Surprise Last Chance for the Maya 2012 Winter Solstice at Belize’s Chaa Creek


(PRWEB) December 08, 2012

Due to unforeseen circumstances, three deluxe packages for The Lodge at Chaa Creeks 2012 Maya Winter Solstice celebration have become available, marketing administrator Larry Waight announced today.

We thought we had been booked out, but I just discovered that three Maya 2012 Winter Solstice all-inclusive vacation packages are now available, which means three lucky people can now get in to join what promises to be an experience of a lifetime, Mr Waight said.

Chaa Creeks 2012 Maya Winter Solstice event has been highly anticipated since it was announced earlier this year. Combining hands-on education about Maya civilisation with tours of ancient Maya archaeological sites including some of the most important ancient cities in the Mundo Maya, or Maya World, the all-inclusive Belize vacation packages were designed to immerse guests in Maya culture prior to the December 21st Winter Solstice, which had been highlighted on the Maya Long Count calendar thousands of years ago as a pivotal date for humankind.

However, modern conspiracy buffs, various internet sites and even a major Hollywood film have helped promote speculation that the Maya Long Count calendar ends abruptly and signifies the end of the world on December 21 2012. Mr Waight said nothing could be further from the truth.

Those (apocalypse) theories are absolute and utter nonsense, Mr Waight said. December 21 2012 was and still is a hugely important date for the Maya. Its true that the date marks the completion of the 13th Baktun of the Maya Long Count calendar, a cycle thousands of years long, but interpreting that as the end of the world is taking a giant leap into fantasy world, he said.

There will be celebrations throughout the Mundo Maya, an area encompassing all of Belize and parts of Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador to commemorate the event. Huge crowds are expected at Mexicos ancient Maya site of Chitzen Itza and large celebrations are planned for Tikal in Guatemala. Mr Waight said Chaa Creeks celebrations are unique due to their more intimate, culturally holistic nature, emphasis on an authentic Maya experience and range of activities.

Its going to be a lot of fun, and the package is set up so that guests can structure their time and learn as much or as little as they want at our representational Maya village where there will be workshops in Maya arts, crafts, cooking, farming, healing and other areas, he said.

Dr Jaime Awe and Dr Allan Moore, two of the worlds leading Mayanists, will be giving presentations and authors Rosita Arvigo and David Ruiz, anthropologist Joe Awe, and Maya flautist Pablo Collado will be among other expert speakers and workshop leaders.

There will also be a wealth of activities and things do, such as canoeing, horseback riding, nature walks, Maya ceremonial cave explorations, even Caribbean snorkelling on the Belize Great Barrier Reef. We wanted to do something really special for the 2012 Winter Solstice, and everyones very happy with the results. Its structured to be deeply rewarding and at the same time deeply relaxing, Mr Waight said.

The highlight of the event will be on the solstice itself, December 21 2012, with a traditional Maya feast, music and candle light procession to the ancient Maya temple of Tunichilen located in Chaa Creeks 365 acre nature reserve.

The Maya Winter Solstice 2012 all-inclusive vacation package can be booked for seven, four or three days beginning December 15, Mr Waight said, and will interest everyone from professional Mayanists to families, friends and couples.

Far from being the end of the world, we think this is going to open up a whole new way of looking at the world for everyone taking part in this event. This is the very centre of the Heartland of the Maya, and it is going to be very interesting to see what happens the night of December 21, 2012.

Whatever happens, at least everyone here at Chaa Creek is going to be very well prepared for it, he added.







Grand Velas Spas in Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit Named One of Worlds Best Spas by Travel + Leisure and 30 Hot Spas in North America by Spafinder


Riviera Maya, Mexico (PRWEB) October 07, 2012

Mexicos Beyond All Inclusive, Beyond All Compare Grand Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit were included in two prestigious industry awards this year. Discerning readers of Travel + Leisure voted Grand Velas Riviera Maya the #2 Hotel Spa in Mexico in its annual Worlds Best Spas Awards. It is the spas first time being named to the poll. Its sister resort, Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit was included in the SpaFinder Wellness Around the World in 80 Spas series as one of the 30 Hot Spas in North America, a selection of top spas from hip city havens to high-end resorts. SpaFinder Wellness is the worlds largest digital publication for spa and wellness information.

The $ 15 million architecturally striking spa at Grand Velas Riviera Maya is the regions largest spa sanctuary. Inspired by the jungle and natural water pools of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexican architects Elias and Elias preserved the stone, plants and streams specific to the Riviera Maya landscape and incorporated them into its curved, organic design. The two-level, 89,000+ square foot spa also has a 40,000 square-foot Water Lounge. Specializing in signature treatments inspired by ancient cultures from around the world, the spa was named Best Spa” in the world by Virtuoso and earned a SpaFinder Readers Choice Award.

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, a member of Leading Spas of the World is home to a 16,500 square feet spa sanctuary, featuring 20 treatment rooms, over 60 spa treatments, gym and exercise room, spa boutique and beauty salon. A place where health and well-being brings visitors to a sense of equilibrium, the spa offers luxurious European treatments and soothing Oriental therapies that invigorate the body and restore the spirit. Enjoy the special hydrotherapy area, spa reservation center, spa concierge and personalized service at the breathtaking oceanfront resort.

About Grand Velas Riviera Maya:

Featured in Forbes roundup of the 10 Coolest All-Inclusive Resorts, the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya, an all-suites and spa resort located five minutes from Playa del Carmen, is the latest and most sophisticated iteration of the ultra-luxury, all-inclusive resort experience. This Leading Hotels of the World designated resort is the preeminent one of its class boasting 491 suites, each more than 1,000 square-feet, in three separate ambiances– premium ocean-front Grand Class Suites wit h terrace plunge pools for families with children 12 and up, family-friendly ocean-view Ambassador Suites and Zen Grand Suites embraced by the flora and fauna of the Yucatan Peninsulas jungle. The resort presents a gastronomic tour of the Yucatan, Europe and Asia offering seven restaurants with world-class chefs from France, Spain and Mexico; dedicated butler service for each guest, and the regions largest spa sanctuary at over 89,000 square-feet specializing in signature treatments inspired by ancient cultures from around the world. The spa was named Best Spa” in the world by Virtuoso and also earned a SpaFinder Readers Choice Award. The resort was designed by lauded Mexican architecture firm Elias and Elias and features the sleek and modish interiors that fuse the serenity of the Caribbean with the vibrancy of Yucatan cultures. Making its debut on Travel + Leisures Worlds Best Survey in 2012, Grand Velas Riviera Maya was ranked both 2nd amongst the Top 25 Best Hotels in Mexico and 38th amongst the Top 100 Best Hotels Overall.

About Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit:

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, an all-suites and spa resort located just 15 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta on Banderas Bay, is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and a recipient of the AAA Five-Diamond Award. The resort features 267 spacious ocean-view suites. The crown jewel of the resort and a member of Leading Spas of the World, the Spa at Grand Velas features 20 treatment rooms, over 60 spa treatments, gym and exercise room, spa boutique and beauty salon. The family-friendly resort also offers tiered three-temperature infinity pools, tennis court, 25,321 total sq feet of meeting space and a Kids Club. Nearby are championship golf courses, numerous options for soft adventure, and the charming town of Puerto Vallarta with its many shops, art galleries and nightlife. Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit has received numerous accolades within the industry, including one of Forbes 10 Coolest All-Inclusive Resorts.







Grand Velas Riviera Maya Chef Wins Mexicos Chef of the Year

Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Mexico (PRWEB) June 18, 2012

Grand Velas Riviera Maya Chef Xavier Perez Stone was recently crowned Mexicos Chef of the Year. After semi-final competitions completed throughout the country, the Grand National Final was held June 6-7th at Centro Banamex in Mexico City during the 11th Annual Alimentaria Expo Mexico, the countrys largest food & beverage trade show. Perez Stone is the chef of award-winning Cocina de Autor restaurant at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya.

Wowing the judges in a blind taste test with his black-skin trout and pineapple-colored shrimp, amongst other perfect plates, Perez Stone was awarded top marks based on flavor, preparation and presentation. The panel of judges included recognized personalities in the Mexican culinary world such as Enrique Olvera, chef of Mexico City’s Pujol – one of San Pellegrinos fifty best restaurants in the world; Chef Alejandro Ruiz Olmedo, one of Mexicos top chefs as well as one of the worlds foremost experts on regional Oaxacan Cuisine; and acclaimed Mexican restaurateur Daniel Ovadia; among others.

We are so proud of Chef Perez Stone being named Mexicos Chef of the Year, stated Patrick Louis, corporate executive chef and F&B director at Grand Velas. Comparable to the finest free-standing restaurants in any of the worlds leading culinary capitals, our restaurants are staffed with the most talented and acclaimed chefs.

Cocina de Autor has racked up numerous awards, including BBVA Bancomers Gourmand List of the top 50 restaurants in Mexico and one of the top 20 dishes worldwide in 2011 by James Beard winner Brad Johnson. Largely in part to its culinary program, the resort was recently featured in Forbes roundup of the 10 Coolest All-Inclusive Resorts.

About Grand Velas Riviera Maya:

The AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya, an all-suites and spa resort located five minutes from Playa del Carmen, is the latest and most sophisticated iteration of the ultra-luxury, all-inclusive resort experience. This Leading Hotels of the World designated resort is the preeminent one of its class boasting 491 suites, each more than 1,000 square-feet, in three separate ambiances– premium ocean-front Grand Class Suites with terrace plunge pools for families with children 12 and up, family-friendly ocean-view Ambassador Suites and Zen Grand Suites embraced by the flora and fauna of the Yucatan Peninsulas jungle. The resort presents a gastronomic tour of the Yucatan, Europe and Asia offering seven restaurants with world-class chefs from France, Spain and Mexico; dedicated butler service for each guest, and the regions largest spa sanctuary at over 89,000 square-feet specializing in signature treatments inspired by ancient cultures from around the world. The spa was named Best Spa” in the world by Virtuoso and also earned a SpaFinder Readers Choice Award. The resort was designed by lauded Mexican architecture firm Elias and Elias and features the sleek and modish interiors that fuse the serenity of the Caribbean with the vibrancy of Yucatan cultures.







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