Playa del Carmen news

January 2007

Playa del Carmen is still recovering from December parties... but they aren’t over yet, because the parties in this part of the world never end!

The joyous and cheerful atmosphere continues to fill the tourists’ days in the Mexico’s hotels!

La Tortuga Hotel and Spa are still basking in the magical Christmas atmosphere in Playa del Carmen, hardly believable with the warm temperatures of the Riviera Maya!

Between Christmas and the Three Kings Day or the Epiphany (“Día de Los Reyes Magos”) on January 6th, the Santa Clauseswho usually wander around the town center, Playa del Carmen beaches and in the squares are replaced by the Magi. Children receive many gifts and the streets swarm with stands full of colors, sweets and candies rather than souvenirs.

All over the World and in the Riviera Maya, the 6th of January marks the Magi's arrival to Bethlehem to bring gifts to Jesus.

They say that the Magi (three Wise Men and astronomers ) following a comet , crossed deserts and mountains until they reached the new king, Jesus.
Mexican people celebrate the Epiphany (known as " Dia de Los Reyes Magos") by receiving gifts, as Jesus received gifts from the Magi.

In many parts of Mexico, but mostly belong the Riviera Maya beaches, people and children write letters with wishes to the Magi, which they leave next to their shoes or the crèche. Other children tie them to balloons and let them fly into the air, so they can quickly reach the Magi in the sky!

This day in Playa del Carmen, devoted to children (both inside and outside the house), is celebrated by bringing to the table a round, sweet bread covered with sugar and pieces of candied fruit called "Rosca de los Reyes."

While preparing the Rosca, women put little plastic dolls inside (called "El Monito"). When the Rosca is cut into slices and served, whoever finds one of these dolls is obliged to invite friends over for another party and offer them the famous Tamales on or before Candlemas Day (the Day of the Candelaria ), which occurs more or less a month after Epiphany).

January is one of the best months to visit the Mayan Riviera! After the whirl of Christmas parties of the Caribbean coast, everyone seems to have slowed down. This creates an intimate atmosphere in which people tell about what they have received and how they celebrated Christmas. They chat and smile in Playa del Carmen hotels and in the Mexican restaurants, and it’s a pleasure to see them sitting at the little tables on Fifth Avenue sipping cool drinks adorned with tiny colored paper parasols.

The pleasant Hotel La Tortuga, in addition to being very characteristic of the area, has created relaxing spaces.
The swimming pool, surrounded by a verdant tropical garden made of palms and deck chairs, creates just the right post-Christmas atmosphere.

La Tortuga offers the temptation of being treated even more cordially in its Spa, where visitors can take advantage of relaxing massages and special beauty treatments, or even try ancient Mayan treatments.

The sun shines and the sky is always celestial blue in the Mayan Riviera, Mexico. Anyone who breathes in the gentle morning air feels reinvigorated and filled with energy. 

La Tortuga Hotel and Spa is waiting for everyone who feels like vacationing in a tropical heaven without skipping over the courtesy and services!