Congratulations to Hacienda Chichen Resort and Yaxkin Spa

Hacienda Chichen Resort and Yaxkin Spa have implemented an active and innovative sustainable eco-cultural and social vision that has gained them International recognition. We congratulate these dedicated companies for their efforts to preserve and promote the Maya Culture and protect the environment, empowering rural indigenous people is key to their success. The way they conduct their hospitality practices, service guests, help the Maya Communities near their property, and protect the flora and fauna within their vast private Maya Jungle Reserve is an example of good stewardship and commitment to improve they way to do business. Their commitment to promote and practice green awareness and social volunteer actions to empower the Maya indigenous people in their Yucatan municipality, has gained them the support and admiration from many respected institutes and International organizations. This April, National Geographic Travel editors selected Hacienda Chichen and Yaxkin Spa to be included in their 2009 Stay List Hotel We Love Guide.

"The hotels on our Stay List 2009 don't just reflect their surroundings-they help define them," says Traveler Senior Editor Sheila Feldman Buckmaster. "What they all have in common is a transcendent vision that goes beyond traditional hotel-keeping. This mindset is what gives these hotels their sense of place. Make no mistake: you'll sense the vibe at once. And after your stay, you'll leave with the kind of insight only soulful places can provide." Quote from National Geographic Traveler Senior Editor, Sheila Buckmaster.

National Geographic Traveler 2009 Stay List criteria and selection process
began by tapping into the collected experiences of veteran journalists, inveterate road warriors, and local experts. They based their nominations on key criteria. Is the hotel engaged with the local community? Does it subscribe to sustainable practices that respect the region? Does it truly capture the spirit of its setting? Further research and detailed questionnaires winnowed hundreds of submissions down to this sweet list of 129 hotels. The properties on their Stay List offer truly unique experiences, and National Geographic editos are excited to highlight them in their April magazine edition as well as their website.

If you have plans to volunteer this summer 2009 and wish to support the Maya Foundation In Laakeech Social Volunteer Programs, you can stay for free at the Hacienda Chichen's Maya Hut, donated by this green boutique hotel to support the social programs the foundation actively conducts in the Maya communities nearby Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, for detail information about how to apply to the ESL teaching volunteer and other job related volunteer opportunities with free rooming at the Hacienda Chichen, kindly visit the following webpage:
http://www.yucatanadventure.com.mx/volunteering-FAQ.htm

First Mayan Food Festival at Hacienda Chichen Resort, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico

This past 12th of December, 2008, Executive Chef Josue Cime and his cooking team offered a feast of Mayan Culinary delights to guests and visitors at the Hacienda Chichen´s First Annual Mayan Food Festival. For two days, the Chef offered free Mayan Cooking Classes and healthy organic snacks created with fresh ripe fruits and veggies from this unique Green Boutique Hotel’s own Organic Grown Crops.

Visitors enjoy Papadzul Tamales with pumpkin seed and fresh tomatoes sauce; Chaya Empanadas, a vegetarian traditional recipe; Mango and Tangerine Colada; Classic Guacamole; Chicken Chili mole and other delicious delights. This First Mayan Food Festival was so successful that the Chef got encourage to Celebrate the 6th of January 2009 with guests, visitors, and tourists alike; he plans to share "Día de Reyes" a traditional Colonial Festivity popular all over Mexico where children get their presents and gifts from family friends, and everybody enjoys a special Hot Cocoa (chocolate) Drink and shares the traditional "Rosca con el Niño Jesus" (a brioche egg bread shaped as a crown with a small porcelain baby Jesus in it). All guests are invited to take a big slice of this bread; the person that gets the little figurine is expected to invite the group to a party for he or she is the future host of another Grin Fiesta in February!

So, if you plan to be in Chichen Itza, on Jan.5th and 6th, take the time to join in this enchanting Mexican Fiesta which will be hosted from 4 PM to 6 PM at the Main Garden of the hotel. Personal donations are welcome to support the Maya Foundation In Laakeech own Día de Reyes fiesta for the Mayan Children Nutrition Clinic in Xcalacoop; please give and share freely, a dollar can do so much good to help us help their nutritional needs.

YUCATAN ADVENTURE'S TRAVEL BLOG: Be a Maya Foundation In Laakeech Volunteer

YUCATAN ADVENTURE'S TRAVEL BLOG: Be a Maya Foundation In Laakeech Volunteer

Help us help the Mayan communities nearby Chichen Itza in Yucatan, Mexico. The Maya Foundation In Laakeech has a volunteer travel program for people that wish to donate their time and teach job related skills to the young adult Mayan people in these communities.

Please contact Jose Tamay to request further information about this non-profit civil association dedicated to the welfare of the Maya people. Travelers wishing to help, may also do so, by donating old used clothes, multi-vitamins, cheap drug store reading glasses for adults, or any small item that can be packed and given as a gift of love to the Mayan families in need.

Contact us via email: info@yucatanadventure.com.mx for further details on how to help!

An Important Ancient Mayan City has been found in Yucatan, Mexico

INAH Archaeologists Thelma Sierra and Agustín Peña did a brief fieldwork on a new Mayan site located in the South of Yucatan. Both archaeologists are concerned that INAH has yet to assign a budget to safe-guard this site. Sadly, there are no official INAH guards on site to protect this magnificent ancient Mayan city, a site as large as Chichen Itza.

Today, this unique archaeological site's many steles, ceramics, sculptures and temples are exposed to fraudulent activities due to lack of proper safe measures from INAH officials. The site has many fabulous carved stones and sculptures that indicate it was a major commercial metropolis to the ancient Maya.

Zona Arqueológica de gran importancia ha sido descubierta en Yucatán

Ubicada al sur del estado, en el ejido San Diego Buenavista, esta vasta urbe maya aun sin nombre corre peligro de saqueos y poca vigilancia en su entorno. Los arqueólogos Thelma Sierra Sosa y Agustín Peña Castillo, quienes trabajan para el Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) en Yucatán, afirman que todo indica que esta urbe es tan grande como las ciudades de Chichén Itzá y Teotihuacán, por las dimensiones de los edificios; la presencia de estelas y gran variedad de cerámica prehispánica importada. Los trabajos de rescate que se realizan actualmente son parte de los recursos destinados para la construcción de una carretera en el Cono Sur del Estado y provienen de la Dirección de Vías Terrestres de Yucatán, no del INAH, ya que se esta al construir una carretera que pasé por está Zona Arqueológica recién descubierta.

Ambos arqueólogos lamentan que a pesar de la evidente importancia de este hallazgo, el INAH aun no ha destinado recursos para la protección de esta zona arqueológica maya, ni ha puesto custodios para salvaguardar estos vestigios mayas abiertamente expuestos a posibles saqueos.

Be a Maya Foundation In Laakeech Volunteer

We invite viewers to support our non-profit volunteer work for the Maya Foundation In Laakeech, come and share your job related skills, such as computer basic use, handyman skills or manual crafts that may help Mayan families have economic alternatives to support their families. Doctors, nurses, teachers, retired couples and regular students have join in our volunteer program dedicated to help the Mayan communities nearby Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico. Hacienda Chichen Resort sponsors the exchange volunteer program by donating free rooming to our abroad volunteers, so contact us via email to: info@yucatanadventure.com.mx if you wish to learn more about the ways you can help us help!

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Please visit our Volunteer Magazine and Eco-Cultural travel Guide: http://www.yucatanadventure.com.mx/

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Fundación Maya In Láakéech A.C., asociación civil no lucrativa dedicada al bienestar social de las comunidades mayas cercanas a Chichen Itza, Yucatán, México, le invita a colaborar. Compartimos nuestros esfuerzos con empresas comprometidas al turismo sustentable y la promoción de los valores culturales mayas, su lengua, arte, medicina tradicional, cocina, rituales, ceremonias y cosmovisión. Si desea donar su tiempo, o apoyar enseñando algún oficio práctico que beneficie la economía de las familias mayas, favor de comunicarse con nosotros vía email a: info@yucatanadventure.com.mx

Nos dará mucho gusto que visite nuestro Magazine y guía turística http://www.yucatanadventure.com.mx/ donde encontrara articulos sobre la cultura maya y de interés eco-culturales.