Villas of the Month

Up & Down the Coast

Welcome to the monthly newsletter from Sac-Be.com, your source for news, maps and travel information for the Riviera Maya and Costa Maya. If you have a news item, an event you'd like to promote, an article of interest or a comment to make please email us at info@sac-be.com. Enjoy!

We had a fabulous January, thanks to all our great subscribers, advertisers and readers! We doubled what we had a year ago, as far as average daily visitors! All the more reason to advertise with Sac-Be! To learn more about advertising please contact us. Our sole revenue that keeps this publication going is advertising dollars. All listings, articles and news are free!

Fun Fact - The state with the most people visiting Sac-Be according to Google is California, with San Francisco being the number one city! One of our favorites. Is it just coincidence that when Sherwood and Bob Anders and those Beach dogs aren't in Akumal they are in San Francisco???

What's New

There were so many great events this last month and The Akumalian Staff was there to photograph them all. Take a look at the Akumalian events section for some fun photos.

Did you know that the pools at Hotel Akumal Caribe and Casa Romero were both used in WaterARTs videos? WaterARTs people came all the way down from Canada to do some filming over last two years. Click here to see the Hotel Akumal Caribe pool used in their latest Games video.

Mexico Wedding Directory - Mexico's #1 Wedding & Honeymoon Directory - Is about to release their new magazine in April. There is still space to advertise and be a part of this new magazine. Contact us for more information or contact Ted at mexicoweddings@yahoo.com and please, tell him you heard about it from Sac-Be.com! We can't wait to get our first copy.

La Ceiba, a Technology Training Center has opened in Chemuyil.

Leaky Palapa Restaurant is a casual fine dining restaurant in the small fishing village of Xcalak.

Xel-Ha is making news. First it was awarded the Best Sea Trek Operation in the World while also hosting an international Conch Study.

Oscar Romero was back in Akumal and did a wonderful job of sprucing up Hotel Akumal Caribe. Check out some of his work. And he also did some paintings that will be sold with the proceeds to help CEA and Education. Thanks Oscar!.

Sac-Be's Publisher, Lydia Linton Pontius, was recently published in the Charleston, SC Post and Courier. Her article concerned her "love affair" with the Yucatan.

Reviews

Restaurant Aviles in Motul, Yucatan
A family-owned operation for at least two generations; the family also owns the bullfighting ring. The menu is limited, but each item is authentic, fresh and, from what we tried, exquisite. Xama, the owner, came by our table and introduced herself. Her English was great and she explained to us that her parents moved to the United States, where they still live, and she was educated there.

Little Mexican Cooking School - by Michele Kinnon - Last week, I was invited to attend a class at "The Little Mexican Cooking School" in Puerto Morelos, something I had been looking forward to since the inception of the school in the fall of 2009.

Beyond the Coast along the Sac-Be

Calamku in Campeche
If you are looking for a getaway, romantic weekend or adventurous side trip this might be the perfect spot for you. Located just off the east–west Highway 186, that cuts through from Chetumal to Escárcega, and two hours inland from Bacalar, you will find a very special eco-resort.

Colonial Cities: A Trip with the Girls - by Myrna Sparks - Guanajuato is the city that started it all; silver was discovered by the Spaniards soon after they arrived in Mexico in the 1500s. The silver mines brought untold wealth to the Spaniards. The town of Dolores Hidalgo, on the other side of the mountain, is another stop on the historical trail of Mexican independence from Spain. Here, on the steps of the cathedral, Father Hidalgo read out the grito or call for Mexican independence.

Of Special Interest

La Casa de las Mariposas Butterfly garden on road from Tulum to Coba - by Mari Pintkowski - It was one of those unusual days when my husband Lou and I had finished our chores at our B&B, La Selva Mariposa, and decided to head west to explore a new attraction at km 30.5 along the Cobá Road, west of Tulúm...

Underseascapes - Octopus - by Steve Dramstad, aka "XcalakSteve" - I love animal encounters underwater, especially when the encounter is perpetrated by the animal instead of the diver—when they approach you, instead of you chasing them.

The Maya Bee, Xunaan-Cab - As a socially responsible company, Xel-Ha promotes the rescue of a Yucatán Peninsula’s ancestral tradition that has been fading over time: the keeping of the Maya bee, also called meliponiculture or stingless beekeeping.

A Different World - by Howie Xamach - Living in the Sian Ka'an biosphere may be very comfortable once you can calm down and lose the mania of urban civilization. At least that is what I hope to find; I am nowhere near relaxed enough honestly to say that I have reached my destination or even heard what the Ka'an has to say. Perhaps the coming and going of the wound-up urbanites who visit every week or so is slowing down the transition.

Planet 2012 Showing - The theme for Richard Mazzola's latest paintings stems from the Mayan Calendar date of December 21,2012. The Mayans believe this to be a time of rebirth, enlightenment and harmonic convergence. Richard has explored these concepts in a series of surrealistic paintings, which are painted boldly in color and design. Within each painting is the Mayan calendar and many images symbolic to the Mayan culture. For those who missed his showing, please be sure to stop by his galeria and tell him you heard about it on Sac-Be to receive a 10% discount.

Accommodations

Sac-be offers free listing of properties along the Riviera Maya. If you would like to have your rental property listed please complete the form on our owner's page. Or, if you are interested in learning more about other advertising opportunities please contact us. The following vacation rental properties were recently listed:

None listed this month? Just a reminder that in these tough times you should take advantage of as many marketing opportunities as possible, and this is a FREE listing service. Come on Owners!

Mi Casa Del Mar Penthouse - Sweeping sunrise and sunset oceanfront penthouse with 3000 sq.ft. of living all within a 5-minute walk to the village of Akumal.

La Sirena #2 - Beautiful ground floor unit, fully furnished and equipped. Gorgeous tropical gardens, and large pool in complex.

Magia Garden Paradise - 3 bedroom ocean view condo rental conveniently located just 50 steps from the soft, sandy beach and just one block away from 5th Avenue.

Magia Garden Moonlight - A lovely 2 bedroom 2 bathroom condo rental with a great location, just a few steps from the Caribbean ocean and only one block from the famous Playa del Carmen 5th Avenue.

Magia Garden Relax - MAGIA RELAX, has a great location on 1st Avenue and 16th Street. This beautiful 2 BDRM condo rental is located in the heart of Playa del Carmen.

Magia Garden Serenity - Enjoy the ocean view terrace and all the amenities the owners have in this lovely 2 bedroom condo rental.

Hotel Uolis Nah - A charming little hotel with 6 open-space apartments equipped with queen size beds, full kitchens, lounge area with a sofa bed for one person, terrace with garden view and bathrooms with mosaic-tiled floors.

Puerta Calakmul - The hotel Puerta Calakmul is an ecological retreat located in Calakmul, Campeche, Mexico, in the Yucatan Peninsula. It is a special place resting, relaxing and totally disconnecting from your daily routine. It is perfectly situated in the center of the main archeological site of the region – Calakmul-, and several others like Xpuhil, Becán, Chicanná, Balamku , etc.

February 2010 - #25  

Hekab Be Biblioteca - In a record amount of time, the library was able to meet a challenge grant of $2,250 U.S. put on by loyal library friends. Each donation made to the library during the challenge period was met dollar for dollar by the challengers, long-time library supporters Debby and Bruce Oakley. Our gratitude to the Oakleys and all the other donors who helped make this fund raiser a great success! And MIL GRACIAS to Akumal Villas for donating funds to cover a year of internet service at the library! This will provide a much needed service to the children of Akumal, who will now have the world at their fingertips!

Akumal's Montessori Plans to Open Primary School Classroom - by Eleanor Zucker - In July 2010, Otoch Paal will celebrate its largest kindergarten graduating class of 16 students, many of whom have been in the school for over three years. In order to accommodate the continuing developmental needs of these children and their families, many who have become enamored the Montessori teaching methods, the school's Director, Gabriela Ortega, is hard at work to open a primary school classroom for these students.

The Akumal Toy Drive Team of Ingrid Datica, Malu Guijosa, Jorge Palma and Gina Austinwant to thank everyone for their generosity, and to share some of their photos.

The Library Frida Kahlo, in the telesecudaria "JOSE VASCONCELOS" would like, to thank some of the people and institutions who support them.

Congratulations to Lucy Gallagher for her kudos in Green Traveler's Guide. And the next time you're in Tulum make sure to visit Organicamente, a retailer that seeks out organic and natural products made by indigenous communities and small producers throughout Mexico.

Pet of the Month

Jen at Turtle Bay Bakery sent us great shots of some puppies that need forever homes.

Updates on Causes

Congratulations Lucy James and AARF for your new Website. We love the before and after pictures. Each and every one of us is capable of making an animal's life better! And the rewards are endless.

The VIDAS clinic in Bacalar was VERY successful! 433 animals were safely sterilized! Great job, team! Check out the website for the clinic recap and to see pictures of the clinic and crew! www.vidas.org.

And more great Animal Clinics went on in Merida. Thanks to Yucatan Living we have the full story.

Coco's Cat Rescue - On Sunday March the 21st will celebrate its one one year anniversary with be a cocktail party. If you can help please contact them.

Now here's a plan – vote for Peanut Pet Shelter and win a trip.

Great work and thank you to all those in Akumal and Playa Del Carmen that helped with Hope for Haiti. You are the reason this place is so special and you don't hesitate to show that side every time there is a disaster or someone in need. To read more see Michele Kinnon's piece.

Sundays, beginning February 14, from 12-8pm, John Gray's restaurant in downtown Cancún, will offer guests — both big and small — a variety of timeless favorites from his "Domingos Familares" menu; and more importantly, Downtown's younger clientele will be treated to 20 VAROS KIDS Arts program on Downtown's outside terrace.

January-March, Sustainable Living Workships in Playa del Carmen.

Mondays, Feb 8 - Mar 1, 8-9:30am, Meditation and Yoga in Puerto Aventuras.

February 17, Akumal Council Meeting. If you have not already done so, please come prepared to sign our membership book so that you can participate in the important decisions that will be made during the year.

Feb 17 and 18th, 5th Annual CEA Festival in Akumal - There will be a lot of great activities as well as their annual Silent Auction and Gala Event. Stay tuned!

February 21, 8am - 12pm, Coco's Cat Spay Day 2010 FREE Cat Spay/Neuter Clinic - Clinica de Esterilización GRATIS - at Medivet.

February 25-28, John Gray Restaurant Group will participate in Prestigious 2010 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine Magazine. The acclaimed Restaurateur will represent the World-Class Cuisine from the Mexican Caribbean. More info

April 2010 - International Sea Turtle Symposium will take place at Goa, India. CEA's Sea Turtle Program will present information on our conservation efforts to protect Akumal's turtles.

April 3, Elton John concert at Chichen Itza.

July 25 – August 1, Turtle Trip – great for all ages and a wonderful a way to help support CEA! Limited space so contact us soon - lydia@justimagine.net.

October/November, Women In Wellness 2nd Annual Retreat is in the works. To participate contact Just Imagine Vacations.

November 21, Second Annual Taste of Playa is scheduled. Mark your calendar it is going to be delicious.

REMINDER: If you have any events coming up in 2010 please send us the information so we can get it posted on our Events Calendar.

Make your own Special Event any night by having a Romantic Dinner for two on the beach at Lol Ha.

My Akumal Retreat - has put together a "Shared Equity Ownership" program that actually secures the buyer with title. With titled ownership, the investor may trade, sell, rent, or use their time in their property as they see fit. The web address is www.marmx.com.

Timeshare-resale-rental.com - Discover the flexibility, affordability, and convenience of timeshare resales by visiting our large inventory of timeshare resales today.

The owners of Casa del Perro Feliz have renewed their advertising commitment with Sac-Be.com.