands of years ago.

The Mayan Riviera is filled with endless adventures and fun things to do and discover, and there is no possible way to do this in 1 or 2 weeks, but it is like they say, you can always come back and continue.

Xel- Ha is one of the most uniquely beautiful natural aquariums of the world to discover and to explore the magic of nature to its fullest.

You can put your snorkeling gear on and discover the friendliest and the most colorful sea creatures too.  You may jump or dive the cliff of Courage, which is 35 feet high, and float on an inner tube and let the magic currents take you along the lazy river. You can swing on the Tarzan rope and walk the challenging walking rope, and if that is not exciting enough you go and swim with the dolphins, which is an experience of a life time.  Of course there are also all those wonderful buffets.

Other tours that you can pick-up right from the hotels are The Chicheanitza (Coba Mayan Village), Tulum-Jungle Crossing, Chickin Ha,  Jungle shopping, Xcaret, Caribbean cruising, Captain Hook, Royal Swim, and Catamaransto to name a few.

Mother Nature lives in the Eco-Parks of the Mayan Riviera.  There is a host of rare birds, exotic wildlife, falling waters, sub-terrain rivers, and rainbow fish, and lagoons famous among snorkelers.  Plop yourself on an inner tube and float down a river.  The Caribbean in the Mayan is for the scuba divers and snorkelers.

The Mayan is a world-class golf destination, scenic courses designed by the biggest names in golf. World class designers have signed several layouts here, including the players Jack Nicklaus, and Greg Norman, and renowned architects PB Dye and Robert vom Hagge. These leading golfers and architects have carved exciting layouts through landscapes from jungle to mangroves to sea fronts.