New Flights to Mexico!

Posted by & filed under Los Cabos & Baja Californias, News.

In the past week, two major airlines, Frontier and Virgin America, have expanded their flight inventory to include more flights to Mexico.

Frontier Airlines has added two new, non-stop routes from Denver and Kansas City. Frontier will fly from Denver to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo from January 15th through March 26th, 2011. Flights from Kansas City to Los Cabos are scheduled from December 18th through April 16, 2011.

Frontier also reports that they are expanding the dates of their seasonal, Saturday only service from Indianapolis to Cancun to run from November 6th to April 30th, 2011.

Virgin America spokesman, Richard Branson, has announced that Virgin plans to be offering flights to Mexico before the year’s end. As it stands, Virgin will be running three flights: San Francisco to San Jose del Cabo, San Francisco to Cancun, and Los Angeles to Cancun.

*UPDATE – On June 9th, 2010, Continental Airlines began a twice-weekly (Wed and Sat) flight from Bush InterContinental in Houston to Tuxtla Gutierrez in Chiapas, Mexico. The addition of this flight makes 30 Mexican destinations that Continental serves, making it the leader in US flights to Mexico.

*UPDATE – On November 20th, Alaska Airlines plans to begin weekly, non-stop flights between San Jose, California and Los Cabos, Mexico.

Celebrate Mexico at The Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Posted by & filed under Culture, News.

2010 marks the 44th edition of The Smithsonian Festival in Washington D.C., and Mexico is one of the this year’s three featured programs. Since 1967, the festival has been drawing participants and visitors from all over the United States and from 80 nations around the world. This event, a museum without walls, and has come to be known as the world’s “Largest cultural conversation.” Although the first part of the festival has just concluded, the second part begins on July 1st and runs through the 5th.

As a reflection of the vast diversity of Mexico’s people, its land, and its culture, the  Mexico program consists of four themes: The Plaza, The Market, The Workshop, and The Field. Participants of the event “will engage visitors in ceremonial and social dances, satirical processions, traditional and rock music, foodways, crafts, vernacular architecture, healing traditions, farming and fishing techniques, tequila and mezcal production, and demonstrate the knowledge and creativity that has sustained their communities and helped to shape contemporary Mexico.”

More information, including photographs and videos, about this year’s festival can be found at the Smithsonian’s website.

Journey Mexico President, Zachary Rabinor, will be visiting Washington D.C. just after the festival and will be available on July 12th and 13th to meet and talk about the highlights of the Mexico program as well as about the incredible travel opportunities that the country of Mexico has to offer. If you will be in D.C. after the event and would like to meet with Zach, please leave us a message on our Facebook Page with your availability!

June Newsetter

Posted by & filed under News, Newsletters and Promotions.

As demand for our newsletter continues to grow, we will now be publishing on a monthly basis. To the left is a snapshot of this month’s addition, but you can view the newsletter in its entirety here.

To subscribe to our newsletter, simply visit the newsletter, scroll the bottom, enter your name and email address in the required fields, and click submit.

We look forward to bringing you the latest news about Journey Mexico and Travel  in our beautiful country!

British Airways Now Flying to Cancun, Mexico

Posted by & filed under News.

Starting in November of 2010, British Airways will be offering two direct, weekly flights from London Gatwick to Cancun, Mexico. The flights will be via a Boeing 777 with the choice of three cabin types, including British Airways’ Club World Business class, where passengers can relax on fully reclined, flat beds.

The addition of Cancun to Gadwick’s list of direct flights makes it easier than ever for England’s cultural and luxury travel enthusiasts to take advantage of the vast number of historical and UNESCO World Heritage sites that Mexico has to offer. The first flights will come just after the Bicentennial of Mexico’s Independence Day, but the celebrations will, no doubt, carry on through the end of the year, making the end 2010 an incredible time to travel to Mexico.

Team JM Supporting Team Mexico!

Posted by & filed under News.

The futbol fans of Journey Mexico came to the office early today to make time to support team Mexico in the opening game of the 2010 World Cup. Lucky for us, Blake’s Sports Bar, located just next door to our office in Puerto Vallarta, opened early today for the game.

So far, the game has been scoreless, but it’s clear that Mexico is dominating play. We’re looking for a big second half from the boys in black.

Thanks Zach and Rebecca! Go Mexico!

Cave of Crystals in Chihuahua, Mexico Video

Posted by & filed under Adventure, Copper Canyon, Nature, News.

Here’s a really wild video of the Naica Cave in Chihuahua, Mexico. More than 300 meters below the Earth’s surface, super-heated water separated minerals as the water was forced through the above layers of rock. As the water reached a pocket of earth far enough from the lava to cool but close enough to the earth’s core to remain pressurized and heated, the minerals reformed as the crystals you see in the video.

You can find more information about the cave and watch a trailer for a documentary about the cave at the NAICA la Pelicula website.

Celebrating Mexico’s Bicentennial

Posted by & filed under Culture, News.

As the year moves on, celebrations in Mexico will no doubt reach historic proportions. September 16th of this year marks the bicentennial of Mexico’s Independence and in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism’s current promotion of cultural tourism, the pre-independence day celebrations are already kicking off, especially in Mexico’s Colonial Heartland.

Ellen Himelfarb wrote an excellent article for Telegraph.co.uk entitled: “Mexico: Freedom fiestas mark independence bicentennial” in which she describes a recent trip from Mexico City to the heartland via the newly revamped highway (currently called “The Freedom Route”) that connects the two.

In her article, Himelfarb gives some nice, brief descriptions the culturally and historically rich towns of San Miguel, Zacatecas, Atotonilco, Dolores Hidalgo, Querétaro, and Guanajuato – all featured locations in our trips to the Colonial Heartland. For more information about experiencing this important year of celebration in Mexico, visit our Colonial Heartland page where you can browse through sample itineraries of trips to the region, or you can click the “Build a Custom Trip” button to work with our expert planners to build a fully customized trip of a lifetime.

New Photos From Baja Wine Country

Posted by & filed under Culinary Vacations, Culture, Los Cabos & Baja Californias, Luxury, News.

We just received a batch of photos from the wine country of Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California via The Baja Wine Country Guide. The Valley of Guadalupe has been producing world-class wine for some time and is now beginning to receive the international attention it deserves. Many of the wineries in photographs are visited on our Valley of Guadalupe Wine and Cheese Tour.

Thanks again to JP at PeaPolz Media and to Bajawine.info.


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Partner Location Hacienda de San Antonio Summer Promotion

Posted by & filed under Newsletters and Promotions.

Journey Mexico partner location, Hacienda de San Antonio in Colima, is offering a two-night promotion to celebrate the town’s annual tribute to Saint Anthony on June 13th.

In Mexico, Saint Anthony is venerated saint who is often called upon for assistance with lost items. In 1913, a nearby volcano erupted and threatened to destroy the areas coffee plantations. The people of the town gathered and prayed to Saint Anthony promising to build a chapel in his honor if the plantations we not harmed. The coffee fields did in fact go unharmed, and the town’s people gathered and built the Chapel of San Antonio. Since that year, people from all around the area gather annually at the Chapel on June 13th to pay tribute through dance, music, and celebration.

The Hacienda de San Antonio is opening its doors to all who wish to partake in this year’s celebration with a promotional package that includes:

  • 15% off of normal room rates
  • A 55 square meter suite with a large bathroom, a fireplace, an iPod dock, a king size bed, and either volcano, garden, or river views
  • Hikes throughout the property
  • Evening margaritas
  • A bottle of mangrapa and a bag of organic coffee

The two-night promotion is being offered for $1,070 USD. There is also an optional food and drink promotion for $180, which includes three meals a day with all alcoholic beverages included. To take advantage of this offer, visit the Colonial Heartland page and click the Build a Custom Trip button.

The Whale Sharks are Here!

Posted by & filed under Nature.

Each summer, thousands of Whale Sharks (the world’s largest fish) migrate through the waters surrounding Isla Mujeres, a Caribbean Island off the cost of Cancun, Mexico. Although Whale Sharks can grow to be over 60 feet in length, they pose no threat to humans whatsoever, which creates an incredible opportunity for humans to interact with these massive creatures. Diving into the blue waters of the Caribbean to swim with Whale Sharks is a thrilling experience, which, those who have done it will tell you, simply can’t be described with words.

To celebrate the beautiful Whale Sharks, the exhilarating bond between the fish and Isla Mujeres, and to promote eco and responsible tourism of the region, a festival is held annually on the island. This year’s events are scheduled for July 16-18 and will include trips to swim with the Whale Sharks, traditional dances performed by locals of the region, guest speakers, and opportunities to explore the ancient Mayan Ruins nearby.

Visit our Whale Sharks Experience Page for more information about these incredible fish and to view sample itineraries of trips built around swimming with the Whale Sharks, visiting ancient Mayan archeological sites, and experiencing the culture of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Swimming with Whale Sharks

Journey Mexico and Eco Tourism

Posted by & filed under Ecotourism, Things We're Proud Of.

A dedication to conservation and Eco-minded travel has always been a core value of Journey Mexico. We are proud to work with RED Sustainable Tourism and SEE Turtles (of which JM president Zachary Rabinor is an advisory board member) to offer several eco-tourism travel experiences in Baja California where travelers have the opportunity to help with sea turtle restoration and monitoring, learn about sustainable fishing practices, help protect local ecosystems, learn about the most important Gray Whale ecosystem in the world – first hand, and more!

You can search for these eco-adventures on our website under Baja California, Sea Turtles, and Whale Watching and, of course, if there is custom eco-adventure that you’d like to experience, we’ll be happy to create a unique itinerary for you!

To read more about eco-friendly hotels in Mexico, read more of our ecotourism blog posts.

Journey Mexico Has New Tourism Routes Covered

Posted by & filed under Culture, News.

Zachary Rabinor and Gloria Guevara

JM President, Zachary Rabinor, with Minister of Tourism, Gloria Guevara

As mentioned in a previous post, Gloria Guevara, Mexico’s new Minister of Tourism, is advocating the promotion of Mexico’s many culturally-rich locations in order to boost tourism to Mexico by showcasing the country’s historic and world heritage sites as well as its gorgeous beach towns.

Guevara recently unveiled ten travel routes that she feels will attract discerning and culture-oriented travelers to Mexico. Journey Mexico, long a champion of Mexico’s Off the Beaten Path Cultural and Natural wonders is delighted to see the Secretary of Tourism prioritizing these same regions in its new campaign, “Routes of Mexico.”  JM Founder and President Zachary Rabinor and Director of Operations Matteo Luthi were among the invited guests of President Felipe Calderon and Secretary of Tourism Gloria Guevara at the recent unveiling and launch of this important campaign which is aimed at educating the world and promoting the lesser visited cultural, natural and active travel destinations of Mexico.

The core of the program will feature 10 routes as translated and outlined in Laura Del Rosso’s article at Travel Weekly. Mexico currently has 29 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and has long been recognized in Europe and beyond as a world class destination for experiential travel for archeology, culture, wildlife, nature, landscapes, active travel and more.  The campaign will work to reinforce Mexico’s visibility and importance as a cultural and natural destination worldwide with special emphasis on the N. American Market where Mexico has largely been promoted and perceived as a Sun and Sand destination.

At JourneyMexico.com, you can use our interactive destinations map to locate trips to all of the regions outlined in the new routes and more!

Ancient Tomb of Dignitaries Found in Chiapas

Posted by & filed under Culture, News.

Ancient discovery in Chiapas, MexicoA great archeological discovery was made last week in Chiapas, Mexico. Mexican and American archaeologists found a tomb containing the remains of four skeletons that, based on their location, the tomb, and the jewels on their appendages, are believed to be those of important dignitaries.

Based on their findings, the scientists believe that this tomb and it’s skeletal remains could be “the oldest of its kind in all of Mesoamerica,” possibly dating back to between 500 and 700 AD, which, if proven, would require the chronology of the Olmec and Mayan cultures as we know it to be completely adjusted.  (Source: La Prensa)

A trip to Chiapas is a must for all fans of archeological travel. As shown by this recent finding, Mexico is a country continually offering new findings and clues into the ancient world of Mesoamerica.