Dios Nunca Muere Showcases Contemporary Oaxacan Art

Posted by & filed under Culture, News.

Dios Nunca Muere (“God Never Dies”), an awesome exhibition of contemporary Oaxacan art, went off with great success last week at Deluge Gallery in Victoria, Canada. The exhibition showcased works from 17 artists from Oaxaca, Mexico – two being the regions most notable: Daniel Guzman and Dr. Lakra.

The press release for the show explains: “Dios Nunca Muere explores the seismic shift in contemporary art practice in Oaxaca, Mexico over the last two decades. The work of these artists — both individually and collectively — parallels and reflects widespread social, political and economic changes in the region.

Photographer, videographer, and art fanatic, Efren Quiroz, has obtained a sort of fame, in his own right, by producing raw videos of art exhibitions in Canada. Below is his video from Dios Nunca Muere.

[vsw id=”a7d_cTBUn08″ source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]

Journey Mexico 2010 Spring Newsletter

Posted by & filed under Newsletters and Promotions.



A Fresh Look at Journey Mexico

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new website and blog. The new Journey Mexico website is designed to showcase the unique and authentic experiences that we offer throughout Mexico as well as to provide travel planners with a user friendly and informative resource.

Our new blog (which you are looking at right now!) is where we will be posting news, information, pictures, and videos about Journey Mexico and the latest in travel to Mexico. We hope you follow along via our RSS feed!

Rainforest Alliance

Journey Mexico is a proud new member of the Rainforest Alliance. In accordance with the Rainforest Alliance’s mission, we are committed to promoting bio-diversity, sustainability, and cultural awareness through our hand crafted trips. Several of our trips offer volun-toursim opportunities for those looking for a chance to have a hands-on experience that directly benefits local wildlife and endangered species.

(April 15-19) This  week, Journey Mexico will roll out the red carpet for the world’s leading luxury travel executives as one of the preferred suppliers chosen to assist in organizing this years Symposium for the Virtuoso Travel Network. The inaugural Virtuoso Symposium in the Americas will be a landmark event, and Journey Mexico is thrilled to boost visibility of Mexico City’s cultural treasures as well as the region’s importance as a luxury travel destination.

What’s New at Journey Mexico?

As your eyes on the ground, we are always on the look out for top quality destinations and experiences to bring to our clients. Below, you will find several new hotels, restaurants, and locations that we are excited to start working with this year.

Hotels

Casa de la Real Aduana, Patzcuara – Just a few steps from the Plaza Quiroga Basque, this beautiful boutique hotel offers a wonderfully classic feel with a modern twist.

Hotel Las Alcobas, Mexico City – This 35 room hotel defines modern luxury.

Hotel Brick, Mexico City – “Brick is a chance to live Mexico City from within, to reminisce the city’s majestic past from a young and modern perspective.”

BeTulum, Tulum – This 20 room hotel marries luxury with the natural surrounds of jungle and sea.

Roses&Xocolate – JM trip planner, Gerardo Tovar, recently stayed at this boutique hotel and spa in Merida and loved it.

Restaurants

Izote, Mexico City – Journey Mexico President, Zach Rabinor, had the chance to dine with Izote owner and chef, Patricia Quintana, and has had nothing but great things to say.

Los Mirasoles, Morelia – JM director of operations, Mateo Luthi, and his wife recently dined at this gorgeous restaurant offering both Michoacana and international delicacies as well as over 250 wines.

Pujol, Mexico City – Recently, Matthew Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso invited Zach for dinner at Pujol, and Zach reports that the meal was truly a unique culinary experience.

Cenote

We couldn’t believe our eyes when we were introduced to this private, secluded cenote. We know future customers will fall in love with its tranquility just as we have.

Journey Mexico Featured Promotions

Experience More at the Four Seasons, Punta Mita

Discover the best that Punta Mita has to offer while enjoying up to $1200 US credit for a 3 night stay. Take even more credit for a longer stay! Whether it’s winding up your golf swing or unwinding at the spa, this daily credit gives you room to stay and play.

Daily Credit Room Type Apr. 11-30 May 1 –June 25 June 26 – Oct. 1
$150 Casita Garden View $595 $545 $415
$150 Casita Oceanview $855 $725 $590
$200 Casita Oceanview Premium $895 $820 $645
$200 Casita Oceanfront $1,130 $1,090 $845
$400 1-Bedroom Gardenview Suite $1,825 $1,290 $1,100
$400 1-Bedroom Oceanview Suite $2,225 $1,490 $1,325
$400 1-Bedroom Oceanfront Suite $2,735 $2,195 $1,660

Escape to tranquility with The Haciendas/Esencia Summer Sampler Promotion

Book this 8 night country-to-coast special combination of The Haciendas locations in the Yucatan countryside and Esencia on the Riviera Maya and the fourth night is free at both locations (May – Nov. 15th).

Additional specials at The haciendas:

  • Three course dinner for two with a bottle of wine in secluded, romantic area for $95 (Tax and service included)
  • 25% off spa services and 15% food and beverage

Additional specials at Esencia:

  • Breakfast included
  • Complimentary airport transfers
  • $125 credit for restaurants or spa redeemable at checkout

Experience complete luxury at this The Tides Zihuatanejo Resort in Mexico

This Zihuatanejo hotel offers cool garden waterfalls and enchanting lagoons. From Apr. 8 – Oct. 31st, The Tides is offering:

  • 30% off rates and spa treatment
  • $30 optional upgrade per night to the next room category (subject to availability)
  • Daily American breakfast included (this only applies for new bookings starting July 1st – October 31st)

Travel Alert: How Save is Mexico?

As you may have heard in the news, US Department of State has extended a travel warning focused on certain regions of Northern Mexico.  The warning has been extended in the wake of an increase in violence along the U.S. – Mexico Border.

We at Journey Mexico prioritize our clients’ safety and security first and while reviewing this warning, it is important to note a few key things.

1.) Mexico’s main tourist destinations are, geographically, very far from the very specific areas included in the warning. Mexico’s top travel destination, Cancun, is 1,312 miles from Ciudad Juarez, (the Mexican town most noted for recent violence), and the number two most traveled to city, Puerto Vallarta, is over 700 miles away. The distance from Cancun to Ciudad Juarez is approximately the distance from New York City to Miami, and the distance from Mexico City to Ciudad Juarez is approximately the size of the entire state of California!

2.) The warning does not discourage travelers from visiting tourist destinations, rather recommends that travelers exercise caution and be alert to safety and security issues if traveling in the border regions affected by the violence.

3.) The warning specifically notes that “common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable.”  This is true for travel to any country, even travel through the US and Europe.

While Journey Mexico is taking the necessary steps to avoid client travel to the affected areas, those of us that live here know how beautiful and safe Mexico is, so let’s spread the word and continue to bring visitors to Mexico in 2010 to share in all the unforgettable experiences this country has to offer!

Quiverito Surf Shop in Sayulita Doing Something Different

Posted by & filed under Puerto Vallarta & Punta Mita.

If you’ll be surfing in Mexico any time soon (Sayulita specifically), be sure to check out one of the town’s newest surf shops, Quiverito. Although Sayulita is a tad saturated when it comes to surf shops these days, Josh Labovitz, Quiverito’s owner, is definitely doing something different and refreshing.

Take a quick glance into the shop, and you’ll immediately see something unique is going on. The walls are lined with retro and classic boards from shapers like Gordon and Smith, Stewart, Skip Frye, Herbie Fletcher, Al Merrick, Terry Goldsmith, Ian Zamora, and others. There are also a few modern boards in the mix, like Firwire, but you’re definitely not going to find racks of Quicksilver tees, shelves of Volcom wristbands, or counters covered in Red Bull stickers. The classic vibe led me first to believe the shop was a gallery, but then I saw a sign that read: “ALL boards for rental and sale.” My head tilted, I stared at a vintage Gordon Smith single fin and went, “That can’t be right.” But, alas, the sign did not lie.

The mentality at Quiverito is simple: Boards are meant to be ridden. When most board collectors would wince at the idea of you even touching their coveted Skip Frye, Josh says, “Like it? Take it for a ride.” When I asked Josh how someone with such a great collection of boards could let total strangers take them out, he said, “It’s definitely an exercise in dis-attaching myself from material things, but I figure, I ding them up myself every time I travel. Why not let other people enjoy them as well?”

Quiverito provides a really unique opportunity to save yourself the 80+ bucks in flying boards back and fourth (as well as peace of mind about dinging your babies) and the chance to ride classic shapes without having to shell out mucho dinero to pull them off the wall. The coolest part is that you can check the boards out on Quiverito’s website, pick one out, and reserve it before you ever get on the plane. Check the website out at www.quiverito.com.

Journey Mexico Featured on Planeta.com

Posted by & filed under News.

We were featured on Ron Mader’s website, Planeta.com, this week in a section called Luxury Travel in Mexico by Ron Mader. Many thanks to Ron. Planeta is an incredible resource for responsible and eco travel, and we’re thrilled about everything Ron is doing for travel to Mexico.

Ron has a really cool photo-scavenger hunt going on his site right now so if you are in Mexico now, coming soon, or happen to have a lot of pictures from a previous trip to Mexico City, be sure to get involved.