Saturday

Health Care in Riviera Maya

The Riviera Maya has become one of the most important development areas in Mexico, with an unprecedented evolution has required all kind of services of the highest qua-lity, not just for tourism but for many nationals and foreigners who have found a home in this paradise. Without doubt one of the most important topics for the society is Health Care. One of the high quality options is the Spanish Group Hospiten.

Hospiten Riviera Maya is located on the Federal Highway at the second entrance to Playacar in Playa del Carmen, just 15 miles from Sereno. This is the second unit that the private health care group Hospiten has in Mexico., the first is in Cancun.

The hospital is 1,884 square meters and is built on an 8.050 square meter lot. The new hospital, with an initial investment of 15 million dollars has 19 hospital beds; plus three in the Short Stay unit, two operating rooms, a birthing room, 24-hour emergency room care, a clinical analysis laboratory and outpatient programs providing a wide range of medical specialties. In addition, it is equipped with state-of-the-art medical technologies - Computerized Axial Tomography (C.A.T.), Ultrasound and Conventional Radiology.
With more than 37 years experience and caring for over 500,000 people from all over the world annually, the Hospiten Group, continues its commitment to providing high quality health care to the visitors, and residents, of Quintana Roo.

More about Hospiten Group
This Group is an international network of private hospitals, with over 1,000 beds, committed to providing high-level healthcare services. We see over 500,000 patients every year.
The result of their commitment can be seen in the twelve hospital centers located in major cities and tourist centers in countries such as Spain, the Dominican Republic and Mexico.
All these centers are equipped with the latest technological innovations in the medical and management fields, and are staffed by a team of recognized professionals providing the top-level healthcare services.

Hospiten's commitment to quality can be seen in the fact that the Group's centers have been certified in accordance with the most exacting European and American rules and standards, having obtained the AENOR Certificate of Qua-lity, under ISO 9001:2000 international regulations and ISO 14001:2004 regulations on the management of the environment.

These certificated extend to all areas and services offered in their hospitals, from Accident & Emergency, Outpatients, Hospitalization, Operating Theatres, ICUs and Laboratories to support services, such as Maintenance, Linen, Cleaning Services etc.

External audits were carried out over the course of December 2004 at the Hospiten hospitals in the Dominican Republic and Mexico, it being decided that these be conducted under the new environmental regulations. As a result of those audits, the Caribbean centers were the first to be certified under the new ISO 14001:2004 regulations, as well as being the first hospitals in Spain, Mexico and the Dominican Republic to obtain such certification.

Having such a system for guaranteeing quality carries a number of advantages, above all on a competitive level.

They have continued to increase levels of overall patient satisfaction levels during the treatment process; personnel motivation has risen in such a way as to pass it on to the clients.

Medical Specialties in Riviera Maya
  • Pediatrics
  • Gynecology and Obstetrics
  • Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery
  • Urology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Emergencies – General Medicine
  • Cardiology
  • Othorhinolaryngology
  • Check Up Service

Wednesday

Alux Restaurant and Lounge

The unique geological and atmospheric changes have occurred since the ice age gave rise to the formation of an interconnected system of caves, sinkholes and underground rivers.

These caves were used by the ancient Maya as a backup to atmospheric phenomena and, especially, for their connections with the underworld. One of these mystical places is the "Alux" abode of magical beings called Aluxes small, big guards who are part of this amazing culture.

Alux is a magic cave, garden of shining stalactites and stalagmites colors which has been waiting thousands of years to be discovered.

This cave was discovered in 1994 by Mr. Rolando and Sergio Calderon. After low ecological impact  estoration and planning, they introduce this heritage of humanity, with singular stalactites and stalagmites, you will be able to enjoy a natural show.

Going back in the prehispanic past, Alux will have a enduring image with the dishes cooked by the chef who enhance the natural taste of each ingredient, along with wine from the five continents, music and exotic cocktails.

The restaurant has many areas: Dinning room with capacity for 170 customers. VIP'S: Six areas where you can enjoy privacy dinning or drinking your preferred beverage. Dolphin Room: Mystical and magical place where Mayan weddings take place, accompanied by prehispanic dressed people and one chaman. Califa Room: Ideal for proposal or marriage anniversary. You will enjoy an unforgivable evening to the candlelight and surrounded by exuberant flowers alongside your partner. Bar Lounge: Where you can enjoy your preferred music. 120 people capacity.

Here are some examples of the menu:

Ensalada Cenote. Assorted lettuces with mushrooms, pecan nuts, crispy sweet potatoes and citrus dressing.
Seafood Fricassee. Mussels, clams, octopus and shrimps sauted with red sauce.
Maya Wish. Chicken supreme stuffed with cheese in mango sauce.

You just cannot miss this place.

Monday

Bacalar, a Magical Town

Located 38 kilometers northwest of Chetumal, Bacalar brings together many qualities that make it unique and which has earned the official designation as a "Magical Town" by the Federal Government. It has a history much longer than what one would think. It was founded on 435 AC as the Mayan town of Siyancaan Bakhalar. After the conquest of the Yucatan Peninsula, Don Gaspar Pacheco renamed it as Villa de Salamanca de Bacalar in 1544.


Throughout the colonial period, it was under constant threat from British pirates, who even razed it in 1652. Later it was one of the main fronts of the Mayan Caste War: In 1848 it fell in the hands of the Mayan rebels, but was recovered by Yucatan's government one year later. In 1858 the Cruzoob Mayans conquered it again and this time slaughtered all inhaitants. The rebels kept in in their power until 1901, when the Mexican government occupiled it indefinitely.

Although in the 20th century it grew in size and population, Bacalar continues to maintain a pleasant small town atmosphere, which is the perfect match for the kalleidoscopic presense of the adjascent lagoon. The most ancient part of the town has a very intricate layout and is located between the federal highway and the lagoon. In this area you can find the San Felipe Fort and the wide plaza behind it. One block towards the west is the San Joaquin Church, built in the mid-16th Century, although it preserves little from that time. The image of their patron saint is considered miraculous by local traditions and his festival in August is very colorful. Most of the small hotels and restaurants of the town are located on the lagoon's coast, south of downtown and four kilometers across, up to Cenote Azul. The boardwalk is the main avenue connecting all these spots, and the restaurants and hotels are the main access point to the lagoon. You can take a swim from their little piers or rent boats, jet skis or kayaks.

Tuesday

Discover Cozumel

Cozumel is one of the most outstanding locations of the Mexican Caribbean because of its natural beauties, white sandy beaches, turquoise blue waters, coral reefs, and its cultural and historical beauty.

With its own international airport, but also strongly connected to Playa del Carmen through various ferry services,Cozumel has a long interrupted history of inhabitation, but it was only in 1975 when it was constituted as a municipality and when it elected its first mayor. Since then, it has kept a rising tourism development, with a "Mexican heart and a Caribbean soul" as residents say.

Cozumel is a Mayan word meaning "Land of Swallows." It is believed that the Mayans placed Cozumel as the sanctuary of Ixchel, goddess of love and fertility.

The island became uninhabited shortly before the Spanish arrival and remained so for a long tim, serving as a haven for pirates such as Henry Morgan and Jean Lafitte.

Some 160 years ago, the island became inhabited once more, leading to the forming of a small fishing village.

It was only in the 1960s when it gained notoriety thanks to famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteu, who presented the workd with its underwater beauty and splendorous colors. Since then, it became popular destination for diving enthusiasts.

Currently, it's main town San Miguel, has 73 thousand residents. It has 90 restaurants, as well as discos and cafés. It is also surrounded by luxurious hotels and even golf courses.

Most of the island, however, is virgin territory covered in jungle or lagoons and populated by numerous birds, mammals and reptiles. It's Southern side, Punta Sur, is an environmental reserve.

Canadian tourism increases in Mexico

Despite the swine flu (H1N1) crisis in 2009, Mexico received one million two hundred thousand Canadian visitors, which means a growth of 7.6 percent over the previous year.

During the thirty-fifth edition of the nation's leading tourist event in Mexico, Brad Miron, from Itravel2000 Agency, said there are many reasons to explain the increase and the insecurity is not a main concern.

He also said that Canadians know from experience how to handle health crises, as they experienced in 2004 with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) then (H1N1) virus was not an impediment to visit Mexico.

In addition, over the last year the Canadian dollar has appreciated, so come to Mexico was an excellent option compared to other destinations in the Caribbean.

According to some statistics taken by the Canadian Tourism Commission, 32 percent of the population wants to come to Mexico over the next five years, really an optimistic scenario.

Talking about insecurity topics, he explained there are two issues: reality and perception. The reality is that security problems are focused in some specific cities and do not affect tourism, and tour operators know that.

The perception is to believe the whole country is insecure because people of other nations don’t know Mexico’s geography and they may generalize when they hear the news.

Brad Miron explained the next strategy is to 'educate' the visitor and explain them that Cancun and Mayan Riviera are far from Ciudad Juarez.