CUETZALAN, A JEWEL IN THE NORTH MOUNTAINS OF PUEBLA

It is a picturesque town located in a mountain range with beautiful cobblestone streets and redtiled roofs and has been designated Magic Town. It is worth to visit: the Parish of San Francisco, it dates from the end of the 19th century and it has an extraordinary high tower; the Sanctuary of Guadalupe also known as the "Church of the Jarritos", due to the fact that its tower is decorated with hundreds of small clay jugs; The Chapel of the Conception, with exquisite mural paintings; the Calmahuistic Ethnographic Museum, which exhibits a series of typical objects of the inhabitants of the region, traditional cloths, crafts and looms as well as archaeological pieces, photographs and documents. Just four miles to the east of Cuetzalan, is the archeological zone of Yohualichán, with a ceremonial center built on a series of natural platforms; the site contains present very special characteristic such as the alignments of niches that finish off the different buildings from the pyramidal structures, and it is related to the El Tajín site in Veracruz. 

The area offers astonishing natural beauties like: the Cuetzalan system, 32 kilometers of cave passage, some of the most important caves are: Atepolihúi, Cohuatichan, Chichicazapan, Zoquiapan and Chivostoc; and a large number of waterfalls like the Salto del Cuichat, the Salto de las Brisas, and basins like Atepatahua and Las Hamacas. 

More information about the Magic Towns of Puebla, click here http://www.arduinna.com.mx/pdf/pbc_en.pdf

CUETZALAN, UNA JOYA DE LA SIERRA NORTE DE PUEBLA

Pintoresco pueblo ubicado en la sierra con calles empedradas y casas de tejados rojos que ha sido nombrado Pueblo Mágico. Se puede visitar la parroquia de San Francisco, que se remonta a fines del siglo XIX con una torre muy alta; el santuario de Guadalupe o “Iglesia de los Jarritos”, con su torre decorada de vasijas de barro; la Capilla de la Concepción, que destaca por su exquisita pintura mural; el Museo Etnográfico Calmahuistic que exhibe trajes típicos, artesanías, fotografías y piezas de la zona arqueológica. A sólo 7 kilómetros se ubica la zona arqueológica de Yohualichán, con vestigios Totonacas, templos, juego de pelota y pirámides semejantes a las de Tajín.

Dentro de sus bellezas naturales se destacan: las grutas Atepolihúi, Cohuatichan, Chichicazapan, Zoquiapan y Chivostoc que son algunas de las más importantes que conforman un sistema de grutas con una extensión de 32 Km; y numerosas cascadas como el Salto del Cuichat, el Salto de las Brisas, la poza de Atepatahua y las Hamacas. 

Más información sobre los Pueblos Mágicos de Puebla https://programadestinosmexico.com/guias-turisticas-de-mexico/puebla-guia/Gu%C3%ADa-Tur%C3%ADstica-de-Puebla.pdf

IZAMAL, MAGIC TOWN

It is located right in the center of the peninsula, 72 km to the east of Merida. Located right in the center of the peninsula, 72 km to the east of Merida. It is probably one of the eldest cities in Yucatán. Actually known, as the "City of the Hills" because of the archaeological remains located in the town center. This gorgeous colonial city has buildings and beautiful old houses painted in white and ochre.

The Franciscan Monastery is famous for its majestic porticoes cloister, the largest in America. Beside the Convent is The Community Museum.

Izamal offers restaurants, nice hotels and handcrafts stores.

First Magical Town of Mexico, its history, from its foundation to the present, is bonded to a strong religious tradition; this is because this site was once an enormous Mayan ceremonial center.

While you're in Izamal don't miss:

• Centro Cultural y Artesanal Izamal, the museum exhibits magnificent handcrafts. Kinich Kakmó Pyramid, the largest structure on the Yucatan Peninsula.
• Rides in horse-drawn carriages.
• San Antonio de Padua Monastery, the atrium of the Monastery was second in size only to that at the Vatican. 

More information about all the wonders of Yucatan click here http://www.arduinna.com.mx/pdf/yuc_en.pdf

IZAMAL, PUEBLO MÁGICO

Esta ubicada a sólo 72 km de Mérida. Es una de las ciudades más antiguas de Yucatán. Actualmente es conocida como la “Ciudad de las Colinas”, ya que vestigios arqueológicos permanecen en el centro de la ciudad. Casi todos sus edificios están pintados de color amarillo ocre.

El Convento Franciscano, es famoso por la fastuosidad de su claustro, el mayor en América. Al lado del convento se encuentra el Museo de la Comunidad. Izamal cuenta con restaurantes, agradables tiendas de artesanías y hoteles.

Ha sido nombrado Pueblo Mágico y su historia, desde que se fundó hasta el presente, está ligada a una fuerte tradición religiosa, pues este sitio fue alguna vez un enorme centro ceremonial maya.

Lo que no te debes de perder en Izamal:

• Centro Cultural y Artesanal Izamal con magníficas obras artesanales. 
• Pirámide del Kinich Kakmó, tiene el basamento más grande de la península de Yucatán. 
• Recorridos en calesa.
• Convento de San Antonio de Padua, con el atrio más grande del mundo.

Más información de todas las maravillas de Yucatán http://www.arduinna.com.mx/pdf/yuc_es.pdf

THE AGAVE REGION, A WORLD HERITAGE SITE

In the surroundings of the Magic Town of Tequila, you can enjoy nature and adventure sports. The Tequila Volcano, an extinct volcano more than 9,000 feet high covered with wooded areas and exotic varieties of orchids, completely safe to hike. The Agua Caliente Canyon, the birdplace of wild species of blue agave. The viewpoint of Chuiquihuitillo, located in Tequila Canyon. The viewpoint of La Cumbre, in the way to this point, you will enjoy the landscape of blue agave fields. "La Toma" Hot Springs, a network of trails leads to a series of pools -- some warm and suitable for swimming, others hot enough for a therapeutic soaking -- stretched out along the deeply forested canyon walls.

For more information about Tequila and other natural beauties in Jalisco click here http://www.arduinna.com.mx/pdf/gdl_en.pdf

PAISAJE AGAVERO, PATRIMONIO CULTURAL DE LA HUMANIDAD

En los alrededores del Pueblo Mágico de Tequila, se puede disfrutar de la naturaleza y practicar diversos deportes de aventura. Se destaca: el Volcán de Tequila, en cuyas laderas se encuentra una zona boscosa y variedades exóticas de orquídeas y es completamente seguro para escalar. La Barranca del Agua Caliente, lugar de origen de la especie silvestre del agave azul Tequilana. El Mirador del Chuiquihuitillo, ubicado en la barranca de Tequila. El Mirador de La Cumbre, en cuyo trayecto se puede disfrutar del paisaje de los campos de agave azul. El Balneario “La Toma”, rio subterráneo que desemboca en la barranca de Tequila con una cascada de 6 metros, cuenta con varias albercas y un hermoso panorama a la sierra de Tequila. 

Más información sobre Tequila y otras bellezas del estado de jalisco http://www.arduinna.com.mx/pdf/gdl_es.pdf

SURFING AT SPECTACULAR SURF BEACHES

The coast of the Riviera Nayarit has several beaches ideal for different levels of surfers.

Among the best places are:

The Cove & El Faro in Punta de Mita. The tide is high and gets shallow on low tide. Bottom is sandy with rock.

El Anclote. Type, long board, right reef-rocky. Good beginner break. Mellow pitch, slow, and long, usually 2-4 ft., right.

La Lancha. Type, long board, most rights some left. Good long board wave. Best on incoming tide, then outgoing tide. 

Punta Burros. Great, favorite break in the area. The high tide is best, but works on most anything. Left is steeper and throws a bit. Right is longer with a mellower pitch. 

Sayulita. Decent wave that goes without much swell. Longboard, shortboard. Mostly rights. 

Los Veneros or Dinosaurs. This is a classic reef break with a long right It is a great short board wave, but long boarders enjoy it too.

The Pools. This is a fast hollow right that pitches big time. The easiest way to get to the break is to simply paddle over to it. The bottom has coral and sharp rocks. 

Punta Custodio. It is a Rivermouth. The direction is right and left. Bottom is sandy. 

La Caleta. This is a deep-water peak that unwinds down a perfect left point.

Matenchen Bay. Reputed to be the longest ride-able wave in the world, Matenchen Bay offers an excellent long right point over a cobblestone and sand bottom.

Las Islitas was once famous for the longest wave in the world. The direction is right and left. The bottom is sandy with rock.

Lolas. An excellent left point, you will find a long and sometimes hollow left. The bottom has reef and sharp rocks. 

More information about Riviera Nayarit http://www.arduinna.com.mx/pdf/rny_en.pdf

UNO DE LOS LUGARES MÁS ESPECTACULARES PARA SURFEAR: RIVIERA NAYARIT

La costa de la Riviera Nayarit cuenta diversas playas ideales para el surf en sus diversos niveles y estilos.

Dentro de los mejores lugares se pueden mencionar:

The Cove & El Faro en Punta de Mita, tiene marea alta y es poco profundo cuando hay marea baja. El fondo es arenoso con rocas.

El Anclote, oleaje con rompimiento derecho. Excelente para los principiantes. Tiene oleaje suave, lento y largo, las olas miden menos de metro y medio.

La Lancha, muchas olas tienen rompimiento derecho pero hay algunas con izquierdo. Es mejor con marea entrante.

Punta Burros, es uno de los lugares favoritos del destino. La marea alta es mejor, sirve para cualquier tabla.

Sayulita, con buenas olas que llegan con fuerza. El rompimiento de olas en su mayoría es derecha.

Los Veneros o Dinosaurios, es un punto clásico con un largo rompimiento derecho.

Las Albercas, tiene un rápido rompimiento de ola derecho. La Playa, tiene un excelente punto de rompimiento con una gran amplitud perfecta para hacer un "cañón.

Punta Custodio, Es una desembocadura de un río. El rompimiento de las olas son a la derecha y a la izquierda.

La Bahía de Matanchen conocida por tener las olas más largas y más manejables del mundo.

Las Islitas fue alguna vez algunas de las olas más largas en el mundo. Los rompimientos son a la derecha y a la izquierda.

Lolas, al norte de San Blas, las olas presentan un largo rompimiento izquierdo y túneles inolvidables. 

Descubre esto y mucho más en la Guía de Riviera Nayarit http://www.arduinna.com.mx/pdf/rny_es.pdf

I BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW THIS ABOUT CHICHEN ITZA

· In 1566 when the Bishop Diego de Landa wrote to Spain to talk about the Well of Sacrifice in Chichen Itza, he compared this place with Jerusalem and Rome, since it was an arrival point for pilgrimages.

· It is estimated that only 20% of the site has been explore.

· In the ball game in Chichén Itzá, a whisper from end can be heard clearly at the other end 500 feet away and through the length and breath of the court. The sound waves are unaffected by wind direction or time of day/night.

more information...http://www.arduinna.com.mx/pdf/yuc_en.pdf

TE APUESTO QUE NO SABÍAS ESTO DE CHICHÉN ITZÁ

· El obispo Diego de Landa cuando escribía en 1566, comparaba el Pozo de los Sacrificios en Chichén Itzá con Jerusalén o Roma, ya que era el punto de llegada de peregrinaciones.

· Se calcula que unicamente se ha excavado un poco más del 20% del asentamiento.

· Una de las peculiaridades del Juego de Pelota de Chichén Itzá es que tiene tal calidad acústica que se pueden parar en los extremos dos personas y hablar en tono bajo y se escucha con perfecta claridad.

quieres enterarte de más...descarga la guía electrónica dando click http://www.arduinna.com.mx/pdf/yuc_es.pdf

THE MAYAN CIVILIZATION, ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING CULTURES

The Mystical Side of the Mayan Culture

The Mayans lived integrated into the cycles of nature and considered that there were three worlds: Ka'an (heaven) Kab (earth) and Xibalba (underworld).

For the Maya, the creator of the cosmos was Itzamná, both Lord from heaven, and Lord of the day and night. He was the son of Hunab K'u an invisible deity. The sky was supported by four gods, the “bacabes”, and they were related to the four cardinal points, with a ceiba tree in each one of them, since it was considered the tree of abundance.

The Mayan practice of astronomy was relegated to the ilhuica tlamatilizmatini, or "wise man who studies heaven". By observing the sky the Mayan people recognized an imaginary band located east to west representing a two-headed snake. The most important object in the sky is the sun, which is universally recognized as the prime life-giver on Earth. The priest-astronomers recorded Mayan cosmology in codices.

The most important application of the Mayan mathematical system along with the astronomy knowledge, was in the development of their calendars. The Mayans were obsessed with numerology, and used many "special numbers" to create their two interconnected calendars. The Tzolk'in, a calendar of 260 days divided into 13 numbers and 20 days, was a ritual calendar.

The Mayans had a series of rituals associated with maintaining the order of the cosmos, fertility and welfare. Virtually all acts of daily life such as birth, marriage, and death involved a series of rituals that included dances, sacrifices, self-sacrifice, ball games, etc.

For more information you click here to get the guides for the different destinations of the Mayan world http://www.arduinna.com.mx/pdf/rmy_en.pdf

AN UNDERWORLD PARADISE

AN UNDERWORLD PARADISE

The amazing reefs of Cozumel

Chankanaab Reef, Shallow, Balones, Caves

This is a shallow platform reef with mild currents and small coral heads. Here you will discover the Chankanaab Lagoon, a natural aquarium. This name in Maya means “Small Sea”, considered one of the most exceptional eco-systems in the world. Visitors can practice completely safe free diving – without a tank – or sports diving. A long continuous band of colorful coral reef filled with cracks and crevices and holes which attract all sorts of marine life like stonefish, scorpion fish, splendid toadfish and lots of trigger and tang fish. Near and under the coral heads you can find Spiny lobster, crabs, Spotted Moray eels, Grunts, and sometimes Lion Fish. Generally the current will run from North to South and the visibility is not as good as other dive sites because of the flow of the cool fresh water from the Chakanaab lagoon.

San Francisco Reef Shallow/ Wall

This a quarter mile long ridge of coral running parallel to the shore, broken into three sections, separated by about 60 yards of sand. This is usually a second dive. This is an especially colorful reef where red, yellow, pink and orange sponges abound. The best dive sights at depths ranging between 25 to 60 feet. A sandy slope leads to a segrass plain where you may find turtles, giant Parrotfish, French Angelfish, Black Groupers, green moray eels, nurse sharks and in some season eagle rays. This is an exciting place to see with pristine sponges, and brain corals. You can go as deep as you want.

Palancar Reef Gardens / Horseshoe / Caves / Bricks

The reef is more than three miles long (5km) and about one mile (1.5km) offshore and is one of the most beautiful reefs in the world. The coral formations are very colorful and have literally hundreds of species of coral jammed together with lavender and orange sponges interspersed, as well as sea fans and a wide variety of marine life. With typically mild currents and great visibility this reef is excellent first dive for those not yet confident in their dive skills.

Palancar Horseshoe gets its name from the shape of its large, natural u-shaped amphitheater, which can be seen from the surface. The corals form tall towers, deep buttresses, gullies and canyons. With these unique diving conditions each dive is an interesting experience. A spectacular dive site to catch some mesmerizing sights and capture some photos, since currents are usually slow running and visibility stays around 200’ minimum.

More information in the best Cozumel dive guide http://www.arduinna.com.mx/pdf/czm_en.pdf