Life's a Beach | Daily Life and Real Estate in Playa del Carmen

Greetings "Life's a Beach" readers!

What follows is a message from Tamara Magnusson (tamarainprogreso[at]gmail.com) who is once again seeking information from the US and Canadian ex-pats and snowbirds in Mexico and Central America. Plans to initiate a ferry service from Tampa to Progresso are back on the table at United Caribbean Lines and they are looking for our input to help them move forward with this ambitious investment.

To help United Caribbean Lines make an informed plan to bring this ferry service to the Yucatan, please copy and paste the questionnaire below into an e-mail and send to BNIERENBERG@AOL.COM. Don't forget to share this blog post with your expat friends so that they too can weigh in on this exciting development.

 "The past year has not brought a lot of forward momentum with the ferry project in spite of the interest of three different ferry companies and many false start dates.  The scandals which precipitated personnel changes at the Progresso Port Authority certainly didn't help the situation either, however, things have been happening behind the scenes and from what I understand a number of feasibility studies have been done in the Tampa area showing the ferry project is viable but the inability to do a feasibility study within the expatriate community continues to be a stumbling block especially with investors.  

Having learned from the mistakes of the previous ferry services in the area and responses from the previous expat surveys, the original plans have been modified.  Super high speed ferries are now being considered to shorten the crossing time, frequent user plans, and even free vehicle bonuses are being considered.  A year round weekly crossing schedule with frequency based on use patterns and peak seasons will be offered.  As this service will take some years to become profitable investor backing will be the key to success.

I know many of you have already completed one or both of the previous surveys, but United Caribbean Lines is asking for our input once again.  The results will directly influence investors and the more responses the better so please forward this email and ask everyone you know who may travel this direction to answer the questions and forward their responses to United Caribbean Lines.  If you have access to expatriate websites, blogs or travel groups please have all your members respond and forward the questions on to any other websites and blogs you use anywhere in Central America.  Even if you have no interest in using the ferry service please respond because part of the purpose is to try to establish how many expats live in the Yucatan and Central America.

If you are comfortable letting UCL know how to reach you they would like to extend some special courtesies, goodies, discounts and upgrades for helping them, when the ferry service begins.  Just put your email address and mailing address in Central America on your answers to the questionnaire so UCL can reach you with the offers when they get started. "


Questionnaire for Ex-Pats living in Central America for new Ferry Service of United Caribbean Lines

1.       Where in Mexico/Central America is your current home?

 2.       How many family members reside in your Mexico/Central American home?

 3.       Do you maintain a second home in the U.S. or Canada?

 4.        When you travel to go to the U.S or Canada to visit friends family etc. What is your destination?

 5.       How many times a year do you make this trip?

 6.       If you have more than one place you travel to in the U.S or Canada please list those additional destinations

 7.       How often to you travel to these secondary destinations each calendar year

 8.       When you go do you drive or fly? If both what is the approx. % for each?

 9.       Do you have pets? Do you take them when you return to the U.S or Canada?

 10.   When you return to the U.S. or Canada do you shop for supplies etc. For your home in Mexico/Central America?

 11.   When you travel from your home in Mexico/Central America to the U.S. or Canada are there times of the year you do most of the travel? If so, when?

 12.   Do friends and family come to Mexico/Central America each year to visit you? If so how often?

 13.   Do you own an RV in Mexico/Central America?

                   a.       Would you take it on the ferry?
 

14.   What would be the most important reasons you would take the ferry to Florida?

Please number the following reasons in order of importance for using the ferry.   Number 1 being the most important, and Number 10 the least.

1.      Go back to other homes in U.S. and or Canada ____

2.      Visit family and friends ____

3.      Shopping ____

4.      Vacationing in Florida  ___

5.      I can take my car or RV ___

6.      Go to Florida to use airports for further travel ___

7.      Go to Florida to get on a cruise ____

8.      Just to get away for a short trip ____

9.      Travel for medical purposes ___

10.  Other ( please name ) ______

      Additional comments or things you would like us to know to help serve you better with our new ferry service

Many visitors to the Riviera Maya contact us to ask what they might bring down from the United States or Canada to help the efforts of local animal rescue groups. Tierra de Animales, an organization we featured in our 2011 12 Days/12 Ways campaign, has published a wishlist of needed items that can be purchased up north at a fraction of the cost charged in Mexico.

Cash donations for medical supplies to be purchased by Tierra de Animales volunteers in the US and Canada are also appreciated. Most items are much less expensive in the US and easy for volunteers to bring down. Ongoing monetary donations are also needed for food and the purchase of airline approved dog kennels/carriers to transport adopted dogs to their new homes and families!! Thank you!

 

Please contact Lisa Edwards at helpmexicandogs@hotmail.com if you can donate any of the following:

*Collars, new or very gently used, only the snap kind please, and no metal chokers
*Plastic kennels/crates for airline travel, med-large sizes!!!!
*Medicines: doxycycline, amoxicillin, any antibiotics, any pain medications, topical wound care (Veterycin or similar)
*Heartworm and erhlichia tests
*General antibacterial topical ointments (Neosporin or similar)
*Absorbable sterile mono filament sutures for spay and neutering, 2-0, 3-0 sizes
*Sterile surgical gloves, sizes 6, 7, 7 1/2
*Bandage material: Co-flex/Co-wrap (self adhesive wound wrap), sterile gauze pads, etc...

It's turtle nesting season again on the Riviera Maya! Every year, adult female Loggerhead and Green Sea Turtles make their way to the beaches of the Riviera Maya, build nests and lay up to 150 soft-shelled eggs twice each season. When the baby turtles hatch (approx. 60 days later), they instinctively head for the water, using the light of the moon for navigation. They smell and taste the sand as they find their way to the ocean and remarkably will return to the very beach where they were born when it comes time for them to nest.

Our good friends at Cabanas Tulum and Ziggy Beach would like to remind everyone to take care during this special time and have shared with us a list of helpful recommendations to consider during this special time!

1. Do not use lights on the beach, shut off balcony lights, and cover all outside lights and windows if you are in a house/condo.

2. If you see a turtle coming ashore to lay their eggs, notify your hotel staff or turtle patrol if you happen to see them on the beach.

3. Do not approach the turtles (unless specifically at the invitation of turtle patrol), do not touch the turtles, definitely do not interfere with any part of the nesting process.

4. Do not take flash photography, this will definitely spook the mom.

5. Do not have beach parties during the nesting season.

6. Keep the beach free of litter or any obstacles that may get in the path of the turtle (bring in beach chairs at night, etc).

7. Keep pets indoors at night, barking dogs are not turtle-friendly.

8. Do not disturb the nests, if you see what you think is a nest that has not been marked, notify the hotel or the authorities.


If everyone works together and respects these rules, we can ensure a long and happy life for this endangered species and their continued visits to the Riviera Maya for years to come.

The best way to see the turtle nests and possibly baby turtles being released is to go on a night walk organized by CEA. Centro Ecologico Akumal is a non-profit environmental organization located in Akumal. They take out a maximum of 10 people each night at 9 pm. CEA is the only organization with permission to access certain beaches during the nesting season. The suggested donation is $15 for adults and $8 for children. Reservations are not accepted, so show up early if you can. There are also regular presentations on the CEA Turtle Watch Program, with slides of the sea turtles and a lecture about their evolution, ecology, behavior, the threats to their survival and how we can help them.

 

After our amazing evening enjoying the Chef's Table Dining Experience at this elegant beachfront resort, we just had to pass along this offer to all our loyal "LIfe's a Beach" readers!

Spend four heavenly days vacationing at the Viceroy Riviera Maya and the resort will pick up your airfare! 

The all-villa Viceroy Riviera Maya's "Fly Free" program offers reimbursement of air tickets for up to three guests, the maximum occupancy in one villa, when you stay at least four nights. The reimbursement per villa ranges from $9,600 pesos to $42,000 pesos, depending on the season and the villa category you book.

The Viceroy Riviera Maya is a serene hideaway of sugary-white sands lapped by the warm Caribbean and a jungle ambiance of ferns, palms and guava trees. The resort merges every luxury amenity with dramatic sea and jungle, bringing together the best of the destination. All 41 villas feature a private patio and plunge pool, outdoor shower, and a high-ceiling, thatched-palapa roof that resonates with the jungle environment. Guests enjoy fine dining on the sea-view loft of La Marea, Mexican-Mediterranean fare at beach-side Coral Grill, and state-of-the-art workout equipment in the fitness center. The resort has its own pier where guests can sunbathe, enjoy massages, savor romantic dinners, and may be conveniently picked up by boat for snorkeling, diving and other excursions. The six-acre resort is on the Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula 40 miles south of Cancun International Airport, and three miles north of popular Playa del Carmen, known for its beach scene, restaurants, boutiques and nightlife. 

"Travelers are looking for more value today and our Fly Free program is an irresistible incentive," said General Manager Pedro Lara.

Fly Free is offered for stays now through December 19, 2012. Guests buy their own airfare and then at check-in present their receipt. The resort will apply the ticket amount, up to the maximum allowance for their villa category, as a credit to the bill. The credit may be applied towards food and beverage and spa services, but not the gift shop, spa retail or outside activities. The offer is subject to availability and blackout dates, and cannot be combined with other promotions, offers or packages. It does not apply to group or corporate contracts. 

For more information and reservations, contact Viceroy Riviera Maya at 984-877-3000/ 01 800-012-3569 or reservations@viceroyrivieramaya.com.

Viceroy Riviera Maya's sister property in Mexico, Viceroy Zihuatanejo, is also offering a Fly Free program. For more information and reservations, contact Viceroy Zihuatanejo at 755-555-5500 or vz.info@viceroyhotelsandresorts.com.

 

 

Once again, it is time to celebrate Earth Day, a special day set-aside for all of us to appreciate the beauty of the world around us and work toward protecting it for future generations. The first Earth Day was organized in the United States on April 22, 1970 as a nationwide demonstration, urging local and federal government officials to put important environmental issues on the agenda. Much to the surprise of the powers-that-be, over 20 million students, environmental activists, business leaders and impassioned citizens participated in the first Earth Day. An environmental revolution had officially begun.

Earth Day has been celebrated every year since 1970, and 42 years later, its purpose remains the same: to encourage social and political action by drawing attention to the cause. Every year, around the world, the critical state of the environment comes to the forefront of everyone's agenda, and billions of people step up to do their part, if only for a day.

Here in Mexico, we also celebrate Earth Day and here are 10 great ways you can commemorate Earth Day 2012 on the Riviera Maya.

1. Go for a bike ride. Every Sunday, the Municipality closes the Arco Vial from 307 near Centro Maya all the way to Juarez. The lanes are open only to bike traffic and hundreds of families and bike enthusiasts turn up every weekend to enjoy the exercise and fresh air.

2. Plant a tree. Planting trees, bushes or any plant life not only beautifies your living spaces, it also cleans some of the CO2 out the air we breath replacing it with essential oxygen. Not all of us have the place to plant a tree but I think we all have room for a potted plant or two. Maybe this is the time to start some tomato plants on your patio or set out a selection of potted herbs on your windowsill!

3. Make a bird feeder with your kids. Here is a great design for an easy DIY bird feeder made out of cheap household and recycled items!

4. Visit a local recycling center. Parque la Ceiba has a wonderful interactive recycling area where children and adults alike can learn how to reduce-reuse-recycle. They also have small plant nursery, a cafe and recreational areas for all ages.

5. Clean up the beach. If you can find an organized beach-cleaning event, great! If not, take plastic bag to the beach and do your part to clean up what has been washed ashore or left behind by less earth-conscious visitors.

6. Start a compost bin. Composting turns kitchen and garden scraps into nutrient rich soil, perfect for your garden or potted plants. Composting also keeps useful, organic waste out of our dumps. You don't need a fancy expensive set-up to start a compost bin and it can be done easily in a small yard or even on a patio or terrace!

7. Turn off the AC. It's hot here, almost year round. Whether you are staying in a hotel or renting a condo in Playa del Carmen it is tempting to leave on the AC when you leave...especially if you are not paying extra for it. Take the time to turn off all lights, fans and air-conditioning units every time you leave to go out.

8. Prepare an Earth Day meal. Fresh, non-processed foods taste so much better and they certainly are better for you! Spend some time at DAC or in the produce section of any major grocery store and see what inspiration you can find from the all the fresh veggies and fruits available. Here is a favorite recipe of ours to inspire you!

9. Buy a Reusable shopping bag. DAC offers plastic mesh shopping bags in various sizes and every color of the rainbow. These are great as they are waterproof and can do double duty as beach bags. If you are looking for a more fashionable alternative, all the best-dressed ladies in Playa carry these gorgeous WearEarth bags from Tote le Monde.

10. Attend an Earth Day event. This year, there are several Earth Day celebrations being held in Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Check out our Riviera Maya Events Calendar for Earth Day events going on in the area. You might also be interested in the Mimi Kiteboarding World Tour being held at Mamitas Beach or the Oaxacan Fair set up in the Municipal Plaza 28 Julio.

Whether you can dedicate 5 minutes, 5 hours or a lifetime, there is something we can all do to help preserve and protect the Riviera Maya. What are your favorite ways to celebrate Earth Day?

Whether you are here on the Riviera Maya for one month, one year or more, keeping your children active and engaged can be a challenge. Children are not always content to hang out on the beach everyday. When we moved here, the options for children's activities were extremely limited. As the city has grown, the demand for quality children's programs has increased and the options expanded to meet the growing need. As you may have already discovered, finding the right resources can be a challenge!  You can only imagine the obstacles we faced eight years ago with no Facebook, no online directories or phone books and nothing more than word of mouth from teachers and other parents to draw from.

Many families, moving to Playa del Carmen with older children, come hoping to continue the activities that the kids were involved with in their home country. If your children play soccer you will find this task much easier than if they play lacrosse. Almost all the private schools have a soccer team but not necessarily a team for all ages. Very often, families will need to look outside of the school campus for extracurricular opportunities to meet their family's needs.

 Last summer, in an effort to help local parents, we published an article with a list of Playa del Carmen summer camps and "cursos de verano" for kids in the area. More recently, our good friend Sara Moen at Playa Maya News compiled a great list of resources for families and children who are visiting the Riviera Maya, either on vacation or for an extended stay. Working together with Sara to find the very best and most popular activities started me on the path to uncovering what options are available for children who are living here full-time and need well-structured sports and other extra-curricular programs during the academic school year. When we started really looking around, we discovered many more activities than I had anticipated.

This is by no means a complete list. It is a work in progress. This information was compiled using my own personal experience and the experiences of friends and other families living in Playa del Carmen.

_____________________________________________________________

Soccer - One of the greatest things about sports is that the spirit of competition and fair play is universal. No matter what country you are from or what language you speak, on the sports field it all comes down to skill, stamina and experience. Signing your kids up for sports in Playa del Carmen will go along way to helping them make friends and learn Spanish. Soccer, or futbol, is by far the most popular sport and nearly all the private schools have their own teams. Girls are allowed to play on these teams but with the exception of the older girls team at Instituto Tepeyac, you will find very few girls on the "cancha" come game day. If your chosen school does not have a futbol team for your aspiring Lionel Messi or Mia Hamm, there are league teams to consider for boys and girls of all ages.

Liga Premier de Futbol Infantil y Juvenil Riviera Maya AC
http://www.ligafutbolrivieramaya.com
informes@ligafutbolrivieramaya.com
984-118-5330

Playa Soccer - Young children, youth, girls teams
Calle 86 Norte, west of 307
984-873-3354
984-152-4237

InterPlaya Youth Soccer
Mario Villanueva Stadium
Corner of Ave. 20 and Calle 34
Coach Mario Tejo

 

American Football is becoming more and more popular in Quintana Roo. Driving up through Cancun, I have spotted several football fields at the Preparatory and Universities that line the highway. The only team in Playa del Carmen is the Caballeros but they have been in existence now for a few years and have quite a few players and several age groups playing. I have even seen a few girls tossing the ball around and playing flag-football but I'm doubtful they see any actual game-play.

Los Caballeros de Playa del Carmen
Colegio Ingles
Miss Rosie Lagunas - Coordinadora de Academias Deportivas y Culturales
Coach Hernan Rodriguez Torrez
Km. 291.5 Carratera Fed. Cancun-Playa del Carmen
academias_deportivas@colegioinglesolaya.com
Head Coach José Luis Farías

 

Baseball - Information coming soon

Basketball - Information coming soon

 

Tennis - Despite the heat, tennis is a very popular past-time here on the Riviera Maya. So much so, that it is a challenge to get court time. Signing up for regular clinics is a good way to keep up your game and get your kids involved as well. PLAY Tennis Academy is a very popular tennis program for children in the region. They have classes for all ages and levels of play. The multilingual tennis pros utilize a teaching program based on PLAY+ STAY of the International Tennis Federation. Using the new "PLAY + STAY" method, kids of all skill levels learn the proper technique and form for each of the strokes used in the fast paced game of tennis! Children will develop important motor skills with the racket in a manner suitable for children at all levels of play. PLAY Tennis also offers private lessons, master clinics, tournaments and a summer camp for kids. My kids attended last summer and loved it!

PLAY Tennis
Dir. Alvaro Flores
tenisproalvaro@gmail.com
984-806-4666
http://www.playtennisplaya.wordpress.com/
RIU Lupita Playacar

Playa Tennis Academy
Dir. Claudia Rios
984-745-0463
Pro Aristeo Luna
984-807-9032
aristeo.luna@yahoo.com.mx
Poliforum Multi-Deportivo
Ave. 115 and Juarez
Col. Ejidal, Playa del Carmen

Golf - All of the wonderful golf courses along the Riviera Maya offer golf clinics and private lessons for players of all ages and skill levels. You can check with your local pro to find a class that is appropriate for your young Greg Norman. If your children are really serious about golf, you are in luck! One of the finest golf schools in the world has a base right here on the Riviera Maya. The Jim McLean Golf School has a satellite at Mayakoba's El Cameleon Golf Course. El Cameleon is also home to the Mayakoba Classic, the only PGA event held outside of the United States. The Junior Elite Golf Camp is a Play + Stay option more geared towards established Junior golfers coming in from abroad but lessons can be arranged for children living locally who would like ongoing instruction.

Jim McLean Golf School
Mayakoba Resort
Km 298,‬‪ Playa del Carmen
mayakoba@jimmclean.com
Reservations for lessons and schools: 984-206-3088
Golf School:  984-122-5104

 

Sailing - A relatively new offering, the sailing club in Puerto Aventuras is already attracting a great following. Captains in the making train on easily maneuverable Optimist sailboats, perfect for young ones. If you are thinking about signing up your child for lessons, you will not want to miss the upcoming Copa Riviera Maya Optimist Regatta scheduled for April 27 - 30, 2012 in Puerto Aventuras.

Club de Velas Puerto Aventuras
Dir. Daniele Gracis
984-127-1392
atencion@colonos.org

 

Martial Arts - Until we moved to Mexico, I knew next to nothing about Martial Arts. When my then 6 year old son approached me wanting to enroll in Taekwon do, I was surprised but open to the idea. He began his instruction after school at Papalote under Marcos Carillo and, as he progressed, moved on to taking more advanced classes in the studio at Gran Fraternidad Marcial. Cole and his classmates, boys and girls ages 4 and up, excelled under the tutelage of Professor Carillo.  I cannot say enough about our experience with Professor Marco. Something to note: If you are looking for a teacher who is going to teach your kids to be "fighters", this may not be the studio for your family. The focus is on personal growth and achievement, respect and self-discipline. He helps the children to take the self-discipline they develop in class and use it in their lives outside of the Academy and off the mat. Cole only stopped pursuing this sport late last year when he decided to dedicate more time to competitive riding. The center offers instruction in Taekwon Do, Judo, Jiu Jitsu Brasileno, Aikido and Muay Thai although you will need to check the age restrictions for each discipline.

Gran Fraternidad Marcial
Ave. 45 and Calle 1sur, by Chedraui
984-803-0023

Taekwon Do - Mu Duk Kwon
Dan Marco Antonio Carillo
984-105-2648

Judo
Sensei Humberto Lobato
984-130-3869

Ji Jitsu Brasileno
Instructor Gibran Alvarez
984-146-9101
gilbrandemon@hotmail.com

Aikido
Sensei Hector Pavon
998-143-0142

 

Swimming Clubs/Teams - Swimming is somewhat of a seasonal activity here on the Riviera Maya. While the water temperature in the ocean fluctuates very little from summer to winter, our swimming pools become quite cold during the winter months. For those who have just arrived from the great white north, the chilly water may be just fine, a welcome relief from the North Atlantic/Pacific or swimming in mountain lakes and rivers. After a few years down here in the tropics, your metabolism acclimates to the temperatures of the region and the thought of jumping into a pool in January becomes less enticing! It sounds silly, but you are going to have to trust me on this one. Competitive swimmers will want to contact Nadadores de Quintana Roo for the best and most up to date information on training and events.

Nadadores de Quintana Roo A.C.
998-848-3631
atencion@nqr.mx 
http://www.nqr.mx

Escuela Manuel Acosta - Outdoors, unheated
Playacar Phase 2 entrance at Ave. 10
984-803-0652
http://www.escuelamanuelacosta.edu.mx/plantel_playacar.html

Colegio Ingles - Outdoors, unheated
Miss Rosie Lagunas - Coordinadora de Academias Deportivas y Culturales
Coach Hernan Rodriguez Torrez
Km. 291.5 Carratera Fed. Cancun-Playa del Carmen
academias_deportivas@colegioinglesolaya.com

Colegio Weston - Indoors, heated pool
Km. 298 Carratera Fed. Cancun-Playa del Carmen, Esq. Calle 80 Norte
984-109-2216
colegiowestonmx@hotmail.com

 

Horseback Riding - Despite my best efforts, both of my children somehow managed to inherit my passion for horses. It didn't rear its head until two years ago but when the bug bit, they both fell hard. We now have two horses and I spend a great deal of my Mom time at the stables or shuttling my aspiring show jumpers and their steeds to competitions. If you children are interested in horseback riding, competitive or otherwise, you will want to visit Hipico Playa del Carmen and the owner/director Paco Magallon. Honestly, I don't think there is a finer person to trust your children with, in or out of the ring. There are also two good clubs in Puerto Aventuras listed below. Living further north toward Puerto Morelos and Cancun? There is El Rey Polo Club to consider as well as Hacienda Andalucia, Centro Ecuestre del Caribe and the newest addition to the Quintana Roo equestrian scene, Instituto Equestre Nacional, all of which have fine facilities and excellent trainers.

Hipico Playa del Carmen
Dir. Paco Magallon
Behind Rancho Guadalupano, across from Colegio Tepeyac
984-115-5826
hipicoplayadelcarmen@gmail.com

CYSA in Puerto Aventuras
Dir. Cynthia Salas
West of the overpass for Puerto Aventuras
984-151-9265
cysa.colorvitrum.rivieramaya@gmail.com

Hipico Los Corceles
Dir. Raul Molina
Behind the new Chedraui in Puerto Aventuras
984-131-5963
hipicoloscorceles@gmail.com

 

Gymnastics/Acrobatics If your children are already serious gymnasts or young gymnasts who show real promise in the sport you will need to look outside of Playa del Carmen to continue their training. There are some excellent training facilities and world class coaches in Cancun. If you children are promising competitors, you will be well advised to make transportation arrangements and utilize the more professional gyms. If your kids are just starting out or just want to have some fun, these local options can get them going so that they can learn the skills and techniques necessary to become proficient in the various disciplines of gymnastics. I hear that the acrobatics classes at Evolve and Center 8 are a blast!

Colegio Ingles - Olympic gymnastics
Coach Carlos Amnizade Quiroz
Miss Rosie Lagunas - Coordinadora de Academias Deportivas y Culturales
Km. 291.5 Carratera Fed. Cancun-Playa del Carmen
academias_deportivas@colegioinglesolaya.com

Evolve Gym - Circus arts, gymnastics
Calle 24 between 5th and 10th
984-803-0986
owner@evolvemexico.com

Center 8 Studio - Acrobatics
Dir. Tiffany Rothe
Instructor Cassandra Lindsay
Ave. 1 and Calle 42
984-267-2922
center8studio@yahoo.com
http://www.center8studio.com/

Yoga is a very popular activity for adults here on the Riviera Maya and now, a few classes just for children have begun to attract a loyal following. We favor the Friday classes at Yoga by the Way lead by instructor Eli Gregg in which yoga principals are woven into age appropriate teaching opportunities that the children can refer back to in their everyday lives outside of the yoga studio.

The Kids Way
Dir. Elizabeth Gregg
Yoga by the Way
info@yogabytheway
984-873-3583
Calle 26 between 5th and 10th
Col. Centro, Playa del Carmen
Kids Classes - Fri. 4:30pm - 5:30pm

Jardin de Shangrila
Calle 38 and Calle Flamingos
Col. Centro, Playa del Carmen
http://www.jardindeshangrila.com/
gamyoga@jardindeshangrila.com
984-108-5281
984-113-8367
Kids Classes - Mon. Wed. Fri. 4pm - 5pm

 

Music/Voice - Without a doubt, Explayarte is the place to go for music instruction in Playa del Carmen. They offer instruction for all levels in guitar, base guitar, violin, drums, keyboard as well as vocal instruction and chorus. Students who attend the El Papalote's preparatory (high school) program, Bachillerato Naciones Unidas, may also choose a "double-major", splitting their studies between academics at Papalote and music at the Explayarte campus. There are other music schools in town but we like this one for the family-friendly atmosphere and the all-inclusive vibe encouraged by the administration and the instructors. The teachers are kind and enthusiastic and all the kids just love it there.

Explayarte 
Dir. Luis Ernesto Lopez
luevargas@hotmail.com
984-859-3203 (3201)
explayarte@hotmail.com
Arco Vial south, across from Centro Maya
http://www.explayarte.com

 

Drama/Music Theater - Years ago, just before our family made the move to Playa del Carmen, Rob and I happened upon a surprisingly good production of "Jesucristo Superestrella" being performed in the small park down by the Cozumel ferry dock. Flash ahead eight years and my daughter is currently in rehearsals for an upcoming production of "Seussical", led by the same director, Shane Southcott. After huge successes with the reprise of "Jesus Christ Superstar" followed by "Pippin" and "CATS", the musical theater program at Explayarte is now really taking off! When an audition is announced, the hallways are packed with aspiring actors and actresses, children and adults alike. The fact that the school also offers voice and dance classes assures that their students can work toward being "triple threat" performers. If you live in Playa but your children dream about the lights on Broadway, Explayarte is the place to be!

Explayarte 
Dir. Shane Southcott
explayarte@hotmail.com
984-859-3203 (3201)
Arco Vial south, across from Centro Maya
http://www.explayarte.com

In Motion Artes Escenicas - Theatre for children, Acrobatics
Edificio Tendenza
Calle 14 and 10th Ave.
Col. Centro, Playa del Carmen
inmotionplaya@hotmail.com

 

Dance - Dance is inseparable from the fiber of Mexican culture. As such, there are innumerable dance schools in Playa del Carmen alone. They vary in size and in the disciplines covered. These are probably the best known and most well established and the academies to contact first in the quest for the right class for your budding ballerinas. I have also heard that traditional and folkloric dance classes are offered at La Casa de Cultura in Playa del Carmen.

On Stage Dance Academy
Dir. Clinzia Martina
Calle 24 between Ave 30 and 35
Col. Centro, Playa del Carmen
http://www.academiaonstage.com/
on.stage@hotmail.com
info@academiaonstage.com
984-879-4839
Mon. - Fri. 4pm - 7pm

Coppelias - Ballet, Jazz, Zumba , Flamenco
Calle 10 Norte between Ave. 20 and 25
Col. Centro, Playa del Carmen
coppeliasballet@hotmail.com
984 803-4136
8:30 am - 10 pm

Talulah - Ballet, Jazz
http://talulah.com.mx/
Calle 36 Norte and 90th Ave.
Col. Ejidal, Playa del Carmen
info@talulah.com.mx
984-140-1566

In Motion Artes Escenicas - Ballet (R.A.D. Graded),Jazz, Modern Dance, Irish Dance, Acrobatics
Edificio Tendenza
Calle 14 and 10th Ave.
Col. Centro, Playa del Carmen
inmotionplaya@hotmail.com

Dance 4 Fun - Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Salsa, Baby Dance, Cardio Dance
Bosque Real, Playa del Carmen
984-807-8226
984-109-1746
dance4f@ymail.com
http://www.d4fstudio.blogspot.com/

______________________________________________________________

Selecting a school and enrolling your child is only one part of a well-rounded education for your child. The extra-curriculars they choose can be just as important to their development as the academics. They will certainly be essential as your child starts to make friends, develop a social circle and assimilate into the life of a "Playa-child". Just as no one school is right for all children, no one school is likely to offer all the sports, art, music, drama and other activities that your child wants to pursue. 

I will likely be keeping this list of activities bookmarked and updated regularly as more options become known to me. If you have anything to add to help fill out this list, please let me know by leaving a comment. I hope you all find this helpful and informative and will share it with other families living on the Riviera Maya.

 

 

PS. New families relocating to Playa del Carmen arrive with a variety of concerns. Selecting a school for their children will undoubtedly be at the top of the list. Recently, I wrote a series of articles about choosing a school and educating your children in Mexico. Part 1 and Part 2 can be found here in the online edition of Mexi-Go Magazine. A list of private schools in the area with up to date contact information can be found here on Playa Maya News.

 

Just a very quick update from our friends at KKiS - Keep Kids in School. School supplies are needed for the young students assisted by KKiS. If you are coming to Playa del Carmen or the Riviera Maya and have a bit of extra room in a suitcase, please consider bringing some of these items down with you. Books and school materials are MUCH more expensive here than in the US or Canada and the families with children at the Pelopides School can use all the help they can get!

Unlike in the US and Canada, the schools in Playa del Carmen are very particular about what they want students to use for supplies. They are often very different than what students in the US/CA use. Items such as #2 pencils, glue sticks, scissors and colored pencils are all good. Please, no crayons or notebooks.

Backpacks are also needed for children in Grades 1 - 4. The kids here go nuts for themed backpacks...Barbi, Matchbox, Cars etc...anything gender specific is a big hit!

Also needed are English language books for beginning readers.  Any bookstore, Walmart, Target, etc. will have them. The publication names will be:  Step Into Reading, Leveled Readers, etc. and will be organized by difficulty of vocabulary and syntax. The easier levels are what are most needed.

And thanks so much to all of you who donate things. It makes things so much easier when the KKiS volunteers have the most needed supplies on hand and it puts such thankful smiles on the faces of students!

Monetary donations are also gratefully accepted via Paypal at: KKISProject@gmail.com .

April 6, 2012
Joe Pike - Travel Agent Central

Original Resorts, a Mexican hospitality brand, continued its strategic plan to expand with the opening of its new clothing-optional resort, Desire Pearl Resort & Spa on March 30.

Original Resorts opened the first clothing-optional hotel of the group, Desire Resort & Spa, in the Riviera Maya. This new five-star hotel complex, located on a beautiful beach in Puerto Morelos, just a few minutes outside of Cancun, is an exclusive couples only-hotel, marking the brand's fifth resort in Mexico.

Rodrigo de la Pena, president of Original Resorts, announced that after his successful negotiations with the owners of the hotel, previously known as Ceiba del Mar, the property will be operated by Original Resorts Group to offer the region's second clothing-optional resort.

The decision to transform this hotel into Desire Pearl comes from a high demand for unique clothing-optional resorts that, until now, only Desire Resort & Spa was able to offer.

Desire Pearl Resort & Spa includes 32 Oceanfront Rooms, 13 Junior Suites, 36 Master Suites, and seven Penthouse Passion Suites. Clients can enjoy the hotel's grand pool, the 80-person private Jacuzzi, a tennis court, a holistic spa and a pier with docking facilities, among other luxurious amenities.

For information about real estate in Puerto Morelos and all along the Riviera Maya, contact Rob@BuyPlaya.com.

 

As many of our loyal "Life's a Beach" readers will know (because they also follow me on Facebook) Rob and I are in a "crazy vegetarian phase". We have eaten no beef, chicken or pork since New Years. The good news is, we have never looked or felt better. We have had no trouble at all finding great vegetarian dining-out options and, as you all know, good grains, fruits and veggies are practically free here in Mexico. The bad news is, it's a lot more work for me to put together tasty interesting meat-free meals night after night when we dine at home....which is most of the time. The challenge is not coming up with meatless meals. The challenge is coming up with meatless meals that are healthy and packed with important nutrients. Pasta and pizza are good for a night or two a week but I'm really trying to manage our intake of refined carbs and be more creative with the limited time I have.

One thing I always keep in the house is a bean dip of some kind. On Mondays, I whip up a big batch of hummus or black bean dip to keep in the fridge for snacks. Tonight, the black bean dip doubles as the sauce for a dish I'm going to call Pizzettas Enfrijoladas. They are super easy to make and can make use of whatever combination of veggies you like which is perfect for the kids. Rob likes his with the cheese and corn hot and the rest of the toppings raw. I pile everything on at once and shred a bit of spicy arugula on top when it comes out of the oven. These are also great to bring to parties as an hors d'oeuvre. Here's how we made ours last night.

Pizzettas Enfrijoladas

Flour Tortillas
Simple Black Bean Dip (recipe below)
Shredded Manchego Cheese - (or any kind you like)
Frozen Corn - thawed
Red Onion - thinly sliced
Zucchini - thinly sliced
Red Bell Pepper - thinly sliced
Scallions - thinly sliced
Arugula - torn

Simple Black Bean Dip

3 cups Black Beans - cooked
1 small can Salsa Casera
1 tsp. Cumin

Combine all in a Cuisinart or blender and process until smooth. In a sealed container, this will keep nicely in the fridge for a week and can easily be jazzed up with whatever you like.

For the Pizzettas: Turn on your broiler. Spread a generous layer of black bean dip on a tortilla. Top with a second tortilla. Distribute cheese on top of the second tortilla. Top with frozen corn and whatever veggies appeal to you. Arrange Pizzettas on a cookie sheet and broil for 5 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the edges of the tortillas are starting to crisp. Transfer to a cutting board, allow to cool slightly and cut into quarters. Allow at least 2 full Pizzettas per person. Serve with a nice green salad.

 

 

Monday April 2nd at 7pm the photo exposition of the First Mayan-Tibetan Cultural Encounter begins at Kulkucán Plaza in Cancun's Hotel Zone. The exhibit will be available for viewing until May 2, 2012.

 

 

Semana Santa is now upon us and if you are anything like me, you have no idea what to do with your kids for two weeks out of school. Many of the schools will be offering activities during the regular school hours but if sending your child back to school for his or her vacation seems a bit unfair, consider these interesting options we have found for "Cursos de Primavera" for local kids!

For more information, click on the fliers.

 

 

 

On March 20th, 2012, the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) announced the finalists for their 2012 Awards of Excellence. Our own Catriona Brown, owner/proprietor of The Little Mexican Cooking School in Puerto Morelos, was notified that she is one of just three finalists in the Entrepreneur or Business Person of the Year category. 

The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) is a worldwide forum for the development and exchange of information, knowledge, and inspiration within the professional food and beverage community. With nearly 3,000 members from more than 32 countries, this organization of creative and talented professionals is engaged in and committed to excellence in the food industry. The winner will be announced in a ceremony capping its 34th annual IACP Conference on Monday, April 2, 2012 at the New York Times Center in Manhattan.

"This is a huge compliment from my industry peers and I am stunned and delighted." said Brown, "We have all worked hard to create a wonderful experience in the understanding of Mexican food and culture and are proud to have sent nearly 2000 students home with knowledge of real Mexican food and a deeper understanding of this country." She is also cognizant of the impact overseas. "Our students go home and have parties and dinners and spread their knowledge of Mexican food and culture that they have gained from the school - thereby creating ripples that go far and wide. I intend to keep expanding the school further promote the wonderful cuisine of this fascinating country".

Chef Pablo Espinosa, Head Chef at the school, remarked  "It is fun to change people's perspectives of what they believe Mexican food is."

 

For more information about The Little Mexican Cooking School and its offerings contact:

Catriona Brown
52 998 251 8060
52 998 159 8890
US 512 410 8146
cat@puertomorelosliving.com
http://www.thelittlemexicancookingschool.com

With just a few days remaining before the third annual BuyPlaya 5K Spring Race, organizers, parents and local business owners are kicking into high gear for this exciting fundraising event for Ak Lu'um International School. On March 25 at 7:45am, participants will run, walk or stroll the 5 kilometer course leaving from the Parque Leona Vicario, making a loop through the picturesque Playacar resort community and finishing in the historical Parque Fundadores on the shores of the Mexican Caribbean.

"We are delighted to support this family event every year," reports Rob Kinnon, Ak Lu'um parent and owner of BuyPlaya Real Estate Advisors. "Every year we receive more and more support from fellow Riviera Maya business owners making it possible to provide invaluable educational opportunities to local families and their children." Ak Lu'um is Mexico's first ecological school and an ambitious undertaking. Set on a self-sustaining campus in the jungle outside of the city of Playa del Carmen, Ak Lu'um is successfully integrating education and ecological responsibility. The school has been a labor of love for the teachers, administrators and parents since its inception in 2006 and is the only not-for-profit private school in the region.

Once again, local Riviera Maya businesses have been very generous with their support of this school and the annual race. Title sponsor, BuyPlaya Real Estate Advisors, has been joined this year by Latido de Mexico, one of Playa del Carmen's finest property management and vacation rental companies, Terenos Tulum a real estate company on the Riviera Maya and Hot Baking Co. LocoGringo.com and IntheRoo.com, are showing their support again for a second year! Race support and prize donations have also been provided by Agua Paraiso, Aventuras Mayas, Bauer Compressors, Biomilpa, Blue Venado, BRIC Vacation Rentals, Carpe Diem, Comunidad Educativa El Papalote, DAC, Explayarte, Flora, Fauna y Cultura, Friends of Ak Lu'um, FrutiYogurth, FurnitureMex, Hamacamarte, John Gray Restaurant Group, Kaxapa Factory, Mariposas en la Panza, Parque la Ceiba, Playa Fitness Center, Rancho Baaxal, RivieraMaya FM 98.1, Soleil Real Estate, Soleil Solar Solutions, Starbucks, Taste of Playa, Teknobike Playa, The Little Mexican Cooking School, Xaman Ha Aviary, Xcaret and Yoga by the Way. Organizers also acknowledge the continuing support of The Municipal Offices of Solidaridad and Condominio Playacar.

Participants are asked to appear in the Parque Leona Vicario at 6:45am to register and receive their numbers. Registration fees are $200mn per adult participant, $150mn per child and $100mn for each individual participating in a family group. For additional race information including a route map and a complete list of sponsors, visit the official race webpage. All race proceeds will support daily programs and special activities at Ak Lu'um International School in Playa del Carmen.

 

Every year on March 21st, upwards of 5,000 people from around the world travel to Chichén Itzá to witness the appearance of "Kukulcán". On the afternoon of the Spring Equinox, "Kukulcán" - the Feathered Serpent of the ancient Maya, descends in a glorious display of shadow and light down the great pyramid "El Castillo", connecting with the carved stone snake's head at the foot of the balustrade. The culture of the ancient Maya is solar in origin and closely follows the solstices and equinoxes. The Maya built profound and complex structures, utilizing advanced geometry and astronomy, mapping the natural cycles of the earth and the heavens. This event is the most dramatic display of ancient astronomical knowledge encoded into the architecture of any known Mayan site and is said to have signaled the most auspicious time to plant corn, the most important food staple of the Maya.

In Playa del Carmen, a slightly smaller Vernal Equinox celebration takes place on the ruins on the shores of the Caribbean in Playacar, welcoming spring to the Riviera Maya. Each year the Ak Lu'um International School community comes together to recognize and celebrate the rites of Spring and the significance of this seasonal transition in ourselves and our daily routines. Teachers, parents and friends, clad all in white, encircle the children, take hands and welcome the regeneration and the rebirth of the season. With the scent of copal lingering in the morning air, the spirits are summoned with the traditional conch shell. Offerings are made to tiny alters at the four points of the compass and simple songs are sung in celebration. In the end, the children unfurl long golden banners, revealing a giant sunburst pointed toward the heavens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Quintana Roo's best amateur equestrians certainly brought their "A Circuit" game last weekend at the 20th Annual Merida International Invitational held at the beautiful facilities of the Club Hipico del Sureste (CHDS). March 2 - 4, 2012, jumpers from each of the state's finest equestrian clubs left nothing on the table in this exciting three-day meet that drew 110 riders from Mexico, the United States and Canada.

Competition commenced on Friday evening, under the lights, with an exciting round known as only "The Joker". In this test of speed and agility, riders and their mounts are asked to navigate a circuit of jumps in the order of their choice. Each obstacle holds a different point value and the riders have one minute in which to clear as many jumps as they can. At the end of their course, the judges ask the rider if he/she would like to attempt "The Joker", a jump significantly higher than the rest of the field carrying a high point value. If the attempt is successful, these points are added to the score. If the rider drops a bar or the horse refuses, those points are stripped from their total.  The team that clears the course with the highest number of points, within the allotted time, is the winner. Equestrians from Quintana Roo handily took home first and second place in each of the three height categories!

Saturday and Sunday riders of all ability levels, beginner to advanced, gave it their all over jumps from 40 cm. to 1.20 meters, thrilling the spectators and sponsors who have come to look forward to this event, year after year. The three-day event culminated in an emotional awards ceremony in which the top riders were presented with their trophies and other prized provided by the event sponsors Hamacas Azul Celeste, Productos Ecuestres del Sureste, Vinos Casa Mozarrello and EIKIShow.com among others.

When the points were tallied for the three days of competition, equestrians from Quintana Roo were well represented in the circle of Champions. Cole Kinnon, riding for Hipico Playa del Carmen, earned the top position in 60 cm. In 80 cm Iker Munoz Salas, riding for CYSE in Puerto Aventuras, took home the cup for 1st place with Jazmine Wedge of Hipico Los Corceles in Puerto Aventuras in 3rd place overall. Mariana Graniel earned 2nd place in the category of 90 cm. riding for CYSA. Quintana Roo swept the 1 mt. category. Instituto Ecuestre Nacional's own Tanimara Macari triumphed taking home the Champion and Sub-Champion cups for her efforts with Jimmy Vazquez of Centro Ecuestre del Caribe Cancun bringing home 3rd place.  In 1.10 mt., Mara Wills and Ivan Arcila came out on top for the weekend, taking home 1st and 2nd respectively, both representing Hipico Los Corceles.

Congratulations to all the riders, trainers and horses who participated in this wonderful event and many thanks to our equestrian friends in Merida for welcoming us and continuing this great tradition. We look forward to next year!

 

20th Annual Merida International Invitational - Final Results

JOKER 60/80 CM                                               

1st JAZMIN WEDGE - Hipico Los Corceles, Puerto Aventuras                              
2nd VALERIA CAPACETA  - Hipico Playa del Carmen              
3rd ALESSANDRA GUILLEN  - Hipica Rodriguez, Merida    

JOKER 90/1.00 MT

1st TANIMARA MACARI - Instituto Ecuestre National, Cancun              
2nd CINTHIA SALAS - CYSA, Puerto Aventuras                        
3rd RODRIGO ALVAREZ  - Club Hipico del Sureste, Merida                                             

JOKER 1.10/1.20 MTS

1st IVAN ARCILA - Hipico Los Corceles, Puerto Aventuras                               
2nd MARA WILLS - Hipico Los Corceles, Puerto Aventuras                            
3rd LEOPOLDINA CASTRO - Club Hipico del Sureste, Merida                                      

BARRAS EN EL PISO                                                                        

1st ANA ICAZA  - Champion - Club Hipico del Sureste, Merida                   
2nd OVIDIO JASSO  - Club Hipico del Sureste, Merida                                                  
3rd MONICA LUBKE  - Hipica Rodriguez, Merida    

40 CMS

1st FERNANDA CASTILLO  - Champion - Club Hipico del Sureste, Merida                    
2nd COSETTE BRULE - Club Hipico del Sureste, Merida                                                  
3rd MONSERRAT PEÑA  - Hipica Rodriguez, Merida

60 CMS                                                             

1st COLE KINNON  - Champion - Hipico Playa del Carmen                                 
2nd KATERINE AMBROSIO  - Club Hipico del Sureste, Merida                                        
3rd PATRICIA CAMPOS - Club Ecuestre de Yucatan              

80 CMS

1st IKER MUÑOS SALAS  - Champion - CYSA, Puerto Aventuras                            
2nd PATRICIA CAMPOS  - Club Ecuestre de Yucatan              
3rd JAZMIN WEDGE - Hipico Los Corceles, Puerto Aventuras                              

90 CMS

1st MONSERRAT RIVAS  - Champion - Club Ecuestre de Yucatan     
2nd MARIANA GRANIEL - CYSA, Puerto Aventuras               
3rd CARLOS PEREZ - Club Hipico del Sureste, Merida                                           

1.OO MTS

1st TANIMARA MACARI   - Champion - Instituto Ecuestre Nacional, Cancun                         
2nd TANIMARA MACARI  - Instituto Ecuestre National, Cancun                        
3rd JIMMY VAZQUEZ  - Centro Ecuestre del Caribe, Cancun           

1.10 MTS

1st MARA WILLS  - Champion - Hipico Los Corceles, Puerto Aventuras
2nd IVAN ARCILA - Hipico Los Corceles, Puerto Aventuras                                                              
3rd CECILIA RODRIGUEZ -  Mexico, DF       

1.20 MTS                                                         

1st LEOPOLDINA CASTRO  - Champion  - Club Hipico del Sureste , Merida