A Closer Look Tours

Travel Tip

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requires a passport or equivalent papers for those 16 and older traveling to Mexico.

The list of acceptable documents for land and sea travelers includes:

Passport, Passport card (land and sea ports only), SENTRI cards, Enhanced driver's licenses, and/or a Military ID (Valid for service members with accompanying travel orders).

Special groups: Children younger than 16 may use birth certificates as proof of citizenship when entering the U.S. at land and sea ports from contiguous territories. Alternate identification papers also may be valid for student groups, Native Americans and "closed loop" cruise-ship passengers.

News Briefs

Mexico to host UN climate summit
AAP
Posted: February 9, 2010

Mexico will host the next UN summit seeking a binding deal on climate change from November 29 to December 10 in the beach resort of Cancun, the environment ministry confirmed on Monday.

Imanta Punta de Mita to Open this Month
Travel Agent Central
by Joe Pike
Posted: February 2, 2010

Imanta Punta de Mita, set to be one of Mexico’s premier sustainable resorts, will make its grand debut to guests later this month.

Situated on a 250-acre private reserve on the pristine beaches of Mexico’s Rivieria Nayarit, this intimate cliff-side property is a 45-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta and provides guests with the ultimate remote getaway.

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Discover the rich history in Mexico's haciendas
MSNBC Travel
Forbes TRAVELER
by Christopher Vourlias
Posted: October 14, 2009

Thanks to the efforts of preservationists and investors who have spent the past decade rescuing hundreds of crumbling properties, the hacienda is enjoying a renaissance.

Mexico on Agents's Top 10 Travel Despite Swine Flu
ABC News Travel
Associate Press
Posted: September 21, 2009

Mexico took four of the top 10 spots on a list of international destinations booked by agents, managers and agency owners from the Travel Leaders company (formerly Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates).

The annual survey asked 452 Travel Leaders agents to name the top destinations for the fall, through Dec. 31, using actual booking data. The survey was conducted in late August. [...]

Sarah Brightman in Chichen Itza
About.com
by Suzanne Barbezat
Posted: September 17, 2009

British soprano Sarah Brightman will be performing a series of concerts in Mexico in the month of October, starting with a concert in Ciudad Juarez on October 2nd, which will be the grand finale of the Festival Internacional Chihuahua. On October 5th she will perform at Mexico City's Auditorio Nacional, on October 7th at the Auditorio Siglo XXI in Puebla, on October 9 at the Auditorio Telmex in Guadalajara, and on October 11 at the Arena Monterrey in Monterrey. Finally, on October 31st, she will present a concert at the ancient Maya site Chichen Itza, in a concert which is being billed as the Concierto de la Piramide (Concert of the Pyramid).

Since the date of the concert in Chichen Itza marks the beginning of Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico, this will be an opportunity for visitors to enjoy these two events during one trip. [...]

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Taxco: Mexico's Silver Capital ~ Suzanne's Mexico Travel Blog
About.com
by Suzanne Barbezat
Posted: September 8, 2009

Taxco de Alarcon, Mexico's silver capital, is a charming colonial town nestled in the mountains of Guerrero state between Mexico City and Acapulco. If you're interested in purchasing silver, Taxco is the place to go, but even if silver shopping is not your cup of tea, you'll probably find plenty to do in this beautiful town with winding cobblestone streets and beautiful colonial architecture. You can visit Taxco on a (long) day trip from either Mexico City or Acapulco, but you'd be well advised to at least spend one night.

Read more about Taxco, or explore other Mexican destinations.

_{Photo by Bruce Herman, courtesy of the Mexican Tourism Board.}
Giant Agave ~ Suzanne's Mexico Travel Blog
About.com
by Suzanne Barbezat
Posted: September 2, 2009

This photo was taken in the Sierra Norte region of Oaxaca. You can get an idea of the size of these monster agave plants in comparison to the children standing next to them. The plant on the right is in bloom.

Find out some of the uses of the agave.

36 Hours in Telum, Mexico
The New York times
by Penelope Green
Posted: August 7, 2009

It is hard to know who recited the first Om or unfurled the first yoga mat upon Tulum’s epic beach. But it is true that Tulum, on the southern edge of Mexico’s Riviera Maya (and a healthy distance from the bunkerlike developments there) is a hot spot for yoga tourists. [...]

Uncovering Mysteries in the Mexican mountains
Canwest News Service
by Alan Ferguson
Posted: August 5, 2009

It's a simple enough matter to hire a guide and a mule in this town and go riding off in search of buried treasure in the caves of the Sierra Madre mountains- but you had better beware of The Curse of the Sunken Mine.

San Sebastian is a mere 70-minute drive from the Pacific coast resort of Puerto Vallarta, but it takes the traveller four centuries back in time, deep into Mexico's colourful colonial past. [...]