Fulfilling another Fantasy: Horseback riding on the beach
Born out of the travel imagination and incredible success of the Adventure Travel World Summit (and with much work by ATTA Super team Rebecca Yanez & Antonio Rosal) ATMEX, now in its second year, is specifically focused on promoting adventure tourism in Mexico. Hundreds of travel agents, local and foreign tour operators, travel writers and politicos in all their fanfare galore, gathered first on soft and extreme adventure tours around the country and then in Boca del Rio, Veracruz at the World Trade Center for two days of one-on-one meetings with local operators and lectures on branding, adventure tourism, adventure education and much more. In the evenings under starry skies, Jose Cuervo was alive and flowing at the gala events featuring the famous Harpists of Veracruz, Los Voladores de Pamplanta, (The Dancing Men of Veracruz) and abundant traditional music from all over Mexico.
Up, up and away with the flying men of Veracruz
What unified all participants was their shared passion for sustainable adventure tourism in this wonderful and diverse country filled with abundant opportunities for extreme and “soft” adventures. OK and so we like to bailar and have FUN too!
The Adventure Angels may be rolling into your town next!
Add delicious and varied cuisine, super friendly locals, short distances between all the sights, exotic flowers, birds, plants, butterflies and music wherever you go, and you have a delicious and genuine recipe for the perfect adventure experience for all ages that is close to home and at a value that cannot be beat.
Making Music Mexican Style with ukelele, guitars, jaw bones and chickens cackling
I spent my pre-summit experience in a gorgeous region 2 hours south of Veracruz called Las Tuxlas where we hiked in the rainforest to the base of a volcano, swam in the warm bay of Bahía Escondida, rappelled in the French Pirate Laurencillo’s cave, rode horses through farmland to the Arroyo de Oro waterfall, caught fish and ate them , learned how to make tamales, cigars and dance with ever smiling and enthusiastic locals…..all in THREE DAYS!! When the day was done, we ate fresh seafood and local specialities by the sea, on a veranda overlooking the rain forest and in a family-run-catch-your-own-
Our horses led us to water and we drank and played in it!
I was instantly enchanted on day one of my “Nature in Las Tuxlas” pre-tour when our ever-smiling, native Tuxla guides led us into a small tobacco field to speak with a local farmer, wind our way through dense forest filled with butterflies to visit the ruins of a textile factory, then to dive off of hand-made wooden rafts into the warm “Laguna Encantada.”
Not Your Average Marlborough Man!
After a hearty lunch surrounded by local families, we learned how to make tamales, tissue paper balloons that were sent up into the sky with a torch of fire, roll cigars and dance “La Fandango” with a local band that included two women who played the teeth on the jaw bone of a cow!
OK…Which gringo will roll the perfect cigar…and why?
This may be one instrument I can have fun with
Our gringo group feeling fine!
Tissue Paper Balloons fueled by Fire
To escape the humidity that evening, the local “caballeros” invited us to dance La Salsa in the lively Piazza of San Andrés Tuxtla. The next two days brought more authentic experiences including a mud facial, a shaman cleansing and a boat ride on Lago Catemaco,the home of alternative medicine, shamans, strange occurrences and the set for Sean Connery’s “Medicine man”. It is also the birthplace of life for the ancient Olmecs; their Garden of Eden. In addition to its its brujas and brujos –witches and wizards that can cast a spell on your enemies or cure you of your ills–make way for the monkeys. After our facials, we took boats to small islands where dozens of animated spider monkeys mocked our muddy faces.
We let it dry and then rinse it off in curative spring water
Spider Monkeys greeted us
Each day my dreams were sweetened by the day’s rich sensory experiences of natural beauty, traditions, colorful folklore, and the gentle and genuine flow of life that abounds in Mexico, our closest and most culturally fascinating neighbor. The key ingredient that bridged the gringo gap were the local operators whose passion, experience and intimate connections with the native people exceeded my expectations.
From cement tank to open grill to our plates…Catching one of your own was easy, but Cindy scored four fresh ones!
Despite the bad press that Mexico has SO unfairly received with regards to crime…every time I travel there I feel completely safe, welcome and increasingly excited to explore and learn more. Mexico, one of the world’s great travel destinations, is often singled out for violent crime without telling the whole story. While there is sporadic violence along parts of the U.S. border, the majority of Mexico’s key tourism areas are not only safe, but safer than many other popular tourism areas. If you have ANY doubts, please check out this web site: How Safe is Mexico to set you completely at ease! You can be sure I will be back soon with my children, friends and guests creating cultural adventure tours for all ages. Granted, the cycling does not come close to Italy but the intense colors, melodic sounds of birds, harps and laughter and the bounty of sensory experiences (and fresh ceviche and taquila) will make your heart pound and your soul soar.
With La Madonna and the Mexican Police looking over you everywhere you go, how can you not have Peace of Mind??
I could not agree more with ATTA’s president Shannon Stowell when, in his closing speach, stated: “Mexico is one of the world’s best adventure travel destinations for it is rich in the three pillars of an adventure travel experience: Cultural experiences, a variety of adventure activities and abundant immersions in nature. ” AmenShannon Stowell
If you are looking for a soft or extreme cultural & nature adventure that is close to home, culturally fascinating and an excellent value compared to a similar adventure experience in the USA…research the abundant adventure travel options and hop on a quick & cheap flight to Mexico. Stay tuned for a family adventure & nature tour in Baja that I will be putting together in April 2014…I just can’t resist..Quieres venir?Vamos alla Playa!!
Unwind and relax after a day of activities with fresh seafood, Cold Coronas and a siesta on a warm Veracruz beach. It does not get any better than this!
One way or another…I will be back to Veracruz! Ya te echo Veracruz!
Enjoy all my photos of Veracruz here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48084728@N02/sets/72157635152189932/
