Akumal Turtle Snorkeling

If you have ever read my blog before you know that I love animals. Every time I travel I seek out the local wildlife and look for excursions that will feed my soul.

On my last visit to Mexico I decided to check out a snorkeling excursion. I only book tours where animals are in their natural habitat and not in captivity. I'ts very important to me that the animals I am seeing are not exploited, but protected and truly admired. I also only book with reputable companies whom I can trust for my personal travel as well as for my clients' travel.

Jose, from Surfing on the Road Tours suggested the Akumal Turtle Excursion. It was the perfect suggestion for my mother and I who were traveling together.

Juan picked us up right on time from our hotel. It was so nice not to have to worry about getting to and from the tour location. The ride was comfortable and air conditioned and Juan was just amazing! He was very friendly and spoke English very well (and even spoke some French!) Despite my efforts my Spanish is still very much lacking so it was nice to have someone who was so fluent.

We arrived to Akumal and met with the local turtle guide, Ruben from Wild Ak Tours.  He explained how the area is now protected and only a certain number of people can visit per day. He also talked about the rules and how a  minimum impact on the ocean life and environment was important.

When we got in the water I noticed that there was another tour company with a large group of people. I was so happy that this private tour only had myself, my mom, Juan and Ruben. It made the whole experience so much better. The large group seemed to all be fighting for their turns to see the turtles and I think they probably scared some away. Having just the 4 of us in the water made this tour magical and special.

I was a little concerned that my mother (65 years old) who had never snorkeled before might have a hard time, but Ruben gave her a float and offered to pull her along when needed. It was so nice!

I was expecting to maybe see a turtle or two. I was shocked and delighted when we saw three turtles within the first 5 minutes of swimming! Not only that but we saw stingrays, and fish right in front of us and below us. The turtles were literally right below us as we swam and I could watch as they munched on sea grass and swam to the surface for a breath of air.

This was by far one of the best experiences I have ever had. I honestly think that I wouldn't have felt the same way if I was with a large group. If you are considering this tour book the private option with Surfing on the Road. It's worth every penny and you will remember this forever.

**Photos and videos are courtesy of Surfing on the Road Tours

For booking details, visit my website at www.lovelandandsea.com 

Kantun-Chi Eco Park - Review

I have been to Mexico several times. I have visited the Riviera Maya numerous times and have enjoyed eco parks, cenotes and wildlife. I've done a ton of excursions and felt like I had "done it all."

This last trip was different though. I was taking my son with me for the first time. Things were different. Excursions that I enjoyed on my own or with my friends were not as family-friendly. I love going to cenotes (sinkholes filled with water which are either open, partially underground or fully underground and cave-like).

The cenote tour I did 2 years ago was fun. I got to zipline into a cenote, kayak, jump, rappel down and more into 5 different cenotes. The problem was, this was an all-day tour that required getting into a bus early in the morning and driving (on very rough roads) to reach each of the cenotes. I knew my 11 year old son would have a hard time on an excursion this long and would likely get bored on the bus in between the action. I also wasn't sure how he would do on the more adventurous options.

I was introduced to Kantun-Chi by Alex Martinez, who told me about the beautiful property he worked at and how it was great for families. I decided to visit with my son last month and I'm so glad I did. My friend and her 11 year old son joined us.

The first thing I noticed about this place was the unspoiled beauty. I truly felt surrounded by nature and it was clear that this was not anything like the crowded commercial eco parks in the riviera maya. It felt private, secluded and peaceful.

We made our way to gear up (everything is provided) and went to our first cenote. The boys were amazed at the rock formations and the bats flying around. We all jumped in and it was refreshing to say the least!

The next cenote was just a walk down a path. This was one of my favorite things about Kantun-Chi. They have all of the cenotes and an underground river on the same property. There is no bus ride to take you to each one. It's all there and easy to access.

The kids were thrilled to see another cenote that looked so different from the first one. They were eager to get in and snorkel.

The favorite was the cenote where they got to jump in. This was a chance for the boys to show how brave they were! It's about 4 meters high and into a beautiful cenote surrounded by trees with roots coming up all around. Luis, our guide was encouraging the fun the whole time. He was also very passionate and knowledgeable which made the whole experience incredible.


The underground river was just amazing. The experience was a combination of swimming, crawling and walking through this underground world with formations that were a million years old. It was truly unique and memorable.

Lunch was really unexpected. I was thinking that it would be a very causal meal, like a picnic. I was wrong! The food was amazing and had plating that mimicked an 5 star resort instead of an eco park. It was such a unique experience to be one with nature and then dine outside surrounded by beauty with food that was top-notch.

We had limited time so we only spent about 3 hours there. However, they give the option to stay longer and explore the cenotes on your own after the tour, or relax in the hammocks. Next time I will plan to spend more time there.

This place is not only great for families but the environment is so romantic it could be perfect for proposals or even weddings.

For booking information contact me or visit http://www.kantunchi.com/

Summer Travel Deals 2018

Summer Travel Destinations

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to go on Fox 19 News and talk about Summer travel deals. There are still a lot of options out there. I have broken it down for Families, Couples and Singles. You can check out the link below for the segment and keep reading for more information.


http://www.fox19.com/Clip/14458530/summer-travel-deals

Summer Destination for Families: Riviera Maya, Mexico

- Non-Stop Flights (CVG)

- Great Summer Deals

- All-Inclusive Resorts

- Soft Adventure that's family friendly

My favorite eco park in the Riviera Maya is Kantun Chi. They offer a beautiful property with nature, cenotoes, an underground river, hammocks and great food. It's perfect for the whole family. I highly recommend a visit   http://www.kantunchi.com/  You can read more about Kantun Chi on my next blog post. 

When you are in the Riviera Maya you will want to check out  https://www.facebook.com/surfingontheroad/ They did a great job with photos!

Summer Destination for Couples: Hawaiian Islands

-Great Summer Deals

-Several Islands with no impact from volcano

-Romantic Setting

-Amazing Beaches, Water Falls and Scenery and Culture 

Summer Destination for Singles: Jamaica

-Non-stop flights

-Adults Only Resorts with Lively Atmosphere

-Reggae Festival, Southcoast Rum Festival, and Dream Weekend Music Festival

-Nightlife, Adventure and Culture

-Meet the People Program (more on this in a future blog post)