Playa Zipolite looks like a stunning oasis, but its waters boast strong and potentially fatal undercurrents. Thanks to the beach's growing popularity a ...
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Five new or under-the-radar Mexico experiences By Meagan Drillinger |Mar 12, 2019
Five new or under-the-radar Mexico experiences
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Mar 12, 2019
Structures at the Guachimontones archaeological site date to the fourth century B.C. Photo Credit: Eric Moya
For as much time as I have spent in Mexico, I am still always surprised and delighted to discover parts and places I have never been to, or even heard about before. From new discoveries to soon-to-be-launched hotels as well as experiences that have remained below the radar for decades, here are five experiences in Mexico you might not know exist.
Hacienda Chukum
A cenote was recently discovered outside of Valladolid, Yucatan, and in its wake a brand-new travel park has emerged. The 131-acre Hacienda Chukum opened in February, centered on the Chukum-Ha cenote. Three natural openings in the cavernous ceiling illuminate the waters below. There is also a rope swing and a 50-foot repelling wall. Visitors can explore the park through local tour operator Aventuras Mayas.
Hierve el Agua, Oaxaca
Though by no means new, one of Oaxaca's greatest natural treasures is still far off the beaten path for most tourists. Visitors to Oaxaca City would be remiss to overlook this stunning natural phenomenon. From a distance, this enormous rock formation that towers above the jungle looks like a frozen waterfall. Upon closer inspection, visitors will discover that it is actually constructed of mineral deposits on top of a limestone mountain. On either of the ledges of the mountain are two freshwater pools, as well as hot springs that are bubbling with calcium carbonate and magnesium. The minerals from the pools seep through the cliffs creating the frozen flow appearance of this magnificent structure.
Hierve el Agua is a perfect day trip from Oaxaca City and can be arranged through local tours or via private drivers.
Glamping in Espiritu Santo
Off the coast of La Paz in Baja California Sur is the island of Espiritu Santo. Espiritu Santo Island is a Natural Protected Area that was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1995. Known for its turquoise waters and pristine beaches, the entire island is only 11 miles long. It's also teeming with wildlife, from sea lions and manta rays to dolphins and turtles. No humans live on Espiritu Santo, but if you want to spend the night it is possible to arrange an evening glamping with Camp Cecil.
Camp Cecil has a base on one of the island's best beaches, with walk-in tents with real beds, lanterns, beach towels and storage space. An on-site chef prepares meals daily at Xantas Cafe. Guests can spend the day kayaking, hiking, swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, nature watching and more.
The boat to Camp Cecil departs from La Paz at 9 a.m. on the day of the reservation. Travelers can fly into San Jose del Cabo or La Paz.
La Casa de La Playa, Destino Xcaret
Destino Xcaret is readying to open the next hotel on the expansive, 915-acre compound of which the explosive Hotel Xcaret is a part. Slated to be the second hotel of 12 to open over the next few years, La Casa de La Playa will open this summer with 63 spacious suites with private plunge pools that are categorized into three concepts: Nature, Wellness and Fun. The adults-only, eco-friendly resort will have four restaurants, two pools, a spa, mezcaleria, chocolate shop, wine cellar, and library.
In the next eight years there will be 6,000 hotel rooms, a stadium with capacity for a 12,000-person audience, a convention center, and an entertainment and commercial center with promenades along the river.
Guests of the properties receive full access to the Xcaret parks, as well, as part of the All-Fun Inclusive program.
Guachimontones, Jalisco
Later this year, the government of Jalisco will be completing a high-speed highway connecting Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta. The 5.5-hour trip will be reduced to 2.5 hours, making it entirely possible to hit both Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara in one weekend getaway.
Along the drive, travelers can discover one of the more peculiar ruins of Mexico -- Guachimontones. This Olmec archaeological site is home to circular pyramid structures, which is a rarity for Mexico sites. The Unesco World Heritage Site remained largely unheard of until about 2009. Before then, visitors had to ask the locals around the town, Teuchitlan, in order to make their way there. Today it is far more accessible to tourists, with a large visitor center and a museum.
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Read this before using an ATM abroad!
Hey Zipolite fans!
I've got something to tell you. You're making some serious ATM mistakes while you're travelling and they could cost you a lot of money!
Thanks to ATMs being so widespread globally, you can travel to a foreign country with little more than a bank card and gain instant access to your cash. However, without an understanding of the differences between using an ATM at home and abroad, you could end up in serious trouble. Here are 11 common ATM mistakes to avoid while overseas.
1. Using your credit card for ATM withdrawals
Credit cards typically charge larger fees when you take out a cash advance at an overseas ATM. You’ll be charged a cash advance fee, probably an ATM fee, and possibly a foreign transaction fee (unless you have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees). Plus you’ll instantly be charged interest on the cash advance at a higher rate than your purchase APR.
Do yourself a favour: Only take out money using your debit card and save your travel rewards card for direct purchases.
2. Not getting a checking account with no ATM fees
Even if you're using the ATM of the same institution that you bank with at home, you're still likely to get hit with ATM fees just for taking money out. Avoid this by signing up for an account that promises no international ATM fees. Several U.S. banks and financial institutions offer zero ATM fees, and even if the ATM applies one, you'll likely get reimbursed at the end of the month.
3. Thinking ATMs can do the same transactions as in the U.S.
If you're hoping to pay bills, transfer money between accounts, or even see an accurate account balance when you’re abroad, think again. Many foreign ATMs are relatively one dimensional, particularly when it comes to using them with nonnative cards. Be prepared to only withdraw cash from ATMs and setup online banking or use your bank's app for anything else.
4. Not telling your bank about your trip
As part of their fight against fraudulent activity, banks will often take the precaution of freezing your account whenever anything unexpected happens. This includes you attempting to withdraw cash in another country if you haven't made them aware of your travel plans. All it takes is a quick visit, phone call, or online update to let your bank know where you're going and for how long, and you should have no issues.
5. Not counting your money upon withdrawal
Though no one wants to be standing around in an unfamiliar country flicking through wads of cash, you also don't want to be shortchanged by the ATM. Before you head off, always discreetly check that the amount you've received matches the amount you've requested so you can sort out any issues while you're still there. It's also better to withdraw cash during the day, and from an actual bank premises while it's open so you can simply pop in if a problem arises.
6. Not setting up bank app notifications
Most banks now have apps with systems to alert you when various activities are detected on your account. The most important of these to set up is receiving a notification whenever a withdrawal is made, even if it's one that the bank doesn't suspect as fraudulent. This way you can easily keep track of everything happening on your account while overseas and quickly recognize if something is amiss.
7. Not keeping a copy of your ATM card somewhere
If your card gets stolen, swallowed by an ATM, or simply lost, then it's important to have backup copies of it. These will allow you to cancel the card quickly as well as order a replacement for when you get home. Rather than having paper copies, it's a better idea to create a digital backup (a photo) and store it somewhere safe.
8. Not changing the daily withdrawal limit
Many travelers choose to lower their daily withdrawal limit when they head overseas. This means that in the event of someone getting ahold of your card and attempting to withdraw cash fraudulently, they will only gain access to a certain amount.
It's also wise to use two accounts to manage your cash. Set up the one without a connected bank card to keep the majority of your travel cash in, and use online banking to transfer money to the other account with the bank card. Your money will then be doubly protected if your card goes missing.
9. Not checking ATMs for skimmers
This is something you should be doing regardless of where in the world you're using an ATM, even if it's at home. But having your card cloned in a foreign country can be even more traumatic, and sorting everything out in the aftermath an inconvenient process.
Always take a good look at the card slot before sticking your card in to make sure there's nothing suspicious about it, and if you're in any way concerned, move onto another one.
10. Not having a small cash backup
Despite the fact that ATMs are now easy to find in virtually any corner of the world, it always pays to have a plan B in the event of something going wrong. The best way to do this is to always have a small cash backup that you keep somewhere safe separate from the rest of your cash, just for emergencies.
11. Not having your bank's phone number readily available
Unfortunately, sometimes the worst does happen and you can be stuck with a number of problems at the ATM. When it comes to banking, time can literally mean money in an emergency situation. That's why it's vital that you have your bank's phone number on hand so you can contact them quickly in a crisis. And remember to input the international dialing code if necessary.
Anything Else?
Okay, I maybe made a mistake assuming you didn't know all of these ATM facts. Did you know about them all? Is there something you know that I don't Zipolite fans? ?
If so, reply to this email and let me know!
I hope you did find this email useful! Keep your eye out on your inbox next week because I'll be sending you some more super useful travel tips.
This is super important stuff for travellers so keep your eye out.
Until next time!
Happy travels 
- The Goats
Black Mexicans finally get respect and recognition from Mexico ISMAIL AKWEI | Head of Content
Black Mexicans finally get respect and recognition from Mexico
ISMAIL AKWEI | Head of Content
Afro-Mexicans have been in the North American country since the 16th century but are now getting respect from the Mexican government which just created the Instituto Nacional de los Pueblos Indígenas – National Institute of Indigenous Peoples – to recognize the rights of indigenous groups.
Black Mexicans were only recognised for the first time in 2015 when the Mexican government conducted its national survey and counted about 1.38 million people of African descent (about 1.2% of the country’s population).
The Afro-Mexicans have been invisible in the country for too long but with the new institute created by the Mexican Senate, Black Mexicans and other indigenous groups will be consulted by the government on matters affecting them.
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It reflects “respect and autonomy for indigenous groups, and strengthening of their cultures and identities, rather than a mere focus on inequality and social exclusion as had previously taken place,” reports Atlanta Black Star.
In August 2018, the neglect faced by Black Mexicans was the focus of the country’s first-ever all-black film, La Negrada (Black Mexicans), directed by Jorge Pérez Solano, one of Mexico’s biggest filmmakers.
The story follows the lives of two Afro-Mexican women, Juana and Magdalena, who are romantically involved with the same man called Neri.
It starts off with a Mexican immigration officer asking one of the protagonists “You are not Mexican, right?’ just because she is black.
What makes the film refreshing is that it features non-professional actors and is shot in Costa Chica, a region in Oaxaca with one of the biggest populations of black Mexicans.
Although the Afro-Mexicans have been featured in documentaries, this film is a fiction piece that captures the daily lives of Mexicans and the subtle and overt racism they go through. It further gives a glimpse of the music and natural background that adds flavour to their experience.
Before 2015, Mexico and Chile were the only Latin American countries that did not officially count the people of African descent in their surveys. Many lauded the move by Mexico at the time while others felt that it had been long overdue.
Afro-Mexicans are the descendants of enslaved African people brought into the country in the 16th and 17th century. The indigenous communities in Mexico reduced drastically at this time because of diseases.
The shortage of labour saw slaves from Africa brought in: estimates indicate 200,000 slaves arrived in the country. They were forced to work in plantations in the South and underground mines in the North. Mexico had a larger African slave population in the early 1600s than any other country in the Americas.
Most of them tried to escape the horrendous experience and ended up in the mountainous region of Mexico where they hid in caves and jungles. One such community was established in the state of Veracruz in 1570 by former slave Gaspar Yanga, who dared to revolt against the Spaniards.
The Afro-Mexicans of that time were quite instrumental in the development of Mexico. From music to the arts, they formed the fabric of Mexican culture.
Politically, Mexico’s second president was a black man called Vicente Guerrero, who abolished slavery in the country in 1829.
Most of the freed slaves then intermarried with the indigenous community, raising children known as “mulattos,” “pardos ,” or “zambos .
In 1781, Mexicans of African descent helped established Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Pobladores, or “townspeople,” were a group of 44 settlers and four soldiers from Mexico who came from various Spanish castes, with over half of the group being of African descent.
Governor of Las Californias, a Spanish-owned region, Felipe de Neve called on 11 families to help build the new city in the region by recruiting them from Sonora and Sinaloa, Mexico. According to a census record taken at the time, there were two persons of African ancestry, eight Spanish and Black persons, and nine American Indians. There was also one Spanish and Indian person, with the rest being Spaniards.
In Los Angeles, the El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historic Park honoured the pobladores in the 1950s with a plaque, but it was mysteriously removed. In a Los Angeles Times report, it was suggested that the removal of the plaque was racially motivated. However, in 1981 during the city’s bicentennial, the plaque was replaced.
While a lot of modern people are inclined to believe that the Afro-Mexican population declined over the years, statistics indicate that the population ranges between two per cent and eight per cent of the Mexican population. However, these blacks still suffer from discrimination in their home country.
Not only are they deported to other Latin American countries because the police believe there are no black people in Mexico, they are also living in abject poverty.
It is such incidents and lack of recognition by the Mexican government that forced a number of Afro-Mexican activists to rally behind such recognition.
México Negro, a rights group formed in 1997, is seeking for the constitutional recognition of Afro-Mexicans and the increased visibility of Afro-Mexican culture.
Such recognition has taken too long for various reasons including the feeling that mestizo identity (the mix between indigenous people and Europeans) is a better term than breaking down groups into ethnicity.
The lack of recognition of the community has limited them from advancing their own agenda including socio-political and economic survival.
Some Afro-Mexicans have turned to music and dance to express themselves and stay true to their African roots. One of such groups is the dance troupe in the southern state of Oaxaca, known as Obatala. They have been touring different parts of the state of Oaxaca creating awareness around their ancestral African heritage with their energetic and unique African dances.
The Afro-Mexican dance group identifies itself with a popular Yoruba deity called Obatala, which is believed to be the oldest of gods generally referred to as Orisas in Nigeria.
Obatala, which is always adorned in white, is also said to be the father of many other Orisas. While this god is synonymous with the Yoruba community in Nigeria, he is also very popular in Latin America.
Monday, March 11, 2019
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