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Here´s our humble introduction to the different corn preparations in Mexico and we begin by saying that the name “tortilla” is Spanish and is a diminutive of the “torta”. The original name of the tortilla, at least for the nahuas, was “tlaxcalli” but the difficulty to pronounce the word made the Spaniards turn to a name that sounded somehow close to a word in their dictionary.

Octavio Paz, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, once said that a tortilla is the tablecloth, plate and napkin of the Mexican people. This is true, in Mexico the tortilla, that tasty and nutritious legacy from our pre-Hispanic ancestors, is an element that is ever-present at every table during breakfast, lunch and dinner. Up to this point, everything is simple, but things get complicated once the variety starts during the banquet. A tortilla is the starting point of an endless variety of dishes in every corner of Mexico. We´ll let you in on a little secret; once a tortilla is stuffed with any dish, whether Mexican or not, it become a taco.

The famous quesadillas are tortillas that are either grilled or heated and are a combination of almost any filling you can think of with melted cheese and bent in half. If you are in the Yucatan Peninsula, the flour is fried, and the tortilla completely closed then it is called an empanada. On the other hand, if two tortillas are sandwiched together with the filling and the cheese it turns into a sincronizada. If the stew or filling goes on top of a hard fried tortilla the name changes to tostada and is accompanied by refried beans as a base, lettuce, cheese and cheese on top with a bit of avocado.

In Mexico, tacos are not made on a hard shell, unless fried, completely rolled up with the filling inside and decorated with cream and cheese on top, this concoction is called golden tacos or flautas (flutes) due to their final shape. Sopes, picadas or pellizcadas are also a traditional dish made with a fresh and fried corn flour tortilla but a lot thicker than a regular tortilla, they are prepared with very different ingredients such as pork rind stew, or meat adding cheese, vegetables and hot sauce on top, with regional variations.

A huarache (a word derived from the native tarasco meaning sandal), is an extended tortilla in the shape of what its name describes, has beans and grilled meat, chicken or a fried egg on top and accompanied by a salsa and cheese. Hungry yet? And if you have tortillas left over you can make some delicious chilaquiles in the morning which in their basic form are fried tortilla bits, also known as tortilla chips, covered with sauce, cheese, avocado and cream although they can also be topped with egg, chicken or shredded beef.

Names may go, names may come and the debate never ends as the time of cheese-less quesadillas and packaged tortillas has arrived; the reality is that wherever you go in Mexico a snack made with a tortilla is delicious and a must-taste. “Bon Appetit”.

July 4th is International Wildlife Day. At Sunset World we take advantage of this occasion to ponder the biological biodiversity of the Yucatan Peninsula, the ideal place for the development and coexistence of the most diverse species. This biodiversity includes low jungle vegetation, ecotone (an ecological boundary region between the jungle and the mangrove), dune vegetation and mangrove vegetation in a huge variety of flora.

The Yucatan Peninsula has an incredible amount of endemic and migrant bird species: woodpeckers, parrots, ibis, sandpipers, oystercatchers, herons, seagulls, plovers and many more. Besides, out of the eight species of sea turtles in the planet, seven arrive to the coasts of the Peninsula and specifically four arrive to the coasts of Quintana Roo: Green, Loggerhead, Hawksbill and Leatherbacks. Besides, on land, we can find anteaters, jaguars, manatees, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, ocelots, turtles, crocodiles, tapirs, otters and deer.

At Sunset World, this subject is a priority and a reason to be proud. We have given all our best efforts to fulfill our mission to be sustainable, specifically in the Tres Ríos Nature Park where Hacienda Tres Ríos resort is located. This Nature Park is a breath of fresh air for the area in the face of the urban sprawl surrounding it and there we work day after day to protect the flora and fauna of the region. Around 131 species have made Tres Ríos Nature Park their home, 80% of them are birds but one can also find reptiles, coatis, deer and spider monkeys, an endangered species and, in its currents, soft corals, hard corals, sponges, algae and marine, sea grasses, benthic fauna and fish.

The unique biodiversity in the Yucatan Peninsula and specifically in the Riviera Maya have turned it into a mecca for those travelers looking to enjoy not only the sun and beaches but also the enchantment of its natural beauty; the flora and fauna which we should never stop respecting and caring for.

Meeting a gentle giant of the Seas

A rare species arrives to the coasts near the Yucatan Peninsula during the month of May; it is an intimidating creature due to its large size and weight but it has become a favorite with divers and swimmers, locals and visitors because it is a giant softy reported to even like its belly scratched (although this has not been confirmed). Being on the water with it feels like being back in prehistoric times.

The whale shark is considered the largest fish in the world reaching 41 feet in length and a couple dozen tons in weight while its tail can reach up to 8.2 feet from side to side. Whale sharks inhabit warm tropical waters throughout the word as they are migrant creatures. They are docile, friendly and even playful despite their weight and size. They usually have a white belly and a grayish back filled with dots and stripes. They feed on plankton, seaweed and krill, and sometimes on crabs, squid, tuna or sardines. The largest numbers of this species have been found in the Philippines but they also concentrate in the coasts of Honduras, the Falklands, Galapagos Islands and Australia.

From May to September, large amounts of this species can be found in Holbox Island in the Yucatan Peninsula. During this season, experienced divers take tourists in search of them to watch, dive or snorkel next to them. Snorkeling with them is a unique and unforgettable experience that is easy enough to achieve if you are visiting Quintana Roo or Yucatán during the spring or summer months.

Summer is just around the corner in Cancún and the area is bursting with life. During your strolls around your hotel or even in Kukulcán Boulevard you might be able to observe a great variety of flora and fauna. Precisely on the Nichupté Lagoon side of the strip, you will see signs with the image of a crocodile alerting visitors about the presence of these majestic creatures. There is no need to feel alarmed, but it is important to be cautious: No fishing or swimming is recommended at the lagoon.

The species you could see in the Nichupté Lagoon if you are lucky is the Moreletti or Mexican crocodile. It is a relatively smaller species than other crocodiles. The male is usually larger than the female. Their reproduction takes place between the months of April and June, the female lays between 20 to 40 eggs and they are the only species of crocodiles in America that use mound nests to lay their eggs.

In Cancún, the department in charge of the Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone (ZOFEMAT) regularly monitors the crocodile population, and the work they do is not only inspecting or investigating but also creating awareness among the population with signs in Spanish and English at strategic points where tourists go in hope of capturing them with their cameras.

In each region in the world the seasons have very distinctive features and unique qualities. In contrast with the northern and southern-most regions where the four seasons are quite different, in the tropical regions, the transition between seasons is very subtle. Weather experts indentify the climate in Cancun and the Riviera Maya as warm-subhumid with rain all year round, but the truth is those of us who live here can clearly identify two seasons: Humid season and dry season.

In Cancun and the Riviera Maya winter and spring are the dry season and, although nearing spring there are strong winds that carry humidity, it rarely rains. But it is precisely this humidity that causes the abundant fauna of the region to get in reproductive mode so that their offspring are already born when the humid season comes around in the summer with its heavy rain but more than enough food.

In this relatively dry landscape where the green of the mangrove is the brightest color to be seen, a tree in full bloom captures our attention: The pink trumpet tree that runs all through the avenues and parks of Cancun and the Riviera Maya and form a pink carpet wherever you look. The pink trumpet tree grows in the tropical regions of America and can reach up to 98 feet. Mayan people called this tree Kob Ab and its wood is highly appreciated in decoration, woodworks and boat construction.

If you visit Sunset World during the spring season you will be able to enjoy the ever present beauty of this tree and the characteristic pink flower carpet it forms when strolling in the Hotel Zone, downtown Cancún or any of the towns in the Riviera Maya.

A mere 45 years after it was founded, today Cancún boasts impressive statistical data: it is the first tourist destination in Mexico and is counted among the first at a world level with 4.5 million visitors per year and more than 30,000 hotel rooms in offer, the Cancún International airport is the second in importance at a national level welcoming the most international passengers in all of Latin America according to official statistics by Aeropuertos del Sureste (ASUR). And, if that were not enough, the UNWTO has acknowledged the Tourism Bureau of Cancun as The Best of the Best… its fame and prestige seem to never slow down.

It all began in the 60’s as part of a government plan to encourage tourism as the driving force for national development as in those days Acapulco was the "one and only". In 1968 Mr. Savignac and Dondé, backed by the Bank of Mexico, explored the coasts of México in search of the places with potential and at the end they found six, including an island in the Caribbean, in the Quintana Roo region. Cancún was officially founded in April 20th, 1970.

In its short life, Cancún has survived hurricanes, the influenza crisis, the tough safety rules for travelers... and it’s still standing thanks to all the immigrants who have turned Cancún their own dream. Sunset World is proudly a part of this young and vibrant city that shines bright surrounded by turquoise color waters, white sand beaches and the lush jungle of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Congratulations Cancún on turning 45 years young!

April 22nd is Earth Day, a day to honor our home and create awareness about over population, pollution, biodiversity and preservation; a day to remember that everything is connected and that, as conscious human beings we must begin by being ecological with ourselves and at every level of our lives.

The first precedent of a large pre-ecological movement was in 1968 at the Human Ecology Symposium and the first manifestation to raise awareness about these issues was on April 22nd 1970, when thousands of universities and schools and hundreds of communities united for the cause of their weakened home. The first Earth Summit was held two years later. On the 45th anniversary of Earth Day the slogan is “It is our turn to lead”. Gaylord Nelson, a great environmentalist, professor of public health and one of the main promoters of this movement would be so proud to see how far his initiative for environmental activism has gone.

At Sunset World we are ever searching for ways to create awareness and educate people about the challenges to be faced in order to live in harmony with our environment, with full respect for living beings and the mutual dependence that exists. Let us be defenders of this initiative, let us not forget the date and let’s look after our planet, the only home we have.

Earth Hour will take place this year on March 28th at 8:30 pm. This is the largest and most important volunteer action in the world as millions of followers who are thoroughly convinced that everyone must do their bit to show our commitment and concern for the consequences of the climate change. Hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world will turn off their lights and disconnect all the household appliances they can for this cause that has snowballed and has become the perfect excuse to move, use our power and be committed to our planet.

Earth Hour was first promoted by the World Wildlife Fund in Australia 7 years ago and the commitment has grown to reforest thousands of trees in Uganda, stop or lessen the carbon footprint of each one of our actions, save the Great Barrier Reef and forests, protect the Amazon river, make our lifestyles more sustainable, create awareness in children and adults. The world has adopted Earth Hour as the perfect project to act, its impact goes beyond one hour a year. This year’s motto is “Use your power”.

In Quintana Roo and in Sunset World we accept this commitment for the planet and we will all enjoy a moment under the stars, turning it into the perfect time to share without technology while we become increasingly aware of the consequences of doing nothing. Let’s celebrate Earth Hour as 60 minutes that lead to many hours of action and consciousness about our only home: Earth.

Spring is a time of renovation and new beginnings, the time to blossom again.

In the Mayan region, the spring equinox is an instant referral to Chichén Itzá, one of the New 7 Wonders of the Modern World, a living sample of a highly advanced civilization in mathematics, architecture, astronomy and so much more. In this important site, visitors can find the Castle or Pyramid of Kukulcán where many gather to witness a unique event. During the equinoxes, when the Earth is lit up equally in the northern and southern hemispheres, there is a light and shadow effect before sunset that clearly simulates the descent of Kukulcán, the Feathered Serpent down the main stairway of the pyramid, until the rays of the sun land on the serpent’s head. The god has thus landed to give way to the agricultural cycle and to leave everyone in awe with the magic they have just witnessed.

The Castle, a pyramid with a base of 180 feet on each side and 98 feet high, is a giant calendar that marks the change of the seasons and the passing of days. At Chichén Itzá, the majestic archaeological site 116 miles from Cancun, one can also find the Observatory, the Ball Court and the Thousand-Column Temple among many other extraordinary buildings that show the interaction of the Maya with nature and their vision of the universe.

Experience the magic of spring on the day of the equinox and discover yet another reason to admire this ancient civilization.

We’ve got more hours of sun! At the beginning of February, Quintana Roo experienced an important change. Mexico’s House of Representatives approved changes to the Mexican Time Zone System to create a permanent Southeast time zone.

What does this mean? How does it affect us? It means that Quintana Roo will be under the same time zone as the East of the United States (EST) and will no longer fall under Central Standard Time. This gives the State a greater competitive edge as a beach destination as it is now under the same time zone as the Caribbean islands, connections are made easier with 22 airports in the United States, Canada and Europe and airport operations in Cancun and Cozumel increase. It also allows for a possibility of using natural light more effectively which translates into greater energy savings , a great and lasting benefit in the eyes of all those who care for our planet, like Sunset World.

Besides all this, dear members, you will be able to enjoy 2 extra hours of sun in the summer and 1 in the winter, an extra set of beach volleyball, greater possibilities of going diving, swimming in a sinkhole, visiting an archaeological site or sliding down a zip-line, working on your tan and spending time together under the bright rays of the Caribbean sun.

There’s nothing we can say against this new time zone and we are sure whenever you come to visit you’ll agree.

World Wetland Day is celebrated on February 2nd.

By definition, a wetland is “an area of land that is temporarily or permanently flooded and regulated by climate factors and in constant interrelation with live beings that inhabit there". Mangroves belong to a type of wetland in the saltwater swamp category.

Mangroves are a marine-coastal ecosystem located in tropical zones – just like this destination where we live and vacation – and are extremely important for the zones where they can be found for many reasons: they are many habitats in one with the characteristics of water and land habitats, have great endurance in extreme conditions and shelter a great amount of water species, they generate life, are natural protectors of the coast against the strong winds and waves produced by hurricanes, they are temporary shelter and nesting sites for birds and feeding, growing and protective ground for reptiles, fish, crustaceans and mollusks among others.

They also protect the coast from erosion, they ease weather changes, trap pollutants and are a natural sift… for every mangrove species destroyed, large quantities of marine species and a source of natural resources are lost.

Let’s take care of the wetlands on February 2nd and the rest of the year so we can insure the future of our coastland!

Hacienda Tres Ríos, as every resort at Sunset World Resorts & Vacation Experiences, always aims to be a model of sustainable tourism gearing their actions and activities toward creating environmental awareness and offering high quality experiences to its members. Hacienda Tres Ríos members, and all those that pay an upgrade to spend the day there, have the right to enjoy the Tres Ríos Natural Park and the activities offered there.

An activity that seeks to give members the opportunity of being one with nature and living in the here and now is a completely Zen experience called Sense Adventure.

This blindfolded adventure takes place in the beautiful Riviera Maya jungle. The world completely changes in the company of strangers, completely quieting down your mind. It is all built on trusting your guide and letting go. Suddenly everything becomes sounds, scents and touch. No one knows what to expect but for the space of an hour, your senses are fully awake.

Earth, water and fire are felt disregarding the senses we normally rely on: sight and taste.

We invite you to let go of your fears, to turn the volume down on your daily thoughts and worries; the world is only here and now. Listen to your inner child, the one that plays and takes pleasure in life, trusts and allows senses to guide him in order to be one with nature in Sense Adventure.

With the goal of carrying on with the colorful Christmas tradition of Cancun, the third edition of the Sunset Boat Parade took place on December 21st 2014, organized by Sunset World Resorts & Vacation Experiences where more than 4,000 locals and visitors enjoyed a spectacular evening. Our preferred members participated by celebrating one more year in the Sunset World family on board the boats that were decorated with Christmas motifs.

In addition, the children from Aitana Foundation also experienced the magic of Christmas on board one of the decorated boats thanks to Sunset Boat Parade. During the event, a great amount of toys were collected to be presented to the Foundation on the first days of the year, while the drive continues at the collection booths set up in La Isla, Forum by The Sea and Plazas Outlet malls in Cancún and Centro Maya in Playa del Carmen.

During the celebration at Jardín del Arte, attendees enjoyed those delicious snacks we all crave for like hot dogs, tacos, sandwiches, falafel and hamburgers and even cotton candy. A photo booth with fun dress up elements was the attraction that let young and old take home a nostalgic and very Christmassy souvenir from the event; the entertainment included contests and great prices, good music was ever present during the contests, the parade and later during the firework display that, as always, thrilled the entire audience. Visitors were also able to find a great variety of gift options made by the artisans from "Manos Mágicas" who offered their creativity and art to make this event an eclectic and diverse Christmas celebration that many had no idea existed but now would love to experience again.

It was a fun and moving third edition and the only thing left to say for now is: See you next year!