At Destination Mexico we are always looking for new ways to bring this wonderful destination into the thinking of our clients for future programs. In the next few Newsletters we are including a short blog on the different ‘Flavors and Cuisine’ of our destinations. We hope these blogs will help stimulate not only your enthusiasm for Mexico as a destination for your groups, but your palates also!

Cancun, once a small fishing village located on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo, has become a famous holiday destination known for its white sandy beaches, crystal blue waters, impressive cenotes and Mayan ruins.

The Yucatán Peninsula was the center of Mayan civilization and you will find many Maya archaeological sites throughout the peninsula. Chichen Itzá, one of the most notable landmarks of the area, takes you on an incredible journey back to the Maya civilization and a visit here will make you feel that you have stepped back in time.

In addition to its incredible history, Cancun’s breathtaking blue waters are full of colorful underwater sea life making it an excellent destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. The third largest coral reef system in the world continues through Cancún and the Riviera Maya, where it is home to more than 65 species of coral and 500 species of fish.

The Riviera Maya stretches along the east coast of the peninsula between Cancun and Tulum, and is known for its stunning cenotes such as Chac Mool and Ik Kil that will amaze your eyes and overwhelm your senses. You will fall in love with Xel-Há, a natural aquarium that will make you feel as if you are dreaming wide-awake. Visiting the Secret River will take you closer to the Xibalbá, the Mayan underworld, and Xcaret, an eco-archeological park set in the Mayan Jungle with more than 50 incredible attractions including a colorful Butterfly Pavilion, will take you through the history of Mexico. Tulum, one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya, is another popular site for tourists.

While Mexican cuisine is very popular around the world, the cuisine in Cancun has been influenced by flavors of the Yucatán peninsula, and traveling there will give you an opportunity to try some dishes you may have never heard of. Here you will experience the distinct and rich flavors of HabaneroHabaneros and "recados". Recados are marinated pastes made of cloves, black pepper, oregano, cumin, garlic, coriander and vinegar. Spices that contribute to the unique flavors of Yucatecan cuisine are pumpkin seed powder, sour orange, sweet pepper, lime, and "achiote" or "recado colorado", and Habanero pepper.

One of the most famous dishes is "cochinita pibil", pork wrapped in banana leaves, pit-baked in achiote sauce, sour orange, and spices, served with corn tortillas. Other popular dishes are: Queso relleno: a mild yellow cheese stuffed with minced meat, served in round slices covered in cream sauce; Poc-chuc: charbroiled slices of pork with onions, marinated in a tasty sour orange sauce; and Chilmole: turkey in a dark spicy sauce. The Yucatan's most famous beverages are made of ground rice, chaya (a regional plant), or pitahaya, commonly known as dragon fruit.

Cancun and the Riviera Maya offer a range of options that will go beyond your imagination. From the impressive cenotes, coral sand beaches, diversity of sea life and impressive history, you will find everything you need to have the vacation of a lifetime.